Compression damping?

[firefly]

for a stock 2004 forks, I am at full compression setting, is this a sign that I need stiffer springs?, I was just procrastinating getting race tech springs, will stiffer springs allow for more compression damping adjustment? in other words with stiffer springs can I reduce the compression damping & still have decent suspension. I want to reduce the dive that happens with braking but don't want it too stiff on road bumps.
Thanks

 

[loosenut]

Your forks have 3 adjustments available.

Compression
Rebound
Fork spring preload

If you are running your compression full hard, then you need more than springs. Having the proper springs for your weight will help, but not as much as you would like.

 

[firefly]

Your forks have 3 adjustments available.

Compression
Rebound
Fork spring preload

If you are running your compression full hard, then you need more than springs. Having the proper springs for your weight will help, but not as much as you would like.

Pre-load is at its max, compression at its max, I am not sure about the rebound setting it is probably stock setting.

 

[loosenut]

You must be a big boy!

 

[firefly]

You must be a big boy!

190 lb with gear

 

[fisherman322]

for a stock 2004 forks, I am at full compression setting, is this a sign that I need stiffer springs?, I was just procrastinating getting race tech springs, will stiffer springs allow for more compression damping adjustment? in other words with stiffer springs can I reduce the compression damping & still have decent suspension. I want to reduce the dive that happens with braking but don't want it too stiff on road bumps.
Thanks

Put some cable ties around the forks sliders [near the top seal] to check out how much of the fork travel you are using,or do you bottom out?

 

[firefly]

Put some cable ties around the forks sliders [near the top seal] to check out how much of the fork travel you are using,or do you bottom out?

it doesn't bottom out but it dives

 

[Earlzach]

190 is not that big for the FZ1. I think something else is going on. Oil weight? Oil at all?

 

[fisherman322]

it doesn't bottom out but it dives

I would still do the cable tie trick, you will how much of the travel you are using then go from there,new oil,revalving, maybe springs etc

 

[firefly]

The bike has ~ 12 K on the stock fork oil, is it time to change?

 

[fisherman322]

The bike has ~ 12 K on the stock fork oil, is it time to change?

The 12K would be ok,but the oil is getting pretty old now and should need to be changed, you may have lost some oil over time from the seals

 

[loosenut]

It's time for a rebuild. I remember reading that the Gen1 forks contaminate the fork oil quickly due to bushing wear. One thing to consider is the balance of the bike. Gen1 FZ1s are softly sprung form the factory, but they are equally soft front and rear. Now, if you put heavier fork springs in the front, you also should go heavier in the rear. The stock shock rebound will not control a heavier shock spring satisfactory to most without a revalve. It may be time for the R6 shock kit.

 

[firefly]

Thanks for all replies & the good pointers, I guess I'll have to rebuild the forks, change springs and install the R6 shock I bought a while back.

 

[SpeedDoesntKill]

Shouldn't need to be, but a heavier oil would definitely help with the diving issue. Other than that probably time to replace the seals or use some shims.