Springs selection impact on suspension?

[bergerhag]

I am 220 lbs in full enduro outfit. My '05 fse is on stock springs. Is there any point at all to start messing with comp/rebound clickers?

What spring ratio should I use, front and rear?

[iancp5]

Originally Posted by bergerhag

I am 220 lbs in full enduro outfit. My '05 fse is on stock springs. Is there any point at all to start messing with comp/rebound clickers?

What spring ratio should I use, front and rear?

At 220lbs you would benefit from heavier springs. I'm 245lbs naked and on my EC300 run 5.7 rear with 0.48 fronts. I think 0.48 was a bit hard for my woods terrain and you are lighter so would expect 0.46's definitely better for you unless you are riding hard, fast stuff. Not sure on rear for your weight and an FSE. I find fork spring rates are similar whatever the bike, even my KTM 4 stroke. Again this is all terrain specific but for woods, once the correct springs are in, you probably want a lot less compression than the manual states.

Hopefully some FSE owners will be along to provide better advice.

[bergerhag]

Hmm, I made a miscalculation on the weight, I'm 230 lbs(105kg) in my skin. 255lbs(116kg) in full outfit.

Stock spring rates I'm told are 0.42 front and 5.4 rear.
Sag measured to 40mm front, 35mm rear
race sag: 100mm front, 135 mm rear.
I ride a lot of woods terrain with a lot of loose fist-size rocks.

My idea is .46 front, 5.6 rear? Or should I go for the .48 front?

[iancp5]

Originally Posted by bergerhag

Hmm, I made a miscalculation on the weight, I'm 230 lbs(105kg) in my skin. 255lbs(116kg) in full outfit.

Stock spring rates I'm told are 0.42 front and 5.4 rear.
Sag measured to 40mm front, 35mm rear
race sag: 100mm front, 135 mm rear.
I ride a lot of woods terrain with a lot of loose fist-size rocks.

My idea is .46 front, 5.6 rear? Or should I go for the .48 front?

Should work well.

[bergerhag]

My local suspension guy is trying to sell me a 62 rear spring. So for comparison, what's the stock spring rate on the '05-'06 two-strokes?

[skid jackson]

boy 62 sounds really stiff .... but i'm not a suspension guy.
Stock is 52. I weigh 195 in the buff and about 210 to 220 when geared up. I currently run . 44 in front and 54 in the rear. I'm still trying to sort out hte bike but with about 30 hours on it... I'm thinking I might try a 52 on the back.

[widebear]

Sounds to me like there has been something ,lost in the translation here. I just can't see it being @ 6.2 kg per mm spring? I dont think that Ohlins even make a spring that heavy and even if they did you'd have to run your rebound damping so tight, to keep you from getting tossed over the bars like your the guest projectile for some medieval assualt weapon.

[bergerhag]

Actually the guy who initially bought the 6,2 kg spring returned it because he needed a yet heavier spring. He runs a EC300, and he is quite big.
Oh, and they do make these heavy springs. In the swedish main öhlins distributor's website, they list the 57x270 mm springs from 3.6 to 7.25 kg

After all my research on the net, and with the input from you guys, I'm now going for the .48 front and 5.8 rear, as I'm 116kg dressed to go. And taking into account that the FSE is 15kg heavier than the EC, and I have added some extra weight in bark busters, radiator braces and skid plate, and with my camelbak water supply (+2kg), I'm guessing these will be spot on.

[bergerhag]

New springs installed.

I was convinced by my local suspension guy who had discussed it with another suspension expert to use 4.6N/mm front and 62 N/mm rear.
Front springs are Race-Tech , rear is Öhlins.
I have now 25mm front sag , and rear is set at 40 mm.
My race sag is front: 65mm, rear 105mm.

I went for a quick test ride, not fully dressed, missing a few kilos of protection.

What a difference this made. The bike now feels lighter than before, kind of more vigorous( can I use that word about bike?).

Am I right in thinking that I should increase rebound a little, and decrease compression damping, just to compensate for the stiffer springs?

On thursday I'll take it out on my usual rocky, root-infested enduro trail. Can't wait to get there

[iancp5]

6.2 does sound very heavy. I am 250 lbs and use a 5.7 rear, 0.48 fronts which is about right for woods. Maybe a 62 would be ok for a heavy, fast guy doing MX but it wouldn't be matched with 46 fronts. You'd need 54's or something.