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All 650's Suspension
- Thread starter Remek
- Start date
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- Tags
- forks preload spring suspension
- May 16, 2017
It sounds like Lancaster Honda are looking after you. It's a bit of a journey for you, but worth it if it gives you satisfaction.👍
I’ve picked up the bike and run some errands with it. It’s too early to provide a worthy a review but I’m very pleased already.
I’ll need some time to get used to how much more precise the steering is, how turning under hard braking is now easy and panic stops are now fully controlled events.
I could not resist posting now because I’m already glad the Andreani cartridges are installed. Best birthday present in years!!
I’ll need some time to get used to how much more precise the steering is, how turning under hard braking is now easy and panic stops are now fully controlled events.
I could not resist posting now because I’m already glad the Andreani cartridges are installed. Best birthday present in years!!
Taking a slight detour away from the standard upgrades..
Would putting firmer springs in the forks solve the pogo effect? And what requirements would the new springs need to match to work, as I have a set of springs laying around, which I suspect will give a firmer ride. Is total length all that matters? Diameter of the spring, how much difference will this make?
Sorry if this is a really dumb question. Suspension is not my string point
Would putting firmer springs in the forks solve the pogo effect? And what requirements would the new springs need to match to work, as I have a set of springs laying around, which I suspect will give a firmer ride. Is total length all that matters? Diameter of the spring, how much difference will this make?
Sorry if this is a really dumb question. Suspension is not my string point
Have a search for öhlins kit on the forums, that should get you started.
Don't just use any old springs you have. The forks are a precise mechanism that is critical to your safety.
J
Don't just use any old springs you have. The forks are a precise mechanism that is critical to your safety.
J
@Brammers is right, don’t use just any old springs because there are a number of factors into what works, what doesn’t and why. Search for Dave Moss tuning on YouTube and watch a few of his basic suspension video to give you an idea if the hows and whys, things will be much clearer then. Total length is your spec in these style forks, the spring plus spacer, but remember a shorter spring will be firmer so if you go from your total length of 10% spacer, 90% spring to 10% spring, 90% spacer (extremes are easier to understand) you’ll have very little travel and the spring will have to be crazy stiff to support the load on it. So there’s a certain ratio you want to maintain.
Basically speaking, a firmer spring sized correctly fit to you and your bike will help you from blowing so far into the travel on smaller bumps that it springs back harshly and quickly starting the pogoing effect which is also created by insufficient damping in oil bath forks. If you replace the OEM stuff for correct sized springs and correctly chosen oil, you can make the front end of this bike passable which is why the Ohlins kit is such a good value. If you want advanced damping, you will need a cartridge kit that uses valving, not just the oil, to control both compression and rebound.
The Andreani cartridge kit includes springs that are tuned to my weight, 210lb. They are stiffer than the stock fork springs. It adds preload adjustment too so the bike can be set for the correct “sag” .
Cartridge dampers change the way the fork responds to bumps. The stock fork is a cheaper “damper rod” design that is by comparison too soft with minor bumps and too hard with nasty bumps. The stock fork also dives more easily under braking than a cartridge damper fork would.
I went for this upgrade because I wanted the bike to feel less “floaty” and less harsh over speed bumps and potholes. The Andreani cartridges and the correct springs for my weight did the trick!
I agree with what the others have said. If you’re as heavy as me or even weigh more then changing the fork springs is a good move and will help.
I was looking to make my Cbr650f handle as well as a Ducati. The Andreani cartridge kit along with an Ohlins rear shock seemed the best I could do for my Cbr650f.
I’ve never actually ridden a Ducati so as far as I can tell it is mission accomplished!
Cartridge dampers change the way the fork responds to bumps. The stock fork is a cheaper “damper rod” design that is by comparison too soft with minor bumps and too hard with nasty bumps. The stock fork also dives more easily under braking than a cartridge damper fork would.
I went for this upgrade because I wanted the bike to feel less “floaty” and less harsh over speed bumps and potholes. The Andreani cartridges and the correct springs for my weight did the trick!
I agree with what the others have said. If you’re as heavy as me or even weigh more then changing the fork springs is a good move and will help.
I was looking to make my Cbr650f handle as well as a Ducati. The Andreani cartridge kit along with an Ohlins rear shock seemed the best I could do for my Cbr650f.
I’ve never actually ridden a Ducati so as far as I can tell it is mission accomplished!
- Feb 16, 2018
I think i will upgrade my front end to beacuce i do hate it when it feels like the front end hammers you on a pot hole it feels like its bottoming out
- Feb 16, 2018
Do u think its easy enough to fit say a cbr 600f4i rear shock?
Everything that was said about just swapping in a whatever fork applies to the rear shock. The F4i has a linkage, therefore isn’t a “progressive” motion shock. It also has different mounts because of the linkage.
I know you like to create talking points but if you want upgraded suspension you’ll need to go aftermarket. It’s just that way with this bike.
Why would you want to use the wrong shock?
Just fit the correct aftermarket shock for the 650! Ohlins make a good one, I'm sure there are others.
Once again,
@miweber929 nails it.
Just fit the correct aftermarket shock for the 650! Ohlins make a good one, I'm sure there are others.
Once again,
@miweber929 nails it.- Feb 16, 2018
- Feb 16, 2018
Didnt mean type it in there
- Feb 16, 2018
Okay cheers yes you deffo need aftermarket for the rear then. But After noticing the adreani cartlidge kit reqwiers sanction adjustment . im sure you could do the same and just fit F3 fork internals. sorry iff you have already said thats not possible i cant just remember
Don’t knock tha Andreani kit ‘til you try it. It’s the bees knees!
It could be possible that some hodge podge of old parts could be cobbled together to achieve cartridge damping on our bikes. But why fool around in the junkyard?
You would not believe the transformation the Andreani kit has made with my bike. Along with the Ohlins shock, the change is like night and day ... it’s an entirely different bike!
It could be possible that some hodge podge of old parts could be cobbled together to achieve cartridge damping on our bikes. But why fool around in the junkyard?
You would not believe the transformation the Andreani kit has made with my bike. Along with the Ohlins shock, the change is like night and day ... it’s an entirely different bike!
- Feb 16, 2018
Im not nocking the adreani kit . And im glad you are happy. But how good would it be iff you bought some old f3 forks for about 100 pounds then the internals from them fitted in the exact same way as your kit ! I would much prefer to visit the scrap yard iff that will work
We’ll I’d offer encouragement to anyone tackling a project like that. I’d be interested in seeing the project progress and learning how challenges along the way were overcome.
My point is that such a project would be done to demonstrate moxie and resolve. It might be less expensive too.
I am skeptical that it would perform better than the Andreani kit. There is the risk that it would not perform well without some tuning. I don’t know how to tune a cartridge damper.
It seems like if someone is asking if it is possible to fit cbr600f3 parts in Cbr650f fork they might also not know how to tune cartridge damper forks.
If that were true, then I maintain that the Andreani kit is the better option.
- Feb 16, 2018
Just an idea really. It just seems like its a good possibility to me . ( i will probs buy the ohlins iff they work with no adjustment) like i say its just an idea . But iff it did work well im sure they will be plenty of people what will want do the same iff they can save over 300 pounds . Iff i buy the adreani kit and it will need modifying i will need help from a professional anyways so iff a shop can help with that im sure they would still help to install f3 internals iff it's possible. F3 forks look very similar in size/ style so i bet they will work. Im going do some research and see what a few shops say
Last edited:
- Feb 15, 2015
Excited to get the forks back today!! Has been ages without the bike, and unfortunately will continue to be a little longer...
I refit them and was seating the axle when I noticed the preload nut on the left fork was rising and falling, the right fork nut was not.
My suspension guy explained what has happened:
'It looks like an inner retainer clip has moved that holds the preload adjuster in place it can't go anywhere as the adjuster turns a capstan in the top cap which pushes the spring down that's why the preload is measured in turns not lines'
Won't be picked up from post office until Monday so will get it back Wednesday at best 😣
I refit them and was seating the axle when I noticed the preload nut on the left fork was rising and falling, the right fork nut was not.
My suspension guy explained what has happened:
'It looks like an inner retainer clip has moved that holds the preload adjuster in place it can't go anywhere as the adjuster turns a capstan in the top cap which pushes the spring down that's why the preload is measured in turns not lines'
Won't be picked up from post office until Monday so will get it back Wednesday at best 😣
