I have since sold my Trail, but they were perfect until the day I sold it. I rode the Smokey Mountain 500 on the Trail in April and it performed great. 👍
You will actually want some sag in the fork when you sit on it. Typically between 25% and 33% of total travel of the fork. Based on the motion of the fork you demonstrated, I would recommend going from 15wt to 20wt fork oil. It should smooth out the front end further by adding some additional damping. Check the sag out back and try to match the numbers front to rear.
The gap between your knee and bars would not be affected by any spring installation. You could take the springs totally out, or even the front wheel off, and as long as your foot was on the foot peg, that gap would be the same as before. If the increased preload helps with your style of riding, then it does. It's possible, as basically every kind of suspension adjustment has compromises and benefits. If you like the benefits, and not having any static sag, or even dynamic sag by the looks up it, isn't a problem then no problem. But in case you're curious, look up videos or discussions about setting Sag, front and rear. If you have zero sag while going down the road, there isn't really much suspension in the drooping position because you're always sitting at the maxed out upwards position. Obviously if you first compress the forks, then they can move back up. But imagine a road condition where the bike crests a sudden drop off.. a wheel with sag would drop down into the void with its remaining suspension travel. Yours has zero or almost zero currently remaining, and thus would need to wait for the entire bike to drop down from gravity for the tire to reconnect with the road.
Sorry, I didn’t clarify well. These are not adjustable. It’s essentially a 1” solid spacer that’s part of the cap itself. Steady Garage and Chimera label it as “with preload”. The YSS aftermarket spring kit might be adjustable but I opted to go this route instead because of the price. Hope that helps!
YSS does but I also just found out that Ohlins does too. hhrperformance.com/i-31647841-hlins-front-fork-spring-kit-fsk-161-honda-ct125-top-cap-spring-kit-2020-2022.html
Seems like you could just put a stainless rod or tube spacer between the stock bolts and top of spring for much cheaper. Not sure why pvc is even in the conversation.
I would like to have a set but standard shipping which is too high at $10.20 but is not available for whatever reason and the next shipping option Is $19.68. No way I'm paying 20 bucks to ship something so small and light.
@@OffRoadRodeo I believe @brestman1 was talking about adding more fork oil than the recommended amount, to decrease the amount of air pocket at the top of the system. Every fork oil has a final air pocket that can be compressed at the end of its travel. Since oil cant be compressed, but air can, adding a bit more oil will force the remaining air to compress more and add a bit of resistance ONLY during the final almost bottoming out position. To learn more about this you can search people discussing changing fork oil level and you'll see reasoning.
Hmm..interesting point Nigel. I didn’t think it was problematic as it is bike shop grade anti-seize that is compatible “For metal connections of steel, titanium, aluminium” us.muc-off.com/products/anti-seize-copper-compound
I’m taking a chance and order them, Hope yours a preforming well still. Thanks for info
I have since sold my Trail, but they were perfect until the day I sold it. I rode the Smokey Mountain 500 on the Trail in April and it performed great. 👍
You will actually want some sag in the fork when you sit on it. Typically between 25% and 33% of total travel of the fork.
Based on the motion of the fork you demonstrated, I would recommend going from 15wt to 20wt fork oil. It should smooth out the front end further by adding some additional damping. Check the sag out back and try to match the numbers front to rear.
Sick, thanks for the tip Tony! What 20wt oil would you recommend?
@@OffRoadRodeo
RAVENOL full synthetic fork oil.
Lasts longer than mineral fork oil.
The gap between your knee and bars would not be affected by any spring installation. You could take the springs totally out, or even the front wheel off, and as long as your foot was on the foot peg, that gap would be the same as before.
If the increased preload helps with your style of riding, then it does. It's possible, as basically every kind of suspension adjustment has compromises and benefits. If you like the benefits, and not having any static sag, or even dynamic sag by the looks up it, isn't a problem then no problem. But in case you're curious, look up videos or discussions about setting Sag, front and rear. If you have zero sag while going down the road, there isn't really much suspension in the drooping position because you're always sitting at the maxed out upwards position. Obviously if you first compress the forks, then they can move back up. But imagine a road condition where the bike crests a sudden drop off.. a wheel with sag would drop down into the void with its remaining suspension travel. Yours has zero or almost zero currently remaining, and thus would need to wait for the entire bike to drop down from gravity for the tire to reconnect with the road.
I didn't notice if you said how many turns in or out you put the preload on the caps at. Also what is the full range of adjustment (how many turns).
Sorry, I didn’t clarify well. These are not adjustable. It’s essentially a 1” solid spacer that’s part of the cap itself. Steady Garage and Chimera label it as “with preload”.
The YSS aftermarket spring kit might be adjustable but I opted to go this route instead because of the price.
Hope that helps!
Nice info. Does anyone make a spring or cartridge kit for these. Thx
YSS does but I also just found out that Ohlins does too.
hhrperformance.com/i-31647841-hlins-front-fork-spring-kit-fsk-161-honda-ct125-top-cap-spring-kit-2020-2022.html
@OffRoadRodeo yea thanks for that. It seems ohlin way to go. Cheers. Can't wait to upgrade her
All my cheapskate self heard was, " blah, blah blah, PVC pipe, blah blah..."
LOL at myself.
Wouldn't a 1" steel rod or tube of correct diameter (instead of PVC) serve just as well as this expensive alternative?
Yes, yes it would.
@@OffRoadRodeo Great! What diameter would this need to be? Thanks and keep up the great videos =)
@@msfitoyfactory4692 I believe 18mm! Thank you!
Seems like you could just put a stainless rod or tube spacer between the stock bolts and top of spring for much cheaper. Not sure why pvc is even in the conversation.
Need to level your handlebar brace.
I think what you’re seeing is from the GoPro wide angle. Either way, I’ve since sold the trail so the new owner can double check 😂
My mistake standard shipping is available fed-ex is not.
I would like to have a set but standard shipping which is too high at $10.20 but is not available for whatever reason and the next shipping option Is $19.68. No way I'm paying 20 bucks to ship something so small and light.
a piece of pvc pipe under the stock cap will do the same thing
👍
Adding fork oil will firm up the fork suspension
Yes, forget if I mentioned it in this video but I also changed the weight of the oil I was using to aid with that too.
@@OffRoadRodeo I believe @brestman1 was talking about adding more fork oil than the recommended amount, to decrease the amount of air pocket at the top of the system. Every fork oil has a final air pocket that can be compressed at the end of its travel. Since oil cant be compressed, but air can, adding a bit more oil will force the remaining air to compress more and add a bit of resistance ONLY during the final almost bottoming out position. To learn more about this you can search people discussing changing fork oil level and you'll see reasoning.
Great info, but you repeat yourself quite often.
Other than that, thank you so much.
Sorry about that. Noted for the next video and going forward!
Copper slip on aluminum…Noooooooooo
Hmm..interesting point Nigel.
I didn’t think it was problematic as it is bike shop grade anti-seize that is compatible “For metal connections of steel, titanium, aluminium”
us.muc-off.com/products/anti-seize-copper-compound