Bit soft up front (nc24 forks)

[Biscuits]

Ey up!
From experience, what's the best way of firming up forks? I can't currently stretch to new springs but would a longer spacer or heavier oil do the trick?
Front end dips quite alarmingly on braking, even with 10psi in 'em and I don't want to pop the seals. Again.

Cheers

[CMSMJ1]

Springs....the only way

preload the current ones with a larger spacer if you can but the proper fix and the only real way is some heavier springs.

thicker oil doesn't do anything - it slows the damping down so you get worse handling..

[Biscuits]

(off topic but did you watch corrie last night? Joe:" ITS THE ONNNLY WAY"
don't normally watch it but last night was chock full of Harry Hill moments!)

erm, anyway, so longer spacers will help but new springs is the best option? Cheers CMMSJMSMJLS
Anyone had this done and have some idea on price?
And before I send the wife ballistic by tieing up the bike in the new garage of the new house, would anyone *cough*Neo*cough happen to know the diameter of the spacers?

Love my '24 to bits, she's old but still up for it just rather not plough (another) few hundred quid into something that (god forbid) would be a write off if anything happened

[CMSMJ1]

you'll probably have a spacer in the forks as it is, get one of them out, and find a suitable alternative that is 10mm longer..

Or, what spec are the springs - you might get some from an RC24 or a bike related in age and fork spec that are harder. eBay is your friend (as is Neo... )

[Biscuits]

yep, there are spacers in the forks, thin wall ali tubes. i'll have to jack it up and get them out to measure, left and right are different lengths.
http://www.calsci.com/motorcycleinfo/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

link above is to a page with loads of suspension setup how to's, like setting front and rear sag etc. i would link to the howto pages directly but i cant read the links, on wifes netbook thingy and i cant remember how to zoom the page

anyone changed there '21 or '24 fork springs? i know the '30's are completely diffrent but would a later (better?) model '23 or '29 have suitable springage?

[duncan]

I had this problem with an nc24 a few years ago.I phoned Maxton (01928-740531) and ordered new springs.I forget how much it was but it was not that much.I remember that they asked me to measure the original springsand the spacer on top,count the coils and tell them how much I weighed.That nc24 did not have the air valves on the fork tops but pre-load adjusters instead.I now have another nc24 but it has the original air valves and I do not know where to get the pre-load adjusters.I think they must have been off another bike.Anyway the Maxton springs made a massive improvement to the front end.It is my intention to get a set for my present nc24.

[Neosophist]

Yeah! Mid 80's Hondas are all soft :-)

It does have anti-dive and some heavier oil (15wt) might slow the dampening down a bit if your forks are worn and bouncing all over the place.

Are you actually bottoming them out or do you just not like the soft feel?

I have Hagon Progressive springs in mine.. £60

http://www.vyxxn.co.uk/catalog/progress ... bbcde02dac" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Probably the best money you'll spend.

The problem with the CBR400's are that they have 41mm forks as opposed to the 37mm NC24 forks, so the springs will probably not fit but i have not tested this.

Also CBR400 forks are similar internally to NC30 forks execpt the top tubes are longer (very close to the length of the NC24) but with different lowers (however you can fit NC30 lowers to CBR400 forks for better calipers) plus in this configuration they'd be roughtly the right size to bolt into an NC24... (with CBR yokes of course, which also arn't far off...)

You'd need the wheel / discs etc etc though, lots of money compared to springs.

Plus if your buying 20 odd year old springs theres also a chance they'll be worn out too.

If you do need spring measurements though I can probably find the specs out.

As for blowing the fork seals.. I dont use air with non-honda seals they don't last!

[Biscuits]

Ey up!

They're not bottoming out or bouncing, just far too soft to even begin pushing the front end, anything other than light braking sends the nose straight down, Hagon progressives eh? Think I'll be investing in some of them
sharpish, along with some genuine seals, I don't use the bike much atm but cheapo seals and 10psi...

[Neosophist]

Ey up!

They're not bottoming out or bouncing, just far too soft to even begin pushing the front end, anything other than light braking sends the nose straight down, Hagon progressives eh? Think I'll be investing in some of them
sharpish, along with some genuine seals, I don't use the bike much atm but cheapo seals and 10psi...

I wouldn't use any air but its your call.

If there not bouncy or bottoming out it's probably just the feel thats putting you off, you can still ride the bike pretty hard with standard suspension y'kno! It's just whatever your comfortable with :-)

The Hagon springs are still a bit bouncy but firm up quite a lot when the suspension compresses.

[Biscuits]

If I'm just cruising the front feels fine, pliant and supple, if a little squidgy. But under anything than light braking the front dives like the bikes just seen a dropped £50, not quite bottoming but damn near the end of travel. Do not like. I'd rather not run any air either, just another variable to go wrong/leak/explode but with it the bike feels better. And I'm much more confident.
I'll try longer spacers in the meantime, less stress on the seals and the mrs isn't taking the hint,
"springs?! You want springs for valentines?!"