Replace Fork Springs - at "what" mileage

[STill STylin]

I'm the original owner of my '05 ST1300 - and the love affair continues . . . .

Can you share an opinion concerning "when" fork springs need replacing.

Thank you.


Cheers,

 

[Mark]

As soon as you buy the bike or 1st time you bottom out (in my case it was the 1st time I rode the ST1100.

On the ST1300 I didn't upgrade them because Chris rode it almost exclusively and she never bottomed out.

 

[dduelin]

Well, probably never unless you want to go to aftermarket springs. Honda uses good springs in the 1300. Read that "uses quality materials" rather than spring rate. Heavier riders may need more spring rate then Honda provided.

I always check mine for minimum service length when they are out and they have never changed length from 35,000 miles to the last check at 73,000 miles. My BMW has the original fork springs after 30 years and 109,000 or 209,000 miles (5 digit odometer). If the spring is within service limits the rate or "stiffness" is unchanged from new.

 

[GitSum]

+1

Yep, when I checked the springs on my St1100 at 102k - they where well within specs

 

[FJRHank]

My experience on the st13 was that it would bottom out under heavy braking very easily, even when new.

Put in sonic springs (the heaviest they had 1.2 - which is what they recommended for the ST), and it made a world of difference. The ride was still compliant, but it was also more taught. Going over bumps was easier and more controlled. And cornering... wow. Amazing difference.

 

[RaYzerman]

The ST is generally undersprung on both ends. The first thing you should do is measure sag after the bike is a few thousand miles old... if it's more than 35 mm, for your weight, you need stronger springs such as straight rate ones from RaceTech. There's lots of suspension info out there, but what you will find is when you do the suspension upgrades, preferably one adjustable for compression and rebound damping, you'll be amazed at what a bike you have rather than living with mediocre suspension. Properly adjusted, you''ll think you're riding on rails.

 

[dduelin]

How much do you weigh? (If that is not a sensitive subject?) If Honda had provided forks with preload adjustment one would use this to set sag in an acceptable range of maybe 30-35 mm. If you weigh 165 lbs or less you can add some fork preload to set sag with the OEM springs. At this weight the rear spring's rate is correct. Riders that weigh more or that ride 2 up are under sprung with OEM springs.