Fork springs or oil?

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Hi, i need to fettle my suspension, and it looks like fixing the front end will be cheaper. My bike (CB250RSA)is 29yrs old with only 20,000 on the clock, should i replace the springs? and if so recommendations for a good setup i.e spring type / oil type.

Thanks

Pat
____________________
Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[steo]

what does 'fettle' mean? must be a ye olde english word? i have three rs's, one is the kickstart model & the other two are the deluxe, all works in progress mind.

[Ichy]

What makes you think it needs sorting?

Oil is cheap and can make a big difference if it not been done for a long time. New springs, especially progressive if you can get them, are lovely, but do cost around £70 a pair.

I'd change the oil and check the springs are in tolerance first.
____________________
https://www.metacafe.com/watch/1972097/how_to_behave_on_a_forum/

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Well the fork oil had to be changed, and i figured that a spring thats been compressed for that long wouldn't be at its most responsive.
The choice of springs is limited to my flimsy wallet, so no WP etc for me.

Pat
____________________
Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[Ichy]

The cheapest springs, if you can get them, are hagon at about £60-70. M and P are doing some reduced price springs from about £20 unfortunately there are none listed for your bike but if you measure the length and diameter of the spring and any spacers Hagon will try to match one for you.

You could try going to a spring manufacturer directly.

Measure the free length of the spring, its surprising how long they last.
____________________
https://www.metacafe.com/watch/1972097/how_to_behave_on_a_forum/

[Ichy]

I forgot to mention that if your using 10w oil then its worth getting the own brand from Halfords. £7 for a litre and I've used it on several different bikes without a problem.
____________________
https://www.metacafe.com/watch/1972097/how_to_behave_on_a_forum/

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Thanks for the advice Ichy, like you say they might be in tolerance but i'm buggered if i can find it in the Haynes. Only mentions the length. Luckily for me i've found some genuine Honda replacements a tenner each. Don't know who makes them but i'll kid myself they're Showa If i'm taking the forks off i might aswell do rebound springs (£3.75 ea)
[EDIT] found the Service limit for the springs..guess what i'm doing tomorrow

Ta

Pat
____________________
Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[Ichy]

If your feeling flush then do the bushes and seals at the same time, makes a difference and saves you stripping the forks later on.

When you do the forks give everything a good flushing, all sorts of crud builds up in the most awkward of places.
____________________
https://www.metacafe.com/watch/1972097/how_to_behave_on_a_forum/

[virus]

I found changing the oil for 10w and putting 10P in 2p pieces in each fork ontop of the springs made a massive change to my forks when I had one, miles better.


Cheers
John
____________________
own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.