Stiffening up the front fork on a Speedmaster - 05

[Rogerr]

Have anyone here stiffening the front fork on a Speedmaster by adding a longer spacers above the springs?
I have done it on another bike years ago and it's at least not expensive. Another way would be to increase the oil level.
If anyone has fiddle with those maybe you have some measures I could start with?
It would be very nice if someone had the dimensions of the standard spacers, length and diameter.

 

[DaveM]

I cannot recall seeing anything like this before, why do you need to do this?

 

[Greyfell]

Might another alternative be a heavier weight oil?

 

[sikatri]

I saw something about fork stabilizers recently. Sounds like the same thing. It looked pretty simple conceptually. I was wondering if there was any benefit.

 

[Rogerr]

Might another alternative be a heavier weight oil?

I have thought about oil with higher viscosity too as I find the fork to be a bit soft. But it does not seem to be al that easy to get fork oil with higher viscosity than 10W (std. for Speedmaster and I assume that what's in there now).

 

[Rogerr]

I saw something about fork stabilizers recently. Sounds like the same thing. It looked pretty simple conceptually. I was wondering if there was any benefit.

Isn't that

I cannot recall seeing anything like this before, why do you need to do this?

It's a kind of old tricks, I find it to be a bit soft and would like to try to see how it feels with a less soft setup.

What I'm most interested in right now is the dimensions of the distance piece/pipe. Maybe someone here have installed progressive springs and have the original distance piece laying and can measure it?
I would have liked to find or make a new pair probably solid before I start the "project".

 

[Greyfell]

I have thought about oil with higher viscosity too as I find the fork to be a bit soft. But it does not seem to be al that easy to get fork oil with higher viscosity than 10W (std. for Speedmaster and I assume that what's in there now).

Amazon, and probably other sources, has motorcycle fork oil in weights ranging from 5 to 20 (5,7.5,10,15,20).

 

[Gogreen]

Adding spacers is a good way to set your static sag if your forks are not adjustable for pre-load. look up how to set and measure static sag, there's lots of video and stuff out there. I don't recommend adding more oil than specified as it can cause leaks and add a risk lock ups, but changing the viscosity is fine and will increase both compression and rebound damping (if your forks aren't adjustable) and will take a bit of trial and error to get what you need. Thicker is stiffer..

 

[Rogerr]

Adding spacers is a good way to set your static sag if your forks are not adjustable for pre-load. look up how to set and measure static sag, there's lots of video and stuff out there. I don't recommend adding more oil than specified as it can cause leaks and add a risk lock ups, but changing the viscosity is fine and will increase both compression and rebound damping (if your forks aren't adjustable) and will take a bit of trial and error to get what you need. Thicker is stiffer..

I'm aware of this.
If I could get the dimensions of the std. spacers I would try with solid spacers to start with. I count on that the reduced volume will increase the progressiv damping a bit too.