Ok this spring I installed progressive fork springs and the ride is alot smoother however I have side effect. The bike tends to lean back and forth more like I am riding a rail and feels like I got to keep balancing myselft. It tends to do it more when i am at lower speeds and you will be riding then the bike will shift to the right generally. It just feels like I have to balance the bike more after putting in the springs. I did snug up the front a bit to since the forks would bang when lifted up on jack. I know the progressive has a sportier feel to it but at times it is annoying trying to ride a straight line with out weaving. The front tire looks good and has less than 10000 miles on it so thought I would reach out for input.

Goodygood wrote:
Ok this spring I installed progressive fork springs and the ride is alot smoother however I have side effect. The bike tends to lean back and forth more like I am riding a rail and feels like I got to keep balancing myselft. It tends to do it more when i am at lower speeds and you will be riding then the bike will shift to the right generally. It just feels like I have to balance the bike more after putting in the springs. I did snug up the front a bit to since the forks would bang when lifted up on jack. I know the progressive has a sportier feel to it but at times it is annoying trying to ride a straight line with out weaving. The front tire looks good and has less than 10000 miles on it so thought I would reach out for input.

Did you, by any chance, put the "lowering" springs in the front while leaving the rear stock? That will make it twitchy.

P.S. There is no need to tighten up the head bearings to act as a dampner. They are not designed for that job and don't do it very well.

Goody:

Is there the same amount of fluid in both forks?

I too did the progressive springs, but never noticed that effect.


Rich

I put same amount in both forks by using seperate bottles of fluid also I have the progressive rear in prior to this. I also put the regular springs in not the lowering kit. I thought I seen on here several times that if your bars bang to the left or right then you need to tighten up stem? There is alittle different wear on one side of the tire and can get pics to show but didnt notice this until I put the progressive in and tightened up nut. I had road the bike just before and didnt notice this but after I did? I might just be over compensating for the new feel or could be in my mind but at times it is very annoying especially between 30 and 40 mph. It is more noticable in black top roads also but the bike tends to slip to the right like something just gives a bit. I thought about the fluid but put same amount in and stayed just under the maximum in the instructions.

Could I have over tightened the stem make me fight the bike more? Not sure how to explain that lol.

If you have it really flippen tight, it could make you supply more input to keep the bike stable. These bikes, if everything is good and free, will ride along until they run out of gas should you fall off. That is assuming they didn't hit anything. If your head bearings are so tight they can't rotate freely, the bike will not self correct.

edit: Are you also sure you have the rear wheel aligned properly?

Did you put spacers on top of the springs?

Jim

I have the spacers plus put a washer between them and the spring like instructions stated. As for rear tire I have not done anything to it since I had the new tire mounted last year and put a couple k miles on it since then. The issue popped up after I put in front springs. The head bearins are tight enough that the forks will slowly turn to right or left when up on jack instead of banging like before.

I can loosen the front bearing nut a bit and see if that work then if all else fails put back in the stock springs and see if it still happens.

My first thought was fluid levels being equal since it can just lean to the right a bit like the fork sinks on that side a smidge making bike pull. But I put equal amounts in each fork so shouldnt be that. But can pull caps and remeasure fluid and I know I left it a good 1/4 below maximum of 5.5" from top of forks.

I have the progressive springs installed and noticed nothing but positive results, put the old springs back in and see if its all just in your head. I don't even see how fork springs would have anything to do with a sensation like you describe.

I noticed your tire has about 10K miles on it? My bike hates worn tires and will start 'wandering' a bit when the tires are worn. 10K is a lot of miles for a motorcycle tire. I got 12K out of my last set of Dunlop 404's, but this time my rear is at 8K and almost smooth since April. It's staring to slide a bit in the rear. Old tires also get hard and have less road 'feel'. Check your tires. Maybe you just need new rubber....
John Scribner