Got ohlins fork spring .90 kg/mm installed and now I feel that the front has raised a few centimeters and the front feels lighter. Is this normal?
FreakyFreak
FreakyFreak
Don't cut the spacers. Decrease preload. You need different spacers with racetech because they don't supply springs the same length as stock.
The bike will ride higher as the spring is stiffer and therefore compresses less for the same load............. you have decreased the sag.
Now you need to fit a decent rear shock that has some compression damping and doesn't squat to the bumpstop when you apply the throttle.
You could raise the forks in the yokes a few mm to pitch the bike forward more.
OP - what do you weigh? Are the Ohlins springs too stiff for your weight??
What is your front preload set to? I weigh about the same as you, have 0.9 springs with the preload set to 7 lines - pretty much minimum. It feels ok.
The .9 is close enough for your weight for it not to need changing. It is the only rate Ohlins offer, so you would need to shop around to find a different rate. Sonic Springs in the US offer a good range of springs the right length.
As Colin says, the geometry has changed due to the front compressing less for a given weight (you). The suspension works as a system, so changing one thing will have an effect elsewhere, but you will end up in a world of pain chasing specific sag figures.
You either need to get used to the new shape of the bike or alter it by lowering the front or raising the back some. Installing a decent shock will help no end. You will be amazed at how much better the bike is doing just this.
What were you trying to fix?
Yes, less preload means more sag. But you have less than before because of the stiffer springs.
Like I said, don't go chasing specific sag numbers. Put the tape measure away, set preload to minimum and test ride the bike. Adjust preload to suit your taste or feel.
You will not reduce or eliminate brake dive by changing springs. You have just found the effect they have. To do what you want you really need to revalve as the forks have too little compression damping but you could use a heavier oil. What is in there now? You could also try a higher oil level. Beware that heavier oil will also increase the high speed compression which will make the forks kick off bumps and the rebound so you would need to back this off some as well. Try different combinations and work out what you prefer.
Good choice on the shock.
also worth noting............. Sonic Springs suggest an oil height of 120mm.
I have sonic springs, but that is irrelevant. The springs don't know who made them.
Last time I checked ohlins suggested 145mm for their 0.9 springs. If you are still feeling too much dive then you could raise the oil level. Sonic suggest 120mm for their 0.9 springs which will improve fork dive.
I have revalved forks and gp suspension suggest 130mm which is where mine is now.
Prior to revalving I had just the 0.9 springs and oil at 145mm. There was still a lot of dive. If I were in that position now I would be raising the oil level. You can do this by adding a known cc or ml of oil. You don't have to do it by removing the springs. Pretty sure marthy reckoned that 27cc was equivalent to 20mm in height.