Good Inexpensive Front Springs!

Anyone looking to get some good quality American made springs at a great price and good customer service, look here;
http://www.sonicsprings.com/catalog/index....ce86482ba020485

I ordered a set of fronts and told Rich that I needed them before the end of the week for a group ride. He upgraded to two day shipping for NO CHARGE!

I will post a ride report after I get them installed.

+1. I've got a set of their springs in my '94. Good product, price, and service.

Sonic Springs is my most favoritist spring sellers ever. (IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/style_emoticons/oldemoticons/warranty.gif)

They always hook me up and are more than happy to do the cross reference work to figure out what springs I need for my ever so weird motorcycle tastes.


Buy from them, you know you want to. (IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/style_emoticons/oldemoticons/fing02.gif)

Sorry for dredging up this old thread, but I have a question about the Sonic springs.
I've just ordered some, and wondered if I need to get some spacers from somewhere, or do they come with them or use the OEM spacers?

BTW - I decided on Sonic springs after becoming annoyed with trying to find some on line.
Racetech's site doesn't currently allow web orders, Progressive doesn't even list VFR800 springs, and Hyperpro doesn't list different spring rates.
The UnZud Racetech agent is just a PO Box number in the boonies. The local distributor of Hyperpro and Progressive lists the Hyperpro springs as "POA" and there's no indication what the Progressive model numbers mean. Gaaahh!! (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/pissed.gif)
Anyway, I remembered reading this thread, checked out Sonic's site, and ordering was SO easy! (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/fing02.gif)
Plus they cost me only NZ$130 delivered, compared with NZ$190 for my bike guy to get me some Progressives or $???? for the Hyperpros. I suspect they'll be here around the time my new! IMPROVED!! Elka shock arrives, so I'm not quite but almost getting excited.

enzed_viffer, Oct 25 2007, 08:36 PMSorry for dredging up this old thread, but I have a question about the Sonic springs.
I've just ordered some, and wondered if I need to get some spacers from somewhere, or do they come with them or use the OEM spacers?

I think they will probably come with a piece of tubing stock, which you will need to section two spacers from. That's how it was with my Racetech springs.

There was nothing on their site, but their technical articles (including the one on how to cut the spacer to length) were clear and easy to understand.
(It's not easy to be clear and easy to understand; look at me - I'm a technical writer and my gibberish makes no sense whatsoever. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/goofy.gif) )

enzed_viffer, Oct 25 2007, 05:36 PMSorry for dredging up this old thread, but I have a question about the Sonic springs.
I've just ordered some, and wondered if I need to get some spacers from somewhere, or do they come with them or use the OEM spacers?

BTW - I decided on Sonic springs after becoming annoyed with trying to find some on line.
Racetech's site doesn't currently allow web orders, Progressive doesn't even list VFR800 springs, and Hyperpro doesn't list different spring rates.
The UnZud Racetech agent is just a PO Box number in the boonies. The local distributor of Hyperpro and Progressive lists the Hyperpro springs as "POA" and there's no indication what the Progressive model numbers mean. Gaaahh!! (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/pissed.gif)
Anyway, I remembered reading this thread, checked out Sonic's site, and ordering was SO easy! (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/fing02.gif)
Plus they cost me only NZ$130 delivered, compared with NZ$190 for my bike guy to get me some Progressives or $???? for the Hyperpros. I suspect they'll be here around the time my new! IMPROVED!! Elka shock arrives, so I'm not quite but almost getting excited.

Hyperpro and Progressive springs are both progressive, which means that they think only one spring is necessary for all riders. The rates will probably be better than stock (way too soft), and their advertising will make a convincing argument, but most tuners will recommend straight-rate.

I don't know if the Sonics come with spacers (RaceTechs do), but in any case, you'll have to cut them. I've used PVC pipe before.

My sonics arrived w/ spacer material & some shims (washers). Some of the WERA racers swear by these guys springs. Cant wait to get'em in, hopefully this weekend. Is there a tutorial for a spring swap anywhere??

mechdziner714, Oct 30 2007, 05:18 AMIs there a tutorial for a spring swap anywhere??

There's this one, but it assumes you're taking the forks apart and changing the oil. I guess if you're only changing the springs, you could just remove the fork caps, then unbolt the damper from the caps, remove the concave 'spring keeper' washer from the damper rod, and slide the spring, spacer and washers off then replace. That's what I was going to do, but I figured I may as well change the oil at the same time. My 'bike guy' checked it a while back and said it was fine, but I don't know what weight it is, and it's been in there since before I bought the bike in 2004 or whenever it was.

Sonic tends to only send me enough spacer material for one side. You can get the electrical grade sch 40 PVC at any hardware store for next to nothing and plop it in there if you need more than they ship you. The size is not real important, since there should be some big washers either in the forks now, or in the package with the springs.

Moved to "Bargain Finder" to keep it around. Good prices with positive responses! (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/fing02.gif)

Chev, Oct 31 2007, 05:06 PMSonic tends to only send me enough spacer material for one side. You can get the electrical grade sch 40 PVC at any hardware store for next to nothing and plop it in there if you need more than they ship you.

Interestingly (or perhaps not), the local Ohlins expert (and he IS very expert) said that it's not unknown for spacers made from PVC pipe to shatter, and that it was better to use aluminium alloy pipe or thin-walled steel. The trouble is, I dunno where one would get either of these. Would ornery aluminum do?

enzed_viffer, Oct 31 2007, 02:51 PM

Chev, Oct 31 2007, 05:06 PMSonic tends to only send me enough spacer material for one side. You can get the electrical grade sch 40 PVC at any hardware store for next to nothing and plop it in there if you need more than they ship you.

Interestingly (or perhaps not), the local Ohlins expert (and he IS very expert) said that it's not unknown for spacers made from PVC pipe to shatter, and that it was better to use aluminium alloy pipe or thin-walled steel. The trouble is, I dunno where one would get either of these. Would ornery aluminum do?

I wouldn't think that if you used the Sch 40(thick walled) PVC that it could ever break! The thin walled stuff, maybe. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/unsure.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/fing02.gif)

Baileyrock, Nov 1 2007, 10:15 AMI wouldn't think that if you used the Sch 40(thick walled) PVC that it could ever break! The thin walled stuff, maybe.

Come to think of it, I think he was talking about the thin-walled waterpipe.
Would ordinary aluminum be up to the job, or is it too soft?

Ya know, in the old days we just stuck a stack of steel washers in there. That was your basic "performance upgrade" to the CB 750 suspension. Still a valid trick for stiffening up the springs.

paxtonpony, Nov 1 2007, 10:40 AMYa know, in the old days we just stuck a stack of steel washers in there. That was your basic "performance upgrade" to the CB 750 suspension. Still a valid trick for stiffening up the springs.

Well... that's more preloading the springs, than stiffening them, although the effect is the same: you're reducing the effective operational length of the spring.
Ah yes - the good old days. I remember when there was so little scope for improvement: you could add washers, replace the fork oil with ATF, or get really fancy and tap the fork caps to accept a tyre valve, and add a few PSI of air. I had a friend who did that on his RM250 AND removed the springs. It was a nice cushy ride until the fork seals blew out. Then there was a high school classmate who was the NZ 250 MX champion: before he got his first proper MX bike, he rode a Kawasaki 250 dual sport. To get better rear suspension action, he welded some new top mounts on to the frame so the shocks were slightly laid down. It sounds dumb now, but it was the height of innovation back then.

enzed_viffer, Oct 31 2007, 05:56 PMThen there was a high school classmate who was the NZ 250 MX champion: before he got his first proper MX bike, he rode a Kawasaki 250 dual sport. To get better rear suspension action, he welded some new top mounts on to the frame so the shocks were slightly laid down. It sounds dumb now, but it was the height of innovation back then.

So was that Burt Munroe's cousin, or Britten's brother?? (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/goofy.gif)

SEBSPEED, Nov 1 2007, 11:04 AM

enzed_viffer, Oct 31 2007, 05:56 PMThen there was a high school classmate who was the NZ 250 MX champion: before he got his first proper MX bike, he rode a Kawasaki 250 dual sport. To get better rear suspension action, he welded some new top mounts on to the frame so the shocks were slightly laid down. It sounds dumb now, but it was the height of innovation back then.

So was that Burt Munroe's cousin, or Britten's brother?? (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/goofy.gif)

Wulll... Ack Shirley, he was a dairy farmer's son, and not related to either, as both the aforementioned gentlemen lived in the South Island. (Dumb name, huh? I prefer "Te Waka a Maui", which means "Maui's canoe"). Anyway, before he got a Husqvarna sponsorship, his parents sponsored him. I think most roolly good MXers here are farmers' kids. That reminds me of the time I rode out to The Country to visit him - I remember riding along the road on my CB175, at about 60 mph, and having him overtake me on his MX bike, on one wheel. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/blink.gif)

Sorry to interupt (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/rolleyes.gif)

Getting back to the forks ... I too am about to replace the springs in my '04 & will do the oil change while I'm at it. Has anybody got any suggestions for fork oil? Make & weight .. I weigh approx 82kgs/180lbs with gear.

Dave

These guys set up mine race/track type set up. I weigh 190-210 depending
on how I'm eating at the time. Couldn't tell you the cost a buddy of mine is
sponsored by them.

http://www.feelthetrack.com/project675.html

oz-e, Nov 1 2007, 12:04 PMGetting back to the forks ... I too am about to replace the springs in my '04 & will do the oil change while I'm at it. Has anybody got any suggestions for fork oil? Make & weight .. I weigh approx 82kgs/180lbs with gear.

I'm slightly heavier'n you , and I'm going to use Motul 10W, but you could try a lighter weight by mixing say a 5W and 10W to give you a ~7.5W.
I think how it works is that with springs that are too light, the OEM suspension gets a bit of a hammering and it helps to go to a lighter weight oil to speed up the oil flow through the dampers so it doesn't interfere with fork travel. However, if the forks are sprung with the appropriate rate springs, you can go with a slightly more viscous oil.
I don't think brand is important, as long as you don't go with some el cheapo supermarket fork oil.

Yay!! Apparently my springs have arrived! (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/fing02.gif)
But my bike guy has no 10W oil - it's supposed to arrive tomorrow. Luckily(?), I'm at work today, so it doesn't matter (although I was hoping somehting would arrive before I left, so I'd have an excuse to stay home and not have to ride in the rain.

But my shock is still in transit. Somewhere between Noo Yark and here ... (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/sad.gif)

Strangely, the springs were ordered/shipped well after the shock, and were supposed to take about twice as long to get here... (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/unsure.gif)

oz-e, Oct 31 2007, 05:04 PMSorry to interupt (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/rolleyes.gif)

Getting back to the forks ... I too am about to replace the springs in my '04 & will do the oil change while I'm at it. Has anybody got any suggestions for fork oil? Make & weight .. I weigh approx 82kgs/180lbs with gear.

Dave

Ohlins 10w

Whelp, my springs *had* arrived, and they came with four (4) washers and about twice as much spacer pipe as I needed! (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/fing02.gif)
And it's the thick-walled electrical PVC type, so it's all good.
Oh yeah - and I'd printed out their excellent instructions from the Sonic Springs website, but when I unpacked the springs, they'd included all the instructions anyway!

This morning I checked my email for info about my shock - it arrived in NooZilund yesterday at 4:14PM, and cleared Customs about 2 hours later. So, with a bit of luck, and assuming the carrier pigeons/rats/tortoises have been well fed and maintained, it could arrive at my house any month now!

Just need the fork erl, and a kitchen pass, and all the bits of this puzzle will be in place. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/fing02.gif)

The install of the new fork springs went really well - Sonic's instructions regarding the spring spacers were so good, that when I checked the sag afterwards it was exactly right, with no adjustment needed! (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/fing02.gif)

enzed_viffer, Nov 11 2007, 08:37 PMThe install of the new fork springs went really well - Sonic's instructions regarding the spring spacers were so good, that when I checked the sag afterwards it was exactly right, with no adjustment needed! (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/fing02.gif)

Sweet!

Now that you've reworked both ends of the bike, don't forget to give us a full report of much better the bike is now!

When I upgraded my F4i, I couldn't believe the difference it made, the thing is on rails now. I've upgraded the VFR at both ends as well, but need a stiffer rear spring on it to make it right.

enzed_viffer, Nov 12 2007, 01:37 AMThe install of the new fork springs went really well - Sonic's instructions regarding the spring spacers were so good, that when I checked the sag afterwards it was exactly right, with no adjustment needed! (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/fing02.gif)

I just got my Sonic Springs today. Question: did you use the supplied washers .... 1 top & 1 bottom of the plastic spacer?

Also am I correct in thinking that in the manual shows a "spring collar" ... is this replaced by the new custom cut plastic spacer?

Sorry but want to get my head around it before I start tonight.

TIA

Dave

Yes one washer on top and bottom of the spacer.

And yes, remove that metal collar and replace it with the supplied PVC spacer.



I had the same results with both of my bikes. No sag setting needed after I installed the springs! I'm sure that is not the norm, though.

oz-e, Nov 12 2007, 04:43 PMI just got my Sonic Springs today. Question: did you use the supplied washers .... 1 top & 1 bottom of the plastic spacer?

No, I used the OEM ones.

oz-e, Nov 12 2007, 04:43 PMAlso am I correct in thinking that in the manual shows a "spring collar" ... is this replaced by the new custom cut plastic spacer?

Yeah, like Chev said, it's the PVC pipe.

A couple of comments:
The Sonic instructions are pretty good, but I had to think about them for a bit first.
Make sure you measure and mark each fork leg separately - I found one spring was 2.5mm longer.

Once you've removed the old springs and cleaned out the oil, here's what you do:
1. Put the new spring in the fork leg, and extend the fork leg.
2. Put the spacer in on top of the spring, and mark it level with the top of the fork tube. Do it on two sides just to make sure.
3. Wind the preload in on the fork cap to half way; on a 5th Gen this is 7.5 turns.
4. Measure the distance from the bottom of the fork cap to the bottom of the preload doofer; on the 5th Gen, this was 34mm.
5. Add on the thickness of the two washers and the keeper; on the 5th gen this was 5mm (with the keeper washer's dished portion sitting down inside the other washer). So we now have the washers plus the fork cap (at half preload) pushing the spacer and spring down by 39mm (in my case), which is too much.
6. Take off 15mm (amount of compression preload you actually need) from the total (e.g., 39mm-15mm = 24mm). Call this "X"
7. Cut the spacer Xmm shorter than the bottom of the mark.

My tubing cutters only go to 1", so I used a mitre box and hacksaw, and had to get the spacers flush on the cut end by grinding them gently on the side of the bench grinder wheel, then tidy them up with sandpaper. Bit of a pain, but it came out OK.

Do the same for the other leg.

Thanks a heap guys especially enzed for your thorough explanation. Much appreciated.

It all went well ... I did have to put the forks back into the the triple clamps to get the top nut off. HINT: Loosen the topnut before removing the forks from triple clamps .. much easier than trying to wrestle forks tubes in a vice.

Also, I used 7w Belray fork oil to 100mm from top. Will see how that goes & may adjust/change oil later.

Thanks again Chev & Enzed & all others in this thread. Top stuff!

Dave