Progressive Vs Linear Rear Shock Spring

I'm buying a new shock soon, what's the general thinking...linear better than progressive? It'll be commuting, touring and fast road use, little if any track use at all

I don't think there are enough coils on a rear spring to make them truly progressive, are there? A progressive spring changes rate due to the more closely-spaced coils binding. I can see this happening on a fork spring, but not on a shock spring. But I'm happy to be corrected! Who sells progressive VFR shock springs? Hyperpro?

Ciao,

You got it, they offer linear as well. I know (through others comments on bike forums I also use) that linear springs are the better option as 'progressive springs' are rarely ever the case and actually hinder handling slightly. But of course that's others information, not my experience!

I have often wondered about progressive springs seeing as the damping is linear!

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Badhabit

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Now it should work. And this is a progressiv monoshock with nearly every adjustment you could wish.

Is that for sale?

Okay, there is one!

However, that still leaves the issue of figuring out the damping to suit a changing spring rate. Most aftermarket companies do not bother with progressive rear springs. I suspect the advantages of a progressive rear shock may be mainly from the marketing department... :wink:

Ciao,

Linear spring set for your weight and valved for the spring rate is the best option. As others have stated, you will need to make dampening sacrifices to use a progressive spring...

The rear suspension relies on the shock linkage to provide progressive behavior (changing rate of shock movement vs wheel travel). Linear linkage pieces are often available for GSXR's and CBR's for track use, but I am not sure about VFR's.

Hyperpro offer a linear rear shock, gonna go with one of those!

The Nitron I ordered arrived Saturday,

I have a Nitron on the 800 and am very impressed with it.

Pic to follow.

There you go

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Interesting, it's an eyelet rather than clevis, wonder if it'd fit the 750?

johnlondon

Interesting, it's an eyelet rather than clevis, wonder if it'd fit the 750?

No, it fits his bike which is a 36/2 and as the shocks for 36/1 and 36/2 are not interchangeable so no.

Interesting color on the spring, is that "nitron" ir did you specify it?

White Power shocks were white because its ownner could get powdercoating cheap via a company that produced hospital beds... :-)

The powder blue is Nitron's colour.

This is the rear shock for a '93 FP. 750.

There is a difference between the front fork internals of the '93 and the earlier and some of the later 750's.

This rear should fit all FL-FP models but not FR-V's

Linear springs, always for me. :smile2:

Sorry, misread it...thought the one in the pic was for an 800

The standard Nitron for the 800Fi (not VTEC) isn't that different, TBH. The top and bottom brackets are slightly different widths, but look the same

JZH, 16/05/2015 at 11:01 PM

A progressive spring changes rate due to the more closely-spaced coils binding.

Not quite. This is only one way to get a progressive rate.

Paradoxically, it's actually linear springs that are a bit of an oddity. Only cylindrical and constant pitch coil springs are (almost) linear. Everything else is rising rate, e.g. barrel-shaped and tapered coils.

Fork springs typically rely on variable pitch probably because they are already long and slender by nature and cannot be barrelled or tapered to a useful degree. 

If my eyes / pictures are not deceiving me, Hyperpro shock springs have a fairly pronounced taper.

twitte, 5/19/2015 at 1:29 AM

The rear suspension relies on the shock linkage to provide progressive behavior (changing rate of shock movement vs wheel travel). Linear linkage pieces are often available for GSXR's and CBR's for track use, but I am not sure about VFR's.

Spot on. My understanding is progressive springs (and many so-called progressive springs are in fact dual-rate) are primarily for use in dirt bikes where there's no linkage - the shock mounting directly between the swing arm and the frame. White Power make shocks for KTM's that feature progressive springs and position sensitive damping. They are a compromise, certainly in their stock form. 

 It would be easy to measure and modify the rising rate on the VFR if you could be bothered by removing the spring from the shock, re-installing it and then measuring rear wheel travel against shock travel. Making a new linkage for a 4th Gen would be simple too as it's basically just 2 bolt-on plates. But I couldn't be bothered myself, my 4th Gen handles great with a re-valved, re-sprung (straight-rate) stock shock + 6 mm spacer and stock linkage.