How do I shorten fork springs 5 - 10 mm?

[TobyS]

How do I shorten my front springs. I want to take them down to the low end of spec, just to get my bike a little lower.

Can I just heat the ends up with a torch and collapse them? Do I get them red hot with a gradual transition zone into the cool part of the spring? I just don't want them to break at the heat transition zone.

I know they'll get a little stiffer theoretically, and I have slightly softer springs anyway. I'm thinking 5-10 mm won't change the rate much.

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks,
Toby

 

[prcucuma]

Wouldn't it be enough to take out the preload washers? Otherwise cut the right amount from the spring with a saw, take a gas torch and heat it up until it gets red and bend it down. Then take a grinder and make it look like before...
At least the second spring should look nearly as good as the stock ones. I did it myself a few times and it gets easier everytime you do it, unfortunately you only have to do it twice...