Spring selection criteria

[Trailryder42]

Hey guys,
When you get a spring calculation figure from a place like Race Techs site, it asks you what kind of riding and your weight without gear. It gives you a recommended spring rate, then you find the right series for the bike you're riding. I'm assuming the spec they give you is for a stock bike.

My question: I run a 4 gal IMS tank on my XR4, full, that's about 13 lbs. heavier than a full stock tank, then there's the weight of the bigger tank itsself. Should I add these weights to myself when doing the spring calc?

 

[Okiewan]

I would think so.

 

[bclapham]

you also have to be careful which site you go to since the spring rates they give are for their valving setup. For example, you are likely to get 2 different reccomendations from 2 different vendors.

 

[Trailryder42]

Yes, I'd thought of that as well. But springs and valving are 2 different things. The springs are what support the weight of the bike. I guess whoever I send my suspension off to, I need to be sure to tell them of my big tank so they can spring/revalve accordingly.

 

[glad2ride]

I once called Race Tech and MX-Tech. Both said their spring rate calculators are not valving dependent, only weight dependent.

 

[Jeremy Wilkey]

Which is why rider weight with gear is so important. A larger tank adds weight. As pure by the numbers as I like to be I often find myself rounding up or down depending on what factors I'm seeing. So I would say determined by weight, influenced by bike and rider preferences as impacted by conditions. Things are always changing in this realm..

Jer

 

[Milhaus]

Race tech's site says you should enter in weight WITHOUT gear.