Economical front suspension?

[VS Bullet]

Whats the best low cost forks do-over? I'm thinking just springs and oil. No emulators or fork swaps for now.

Suggestions for springs and oil? I'm about 190#

Thanks in advance!

 

[Saml01]

Re: Economy front suspension.

Progressive springs, 80 bucks and some walmart supertech atf.

 

[sdt354]

Re: Economy front suspension.

Progressive springs, 80 bucks and some walmart supertech atf.

Was thinking of switching to ATF myself. Anyone know what the viscosity is.
Steve-o

 

[smithben1983]

Re: Economy front suspension.

Does a guy want to start with lowering it right away as well?

 

[Diablotin]

Re: Economy front suspension.

Was thinking of switching to ATF myself. Anyone know what the viscosity is.
Steve-o

ATF may vary, but usually 7.5W if I don't make any mistake.

 

[one2dmax]

Re: Economy front suspension.

We use full synthetic power steering fluid though ATF fluid also works. You can do a search for the MSDS for the fluid you are considering. Note that the viscosity will show a varied amount based on temp range. Oh, and by the way we can set you up with everything you'd need.

The best fluids maintain the least change. Here's a sheet showing many popular fluids:

Current Fluid 40?C 100?C VΔT For Fork For Shock
Bardahl Fork Oil 5w 19.3 5.1 3.78 LW F XL S
Bardahl Fork Oil 10w 35.5 6.9 5.14 Med F LW S
Bel-Ray HVI 3w 11.2 4.1 2.73 XL F XL S
Bel-Ray HVI5w 18.2 6.2 2.94 LW F LW S
Bel-Ray HVI 10w 34.4 10.2 3.37 Med F Med S
Bel-Ray HVI 15w 51.2 14.0 3.66 Hvy F Hvy S
Bel-Ray Fork 5w 17.4 4.2 4.14 LW F XL S
Bel-Ray Fork 7w 29.3 5.5 5.33 Med F XL S
Bel-Ray Fork 10w 36.0 6.6 5.45 Med. F LW S
Bel-Ray Fork 15w 52.9 8.0 6.61 Hvy F LW S
Bel-Ray Fork 20w 77.1 10.0 7.71 Hvy F Med S
Bel-Ray Fork 30w 115.3 13.1 8.80 No Cross Med S
BG Products 344 18.91 6.17 3.06
Bilstein Shock Oil (stock) 19.1 5.4 3.54 LW F XL S
Castrol Aircraft Grade Missile and Ordnance
Brayco Micronic 795 11 3.9 2.82 XL F XL S
Brayco Micronic 756 13.5 5 2.7 XL/LW F XL/LW S
Brayco Micronic 776RP 25.4 4.8 5.29 LW/Md F XL/LW S
Fox Shock Fluid (stock) 26.8 9.5 2.82 Med F Med S
Golden Spectro Ultra Light 9.8 4.2 2.33 XL F XL S
Spectro Cart. Fork 85/150 16.3 3.6 4.53 LW F XL S
Golden Spectro Fork 5w 22.5 4.4 5.11 LW F XL S
Spectro Cart.Fork 125/150 26.7 5.0 5.34 Med F XL S
Golden Spectro Fork 10w 31.6 5.4 5.85 Med F XL S
Golden Spectro Fork 20w20 66.0 8.7 7.59 Hvy F LW S
Golden Spectro Fork 15w 46.3 6.9 6.70 Med F LW S
Golden Spectro SPL U-light 12.2 5.0 2.44 XL F XL S
Golden Spectro SPL V-light 29.9 10.7 2.79 Med F Med S
Golden Spectro SPL Light 55.9 18.1 3.09 Hvy F Hvy S
Harley Davidson type "B" 34.3 5.8 5.91 Med F LW S
Harley Davidson type "E" 39.2 7.3 5.37 Med F LW S
Harley Davidson (Heavy) 67.7 8.6 7.87 Hvy F Hvy S
Pro Honda 5w 16.7 4.2 3.98 LW F XL
HondaSS-7 5w 16.9 3.8 4.45 LW F XL S
Honda SS-8 10w 39.7 7.6 5.22 Med F LW S
Kayaba K2-C (shock) 11.3 4.0 2.82 XL F XL S
Kayaba Zero-1 (fork) 15.1 3.5 4.31 LW F XL S
Koni Shock oil (stock) --- 5.3 --- --- XL S
Maxima Racing Shock Light 14.3 5.4 2.65 XL/LW F XL/LW S
Maxima Racing Shock Med. 21.8 7.6 2.87 LW F LW S
Maxima Racing 85-150 (5w) 17.6 3.9 4.51 LW S XL S
Maxima Racing 125-150 (7w) 26.2 5.1 5.14 Med F XL/LW S
Maxima Racing165-150 (10w) 33.8 6.2 5.45 Med F LW S
Maxima Racing235-150 (15w) 52.9 9.2 5.75 Md/Hv F Med S
Maxima Fork 5w 18.6 3.9 4.77 LW F XL S
Maxima Shock 32.0 --- --- Med F ---
Maxima Fork 10w 35.3 6.5 5.43 Med F LW S
Maxima Fork 15w 52.4 8.0 6.55 Md/Hv F LW/Md S
Maxima Fork 20w 70.6 11.7 6.03 Hvy F Med S
Motul Fork 5-10 23.9 6.6 3.62 LW/Md F LW S
MotulFork 15-20 60.1 12.9 4.66 Hvy F Md/HvS
Noleen Aluron 16.3 3.6 4.53 LW F XL S
Noleen 1 16.7 3.8 4.39 LW F XLS
Noleen Unvis 28.0 9.8 2.86 Med F Med S
Ohlins (stock) 28.7 9.4 3.05 Med F Med S
Ohlins Low Viscosity PN1306-01 13.7 ? --- XL/LW F ---
Penske Lightweight Shock Fluid 15.5 6.3 2.46 XL/LW F LW S
PJ-1 Pro Fork 14.6 3.6 4.06 XL/LW F XL S
PJ-1 Pro 7 15.0 3.7 4.05 XL/LW F XL S
PJ-1 2.5w 26.1 4.9 5.32 LW/Md F XL/LW S
PJ-1 5w 31.2 5.4 5.78 Med F XL/LW S
PJ-1 7.5w 27.5 5.1 5.39 Med F XL/LW S
PJ-1 10w 33.9 5.7 5.95 Med F XL/LW S
PJ-1 ATF 45 8.6 5.23 Md/Hv F LW/Md S
PJ-1 15w 55.3 8.7 6.36 Md/Hv F LW/Md S
PJ-1 20w 61.7 8.4 7.34 Hvy F LW/Md S
PJ-1 30w 116.9 15 7.79 --- HVY S
RaceTech US-1 14.2 4.2 3.38 XL/LW F XL S
RaceTech US-2 32.9 7.6 4.42 Med F LW S
Rock Shox 2.5w Light Cartridge 10.8 4 2.7 XL F XL S
Rock Shox 5w Medium Hydracoil 19.9 5.7 3.49 LW F XL/LW S
Rock Shox 10w Heavy Boxxer 38 8.4 4.52 Med F LW/Md S
Rock Shox 15w Extra Heavy 42.8 10.4 4.12 Md/Hv F Med S
Showa SS2.5 (stock) Shock 12.5 3.9 3.2 XL F XL S
Showa SS05 (stock) Fork 15.9 3.6 4.42 XL/LW F XL S
SLP Snow Shock Light 23.1 4.8 4.81 LW/Md F XL S
Silkolene Fork/ Pro RSF 2.5w 15.0 6.0 2.5 XL/LW F XL/LW S
Silkolene Fork 5w (Penske) 26.8 9.1 2.94 LW/Md F MedS
Silkolene Fork 10w 35.7 7.5 4.76 Med F LW S
Torco MFO 5w (VI 325) 10.8 4.0 2.7 XL F XL S
Torco MFO 7w (VI 285) 16.1 5.0 3.22 LW F XL/LW S
Torco MFO 10w (VI 260) 19.9 5.7 3.49 LW F XL/LW S
Torco MFO 15w (VI 240) 33.0 8.4 3.92 Med F LW/MedS
Torco MFO 20w (VI 250) ? 10.4 --- --- Med S
Torco RSF Light ? ?
Torco RSF Medium ? ?
White Brothers RS 67 14.0 5.2 2.69 LW/Md F XL/LWS
White Brothers RF 85 17.1 3.7 4.62 LW F XL S
White Brothers RF 130 28.6 5.4 5.3 Med F XL/LW S
White Power 5w 24.6 5.1 4.82 LW/Md F XL/LWS
White Power7.5w 34.0 6.5 5.23 Med F LW S
White Power Fork 10w 51.2 8.8 5.82 HeavyF LW/MedS
White Power 15w 69.1 11.6 5.96 Heavy F Med S
White Power 20w 104.9 15.3 6.86 No Cross F Heavy S
Works Performance 27.5 9.4 2.92 Med F LW/MedS
Yamaha Fork 15.5 --- --- XL/LW F
Like Water!™ (Clear) 5 . 5 2 . 3 2 . 3 9 3 4 4
ExtraLight 2.5 W (Blue) 9 . 8 4 . 0 2 . 4 5 4 0 2
LightWeight 5W (Yellow) 1 8 . 4 7 . 1 2 . 5 9 4 0 7
Medium 10W (Red) 3 0 . 4 1 0 . 8 2 . 8 1 3 6 9
Heavy 30W (Gold) 6 6 . 8 1 6 . 0 4 . 1 7 2 5 6

VΔT is the ratio of the viscosity at 40?C divided by the viscosity at 100?C, less change the better when comparing similar viscosity fluids. A value of 1 would be no change in viscosity with temperature. The assumed operating temperature for forks is 40?C or 104?F and for shocks 100?C or 212?F.

 

[Fire-medic]

Re: Economy front suspension.

Wow, v. complete, another public info blast from Sean, thank-you!

 

[one2dmax]

Re: Economy front suspension.

Note the BF344 fluid we like has one of the most stable fluid viscosity when compared to the other brands that are common. I like to consider it a 15wt.

Sean

 

[sdt354]

Re: Economy front suspension.

Wow, v. complete, another public info blast from Sean, thank-you!

+1 to that. Thanks Sean.
Steve-o

 

[Rusty McNeil]

Lowering??????? I wouldn't do it....

I did it to mine when I first got it and got tired of the reduced lean angle, which wouldn't bother some...

Worse was the hitting of the pipes on speed bumps and humpy trhings in the pavement at low speed.........

raised it back up, but have since put a belly pan on it, which I know sooner or later I'm gonna crunch as well....


It does look cool on a vmax tho', which is why I did it in the first place....