I need some help, I'm out of things to consider.
Quick summary...85 FXRS...Had the stock 35mm front end, worked ok, but blew a seal on the FDR in Manhattan so I decided to upgrade to a 39mm front end. Got the one off my buddy's 92 FXR when he upgraded to a 1200s so I got the entire set up.
In the process, I decided to get 2" over tubes to get a little more clearance in the front so I bought some from BK Rider, they had the EZ fill caps, came with progressive rate springs, spacers, dampers, basically came pre-assembled to drop right in. Sounds easy. It was easy. Went together no issues. Preload is set to about 20-25mm and thought I should be good. Trees were set up properly, neck bearing looked fine so I used the existing set and felt smooth tightened down to spec. Assembled the rest of the front end, all snug and in place.
This is where I cant figure out the rest and wtf is happening. I double check all is secured once its off the lift and on the ground. Take it for a ride around the block and the sidewalk has a chunk missing before you get to the street so I always go over that and instantly there is a thud or a knock coming from the front end somewhere. Ride is around more, keep hearing it. It sounds like its making a noise on the rebound. Its only on larger square edge bumps. Over small stuff, it feels normal and pretty standard and makes no noise, no movement in the front end, besides the compression and rebound. I roll it forward and get at the brakes to see if there is play in the bearings. Nothing. Check the tank (have had a knock before from this being loose), its tight and no movement. I wonder somehow if I didnt snug the damper rod bolt but thought that I'd see fluid if this was somehow loose. I decided to take the front end apart to make sure everything was assembled correctly. From top down is was as follows..Cap>Spacer>Main Spring>Damper Rod>Top out Spring. checks out fine. I call BK rider and they suggest adding a little bit more oil to each fork as it sounds like it might be on rebound. Try that, seems to be less but still there and now its suuuuper stiff.
I wanted to do a suspension upgrade and thought this was a good time to do it, maybe it was the **** I bought in the forks that was causing this somehow. Bought race tech springs and emulators, installed those today as per their guidance on settings. Went in perfect. Did the same thing, checked all the fasteners and took it around the block. Went down the same piece of sidewalk to test it out before I got on the street. THE ****ING KNOCK IS BACK. Sounds about the same as before. I am so confused and stumped because it has a completely new internal set up from a proven suspension company (which, besides the knock feels ****ing fantastic), everything is tight and feels great at a static position. Its just over the same roads that it does virtually the same thing. So I wonder if its the forks or something else?
Anyone have any thoughts? I am stumped. Many thanks in advance and pardon any grumpy tone in this.
Quick summary...85 FXRS...Had the stock 35mm front end, worked ok, but blew a seal on the FDR in Manhattan so I decided to upgrade to a 39mm front end. Got the one off my buddy's 92 FXR when he upgraded to a 1200s so I got the entire set up.
In the process, I decided to get 2" over tubes to get a little more clearance in the front so I bought some from BK Rider, they had the EZ fill caps, came with progressive rate springs, spacers, dampers, basically came pre-assembled to drop right in. Sounds easy. It was easy. Went together no issues. Preload is set to about 20-25mm and thought I should be good. Trees were set up properly, neck bearing looked fine so I used the existing set and felt smooth tightened down to spec. Assembled the rest of the front end, all snug and in place.
This is where I cant figure out the rest and wtf is happening. I double check all is secured once its off the lift and on the ground. Take it for a ride around the block and the sidewalk has a chunk missing before you get to the street so I always go over that and instantly there is a thud or a knock coming from the front end somewhere. Ride is around more, keep hearing it. It sounds like its making a noise on the rebound. Its only on larger square edge bumps. Over small stuff, it feels normal and pretty standard and makes no noise, no movement in the front end, besides the compression and rebound. I roll it forward and get at the brakes to see if there is play in the bearings. Nothing. Check the tank (have had a knock before from this being loose), its tight and no movement. I wonder somehow if I didnt snug the damper rod bolt but thought that I'd see fluid if this was somehow loose. I decided to take the front end apart to make sure everything was assembled correctly. From top down is was as follows..Cap>Spacer>Main Spring>Damper Rod>Top out Spring. checks out fine. I call BK rider and they suggest adding a little bit more oil to each fork as it sounds like it might be on rebound. Try that, seems to be less but still there and now its suuuuper stiff.
I wanted to do a suspension upgrade and thought this was a good time to do it, maybe it was the **** I bought in the forks that was causing this somehow. Bought race tech springs and emulators, installed those today as per their guidance on settings. Went in perfect. Did the same thing, checked all the fasteners and took it around the block. Went down the same piece of sidewalk to test it out before I got on the street. THE ****ING KNOCK IS BACK. Sounds about the same as before. I am so confused and stumped because it has a completely new internal set up from a proven suspension company (which, besides the knock feels ****ing fantastic), everything is tight and feels great at a static position. Its just over the same roads that it does virtually the same thing. So I wonder if its the forks or something else?
Anyone have any thoughts? I am stumped. Many thanks in advance and pardon any grumpy tone in this.
