Fork options, '01 RK

[MrSurly]

No, not lookin' for a springer or a chopper, thanx.

I'd like to know what all of my options are for improving the front end on this thing. At a minimum, I will be taking them down and renewing all bushings and seals.
I'd like to know what is out there as far as alternatives for the damping system.
Also, what is the consensus on the Intiminator? I haven't read the whole report thread yet, but I'm gonna.
Progressive makes a cartridge for these; anyone have any experience with them?
Is there anything special about rebuilding the forks? Special tools?

I'm looking to tear into it this weekend.
All input appreciated.

[Ancient Iron]

I have the Progressive Monotubes in my 00'. Simple install. Very pleased so far.

[Hodawwg]

Need to trade it.

[y2kflhr]

I have the imitators in my front end i'm not sold on the whole deal, I went into some sharp turns at high speed I think around 85 and I had to let off the gas because I thought I was going down very shortly, that said, I have the progressive springs and intimtators, the ride seems ok, 05 train is more anal about these things and he likes them.....so basically I am no help

[Dinero]

Fork it!

Let's ride.

[MrSurly]

Originally Posted by Ancient Iron

I have the Progressive Monotubes in my 00'. Simple install. Very pleased so far.

use more words

[Bone Stockman]

The Monotubes are getting good reviews, however they are not rebuildable and have a 30,000-40,000 mile lifespan. That's 18 months for me.

Both Traxxion and Motorcycle Metal make a complete, adjustable cartridge system. They're both around $1,300 and you have to send them your forks to modify them.

Racetech Emulators also get good reviews, however you have to drill out your damper rods.

The Intiminators work well, but like anything else, you've got to get them into the sweet spot. At the factory fluid level, the ride was improved, but had a little more harshness than I thought. I dropped the level to 10 oz and the difference is amazing. The next time I change fluid, I may increase the level just a hair.

On an '01, you may want to consider new springs. They're probably sagging a bit given their age, and you probably want a bit higher rate as well. For the record, I'm not a fan of progressive rate springs.

[MrSurly]

Originally Posted by y2kflhr

I have the imitators in my front end i'm not sold on the whole deal, I went into some sharp turns at high speed I think around 85 and I had to let off the gas because I thought I was going down very shortly, that said, I have the progressive springs and intimtators, the ride seems ok, 05 train is more anal about these things and he likes them.....so basically I am no help

OK, you got the 'taters and the springs.
It rides good.
but you went real fast and turned and near-bout fell down.

What's that mean, Dave?

Did the front end do something weird like wobble or bottom out?

(OK,OK. Wobble's not weird for me, I know...)

[Bone Stockman]

If I may speak for Davey......

We filled his forks to the factory level, and someone (who shall remain nameless) may have spilled a bit of fluid in one of the forks....

[y2kflhr]

the bike started to do the old frame type of death wobble in the front, however, I asked my buddy who was behind me and he said the same thing happened to him on his 05 RK, so I would say part of it was the road, but since I have "better parts" in my front end I "should" have had not experienced the same as him.....I am not sure what JAFO experienced and he never posts much....

[Ancient Iron]

Originally Posted by MrSurly

use more words

Yes I probably should have used more. As Russ mentioned, I have read the mileage estimate a few places. I guess we'll see what the life span is. They supposedly have a lifetime warranty. I haven't had occasion to use it yet so I don't know how good Prog. is about backing it up. And of course the time to change them would be on you.

Anyway, you basically pull your dampening rod, spring, and oil, and put the monotube in it's place. They come with new caps for your top tube so you get rid of the ones with the air fitting in them. You put 5 oz. of fork oil in each tube to lube seals and your done. They have no means of adjustment. In the beginning I felt the were a bit stiff but I now believe it was just me being used to the old factory fork action. They are very responsive and don't seem to nose dive on hard braking. I really have no complaints about them. But, I have not tried any other type of fork improvement on this bike so I really don't have anything to compare them to other than the original, squishy, air system.

I was told they charge by the word here?

[Bone Stockman]

Originally Posted by y2kflhr

the bike started to do the old frame type of death wobble in the front, however, I asked my buddy who was behind me and he said the same thing happened to him on his 05 RK, so I would say part of it was the road, but since I have "better parts" in my front end I "should" have had not experienced the same as him.....I am not sure what JAFO experienced and he never posts much....

One thing I have noticed is a bit of a wobble. It showed up about a month ago, so I tend to think I have a motor mount or swingarm bushing going south.

[Backroad Mike]

Ricky;

Russ and I were both looking into the intiminators at the same time. I installed them as well, but opted to keep the original non-progressive springs. Because mine was an 05 FLHTCUI, I had to remove the cartridge from one side and replace it with a dampner/spring assembly I picked up on fleebay so it would match the right side.

I used the recommended amount of fork oil during the conversion. I can't honestly say I can tell a tremendous difference, but there was some change in ride quality. It's also a much easier fork oil change now verses screwing with that cartridge in the left side.

I still have some nose dive during breaking, and I'm good with that because it's about the same as before. In order to eliminate it, I would probably have to make the front less foregiving and that's not going to happen.

When your "episode" on I-10 occurred, I was closing at a rather high rate in the same sweeping corner. I didn't feel the slightest bit of what I observed coming from your bike. When I installed the Ricors, I also changed all the fork bushings and neck bearings.

I'm also runing the Glide-Pro rear swing arm assembly that eliminates the donut HD stock system, and replaced the swing arm pivot bearings the week before Junction.

[MrSurly]

Originally Posted by '05Train

The Monotubes are getting good reviews, however they are not rebuildable and have a 30,000-40,000 mile lifespan. That's 18 months for me.

I could only hope to ride that much. My current rate will take me 4 yrs to get there.

Both Traxxion and Motorcycle Metal make a complete, adjustable cartridge system. They're both around $1,300 and you have to send them your forks to modify them.

Thats out of my range, unfortunately.

Racetech Emulators also get good reviews, however you have to drill out your damper rods.

Oh, I LIKE drilling holes in sh!t!

The Intiminators work well, but like anything else, you've got to get them into the sweet spot. At the factory fluid level, the ride was improved, but had a little more harshness than I thought. I dropped the level to 10 oz and the difference is amazing. The next time I change fluid, I may increase the level just a hair.

On an '01, you may want to consider new springs. They're probably sagging a bit given their age, and you probably want a bit higher rate as well. For the record, I'm not a fan of progressive rate springs.

I'm not sold on progressive rate springs either. I did just install pro 440s in the rear. That was more for the damping than the springs.
I'll be looking for sources for high-rate springs.

Originally Posted by y2kflhr

the bike started to do the old frame type of death wobble in the front, however, I asked my buddy who was behind me and he said the same thing happened to him on his 05 RK, so I would say part of it was the road, but since I have "better parts" in my front end I "should" have had not experienced the same as him.....I am not sure what JAFO experienced and he never posts much....

Interesting to hear. As all here know, I've had some wobble issues. That might be a teensy understatement. My reason for the interest in improving the forks is partly driven by that.

Originally Posted by Ancient Iron

Yes I probably should have used more. As Russ mentioned, I have read the mileage estimate a few places. I guess we'll see what the life span is. They supposedly have a lifetime warranty. I haven't had occasion to use it yet so I don't know how good Prog. is about backing it up. And of course the time to change them would be on you.
Anyway, you basically pull your dampening rod, spring, and oil, and put the monotube in it's place. They come with new caps for your top tube so you get rid of the ones with the air fitting in them. You put 5 oz. of fork oil in each tube to lube seals and your done. They have no means of adjustment. In the beginning I felt the were a bit stiff but I now believe it was just me being used to the old factory fork action. They are very responsive and don't seem to nose dive on hard braking. I really have no complaints about them. But, I have not tried any other type of fork improvement on this bike so I really don't have anything to compare them to other than the original, squishy, air system.

I was told they charge by the word here?

That's just the right amount of words. And, no, they actually charge by the onion sack.

Originally Posted by '05Train

One thing I have noticed is a bit of a wobble. It showed up about a month ago, so I tend to think I have a motor mount or swingarm bushing going south.

I'm still dealing with wobble, but much less than previous.

Originally Posted by Backroad Mike

Ricky;

Russ and I were both looking into the intiminators at the same time. I installed them as well, but opted to keep the original non-progressive springs. Because mine was an 05 FLHTCUI, I had to remove the cartridge from one side and replace it with a dampner/spring assembly I picked up on fleebay so it would match the right side.

I used the recommended amount of fork oil during the conversion. I can't honestly say I can tell a tremendous difference, but there was some change in ride quality. It's also a much easier fork oil change now verses screwing with that cartridge in the left side.

I still have some nose dive during breaking, and I'm good with that because it's about the same as before. In order to eliminate it, I would probably have to make the front less foregiving and that's not going to happen.

When your "episode" on I-10 occurred, I was closing at a rather high rate in the same sweeping corner. I didn't feel the slightest bit of what I observed coming from your bike. When I installed the Ricors, I also changed all the fork bushings and neck bearings.

I'm also runing the Glide-Pro rear swing arm assembly that eliminates the donut HD stock system, and replaced the swing arm pivot bearings the week before Junction.

I think that you're saying that the Intiminators didn't make a noticeable difference to you...certainly not a night/day difference(?)
Russ saw perhaps night/day but also changed springs and fluid level.

For those who are trying to follow along, I had a rather famous wobble episode at ES'09. Since then I have been trying to find the cause/cure of the wobble and have altered many things about the bike in order to do this. I actually felt that it was gone, though I hadn't found the 'smoking gun'.
On Friday, nearing Junction a short high-speed run revealed how very wrong my assumption was. At just over 100mph in a slight left sweeper, the wobble came back. Not as severe, but quite the attention-getter. Mike was closing on me at the time and got to watch the wobble. I was HOFDL and found that the wobble was throttle-responsive. which it wasn't before. Note for the record that while I previously had the Sta-Bo kit on the King, it was NOT installed during this trip. Yes, it will be re-installed poste-haste. I don't mean to imply that it would have prevented this occurrence, but I wish I could be sure. The Sta-Bo WAS in place at ES'09.


I am going to replace all the wear items in the front end and especially the head bearings. I really am coming back to the head bearings and swing-away. After new bearings I am going to set up the swing-away much tighter than stock, then more testing.
I'm thinking that without many really glowing appraisals of the Ricors I am looking for more on the Progressives and weighing them vs stock.
More input appreciated.

[noodles]

Originally Posted by Dinero No Mas

Fork it!

Let's ride.

X2!!