Fork seal conundrum

[djs2k2]

Wooops!

 

[go cytocis]

Even if one fork is dedicated compression and the other is dedicated rebound for shock valving (like a BMW) the springs will always be the same rate

Agreed, and certainly the springs on my BMW are identical.

The OP's discovery does beg the question in my mind however, if there might be some advantage to asymmetric springs in the forks? Not withstanding the issue of eccentric loading on the front end, you could theoretically open up another dimension on multi-rate suspension tuning.
[confused]

 

[Cooter]

And interesting thought Go Cytosis, but I don't think you could do anything with 2 separate springs, that you couldn't just do with a progressive rate spring like they are now? You're right the eccentric (asymmetric?) loading on the front would act just as bad as the OP's did.

Edit: on further thought, you could build the internal fork assy in such a way as to utilize spring stop(s) and dual/triple rate coils (think off-road coil-over shock). But that wouldn't help Moto GP or super cross enough to justify the weight penalty, those guys talk in grams…
It seems to be a perfect match for the adventure bike crowd though?

Excuse me while I go dork out on the internet for awhile

 

[go cytocis]

but I don't think you could do anything with 2 separate springs, that you couldn't just do with a progressive rate spring like they are now?

A progressive spring is manufactured from the same material accross both rates and has a fixed transition point. I am thinking that the possible advantages of separate springs would be that they could be manufactured from different steels to best suit the rate (much like the dual & triple coils you mentioned), but the range of possible transition points could be greater. It may even be possible to activate each fork leg spring independently depending on the need (?).

It seems to be a perfect match for the adventure bike crowd though?

I ride dual-sport & super-moto too. You're right that we're constantly looking for a suspension set-up which is paradoxically plush and firm.

 

[Matteson]

So springs are on order from Hardley. Seals are getting ready to go in. And I made a driver.

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Just super glued the old seal on a pipe. The Pirelli front tire will be in Thursday. Next Ill get ready for valve lash inspection. I made ride a few more weeks though until it gets really cold here in SW Mo to do that.