VERY heavy guy question.
 

well here goes. i weigh in at about 260-270lbs and this morning i called Absolute Cycle Performance up at Linden to see if i can get an suspension adjustment quote and they told me that because i weigh so much i need to change out the front springs. i know i weigh alot but do i really need to? ive called WCW all day today with no one answering and i shot them an email too. because they want to change out the spring the total amount for them to work on it is going to be 400 bucks. compared to 35 at WCW. like i dont mind but the truth is my weight fluctuates cause i get lazy and dont go to the gym or i become a gym rat and all i do is go to the gym, i started going to the gym again and i know im going to lose the weight but im debating on whether to get in contact with WCW and see what they think or go with Absolute and fork over 400 in which i might have to do again when i do lose the weight. anyone weight as much as i do or around me that has gotten their front forks resprung? please let me know.

Ron

Dude, did you put on some weight? no way you were 270 last time i saw you. go to the gym you lazy ass!!!

im not but im just compensating LOL

Well you are a bit heavier than the stock bike's suspension's set up for, but don't do anything till you speak to Ron at WCW. They're closed on Sunday and Monday, give him a call tomorrow, he's not looking to rip you off like some other shops might.

i was kinda disappoint with absolute cause i met the guys a couple of times and they were cool, up until i wanted to buy sharkskinz off them. now i figured id give them another opp and it looks like they are blowing it again. pisses me off cause they are so close to my house and every other performance shop is more then an hour away.

Yes , you will need to chance your front springs. I tip the scales at 235-240 and to set your suspension properly, you'll need heavier springs. If they are charging you $400.00, you better grease up your backside!! Racetech springs run an average of $100-$115 depending where you get them. It sure as shit dont cost 275-300 bucks to change you springs and fluids and do a set up. Now, if they are setting you up with goldvalves as well, then that is a good price.

i dont know about it.... i have seen people 300 + ride an r6 with stock suspension... ron... dont do it..

after i got off the phone with him i did some research on race tech springs (cause he told me thats what hes going to use) and they cost $98 at the shop. do they sell them in pairs or its $98 each. 98 each i understand cause yes there labor and what not but if its 98 for a pair and they want 400 for the total job cost thats some serious bull man

Just because they rode an R6 and are 300lbs. doesn't mean the suspension was "set" properly. The stock suspension on most japanese sportbike is set for riders in the 150-180 range. Cranking down on the spring preload with stock springs isn't going to net the proper settings for someone that heavy.

well im 210ish and i had to change the springs in my TL. it was way to mushy stock. bikes are usually set up with skinny anorexic bodies in mind.

so they're not pulling your chain, you should invest in stiffer springs.

i ended up going with race tech for about the price u got, and had WCW do the work for me.

Every bike is a compromise. You want the best for the bike and you, change the springs to suit YOU. Thats what 'suggested suspension settings' you see in magazines etc are total crap. Every bike/fork/shock is slightly different as well as every riders tastes.

well im going to call WCW tomorrow and see what RON says. hopefully he will point me in the right direction and i wont have to shell out too much money. if its the same as absolute ill just go to absolute cause its closer. eh.....so troublesome.

I know the guys at Absolute and I've delt with Ron at WCW. Neither shop will rip you off but at that weight you will need to respring your front forks and then reset the front ride height. I'm 230 and my front forks have 1.0kg springs.

If your just cruising around on the street then you could probably adjust the stock stuff to feel better but it still wont be right...

Sigh... im fat.


I weight about 280lbs... and i spent 338 dollars on suspension springs front and rear -- just did my first track day on them, and WOW what a difference... just get it done, u'll be doing yourself a favor.

I'd say yes to the new springs. But $98 each? I paid $50 each for springs. Check the price elsewhere. Or is it $98 each installed? $98 each installed would make more sense. I recently paid $260 for new springs and servicing on my forks (clean, fresh oil), but I removed the forks myself. That may be where the $400 comes in-them having to remove the wheel, take off the forks, service said forks, then put it all back together. If you have a rear stand and a front stand that lifts the bike from the triple, you can probably save a good amount of money if you remove the forks yourself and take them to a shop.
I also had my stock forks revalved. Don't know if that's necessary on the R6, but it was on my Honda CBR929.