Another Progressive spring post

[Grez007]

I received my progressive springs in the mail today.the shocks got new seals,bushings and oil over the winter and have only travelled about 1000kms so far. from all the looking and reading that i have done this is what i understand about the install so far(correct me where I'm wrong)…

I CAN install them with the forks in the bike

i need to remove the top caps from the upper fork tubes,fish out the old spacers and springs, compress the shocks, measure the oil height to 5.5 inches from the top, (probably have to let some out the drain hole at the bottom because the stock springs use more oil than the progressives?) after getting the oil to 5.5inches without any parts in there i can let the forks fully extend and put in the Progressive springs and new preload spacers(cut to personal taste) and screw the caps back on, thats it??

just for preload reference I'm about 250lbs

[utadventure]

You pretty much have it if you have a 1st Gen bike.

 

You will have to remove the handle bars etc. to get to the top of the forks. An 1-1/8 inch socket removes the fork tops. Be patient putting them back on as they can cross thread.

 

When measuring the oil, you might want to see about using something to remove it from the top.

 

It's a pretty easy switch out and a great ride without having to add any air.

 

Dave

[VanRiver]

Hi Grez007 looks like you have done your homework! Yes you can swap the springs with the forks in the Bike (I have done it a couple times now on my Gen 1 Ventures). Make sure you have the right tools ( proper size allen key socket for the caps) and the weight/strength to compress the new springs and tighten the caps back on. Not too hard but kind of like walking and chewing gum at the same time (pushing with your weight to compress the spring and turning the wrench at the same time), just make sure you don't cross thread the caps while you are pushing hard....take your time and if you feel resistance in threading the cap stop and re-adjust......and it is easy peasy.

 

As for modifying the spacers I personally did not mess with them and used the supplied new spacers that cam with the new springs. I'm 6 feet tall 190lb and they work great for me. You will get a kick out of how cheap and "light duty" the OEM Yamaha springs look compared to the beefy progressives......Our buddy cowpuc says that Yamaha outsourced the manufacturing of the OEM springs to the Bic pen company as they belong on a clicky ballpoint pen not a motorcycle! I was shocked when I compared them side by side for such a heavy motorcycle like the Venture.

 

The spacers on the OEM are on the top of the spring so you don't have to do much "Fishing" for them.

 

Good luck on the project, you will find that this is a very easy project to do and will have a significant improvement on how your bike handles and performs...it did for me anyway.

 

 

I received my progressive springs in the mail today.the shocks got new seals,bushings and oil over the winter and have only travelled about 1000kms so far. from all the looking and reading that i have done this is what i understand about the install so far(correct me where I'm wrong)…

I CAN install them with the forks in the bike

i need to remove the top caps from the upper fork tubes,fish out the old spacers and springs, compress the shocks, measure the oil height to 5.5 inches from the top, (probably have to let some out the drain hole at the bottom because the stock springs use more oil than the progressives?) after getting the oil to 5.5inches without any parts in there i can let the forks fully extend and put in the Progressive springs and new preload spacers(cut to personal taste) and screw the caps back on, thats it??

just for preload reference I'm about 250lbs

[camos]

i need to remove the top caps from the upper fork tubes,fish out the old spacers and springs, compress the shocks, measure the oil height to 5.5 inches from the top, (probably have to let some out the drain hole at the bottom because the stock springs use more oil than the progressives?) after getting the oil to 5.5inches without any parts in there i can let the forks fully extend and put in the Progressive springs and new preload spacers(cut to personal taste) and screw the caps back on, thats it??

just for preload reference I'm about 250lbs

As far as I know, the 5.5 inch level measurement with the forks compressed and no springs installed is for OEM springs so presumably the measurement might be closer to 6 inches. Perhaps someone who has installed the Progressives will chime in on this.

[Karaboo]

The instructions with my Progressive kit said "minimum 5.5", so I went with 5.9" from the top. With a little extra air volume at the top you get a little more cushion to the ride.

 

Like the others said, you can do without adding CLASS air, and probably disconnect the anti-dives.