Progressive Fork Springs? Yes or No...

[roadhawg]

Hey all!
Lately I have noticed I am feeling every single lil bump in the road!
A friend suggested installing the Progressive fork spring kit around 85 bucks on EBAY.
I am running about 20 PSI in rear shocks.
Would like to hear about others that have tried these fork springs.
Improve your ride?
Easy to install?
Thanks for your time!

[id-man]

I'm subscribing to this post because I'm having the same issues. I usually ride 2-up and some of the road dips or broken pavement can make the Nomad1500 bottom out unexpectedly, slamming the front and/or rear quite hard. Not big obvious potholes but stuff you you wouldn't suspect or sometimes don't even see. I pumped my factory rear shocks to full 40psi which helped a LOT but we still get jolted sometimes in the rear - and the front needs real help. I'm planning to change the fork oil to heavier viscosity (already have it on the shelf), unless responses to this topic steer me in other directions.

[Top Cat]

I also am subscribing to this post.
My 08 bottoms out real hard on some of the not so big bumps around here.

[recumbentbob]

I changed fork oil in my 08 nomad used 15 wt oil helped a lot.
I rode it 1 up most of the time.

[07vulc]

I put progressive springs in my 07 1600 classic, I went with 20 weight bell ray fork oil. I have to say I was disappointed, it didn't improve the ride enough to justify the change. It still doesn't soak up the bumps like I hoped it would. Maybe 20 weight is to heavy, I think I will go with 10 or 15 when I service the forks next time. So my thinking is that the oil is more important to changing your ride than the springs.

[id-man]

Hmm, so even with progressive springs AND heavier oil you're still not getting the ideal result. Could the 20wt possibly be hindering the new springs' ability to absorb? Wouldn't you know 20 weight is what I bought to switch to when I got the time, wasn't planning on doing the springs yet though...Getting complicated.

[VulcanE]

Just changing the fork oil will improve the front end. I've changed my fork oil twice, and used 15w oil both times. Each time it feels like a new bike, but it degrades so slowly you don't notice it until you change it, and then you say "WOW" what a difference. That being said, I do plan on going with the progressive rate springs next time I do the fork oil. You can also play with the preload of the springs by using PVC tubing as the spacer instead of the metal OEM spacer. You don't want to go over a 1/2" longer to start with (It'll be hard to get the cap started without cross threading it). If it's too stiff, it's easy to cut the PVC. Just make sure you get all the dirt and dust off before you put them in your forks, and make sure both are exactly the same length. This is something my Yamaha buddies has taught me, but I haven't tried it, I've always been happy with fresh 15w oil in my forks.

[VulcanE]

Lets face it, the rear shocks are getting old, my '05 I've had for nearly 10 1/2 years, and if fresh oil makes a lot of difference in the forks, it could probably make that much of a difference in the rear shocks. There is a write up on here about how to change the oil in the rear shocks, but it is a little on the dangerous side.

[redjay]

I had Racetech springs and valve modulators installed in the 2005 Nomad. They were better but not great. I was never really happy with the forks on the Nomad. The Voyager forks did a much better job of soaking up the bumps.

[oldmansalt]

I put progressive fork springs on my 2006 nomad with 45,000 miles on it and it sure help the noise dive issue

[hammer]

I replaced the fork oil with 15W BelRay and did notice the improvement. This winter I am going to slide progressives in though.

[cbutteris]

I installed Progressive springs with 15w fluid and was happy with the results. Maybe the oil made more difference than the springs, but I got less harsh feedback off the pavement and less dive when braking.

My fluid was pretty murky, after 55k miles on my '05.

Which is for sale by the way... Love my Nomad but had to get more touring capacity.

[ctrider]

I installed progressives last year with 15w oil and used the stock spacers. It made a difference but there is hardly any preload. To get the real benefit of progressives you need to increase the spacers. I forget what progressive recommends but it's on there site. I'm going to increase my spacers at some point.

[skiman]

Originally Posted by redjay

I had Racetech springs and valve modulators installed in the 2005 Nomad. They were better but not great. I was never really happy with the forks on the Nomad. The Voyager forks did a much better job of soaking up the bumps.

What are the part numbers on the racetech parts you put in your forks I can't find any info on the racetech site for 1500 Nomads after 2001 only to old style non cartridge model.
Found this on ebay but not racetech
Race Tech Fork Springs 1.0 KG/MM FRSP S3234100

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321866692488...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I found nothing on the gold valves

[redjay]

I don't have the part numbers, sorry. It was about 8 years ago that I had the Racetech parts installed and the Nomad was sold in 2011. The Racetech parts did not improve the forks to warrant the $500 parts and labour it cost to install them.