I recently got some upgraded springs for the free ride (Goodwill gesture from KTM - brilliant). To judge the springs required I had to weigh my riding gear to establish my all up riding weight. It was 15kg- way more than i would have guessed- and that is with a slimmed down tool kit and my lightest jacket.
It meant the standard springs in the bike were way too soft - needed too much pre load and as a consequence delivered a harsh ride. The stiffer springs (counter-intuatively) should need less preload, less compression damping and a better ride- well thats the theory anyway but soon see. 15kg though- thats a lot!!!!
keep us posted, think i need to to think about upgraded spring rates too, being 95kg without kit on standard springs... almost using all my preload adjustment to get 110mm rear sag....
You can roughly check if the spring weight is there or there abouts through sag.
Set the rider sag (you and kit on the bike) to the recommended level. usually around the 100mm mark but its in the manual . Get off the bike and check the free sag (just the bike). It should be in the recommended range. probably 25mm to 40mm on a full size bike. If you needed to put a lot of preload on the spring for your rider sag the free sag will be way too small- less than 25mm (The preload will hold the bike too high). So you need a stronger spring with less preload. and vice versa -Simples!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Alternatively just look in the manual for spring weight /body weight tables..
I got the springs from KTM suitable for an all up weight of about 94kg. The standard spring maximum design weight was (from memory) about 85kg. The 15kg of kit making a big difference.
Fitted the springs and set the sags to spec- fork air gap at 110mm -went for a short test to reset the compression and rebound clickers in the right place for me..
Blimey - a big difference-. Much much more comfortable a ride and a lot less deflection and kicking of boulders n stuff. very pleased. Ive always resisted buying springs despite the advice that they are the first thing you should check to get your suspension right- they are a bit of a dear do.
I must say they have made a real difference and I am very pleased.
