Front Suspension Testing Report & Discussion

DK Custom Products · Nov 22, 2016

Trike Talk is back up today, AND we finished our suspension testing today! <br />
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I think it has been around 9 months since we started, and well over 15k miles. We tested well over 100 different suspension configurations, over 5 different bikes and a Trike! <img src="images/smilies/grin.gif" border="0" alt="" title="big grin" class="inlineimg" /><br />
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Now to put together the report...but I think I am going to take a few days break before starting on it.<br />
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Here are the last pics of testing...<br />
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Monotube out, and straight rate springs in with some preload-<br />
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<img src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/Suspension/SG%209_zpsexqz5cwh.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><br />
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Going on last test ride-<br />
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<img src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/Suspension/11-22-16%20Done%20A_zpsetu3brwt.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><br />
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Done. Finished. Finito. (until we want to test something else. :laugh )<br />
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<img src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/Suspension/11-22-16%20Done%20B_zpsbjqadeiv.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><br />
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Kevin

Casper · Nov 22, 2016

Sweet! Looking forward to your findings

desertclassic · Nov 22, 2016

Will be exciting to get the report. Jim

DK Custom Products · Dec 3, 2016

Ok guys. The report is done, it can be seen <a href="http://www.dkcustomproducts.com/DK-Custom-Front-Suspension-Testing-Report-Part-I-of-II-DK-FS-TST-RP-I.htm" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
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Kevin

Papa Zook · Dec 3, 2016

Great write up Kevin. This thread should be renamed "Suspension Testing" or something similar so folks can better spot it. Tell me what you want to rename it and I will do so.

DK Custom Products · Dec 3, 2016

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>Bazooka</strong>
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<div class="message">Great write up Kevin. This thread should be renamed "Suspension Testing" or something similar so folks can better spot it. Tell me what you want to rename it and I will do so.</div>

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That would be great...Front Suspension Testing Report & Discussion<br />
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I am happy to discuss our findings, and why we gave the gradings we did. <br />
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We have hundreds of hours of testing, and I pared it down to that relatively small report. I'm happy to answer any questions.<br />
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Thanks,<br />
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Kevin

geezerglide11441 · Dec 3, 2016

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>DK Custom Products</strong>
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<div class="message">Ok guys. The report is done, it can be seen <a href="http://www.dkcustomproducts.com/DK-Custom-Front-Suspension-Testing-Report-Part-I-of-II-DK-FS-TST-RP-I.htm" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
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Kevin</div>

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</div>Awesome report Kevin!! I am going to print it out and file it with my other HD Performance reports I have accumilated over the years. I hope everyone appreciates the time/effort it took to perform this study and report. In my way of thinking, the mechanical aspect of changing from system to system would have been the easy part as I think writing up your findings (including the spreadsheet) in your report would have been much harder for most of us!! Deciding how to organize it in a manner where everyone understood all the components/assemblies/systems relative to all the individual HD models, etc. <br />
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Again, great job, at least know you now how all these front end suspensions go together!! I can tell you, for one, it will take me several readings for me to get a real good handle on the substance of this report!! <img src="images/smilies/smileygarden_de_banana7.gif" border="0" alt="" title="pepper" class="inlineimg" /><br />
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Roger

DK Custom Products · Dec 6, 2016

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>geezerglide11441</strong><br /><br />
<a href="showthread.php?p=401407#post401407" rel="nofollow"><img class="inlineimg" src="images/buttons/viewpost-right.png" alt="View Post" /></a><br /><br />
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<div class="message">Awesome report Kevin!! I am going to print it out and file it with my other HD Performance reports I have accumilated over the years. I hope everyone appreciates the time/effort it took to perform this study and report. In my way of thinking, the mechanical aspect of changing from system to system would have been the easy part as I think writing up your findings (including the spreadsheet) in your report would have been much harder for most of us!! Deciding how to organize it in a manner where everyone understood all the components/assemblies/systems relative to all the individual HD models, etc. <br /><br /><br />
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Again, great job, at least know you now how all these front end suspensions go together!! I can tell you, for one, it will take me several readings for me to get a real good handle on the substance of this report!! <img src="images/smilies/smileygarden_de_banana7.gif" border="0" alt="" title="pepper" class="inlineimg" /><br /><br /><br />
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Roger</div><br /><br />
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Hi Roger,<br /><br /><br />
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I know it took a long time, but glad to have it finally done, and good to hear you like it.<br /><br /><br />
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It did get tiresome changing out all the springs, and then having to constantly adjust the sag to get it right on each different set up. But it's done now. We learned a ton in the process too.<br /><br /><br />
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Progressive really hit it out of the park with the FST Cartridge.<br /><br />
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Too bad it is only available for a limited number of models.<br /><br /><br />
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I asked them (Progressive) if they planned on anything for the 09-13 Trikes.<br />
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They said that at this time it is not anywhere near a priority for them.

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So the solution for those trikes is either a Spring Kit with Intiminator, or the expensive AK-20's.<br /><br /><br />
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Kevin