Norge fork rings showing?

[Bison]

Hello Folks,
What are you Norge riding folks running your fork height at on a 2 valve Norge?. 2007, hyper pro fork springs and rear shock fitted.
Mine shows 4 rings above the handlebars, which is obviously quite a few more rings than that above the top yoke.
Not preload, but actual fork leg.
Oh, and fork oil weight suggestions please?. I know hyper pro say 15W, but I have no idea if that viscosity relates to other makes of fork oil?.
Many thanks.

[PJPR01]

3 rings showing on mine.

It does have Hyperpro front springs and 15 wt oil as well if I recall correctly.

If you can't get the 15 wt from Hyperpro, no reason you cannot use another brand.

[Bison]

Good morning,
Thanks for that.
Had I counted rather than assumed, I would have seen mine too has three rings showing, not four, so that's the way it will stay.
I seem to remember reading somewhere that not all 15W fork oils are created equal, although you would think they would be. I used a proprietary 15W the last time so I'll use the same again
 The Oil level is given at 90mm with the spring out, but the spacer in, whether or not that refers to the actual oil level or the air gap I will find out by emailing hyperpro.
Thanks again.

[Huzo]

I don’t know what you mean.
My Norge forks slide up into the top yoke and come up against a stop, so there is no fork above the top clamp. There is the pre load adjustment, but that does not affect the stiffness of the spring, that is a function of the spring rate.
I have always used Bel Ray 5 wt oil in the forks and I think (from memory) they take 470 ml, but I’ll need to check that when I do the 220,000 km service.

[SemperVee]

I've a Matris fork kit w/10 wt oil on mine adjusted to 6 rings showing with a white tie-tie on one fork being pushed it up by the lower fork seal when it compresses -  showing just how deep my fork travel is.  Normally pushed up 75-80% towards top of fork that tells me it is correctly adjusted.  YMMV 

[PJPR01]

It's a 3 ring circus!  I wouldn't worry too much about how different the 15wt oil is from another brand if you cannot source it from Hyperpro directly!

[Huzo]

Could the thread title be changed to read…
“Norge preload adjuster rings showing” ?

[Moparnut72]

I read this whole thing thinking he was talking about the rings on the fork tubes. No wonder some of it didn't make sense.
kk

[Bison]

"Not preload, but actual fork leg."
"Fork height", not fork spring height chaps
My preload adjustment is at 5.5 turns out from fully in, that is the ride height adjustment, my fork legs are what I was referring to gents, that is, how many rings show on the cap that is on top of the stanchion protruding from the bolt on handlebars, not the preload adjuster. The aluminium cap which screws onto the top of the steel hard chrome fork leg and stops the spring from poking you in the eye. I wanted to know if anyone had experimented with lowering the fork leg through the yokes (Triple trees) and thereby raising the ride height of the front of the motorcycle and altering the geometry even more than the preload adjusters would, or even if it were possible, an experiment that perhaps someone had tried, thereby changing the trail and rake slightly making it steer  more slowly. The manufacturer machines rings on them to assist in making sure they are both at an equal height and also to give you some adjustment in front end ride height, and record what that ride height would be, like my Ducati, Morini, Gilera etc etc, as I'm sure you all know.
Houzo, my fork legs are also on the stop, when they are, three rings show on the afore mention aluminium top cap,( not 4 as I first mentioned) in which there is a preload adjuster in the centre, which also has rings shown and a plus and minus sign on top, I wondered if anyone had experimented with say one ring showing, not on the preload adjuster but the fork leg, which would of course raise the front end of the bike.
It was a thought I had when I was cleaning the fork tubes, just an enquiry to see if it was possible and if it was, did it make any difference
Thanks for the oil weight info gents, I'll probably stick with 15W, likely Motul because that's what my local shop stocks. It seems to work well on the plowed fields they call roads here in Scotland.
"Not preload, but actual fork leg."

[Huzo]

There are no rings on the staunchions on my ‘07. The fork tube comes up against the abutment in the top clamp and that’s it…
Is yours able to come through if you wanted ? Do you have a top clamp from a 1200 Sport ?

[Bison]

Hi Huzo,
Now that is interesting, I wonder if mine has been modified, or perhaps there are different specs for some markets?. Perhaps the 850  version doesn't have the same fork tops with the preload adjusters?.
My fork legs also butt up against the stop in the top yoke, (as I remember, it's been a while since I removed them to change the oil), but the aluminium fork tops, with the preload adjusters, protrude above the handlebars by maybe 20mm?, three rings in fact, so yes, in theory I can move the forks down in the yokes
No, my handlebars are the bolt on risers that seem to be standard fitment on Norge's I have seen, the bike is pretty stock.
Anyhow, thanks to the forum my question has been pretty much answered, so next week I'll remove the forks, drain and clean them, then refill with 15w.
After that I'll lube bits and bobs with white grease, then ACF50 for as many surfaces as I can, and I'm ready for the winter riding season, oh, and dig out my heated gear of course!.
Thanks.
Alan.

[Pescatore]

Would you share a picture when you start the work?
But it seems like you have different forks.

[Bison]

Hi,
I can't imagine Guzzi fit different forks for different markets?.
I just looked up Ebay at Norge forks for sale and they all look like mine
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/397145312262?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338268676&toolid=10044&ff=11&gbraid=0AAAAADA7Q_KyurUgjquKljty8hl1Lo3Tj&loc_physical_ms=1007366&adtype=pla&customid=CjwKCAjwjffHBhBuEiwAKMb8pJMvesKxh2z9Z53948uZB2zbnb3k8fxlwim11AexVfaOP5k4wGgI8xoCEtcQAvD_BwE&gclid=CjwKCAjwjffHBhBuEiwAKMb8pJMvesKxh2z9Z53948uZB2zbnb3k8fxlwim11AexVfaOP5k4wGgI8xoCEtcQAvD_BwE

These are I think in Italy?, you can clearly see the aluminium fork top with the preload adjusters in the centre.
I think perhaps I am not describing them properly?.
Here's another, you can clearly see the aluminium fork tube top and the rings
These are advertised to fit a Brava 1200 and 850

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/357670078123?chn=ps&_ul=GB&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=357670078123&targetid=2361400006200&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1007366&poi=&campaignid=21697363421&mkgroupid=170400390467&rlsatarget=pla-2361400006200&abcId=10027088&merchantid=614975928&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21697363421&gbraid=0AAAAAD_Lr1d2Euxryoq92lIyV38WPkcSq&gclid=CjwKCAjwjffHBhBuEiwAKMb8pNH_9qQT5BewHmQbNMAOO1kIAqokk-2P0e8oHL_iGgxHeJktsenwdBoC2r0QAvD_BwE
Alan.

[Huzo]

The caps you see are not the fork staunchion tops, they are the caps.

[Bison]

Hi Huzo,
Lost in translation. Yes, they are the caps, I tried but failed to explain perhaps.
 .
 "how many rings show on the CAP that is on top of the stanchion protruding from the bolt on handlebars, not the preload adjuster. The aluminium CAP which screws onto the top of the steel hard chrome fork leg and stops the spring from poking you in the eye. I wanted to know if anyone had experimented with lowering the fork leg through the yokes (Triple trees) and thereby raising the ride height of the front of the motorcycle and altering the geometry even more than the preload adjusters would, or even if it were possible, an experiment that perhaps someone had tried, thereby changing the trail and rake slightly making it steer  more slowly. The manufacturer machines rings on them to assist in making sure they are both at an equal height and also to give you some adjustment in front end ride height, and record what that ride height would be, like my Ducati, Morini, Gilera etc etc, as I'm sure you all know.
Houzo, my fork legs are also on the stop, when they are, three rings show on the afore mention aluminium top CAP,( not 4 as I first mentioned) in which there is a preload adjuster in the centre, which also has rings shown and a plus and minus sign on top, I wondered if anyone had experimented with say one ring showing, not on the preload adjuster but the fork leg, which would of course raise the front end of the bike."
Alan.

[Huzo]

Well, lowering the fork staunchions in the to clamp is very unwise as there is only about 25 mm or so of fork in the clamp.
Leave that alone…
Now the things that stick up, they are pre load adjusters and will only serve to alter ride height, not stiffness (but I think you know that as you have mentioned it already..) Is there something you are attempting to achieve ultimately ?
I have NEVER altered mine on my ‘07 Norge in 18 years and 220,000 km and it’s just fine…

[Bison]

Hi Huzo,
Thanks for the reply.
No, as I said, I was cleaning the bike and I've been adjusting the preload, rear first, then the front, and to be honest it is now handling very nicely. It was a thought, that's all, to see if someone had done it and if it made a noticeable difference.
My bike is pretty much where I want it handling wise.
I wasn't expecting "oh yes, it's the best adjustment I've ever made", I just wondered if anyone had done it. If 25mm is all one has to play with, then rest assured I will leave it alone.
Alan.

[Bulldog9]

I get the Norge, 1200 Sport and Griso confused all the time so I went out and looked & snapped pictures of the Norge (8V) and Griso.

The Griso has rings on the fork tubes AND for fork spring Preload. You can raise or lower the fork tubes in the TT to show rings (black with orange fork Cap), set spring preload (silver hex head cap) AND set compression damping (small center screw, rebound is at the bottom of the fork tube). There are no similar rings on the Norge Fork Tube.





AFAIK, the 8V Norge bikes have spring preload on each fork tube and thats it. No compression or rebound settings. Not sure on the 4V motors or GEN 1 Norge, but I believe they made improvements on the GEN 2/8V bikes. The large "Nut" and lines you see on the Norge are the cap. It is extended due to the Bar Risers. Why they put lines on it I don't know, perhaps to be able to track height if dropped or raised in the TT, but I dont know anyone who has. Every Norge I've seen/had always showed 3 lines on the cap. As Huzo says, the fork tubes are flush with the top of the TT and have a slight step to prevent sliding up. The smaller hex head is the spring preload adjuster. Be careful with these, the stops are made of cheese and can break when taken to either end of its range.





As you can see in the pic, the Caps are Raised and have lines and a hex head. Just a design feature to make it 'look' sportier? 




I'm not too fussy with suspensions, and am generally happy with the stock Norge suspension, but I am toying with having Hamlin rework the suspension next year.

Here is an older thread on the Norge suspension. https://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=69762.0