Suspensions upgrades. V7 Special

[Toecutter]

I'm eyeing a pair of Hagon Nitro rear shocks for my V7 (eyeing meaning... buying the damn things, just a matter of self control at this point), has anyone used them? Any comments? Any issues?

As for the front...

Should I go with a cartridge emulator (assuming someone makes one that will fit) or simply use Progressively wound springs? Can anyone point me to specs on the springs? Diameter, length, etc?

Thank you.

[pyoungbl]

There are a few issues to deal with when changing the V7 Special suspension.  Of course you need to spec the spring for your weight but you will also want to make sure the valving is to your taste.  If you fit a rear rack you will probably have a clearance issue at the upper mount.  I had to install my RaceTech shocks upside down since I have a HB rack installed.  The OEM units deal with this by having a long neck between the actual shock body and the upper mount.

Next, figure out which brand of forks you have.  They are similar but not the same.  You need to take the fender off to see the ID casting on the fork leg.  Race Tech offers springs and emulators for the Kiafia (sp) forks.  I weigh 190 lbs and ended up with .80 springs, drilling two extra holes in the emulators, and 15W fork oil.  Then experiment with the air gap until you get full suspension travel without bottoming out the forks.

Progressive springs are a bad idea, in my humble opinion.  Read the Race Tech suspension bible.  http://racetech.com/page/title/Suspension%20Bible  Bottom line, you are already getting progressive suspension resistance by virtue of the air gap that you are compressing as the suspension moves.  Adding progressive springs is just doubling down on the progressive action.  The air gap progression is predictable, that of the springs is an unknown but you may well end up with suspension that starts out plush and quickly becomes rigid, well before you have used up your suspension travel.

Peter Y.

[mjptexas]

Here's a link to another forum I follow:

http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/showthread.php?t=642410

Read the "First 7 Pages of Suspension from XLXR" and the "Second 7 Pages of Suspension from XLXR".

There is a fair amount of information about forks in these posts, much of it generic which may be useful.

XLXR seems to be sold on an emulation solution.  I was too lazy to do that so I put Works Performance springs in my Sportster.  They did wonders for the bike.  I was about to do the same thing to my Triumph Bonneville but sold it instead.

I didn't check the Works Performance site to see if they have V7 springs, but it's worth doing.  Not terribly expensive and from the compares I've read they are a lot better than the Progressive springs.

Good luck.

[tonUPRacer]

I went with RaceTech front and rear springs matched to my weight and added the Matris preload adjuster kit up front. Easy to do not too expensive and made huge improvements, should've done it sooner.

[sturgeon]

...
Next, figure out which brand of forks you have.  They are similar but not the same.  You need to take the fender off to see the ID casting on the fork leg. 
...

Or, use something to take an impression of the lettering on the casting. I used an old silicon 'swimmers' ear plug. Kids PlayDoh will also work, or probably even a piece of paper if you press hard enough.