Progressive fork springs on Baghira

[roeleman]

Hello,

I bought myslf a pair of progressive forksprings from Wirth for my Black Panther. Yesterday they arrived and today I started to dismount my fork. I compared the new ones with the original ones and they will fit. They are a little shorter than the original but the diameter of the treath is a little bit bigger and they are progressive winded. It would fit, but the baghira has such plastic caps on top of the springs and the Wirth's doesn't, so I will make them next week on my work.

Tomorrow I will post some pictures.

Oh, I bought the springs here: http://www.wirth-federn.de/index.php?cat=c588_MZ.html

[roeleman]

Here is teh picture of the old springs and a new on (in the middle). You can see the progressive ones are a litte bit shorter bu the fill pipe is longer to compensate.
On the lower one You see the plastic caps I was talking about and don't fit the new springs. These ones I gonna make myself and maybe shorten the fill pipe a little bit to keep the same total length. I give the results when finished, but I have to find me first a new set of seals also. Seems it s a special design you have to order with MZ (or Marzochi).

Regards.

vorkveren.jpg (151.29 KiB) Viewed 6754 times

[phlat65]

I have progressive springs in my bike too, did them 5 years ago, love them.

[BlueRidgePanther]

Are these springs for a height reduced model or a standard height model? Do you know if both are offered?

[roeleman]

These springs are for a normal height Panther. I don't know what the difference is with the height reduced panther. Is it the same as a Mastiff? Because they have springs for a mastiff. If you what is the height difference then its good to know there are some fill pieces (2 pipes of 75mm) that You can adjust or leave away. When You open your fork it is good to know You can find the oil seal with KTM, it's part nr.7528197 and they belong to a KTM360EXC from 1996-97, and here in Belgium they are around 2€ (3$) cheaper than the original ones of MZ.

Back to the springs now. I made the pieces I was talking about and mounted everything and used SAE10 fork oil and a airchamber of 160mm. I have to say, the fork is amazing now. It is a huge difference, the steering is much precize, the bike reacts on every little input and the front is really feeling strong. This is one of the best modifications I did on the Black Panther, but... there is a related problem that showed up: the rear. You can feel that rear an't handle the situation created with the new springs in the front. Not that the bike has problems wth it, but I feel the rear whobbling like hell when there are some bumps in a turn. Don't worry,the front keeps on its track like there is nothing wrong.

I checked the settings of the back and noticed that the back goe down with around 100mm when I'm in the saddle (around 100kg). That's way to much I think. White Power mentions max 40mm min 30mm. I tried the adjust the spring preload, but it didn't help. Somebody suggestions? I will try to contact a local suspension specialist, maybe he can help me.

[MSW]

I have progressive springs in my bike too, did them 5 years ago, love them.

Hey phlat, where did you buy the springs? Did they have to be ordered from overseas, or did you just find someone who supplied springs for KTM, and found the right model? (BTW, I still don't know which KTM model used the same Marzocchi Magnum 45mm fork - anyone?)

[roeleman]

ad MSW:
as I said in my previous post, the KTM 360EXC build in 1996&1997 has the same marzocchi magnum fork as our MZ.


To go back to the sag of the rear suspension, for a supermotard, the free sag should be between 20-30 mm when seated on the bike it should be between 80 and 90 mm. My free sag is 15 mm (is OK) the sag when I'm on the bike is 100mm. When my girlfriend sits on the bike it is around 70mm. I think I'm just to heavy...

[m4panther]

I upgraded my springs also with these race techs. they swallow pot holes up pretty good. I weigh over 200Lbs

[BlueRidgePanther]

What is the $$ price on these items, if you don't mind me asking?

[MSW]

The Race Tech website says they're $109 for the set. Not sure what a shop would charge you based on that, but I doubt they'd offer them for a whole lot less (at least that's the way it always seems). A quick search of the web doesn't turn up an aftermarket parts provider who carries that particular spring, but it could be out there.

Another interesting thing is that the Race Tech website lists the part number for springs for the 360EXC as "FRSP 4345" rather than the FRSP 3951 used by m4panther. I wonder what the difference is.

[Garf]

Roeleman I believe he rear shock comes standard from the factory set up with a spring rate to cope with a rider weight of about 75Kg. Since you are around the 100Kg mark the rear spring is most likely too weak regardless of pre-loading to achieve the correct sag. I think MZ supply different rates to suit but it would probably be quicker and cheaper to source one elswhere. WP are probably a good place to start but might be pricey or alternatively try a specialist spring supplier such as http://www.dfaulknersprings.co.uk or take the bike to a suspension shop and let them set both ends for your weight and type of riding.

Cheers
Garf

[funmonkee]

Has anyone in the UK done the fork spring upgrade? My baggi handles really well (I'm used to a Vmax)... but I'd like to stiffen up the forks and shockie...

[kendo]

Funmonkee,
I fitted longer spacers to the top of my forks and replaced the oil with a slightly heavier grade. The stock spacers are 32mm ID,38mm OD and 50mm long, the ones i made are +20mm and seem to make a difference to the "feel" of the original soft front end.

Kenny.

[funmonkee]

Kenny, that's cool. Any chance of making more and selling them on here?

[kendo]

Funmonkee,
When i made the spacers 2 years ago i was "on the tools" but since then i have managed to climb the ladder a little and don`t have the access to the machinery that i used to. You are more than welcome to have a look at my bike and if you think that the forks are an improvment over the ones on your bike then i am sure that a local machine shop could knock a set up to the sizes given in a previous post.

Kenny.