MZ Baghira - stiffening front suspension

[wickedmc]

Hey guys, looking to stiffen up the front suspension of my baggy, by adding washers and preloading the springs a little bit. Have backed off the big hex caps on the tops of the forks, at which point they pop up but then they don't want to come out? I don't think there is anything else that I need to back off is there? I checked the exploded diagram and they look as though they should be free to uninstall now.

[Baggy_Al]

You could put heavier grade oil in the forks or change the springs for progressive rate ones if you want to splash some cash.

Al.

[wickedmc]

Hi Al, thanks for the reply. Yes I know there are a few methods for stiffening the forks up, at the moment I'm keen to try adding washers above the springs. Problem I'm having is uninstalling the big hex cap from the top of the fork so as to add said washers.

I have unscrewed the cap and it pops up 30mm or so, but it won't come free when I try to pull it out.

[jaywillie2912]

Old school 'dirt bike' trick:

Use different length of PVC (thick wall) cut to various lengths. Easy to cut and can experiment with various lengths.

Use zip ties on a fork leg to measure your compression as u experiment with the lengths of PVC.

U can also experiment with changing the oil viscosity in the forks.

Good luck

[den]

there cartridge forks ,, have you undone the hex bolt under wheel spindle??#

[rodge70]

seem to remember top caps unbolt from damper/rebound tube,no need to undo lower bolt.

[m4panther]

Gabelwartung MZ Baghira: http://youtu.be/97qLAPVXz9E

Youtube video might help you

[wickedmc]

Thanks for the really good info guys, rather than using PVC i got a machinist friend of mine to do some steel spacers for me about 8mm thick each so I can vary the pre load.

While removing the springs i spilled oil out of the leg, unsure what quantity obviously! The manual says the air gap should be 135mm with spacer sleeve and spring out and the fork fully compressed. Is there anyway to top up the legs to the right levels without having to fully disassemble? If possible I'd like to top up with springs and sleeves still in the legs.

Also, just looking to confirm the oil levels should be the exact same for both legs, as I read that as 1 does rebound and the other compression, oil levels can differ.

[breakwellmz]

Hi

You just need to measure the correct volume of oil into each leg, it amounts to the same thing.The legs are the same as far as i know.

According to this it`s 580cc-(i had a CCM that engine size)

https://www.louis-moto.co.uk/rund-ums-m ... ghira/0879

[wickedmc]

Thanks for the link, I guess i will just have to take em off and empty them out and do it the proper way!