advice pls re 650 fork dive solutions (intiminators+springs)

[willywombat]

please excuse me for being lazy and not trawling through all the posts /threads about reducing the front end dive on the 650 but I'm kind of in a rush to order a solution and currently don't have much internet access as I'm on hols in France. basically I bought an 05 not long ago and am gradually sorting all the weaknesses etc .
I'm currently 17.5 stone (110kg) and have found sharp braking to be rather unnerving because of the soft front end .
I've been interested in intiminators from america but guess I need to sort the springs first?
What do people generally  consider the best solution in the UK ....Hagon progressive or something else?
Your advice /experience would be very much appreciated.
many thanks
Bill

[tallpaul]

I think 2112 has imitators on his bike.  Maybe drop him a PM? I get diving under braking too, even with the preload wound right up, but then I'm a another 25kg heavier than you! I'm going the fork spring route, but it isn't a major priority to me as I only use my rear brake at speeds less than 10 mph, so cuts down on the low speed diving approaching junctions etc.

*Edit* they are called "cartridge emulators" not imitators!

[tallpaul]

Argh!  They ARE intiminators! What can I say? I'm having a bad week!

[Rusty Nuts]

Intimator  / emulator...

Both names apply, depending on manufacturer.

[kirky1298]

Hagon progressive front springs and 10w oil.

[frez]

I got springs suitable for my weight from Sonic Springs in the USA, put them in with Silkolene Pro RSF 10 weight. It was good enough for me.

[willywombat]

Hi Frez
yes ..I've seen your post re the sonic springs and as I'm fairly heavy ( 110kg) wondered whether they'd be better than the hagons .Are they progressive or linear ?
Could only see one model on the hagon site which ..as you say can only be optimum for certain weight ranges .
Saw someone said they had different versions but I don't see that option on their site .
would like to order something to arrive for my return to England ( 10 days ) but am a little confused re all the options ie linear/progressive /spring rate etc etc.

[Juvecu]

I sorted the dive with uprated springs and fresh 10W oil. The emulators are another step up, but I'm not sure if the emulators alone are good enough to stop the dive if you only have standard fork springs.

Even though I  have Yacugar progressive springs, if I were to buy again I would go for the Hagon ones myself. This is because I'm only 13 stone and I think the Yacugar springs are a tad too high rated for my weight. They might be more suited to someone a few stone heavier. I've been meaning to put a trade/swap post up for a while, but never got around to it.

[2112]

I fitted the intiminators to my 2013 glee and they made a big difference (I'm 6'2" & 18 1/2 stone). The forks felt firmer, with less dive but more compliant over bumps at the same time. They weren't perfect (a full cartridge conversion circa £500 would be needed for that) but were definitely worth the money in a pounds spent to improvement type of way my opinion.

Or just buy a Supertenere, like I did...  

[cpjs]

I fitted the Ricor intiminators with 7.5wt oil, worth every penny the front end is so much more controlled  on compression and rebound both of which are poor as standard .
I would go this route first then go heavier springs if needed.

[frez]

At 22 stone I needed to do something. The sonic ones are linear. It's worth sending the bloke at sonic an email as the calculator on his site doesn't take into account the longer travel on the wee so you may need lighter than the calculator recommends. I think they took about 10 days to arrive if memory serves.