How bad is our font ends?

[cfiiman]

Maybe there is something wrong with mine or something, but it just seems to be really bad on bumpy roads...No cushion to soak up the bumps, and really "bone jarring" kind of hits which makes the bike squirely at best in a corner hitting bumps...Is this just the way the front forks are on this or do mine need work??? I know my seals are leaking some and need to be changed, there isn't a possibility of really low/no fluid causing this is there? I've been watching for it to "really" start leaking and it hasn't that is why I continue to ride it without changing yet, it is a winter project at this point...This is why I am so interested in swapping my front end with a complete F3...Please let me know...Thanks,

[Dash]

The stock front is quite dreadful. on bumby roads you`re all over the place. and there is no suspension worth mentioning.

[DefTrap]

Correctly set-up and for normal road-riding the stock front end is fine in my opinion. Mine has 'progressive' springs, that's it. The correct amount of fresh oil will make a whole load of difference - I'm always amazed how much better it rides after a fork oil change.

[Dash]

Correctly set-up and for normal road-riding the stock front end is fine in my opinion. Mine has 'progressive' springs, that's it. The correct amount of fresh oil will make a whole load of difference - I'm always amazed how much better it rides after a fork oil change.

Maybe I should change the oil as well. it`s been a while since I last did that. maybe I won`t need F2 forks at all :P

[wainair]

Hey Def, how much oil do you use per fork. I've heard conflicting suggestions on the amount that should be used. I've got all the bits to re work my forks in the spring (progressive springs, gold emulators, new bushings, seals...) 10W oil is the best I've read but I cannot get consensus on oil amount.

[DefTrap]

Roughly half a litre per leg in a stock front end. The oil height is more important to get it spot on though, 5 inches from the top with the fork leg compressed and spring out. 10wt is fine.

[joel]

The fastest Hawk riders I have ridden with have done so on modified stock frontends.While it's not technically as good to have emulators and that skinny front rim etc as a 1000RR front end I will say this: having a Traxxion tuned Gixxer front,magnesium rim blahbitty...ain't the reason the Southerners are 75% faster than I am.

That said- the stock front isn't that great and to a large degree,skill can ride around issues much more than better suspension improves a mediocre rider.What really counts is having confidence in your machine- if you think your front needs work,then it does...that's my zen theory of mototuning

[wainair]

thanks def, good point joel

[drinmotoracer]

Dude... there is an entire front end minus wheel on ebay right now from a F2. I'm not sure if it is a 1994 though (preload adjustable)... $179 or $229 BIN. Seems like an OK deal if it is from 1994.

Oh BTW, the stock front end totally sucks compared to an upgraded one (unless you put valves and better springs in it), but even then it is not adjustable easily.

[motorcycleman]

What I don't like about the swap is losing the front wheel- it is perfectly designed for the look of the hawk imo

[squirrelman]

saggy??

while you're adding oil check the length of your springs against factory mimimum specs....................may have sagged out over time.
Progressive speings are a good investment, IMO.

[jaysun0ne]

Re: saggy??

Progressive speings are a good investment, IMO.

+1

even on a stock f2 vs progressive sprung f2 forks, theres a huge
difference.