I have a GL1800 with a Champion Escort attached. The bike has the OEM springs, which I am replacing with RaceTech springs.
The Escort weighs 200 lbs, with passenger & cargo wight of 250 lbs. I weigh 220 lbs.
RaceTech has a calculator for determining the correct replacement springs to order, which uses the rider's weight to determine spring rate.
Of course this does not take into account the added weight of the sidecar on the front end. I called RaceTech we decided to add 50 lbs to their calculator tool. I weigh 220 lbs, so we used 270 lbs. Front OEM spring weight is .700 kg/mm. Using their formula it indicates to use 1.068 kg/mm. The closest rate they have is 1.1 kg, which is what I ordered for the front springs.
For the rear, the OEM spring rate is 16.5 kg/mm. I ordered a 25.0 kg spring rate. I am wondering if this might be too stiff? Their calculator tool does not give a suggested rate for the rear spring.
I have the new springs, but have not installed them, so I can still exchange them if needed. For you experience guys, do these springs sound about right?
RaceTech has one rate heavier springs for both front & rear I could order, but I don't want too stiff a ride.
Thank You in advance for any help.
Is the spring ate too soft right now? I thought the GL 1800 had air in the rear shock. I have stock springs on my Harley and it's OK as is.
When I had my GL1500 I changed the front springs to progressives. The front forks were very soft. The rear shocks wore out so I installed the Progressives. 412? Not sure of the number but both sides were then oil and air instead of only one side air. They worked well but they weren't particularly hard. It was only a solo though.
It sounds like you will have a heavy set of springs there when you change them.
Yes, the stock springs are too soft. The front sags about half it's travel without rider aboard. On the GL1800 the rear shock pre-load is controlled by a hydraulic activator with a range of 1 to 24. Most new 1800's the activator is not completely filled from the factory and the pre-load doesn't even start until any where from 4 to 9. It's a simple thing to add a few cc's to completely fill it so it starts at 1. Even with that, at 24 the sag is still about half it's travel length because of the weight of the sidecar. It should only be about 3/4", like my 2002 GL1800 was (no sidecar attached to the 2002). I would like to be able to start the pre-load below 5.
On my old 2002 GL1800 I had installed progressive fork springs, but because of the sidecar on my newer bike I decided to use straight weight springs instead. RaceTech's are straight weight and can be ordered in a wide range of weights.
WinginCamera - 9/21/2009 10:25 AM
Yes, the stock springs are too soft. The front sags about half it's travel without rider aboard. On the GL1800 the rear shock pre-load is controlled by a hydraulic activator with a range of 1 to 24. Most new 1800's the activator is not completely filled from the factory and the pre-load doesn't even start until any where from 4 to 9. It's a simple thing to add a few cc's to completely fill it so it starts at 1. Even with that, at 24 the sag is still about half it's travel length because of the weight of the sidecar. It should only be about 3/4", like my 2002 GL1800 was (no sidecar attached to the 2002). I would like to be able to start the pre-load below 5.
On my old 2002 GL1800 I had installed progressive fork springs, but because of the sidecar on my newer bike I decided to use straight weight springs instead. RaceTech's are straight weight and can be ordered in a wide range of weights.
Well, it sounds like you have it figured out. I like Goldwings. If I ever started traveling solo again, I'd get a Goldwing 1800 in a heart beat. I really liked my GL1500.
