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upgrade front suspension?

7K views 41 replies 28 participants last post by  Ironhorse1800 
#1 ·
Just noticed my 08 38,000 m left fork seal leaking. Time to rebuild and install mono tubes? How are the mono tubes working for you guys using them? Any tips or suggestions? Thanks Mike
 
#28 ·
In my opinion, you will find that the biggest improvements to the front suspension will gained by adding these parts in this order of most improvement being number one and next most improvement being number two and so on down the list.
1. Lower triple tree, Rocky Tree upgrade
2. Progressive monotubes.
3. All Balls steering head bearings.
4. Adjustable fork brace such as Traxxion, or Kury.
This is the most bang for the buck that you can get. I've tried them all. YMMV
Lanny,

I agree with you 100%.

It should be noted that when one upgrades the front suspension at times they are not happy. The front is now fixed but most do nothing to the rear shock. Upgrading the rear to a 2012 or later rear shock will make the bike ride like it should.

For around 900 in parts you can't go wrong.

I run a 1/8 spacer to get the ride I want and like. I also have the anti dive working. You can get spacer kits and Anti Dive rebuild kits from dhsracing.com

If your anti dive is sticking don't disable it, fix it.

My 2 cents

Tiny
 
#30 · (Edited)
Where do you find a trike take off? About getting discouraged always wanted a Wing finally got one and the ride really sucks! Now it seems I am forced to shell out about a grand to make it ride decent! Gona do the wire tie trick to check out my fork tube travel, if it ever stops raining here in KY! I bought a 06 with 30K miles our roads are half patched they resurfaced four foot of the outside of the lanes which leaves a ridge in the middle of the lane worse than tar snakes! Plus when you get on bad pavement or RR tracks the handle bars about rips your arms off. The worst feeling I have ever had on a bike ever! You would think that for a company to produce a $27K motorcycle it wouldn't have all these problems you have to deal with plus when using my rear brake it surges I have ABS the front brake is fine but the rear is annoying. So do id you replace the innards with the progressive monoshock does it have the new valves or do you still need the gold valves? Worse than a boat LOL! Right now so discouraged I went a test drove a Victory yesterday! Oh I got new 709 mounted up yesterday 2 oz dynabeads.
 
#33 ·
I certainly hope you did not pay 27K for a ten year old bike!:nerd:

Do you know what, if any, preventative maintenance has ever been performed on your front suspension? At 10Y, 30K I would suspect weak OEM springs, worn slider bushings and, from your description, possible loose steering stem bearings. Possible sticking ADV as well. Any combination of these maintenance items will jack up a good ride, IMHO.

For rear brakes, might have an air pocket. If not flushed and serviced, maintained properly, easy to get. Has the most recent brake recall been performed?

Find a trike dealer for a 2012 or newer rear shock assembly. Rumor has it the 2012 has a better shock and bit stiffer spring. IMHO, the cheapest way to upgrade the rear suspension on a 10 year old ride.
 
#34 · (Edited)
I called the past owner he said he hadn't ever received anything about any recalls and he hasn't ever serviced the front end he then said he didn't have any problems and why am I complaining to him. I politely said I not complaining just asking questions because I have concerns about the ride. Then he jumped me saying well when you test drove it you had no complaints, geez some people and the road he lives on was paved last year and smooth as a baby's bottom. No, but I did think I gave a little too much too much $12500 with bad tires and when I got home it wouldn't start dead battery I had it shipped to me he must have had it running right before I got there. He wasn't a very nice guy OH but was very nice while I was there in person. Had problems getting it registered in KY from Ohio he signed in the wrong place and he had a fit acting like it was my fault waited over two weeks for him to get me the proper paper paperwork. What a pain in a the azz. I asked him about the intercom what type he was using for the rear passenger he hung up on me said he didn't have time to be bothered with all my questions and I had beat him down $500 on his asking price anyway! What a nice guy. I was so depressed I went for a 200 mile ride on my Yamaha. I suppose my main gripe was that you buy what you think should be the best road bike on the market and then have to do all these things to it to make it into a decent riding motorcycle. That's disappointing to say the least. I even though I did my homework went on Youtube to know how to check out Goldwing before you buy they didn't cover things like front end wobble.
 
#35 ·
If he did not do any maintenance I would expect the problems you reported. Check as others have said.

Forks Seals, $100, all Balls $40, PMT $350ish, Triple tree $4-500, Fork Brace $150. Disable the front fork anti-dive valve, if it sticks you will be on one fork with very bad handling. Lose triple tree can cause problems. Have a fellow Wing rider/Wing wrench have a look.

Someone with experience can have the front end , -rebuild,- replaced in a long day.
 
#36 ·
Progressive monotubes

Hello,
I initially put the monotubes in 2012 on my new 2012 (my 4th GW now). Stock suspension is lousy. Worked great for about 2 years (24k miles). Then hard as a brick (disabled ADV, didn't help). Just put on the AK-20s @ 35k miles. Already had Traxx triple tree, all balls bearings, tried the fork brace (didn't feel it was needed), shimmed & then disabled ADV. Also installed the traxxion rear shock with braided steel preload line back in 2012 Now the suspension feels great. Time will tell for how long the suspension works. Still need to maintain about every 25 k miles front, maybe 50k for rear shock.
 
#37 ·
I have about 20k on my 08 wing after having Fred Harmon install a complete traxxion billet triple tree, all balls tapered bearings, a set of rev 2 progressive monotubes and a progressive rear spring, along with disabling the ADV in the front fork. I could not be happier with the ride after Fred worked his magic. I will probably be visiting him again soon for a fork seal and bushing replacement along with a fork oil change.


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#39 ·
To each his own on how stout of a spring they want to ride on day in and day out.

I am about 240 lbs dry and almost never leave town without the trunk full of things and a pretty little lady on the back seat. For vacation rides we hook up a Kwik Kamp trailer too add the bed, ice chest and anything else she can fit in there. All of my solo riding, hard cornering is done at traffic lights here in town. I am not allowed go past the city limits sign by myself.>:)

A stock 2014 rear shock and spring, whole assembly has been fine for me. On rare occasions I push the corners on a less than smooth road a bit harder than I should. Only then do I wish that I could tighten up the back just a bit more. So, almost all the time I am good with it. YMMV.

What have you done to the front? Keeping front and rear suspension reasonably "balanced" is important.
 
#40 ·
I just had the Traxxion full monty installed a week ago at Woodstock, GA. Rode down from NJ to GA for the install. My wing is a 2015. Most immediate improvement is when executing slow speed maneuvers. The ride is tight and steering is pinpoint. Noticeable difference in the ride when there are irregularities in the road surface. No jarring bumps on bad road surfaces.
 
#41 ·
Ironhorse how do I link to just your post?
I put the new tires on a couple of weeks ago love the CT on the back still got the low and hight speed problem gonna dig a little deeper very soon as I feel this is a mechanical problem that is worrying me. I Hadn't ridden the V Star in a couple of weeks so to charge the bat I went for a quick spin this afternoon where the road is rough before our RR tracks heck didn't even notice the bumps, I was thinking whis my Wing would do that. Haven't decided on which route to go thinking the All Balls neck bearings for sure and while I got that off the Progressive Mono upgrade and new bushings and seals. What weight fork oil do you guys use 10 or 15 weight? And might as well go a little deeper and change the air filter while I got the dash off anyway. Also just found out the brake recall hasn't been done. I scheduled it three weeks ago and drove an hour to get there in the dang rain and after sitting there in the lobby for a hour the service guy cam out and apologized the part was on backorder! I was a bit miffed as he knew Saturday he didn't have the part and should have called me because my appointment was at 8 am. So I rode back to home in the rain wasn't a happy camper. Was going to get them to check the swingarm to see if it's OK. ot you got any tips. If some one tells me how to do something or I can see it I can do it. I'm a hands on type of guy, I did think dang Honda could have made it a little easier to get to the air filter at least lol.
 
#42 ·
Ironhorse how do I link to just your post?

I put the new tires on a couple of weeks ago love the CT on the back still got the low and hight speed problem gonna dig a little deeper very soon as I feel this is a mechanical problem that is worrying me. I Hadn't ridden the V Star in a couple of weeks so to charge the bat I went for a quick spin this afternoon where the road is rough before our RR tracks heck didn't even notice the bumps, I was thinking whis my Wing would do that. Haven't decided on which route to go thinking the All Balls neck bearings for sure and while I got that off the Progressive Mono upgrade and new bushings and seals. What weight fork oil do you guys use 10 or 15 weight? And might as well go a little deeper and change the air filter while I got the dash off anyway. Also just found out the brake recall hasn't been done. I scheduled it three weeks ago and drove an hour to get there in the dang rain and after sitting there in the lobby for a hour the service guy cam out and apologized the part was on backorder! I was a bit miffed as he knew Saturday he didn't have the part and should have called me because my appointment was at 8 am. So I rode back to home in the rain wasn't a happy camper. Was going to get them to check the swingarm to see if it's OK. ot you got any tips. If some one tells me how to do something or I can see it I can do it. I'm a hands on type of guy, I did think dang Honda could have made it a little easier to get to the air filter at least lol.


Mike,

If you want to follow up on a previous post, pick "quote" from the bottom of that post.

The Progressive Monotubes use a gas charged shock, so the oil is not used for dampening. With PMT the oil is really just used to lube the internal parts. I stick with 10W.

It has been said that Honda held out an air filter and then built a Goldwing around it. Ha! With that in mind, I always make a list of things I am going to do when digging in that deep. There are a bunch of tasks that are best done "while you are there" such as taking the slack out of the cruise cable while the front end is down. Air filters are so cheap, I put a new one almost every time I have the shelter off. If digging the fuel tank out to do a rear shock, I check the ground cluster at the back of the engine and all the coolant hose clamps I can get my fingers on.

Others will chime in with many other items it is good to check while in there.


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