I have been meaning to give an update of the performance of the shocks and my fork overhaul.
Simply, the bike handles MUCH better. Maybe not like a current GP or superbike, but at least as well as my VFR did a few years ago.
I started with the rear shock at its softest and after about 50 miles like that I discovered that my rear wheel had worn down a sizable groove in my under tail mounted brake light.... I guess my travel has increased because I put 2000+ miles on the bike last year after I angled my brakelight down for better visibility. No biggie, $60 and change for a very slick flexible LED strip tail/brake/signal light from Signal Dynamics and another click of preload in the rear and back out on the road. I probably have only logged 200 or so miles since then but man were they nice miles. Sitting while plowing over speedbumps @ 30mph is something I have never done before on ANY bike, I always hopped up on the pegs to un weight the saddle, I don't have to anymore (but still do out of habit). The Progressive Suspension shocks are well worth the $ in my opinion.
The forks are completely different from when the seals were blown, obviously, but also much better then I remember any pre 1990's bike I have ever ridden. They are really adjustable, and I have yet to alter my initial set up other then to add a few lbs of air pressure to see what difference it would make. I am sure I will fuss with and fine tune it a little comes regular riding season, but it is handling incredibly well for the shorter slightly more sedate rides I have been doing on cold roads breaking in new brake pads.
It is hard to say if the Progressive Suspension springs or RaceTech valve emulators are responsible for the improvement by themselves, i believe my results are a sum of the many parts. I know the springs are a great improvement over stock, and having the ability to fine tune the forks valving so easily is a great thing.
All in all, these couple of things and a new All Balls roller bearing headset were simple, relatively inexpensive projects that anyone here with simple tools can do themselves and TRANSFORM the ride of your old bike in a very tangible way.
Happy wrenching,
Drew
