DT125R ARCHIVE

bones · DTR Respected Member

spring spacers?

Energized · DTR Legend

Pretty sure this has been covered before a few times, but not as of recent.

The best thing you can do with standard forks is go for a thicker fork oil, which in turn will give you a stiffer fork feel under braking etc.

I think you can get an upgraded spring kit for stiffness too, but I think they were pretty pricey the last time somebody linked them.

So in summary, either upgrade the oil thickness or get USD fork conversion! wink biggrin

Calum122 · Guru

The USD conversion didn't do much for me. This could be my setup and/or I haven't been on a Standard DTR to compare. My mate is buying a DTR off Andy in the next couple of months So I will be able to definitively tell.

But what Enny Said is what i'd go for. Thicker oil and stiffer springs. I belive Wemoto sell both

bones · DTR Respected Member

Excellent sounds like a plan, what fork oil will I need?

Calum122 · Guru

I wouldn't know I've got USD's. But as I said just go to wemoto. They sell it.

bones · DTR Respected Member

Calum122 wrote:
I wouldn't know I've got USD's. But as I said just go to wemoto. They sell it.

I would prefer to buy it locally as it will be cheaper as I live on the Isle of Man.

Calum122 · Guru

I wouldn't have thought this would be a local jobby. Even so the details would be on their website for what the fork oil is.

Progressive springs are what you want.

bones · DTR Respected Member

Calum122 wrote:
I wouldn't have thought this would be a local jobby. Even so the details would be on their website for what the fork oil is.

Progressive springs are what you want.

I have had a look on the website but can't really figure out what I would need and would prefer to just do oil as I don't know how long I will be keeping the bike. I might keep the bike after I pass my test but not sure yet. I have had many bikes over the years, off road and on road but never got around to doing my test, I might keep the DT as I do have a soft spot for it, time will tell.

Calum122 · Guru

It's just annoying that I've told you what to search for.

But still struggling. First google search found exactly what you would need.

item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem

You're welcome.

MDK · DTR Legend

maybe some one should do a thread on springs and what other bikes springs mayfit to soften or harden suspension ...

Victor · Guru

i was thinking of buying some spares/repairs dt forks

and cutting the springs to use as spacers and going up to 15w oil

yamahayz125 · DTR Senior Member

xt 600 springs fit perfect

SMurF_12 · DTR Senior Member

The stock fork oil in a dt is 10w
Hyperpro / wilbers / hagon do progressive springs
I have just rebuilt my forks with 15w oil and wilbers progressive springs, cant wait to ride it now!!!

bones · DTR Respected Member

Calum122 wrote:
It's just annoying that I've told you what to search for.

But still struggling. First google search found exactly what you would need.

item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem

You're welcome.

I had a look on webmoto as you suggested and couldn't find which oil would be needed as they don't seem to have a this is the correct oil for you section which is annoying .

Only wanting to try oil not springs as trying to keep costs down otherwise I'll be getting some YZ forks and fit them. Thank you.

SMurF_12 · DTR Senior Member

As i said in my post the stock oil in dt forks is a 10w

bones · DTR Respected Member

SMurF_12 wrote:
As i said in my post the stock oil in dt forks is a 10w

Cool, ta I'll get some 15w scored and try that.

Victor · Guru

SMurF_12 wrote:
The stock fork oil in a dt is 10w
Hyperpro / wilbers / hagon do progressive springs
I have just rebuilt my forks with 15w oil and wilbers progressive springs, cant wait to ride it now!!!

how much were they?

SMurF_12 · DTR Senior Member

The springs cost me in the reigon of £80 - £100

Periwinkle Ramstanza · DTR Respected Member

You can make fork spacers out of any steel tube of the correct diameter, mine are made out of old vacuum cleaner pipe. It simply pretensions the springs resulting in stiffer forks, everyone used to do it in motocross to fine tune their forks a few years back.
I would recommend using something other than steel pipe to begin with, just as a prototype to find the correct length required, anything will do that's clean and won't leave crap behind.
You'll find damping performance will remain about the same, it will lift the front end and stiffen the forks slightly. As already suggested damping can be fine tuned using different viscosity oils.
I always space out the forks until the suspension relaxes very slightly when my weight is on the bike, if there's no movement at all you've overdone it;)

Victor · Guru

Periwinkle Ramstanza wrote:
You can make fork spacers out of any steel tube of the correct diameter, mine are made out of old vacuum cleaner pipe. It simply pretensions the springs resulting in stiffer forks, everyone used to do it in motocross to fine tune their forks a few years back.
I would recommend using something other than steel pipe to begin with, just as a prototype to find the correct length required, anything will do that's clean and won't leave crap behind.
You'll find damping performance will remain about the same, it will lift the front end and stiffen the forks slightly. As already suggested damping can be fine tuned using different viscosity oils.
I always space out the forks until the suspension relaxes very slightly when my weight is on the bike, if there's no movement at all you've overdone it;)

This sound's good