tribal
Moto Hobo Gypsy Vagabond
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2006
- Messages
- 889
- Ride
- 2005 Rocket III & 2015 Rocket III Roadster
Sorry to bushwhack this thread but I've been meaning to write this up for two months:
/RANT ON
I can't say for sure which are "better" as I never tried the Progressives but I'll never purchase another Wilber product.
I went with the Wilbers as I wanted to lower the front end 1" or more to match the 1" lowered rear end and I just couldn't get a straight answer on what Progressive part number(s) I needed for the 2005 and 2015 R3R springs.
Wilbers seemed to have it clearly defined which Wilbers springs to use and mecadata.com had the best price so I dropped US$348 for two sets delivered.
2004-9 R3 = 600-0404-02 (Rabaissement 20 mm) - to me this meant the springs would lower it by .79" PLUS what I got by pushing the forks up into the triple trees. WRONG!!
There was also lots of confusion as the box label and instructions included were incomplete and wrong.
They stated "Use preload bushings L=10mm and the original preload bushing" - after a week it was confirmed there was no bushing included or needed.
Get this though - their .79" advertised number INCLUDES the triple-tree mod I had already done. It took several days to get the correct instructions stating: "Push the fork tubes maximally 10 mm through the triple clamps"
2010+ R3R = 600-0404-03 (Rabaissement 25 mm) - to me this meant the springs would lower it by .98" PLUS what I got by pushing the forks up into the triple trees. WRONG!!
Again, the instructions included were incomplete. Once received, these ones stated
"Push the fork tubes for further 8 mm up to 12 mm at all through their triple clamps (technical
maximum).
The remainder was achieved by the critical missing step to "Shorten the original preload bushings for 10 mm". Sadly, by the time they told me this the mechanic had already reassembled everything so effectively neither bike
is actually any lower with the new (and expensive) springs. AAARRGGGHHH!
Q1. Why does one say 10mm is the max you can push the forks up into the triple trees and the other says 12mm? I didn't measure mine but they seemed the same to me.
I also checked the Triumph parts catalog and cannot see where the stock springs/forks/trees on 2004-2018 R3/R3R are any different so why does Wilber have different part numbers and instructions?
In fact, the new instructions they sent for both part numbers stated :
"Use Wilbers fork springs art.-no. 600-0404 and appropriate Wilbers-oil (SAE 10) with an air
chamber-level of 110 mm". So, in fact, both kits have the exact same springs and nothing else!!
The advertised 'Rabaissement 25mm' numbers don't add up for the Roadster - 10mm from cutting the bushing plus 12mm from pushing forks up = 22mm (or 20mm if R3 and R3R both max at 10mm).
I spoke with an Engineer at Wilber and he agreed the instructions, web site statements and pricing were wrong but the only thing I see fixed is the prices are now the same for both kits.
OK, I got that out of my system and have hopefully schooled others on this marketing tom foolery.
The fact of the matter is that you can do this mod with any aftermarket R3 fork spring!
/RANT OFF
On the bright side, I do notice improved handling, control, and steering response with these Wilbers over the stock ones.
Maybe I'll trim the spacers on the next fork oil replacement cycle - or get a lower profile front tire to help in the twisties - or neither as I run DS anyways...
