Fork spring preload data

Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models

Updated: 2010 March 27

I measured the following data on a set of new replacement springs that were intended to be identical to the original springs.

• The free length of the springs are 240 mm. This is the length of the spring before it is installed (i.e., holding it in your hand, completely off of the motorcycle).
• Once installed on the motorcycle, without any weight on the front wheel (front wheel off of the ground), the length of the spring is 226 mm. That is, the springs are preloaded 14 mm without any weight at all on the front wheel of the motorcycle.
• With just the weight of the motorcycle on the front wheel (front wheel on the ground, no rider weight), the length of the spring is 202 mm. That is, the springs are preloaded 38 mm with the weight of the motorcycle on the front wheel.