@Speedy or anybody who can explain simple concepts even simpler, please help! A certain person does not seem to be able to grasp a concept or anything else I write very well.
Please explain the difference between a rider's and possible passenger's and luggage weight
Standard (Up to 250 lbs.), Heavy-duty (250+ lbs.) and Super Heavy Duty (Touring Models only - 350+ lbs.) and the 'spring rate' of a length of 'progressive spring' measured in 'lbs per inch of linear spring' for example '
125/170 lbs/in'.
If there are two shocks each with a spring on either side of the motorcycle, each inch of their combined spring length supports not just the mass of the rider but also the static and kinetic mass of an object (in this case a motorcycle and rider, passenger and luggage which is more than the
Standard (Up to 250 lbs.), Heavy-duty (250+ lbs.) and Super Heavy Duty (Touring Models only - 350+ lbs.) of just the rider, passenger and luggage.
Further please explain that a 'progressive spring' may have a number of different 'spring rates' with different spring rates measured in 'lbs per linear inch' e.g. in this case two spring rates (
125 and 170 lbs per inch), so that as the available spring length
travel, which is the sum of the gaps between the coils, is used the initial travel and closing up of the gap between the coils is absorbing the lower spring rate per inch capability (
125 lbs per inch) and once this is used up and the coils of spring with this rating close up, the portions of the spring's coils with the higher 'spring rate' in lbs per inch (
170 lbs per inch) then start to absorb the energy until they are closed up until the whole length of the spring's coils are completely closed up when the spring bottoms out or is 'bound'. i.e. there is no spring left and it is acting as a solid tube of steel before the load is reduced and the coils open up progressively once more, allowing the spring to lengthen and once more absorb energy when required by compressing again.
Therefore a longer spring with a lower spring rate per linear inch may be able to absorb as much or more energy than a shorter spring of much higher spring rate per linear inch.
This is why the longer eye to eye shock length with a longer spring may use a lower spring rate per inch to support a similar load while providing a more compliant softer feeling ride.
