Anyone know the dimensions of the FZ6-S (04-06) Fork Spacer?

[Gnasher]

I don't think you've quite understood what I was saying.

No I don't think you're understanding me mate, I refer you to what I said earlier

It could crack/collapse the fist time you hit a bump or brake and riding around like a little old lady isn't going to give you the feed back you need, but hay it's your life mate, but have a thought for others.

There's every possibility you'll be in trouble withing minutes, do you really want to find out as you hit a bump or brake form 60mph? 

The point is that the progressive spring is already being compressed somewhat by the spacer, which is why the sag is out.

By shortening the spacer, fewer of the spring coils are being squeezed down, thus giving more sag.

Yep that's why I've suggested putting the standard springs back in they're 10-20% less than Hyperpro and the sag will be much closer if not correct and it's your dampening that's wrong, not the springs

See my other post about about setting the sag on the YSS shock

Seen it that's why you need to set the front to match the back and vice versa

Who said anything about cutting down the spring? I'm talking about shortening the spacer which compresses the spring.

By shorten the standard spacer will will be effectively trying to lessen the spring rate, but the standard spacer is such that the spring is almost at it's non compress length, if you shorten it, (example 'like cutting the spring') the bike will just settle back down on it.  Thus you won't have changed the spring rate just lowered the front end and altered the rake, i.e. screwing the handling.  You can only reduce preload if it's there in the first place, in your bike it's not, as it's got standard spacers, it's the Hyperpro spring that's wrong, it's too hard for your weight, so whatever you do to it, it is not going to change it. 

Of course I can always raise the forks if necessary.

If you raise the fork tubes (lift them in the yokes) you will alter the rake that will make the bike handle worse on the road and you'll have still done nothing to the spring rate. 

There is no shim pack on the FZ6 forks.

Yes there is, it's inside the damping rod. 

Err, as far as I'm aware, the air gap above the oil level has nothing to do with the preload!

We all learn something everyday 

To directly quote a guy from Hyperpro:

The oil level determines how much the fork goes "in" when you brake hard. So changing the oil level, does nothing when riding normal.

He needs to be working somewhere's else then.  There is 2 types of compression damping 1st high speed (DIVE) this is the initial compression when you hit the brake, 2nd low speed or progression damping, this comes after you hit the brake and the and the damping begins to slow, it also controls how fast it continues to compress, hit a dump etc. Adding/removing oil (changing the air gap) is just a cheap basic air spring i.e. preload. 


Anyone remember the fad with air suspension in the 80's, no longer used, I wonder why 

The oil thickness determines how much damping you have in the fork.

Yes and no, the size of the orifice and shim pack control how fast the oil passes through them and that's what determines how fast or slow your damping will react.  Thicker/thinner oil will just allow the damping to faster/slower but only to a point, which is why sports bikes have high/low speed compression and rebound damping.   

More or less weight will not change the amount of damping you need.

Wrong, more/less weight means more/less energy, to keep things stable, if you increase/lower weight you have to increase/decrease damping to control the spring.   

What does help, is to reduce the spring preload: since we use progressive springs, they have a softer and harder area.

By reducing the preload , the spring will work in a softer area, giving more comfort.

Your bike doesn't have any preload, to remove well almost none. 

If you cut off say 10mm, the spring should be in the right range and will give you the ride you want.

No, you don't have any preload, all you will do is lower the front end. 

Instead of cutting the original ones, making a set of new ones is often easier (since the material is quite thin, it is hard to saw or cut)

The new one may be made from steel, aluminium or PVC.

Often swer pipe (for instance) has the proper outer diameter and is quite cheap and easy to cut

Ask yourself why aren't the spacers made from aluminium or PVC.....................  it's soft.......... :rolleyes

I'm quite willing to take advice if it benefits me, but what you're saying appears to be contradicting what I've had from Hyperpro themselves or watching eg Dave Moss's videos.

Mate, what you're doing is trying to rectify one mistake (fitting higher rated springs) by making and even bigger one.  The advice given hear is given to stop you 1 potentially, seriously hurting yourself or wrecking your bike, 2 to help you solve your problem.  If you don't to take it happy days, as I said earlier "it's your life" and you may well get away with it, lets hope you do.