White House K10 - a story of regeneration

[Tev62]

We can all quote textbooks, this from "Teach me suspension/Part 3":
"By turning the preload adjuster on the top of the fork and adding another 5mm of mechanical compression, the spring would then be exerting 15kg of force back out, meaning you would need to then apply more than 15kg of force in order to begin to compress it.

While the rate remains the same, by adding preload to the spring in your suspension you are changing how the spring reacts to weight that’s applied to it. Whether it be through a rider’s movements, braking, cornering efforts, or the application of power.

By adding preload on the front, for example, in the braking zone there is going to be less of a diving effect as the weight moves forward because it takes more of yours the bike’s weight to overcome the force of the spring pushing back up.

This is why it is often referred to as making the suspension ‘stiffer’, because that’s the impression it gives."


The impression I get is that the bike is softer with reduced preload. That's good enough for me, but thanks for your input.

I haven't looked into the valving and spring rates of the stock forks/shocks- nor my upgraded to SDBV forks- but I can certainly say no -

"How does adjusting your preload one notch change the front end from harsh to less harsh? Your spring rate is the same no matter where you set your preload."

Is not true. Neither is the valving on many modern suspension.

Although the effect is probably minimal- it still has an effect.

A constant rate spring- would be constant in spacing and diameter the entire way. When they are not- part of the spring is 'softer' to compress first - either on impact- or when squeezed- as the spring doesn't know the difference. So 'pre-load' is just constant load-no different than load from a bump. The soft 'area' gives up first.

Not sure what you are getting at here but don't forget your spring length is the same length at varying preloads as both parts of the suspension can move. Adding preload does not "use up" the softer end of any progressive spring.