This is from Phaedrus's posting >> HERE <<.
Reproduced, by permission.
The stock XR forks never quite did it for me. I ran them on the road and for a bit of offroad riding, and their lack of adjustability meant harsh riding under some conditions and excessive dive under others. Once i upgraded the rear shocks to Ohlins, the deficiencies in the front forks became even more pronounced. One of the easiest upgrades available was to switch to the adjustable Showa Big Piston Forks (BPFs) which now come on the XR1200X. An excellent upgrade, I still felt like the front end could use a bit more help. The BPFs are good but under harsh conditions and for a heavy rider, I could not get the level of adjustment that I had hoped for.
Enter Andreani. Andreani is an Italian suspension company that is well known in European circles. Their piston upgrade is allowed within the European Trophy Series and the U.S. Vance and Hines XR1200 series. The kit includes two-ring metal pistons, vice the plastic one-ring pistions in the BPF's, and more precixe valving. Coupled with a set of Ohlins fork springs, the kit should take the front end to the next level. For riders who want a cost effective front end upgrade and want to keep a fairly stock appearance to their XR, it seems a good choice.
I ordered the parts for the installation from Dave Behrend at FastBikeIndustries in Hendersonville, NC (coincidentally the home of Ohlins-USA also). Fastbike offers installation of the kit, if you prefer not to do it yourself, but short of taking a ride to their shop, this would still require removing the forks from the XR and shipping them to the shop.
The Andreani-Ohlins Parts
Here is what I'll be installing in the Showa BPF's. This is the Andreani piston upgrade kit for the XR1200, some Ohlins springs, and Ohlins front fork oil.
Reproduced, by permission.
The stock XR forks never quite did it for me. I ran them on the road and for a bit of offroad riding, and their lack of adjustability meant harsh riding under some conditions and excessive dive under others. Once i upgraded the rear shocks to Ohlins, the deficiencies in the front forks became even more pronounced. One of the easiest upgrades available was to switch to the adjustable Showa Big Piston Forks (BPFs) which now come on the XR1200X. An excellent upgrade, I still felt like the front end could use a bit more help. The BPFs are good but under harsh conditions and for a heavy rider, I could not get the level of adjustment that I had hoped for.
Enter Andreani. Andreani is an Italian suspension company that is well known in European circles. Their piston upgrade is allowed within the European Trophy Series and the U.S. Vance and Hines XR1200 series. The kit includes two-ring metal pistons, vice the plastic one-ring pistions in the BPF's, and more precixe valving. Coupled with a set of Ohlins fork springs, the kit should take the front end to the next level. For riders who want a cost effective front end upgrade and want to keep a fairly stock appearance to their XR, it seems a good choice.
I ordered the parts for the installation from Dave Behrend at FastBikeIndustries in Hendersonville, NC (coincidentally the home of Ohlins-USA also). Fastbike offers installation of the kit, if you prefer not to do it yourself, but short of taking a ride to their shop, this would still require removing the forks from the XR and shipping them to the shop.
The Andreani-Ohlins Parts
Here is what I'll be installing in the Showa BPF's. This is the Andreani piston upgrade kit for the XR1200, some Ohlins springs, and Ohlins front fork oil.
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