Just stripped down my forks to fit a set of Rick Oliver's fork springs. The springs inside the forks are progressive, with the coils narrowing towards the bottom of the spring. At least, that was the orientation in which I found them. I wasn't aware progressive springs were standard for NC30 forks. Is this the case, or have I just taken out some after-market springs?

Yes the standard spring is progressively wound, with the tightly wound section at the bottom.

tanto wrote:Just stripped down my forks to fit a set of Rick Oliver's fork springs. The springs inside the forks are progressive, with the coils narrowing towards the bottom of the spring. At least, that was the orientation in which I found them. I wasn't aware progressive springs were standard for NC30 forks. Is this the case, or have I just taken out some after-market springs?

Yes, but not all progressive springs are created equal.

OE kit is often whatever was available cheaply at the time, and may have been too hard/soft when new, and won't have improved after now 20 years of having a motorbike and often its rider sat atop them.

I put Hagon springs in my '97 XJ600S, the change was absolutely beyond belief.

You can get linear springs, but they are mostly regarded as great for track riding, but not so great on the street, where you have to reckon with the odd pothole, occasional pillions, etc.

Thanks, guys. I don't like to abandon anything without knowing what it is. Unlike the thick, grey, oil sludge that oozed out of the bottom of the forks when the top cap seal was released.

I hope that after a decent clean, some new bushes, and a set of Rick Oliver's fork springs, they'll be back to "as new" condition.