Full review and how to fit the front suspension upgrade on the Bonneville By TEC bike parts! A very worthwhile modification! Product link. shop.tecbikeparts.com/product... Patreon. / stuartfillingham
A forking good yarn, had me hanging on every word. Definitely a great upgrade to the Bonneville, my older T100 was transformed. As you correcting stated, not all riders are the same weight, I’ve upgraded most of my bikes’ suspensions to suit me as a rider, and never once regretted doing it.
I know this video is a bit old, but I just picked up my 2023 t120 and thanks to this demonstration I know exactly what I’ll be doing for the first modification.
I’m a new subscriber to your channel. Loving your informative videos and you have a fantastic sense of humour :) I’m looking to get a T120 Bonnie Black. Ive learning so much about living with it with your help. Thanks for sharing my friend.
Boom 💥 These puppies are now waiting to be fitted to my Bonnie Black T100 along with my Hagon rear shocks Stuart. Many thanks for your help. Happy smooth riding 🏴🙏🏻🇬🇧
Interesting video. I own a 2011 thruxton and fork legs where identical. Good to know there is a difference. Yes progressive fork springs are an upgrade that most riders will enjoy.
Love the shot of the bike, head-on, with the headers outside the forks, dart screen, all symmetrical and gorgeous. Big thumbs up to progressives up front as a relatively cheap upgrade, given the return in improved handling.
Hello Stuart. I've done the upgrade as mentioned in your video. However I wish I found your channel before I did the job. Very well explained and executed!!
Very helpful video! Currently in the middle of making this upgrade to my 2022 Street Scrambler and was a bit alarmed to find no dampener rod on the left fork - lots of head scratching whether this was a manufacturer error or intentional. Glad to see it is normal but also not impressed by Triumph creating this imbalance, cheers!
Another excellent video Stuart. I've been using tecbikeparts for about 5 years now on my 2010 T100 for a variety of parts and more recently on my Tracer 700 for a new exhaust system and they've always been great to deal with and quality parts.
@6:30 love the story of that tool, the Coat Hanger 01, that's typical nonsense British humour and I really love it, sincerely you made my day with this. Big fan of the Monty Python here. Cheers from Belgium.
Awesome as usual. Now that the weather is starting to cool down, I finally used the grip warmers. They get pretty warm!! I love my T120 and don’t see myself getting another bike anytime soon. This bike is sexy, classic, and a great alternative to the Harley’s. I definitely get a different type of look when rolling around town than the other speedsters do. Love it. This latest upgrade to your bike has me convinced because my wife enjoys being my passenger and I must certainly do feel all the bumps of the road a great deal. Will be looking into it myself.
This is great news! TEC makes fantastic stuff, even their video showing the shortcuts for installing their X pipe is just top notch. Thanks for sharing, I'm able to see this bike in my garage within the next year or so and these mods are great information B-)
Thank you sir! I hope you wont be selling the bullet! those two bikes would look great together in your garage. and yes tec do makes some very worthwhile mods and realistic prices!
Stuart I haven't purchased my new Bonneville T120 yet but when I do your videos certainly put me in the right direction for which mods to do first and then in what order. I did have the opportunity to test ride a T120 two weeks ago. I was very impressed. I'm headed to take another look this week with my adult son. Thanks so much for your dedication to the T120 and the vids you put out.
Just now getting around to doing this project yesterday 08/02/2018. The fork springs were getting so bad, that triggered me into getting with the upgrade. I must say, one of the best investments in time and money ever! After a 120 mile test run today, I'm amazed at the improvement. Thanks again for video and upgrade info.
Yes! i have the same springs in my T120. They are indeed a worthwhile upgrade! I wish i had this video for reference back when i installed them. it was quite a painful affair of trial and error. (as my poor deformed aluminium caps can testify ) Kudos for making this video. i'm a big fan :)
Another great video Stuart. Would be interesting, if you can fit a damper to the other fork, to see what's involved to replace it and if it improves on the suspension upgrade even more.
Cafe Racer hey mr racer thanks for that i did try that initially but the socket cut straight through it which is why i siggested a piece of cloth. It might just have been that my socket was a little tight. So it may still work for others!
Hi Stuart I have had the same problem with my t100 ,now I know why! Only one cartridge, tight B××××××s and as you said a premium bike . Had a look at Ted parts and springs on the way. Please keep up the good work and I will up grade the rear shocks to the ones on your t120. Also been biking four over 36 years may it continue . All the best . paul
Hi Paul the spring kit for the T100 is listed as a separate kit I think so you may find its a different set up. let me know, I would be interested to find out!
Like the spring remover 😉..... just wondered wether spring and rear upgrade on my speed twin would , the jarring from the suspension especially the rear is unbelievably harsh.... I thought my shoulders and head had left my body .... another great vid Stuart ..... thanks
Hi Stuart Thanks for your reply , will let you know along with the K&N air filter. At the moment paying out on a Restoration ,my 1977 Honda cb 400/4 . Its all money . Regards . Paul
Great video Stuart, mate what are your thoughts on maybe purchasing another dampening rod and new fork cap for the other side of the forks whilst i'm doing this job?
Thanks for that great video, love also the jokes here and there. I have a 2020 street twin and wondering if Triumph went for that asymmetrical left/right set up too. Any idea?
I've just ordered pair of springs for my Street Scrambler so hoping they improve the disappointing standard setup. These forks are pretty basic and very easy to work on compared to a pair of high end, upside down forks on a Superbike. The SS is a lovely bike to ride and deserves better suspension.
My speed triple was the same and I changed springs to ktec and shock to wilbrers with hydraulic pre load adjuster it's what I wanted as like you said its budget for the masses but not for me 🤔🍀👍
Just did mine on my 2020 T120 Diamond this afternoon and thanks to this video and a couple others it made this job a breeze. That said a couple things I have noticed. First is to loosen the top yoke pinch bolts (6mm) as I think it makes loosening fork caps easier. Mine came loose nicely. I don't know if I see that called out at all or enough. There is another video with a Speed Twin where the guy gave up because he couldn't loosen the cape, but never let off the pinch bolts. Perhaps not necessary but just a thought. Secondly, when disassembling the right side (damper rod side) I did not find a shim/washer between the spring and spacer. All other videos I see seem to have one. I have to check the parts diagrams but I reassembled without it. Mfg assembly oversight? Model year change? Not sure. Lastly, FWIW, a reasonable length of the correct I.D. clear vinyl tubing slid over the damper rod threads works as a nice extension that makes working over and retrieving the rod from the depths of the fork leg a painless process. This one wasn't bad but my previous BMW was mush fussier.
Once again, I learnt something and will do immediately, probably this week:)...THANK YOU. A quick question: should I go for the whole set ( +load adjusters) or the fork springs alone would be sufficient? Best
Hey Stuart, superb video as usual and I loved the narrative. Attempting the CH01 tool removal from my wife's arsenal would be suicidal - she knows when I've changed two tins beans in the kitchen. Fortunately I have some ex-MOD ones (serial no. MOD-CH01-Plastic-1 of) that will do the job. This will now be the first mod' on my T120 as we've discussed the front end performance on several occasions. Thankyou again sir - you are my go-to T120 library now! Oh and my waxoil arrived from Amazon at last so the bike will be getting a winter Fillingham this afternoon.
LOL shame you were not in the army Paul you could have got some tuition from the commandos re obtaining a CH 01. let me know how you get on with it, and you know where I am if you get stuck! re the wax oil remember to warm it up in a bucket of water, and a few additional aerosol nozzles might come in handy in this cooler weather. any will fit!
Hi Stuart...love your videos; they are VERY well done. I have a set of TEC front fork springs that I'm getting ready to install. One question...For the required tools, are you saying 40 mm spanner or 14 mm spanner? I'm assuming that you mean 14 mm. Thank you, sir.
Ha Ha nice video, I ordered new tyres (to be fitted tomorrow 1400) due to some scary twitching on the front on sharp right turns if dropping in quickly, Front tyre down to 2mm so needed it anyway. I also ordered Hagon rear shocks Monday as the build to my weight and tired of them bottoming out two up. but now I think I should maybe get the springs with the oil kit from them to. I didn't know about the cheapskate trick of only one cartridge in the r/h fork, seem like a engineer would not do that unless its a money saving exercise. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for outlining the process Stuart, very much appreciated!!! I will be doing this upgrade this month so this is going to come in so handy. I'm also going with the TEC Progressive fork spring kit (exactly the same), great suggestion. The kit is about $79 USD here in the states.
Hey up Mr Rider! I concur with your decision sir, I think these offer the best value no nonsense upgrade on the market at the moment! let me know how you get on!
What an amazing review presented so nicely that even an amateur like me was sufficiently informed and made aware of the fact that even an automobile needs to be cared for a lot to derive good value for money. Thanks again.
Very well articulated.... Thanks. I own a T120 and was wondering if this would increase the ground clearance and give me a taller seat! I understand the rear suspension also would need attention. Requesting for your advise, to get a taller seating and ground clearance. This as I get cramps on long rides. I'm from Bangalore, India.
Really interesting and useful video. Thank you. Just wondering if Triumph have improved the fork spring recently, as my new T120 (2 week's old) feels pretty good on the front end. I'm a heavy rider (18.5 St) and so far so good. But if it's the same as previous versions, I suspect it will soften a lot after a couple of thousand miles and may then need upgrading to progressive fork springs. Any thoughts on this?
Really well laid out instructions. I have just successfully installed the aforementioned springs to my T120 so we’ll see what difference they make. One question, does anyone have the torque settings for the fork caps?
Great video and the tip on the fork oil weight is really helpful. I was wondering where the fork drain nut was, now I know, there isn't one :-( I have been contemplating upgrading the rear shocks, but the front end seems in need of more attention so I will be undertaking a fork spring upgrade over the winter. Do you plan on reviewing fork braces or do you think they are unnecessary?
Hi Wayne, not entirely sure about fork braces, yes I do think they will assist with handling, I may review some in the future but I have no immediate plans. It all depends on who starts to offer them for sale and the nature of their design. good look with the springs!
Thanks Stuart and very timely as I just orderd the TEC suspension upgrade front and back (to Oz). I had read about the damper rod and wondered if anyone just got rid of it altogether? Also has anyone reading this set their TEC back shocks to hheight. If so, did it avdersely affect handling?
Hi Huey, apparently Triumph do sell a damping cartridge for the left leg! I wonder why!?but I haven't heard of anyone removing it as I would imagine it would just make matters worse. ill leave others to comment on the question of height adjustment as I have Hagon nitros fitted which cant be adjusted for height. thanks for watching.
Stewart to get the oil out of the front forks you could always go to a remote control airplane fuel line hose and stick it down in the tube long enough to go to the bottom of the tube and suck it out with a large syringe
Also... Regards the damper tube holding tool. Look in the garden shed, or a quick visit to Poundland and get some of that green plastic coated wire used for holding up plants etc (In case it's not immediately obvious I know nothing of gardening). Snip off about three foot of the wire (They even have their own handy snipper). Strip about four inches of the plastic coating with your thumbnail (Yes, you will damage your thumbnail), wind the exposed wire a few times around the threads on the damper rod and twist to secure. Leave the other end hanging out of the top of the fork. Obviously you will need to slide the various spacers and springs over the wire but it does make pulling the damper rod up much easier. Dispose of the used bit of wire responsibly. Check with your local council if it should go in recycling or general waste. Should only take about an hour or two waiting on the phone.
Very inrteresting and informative Stuart. I can't believe the single damping rod how much must that save Triumph? I bought one of the early Trophies in 1991 but I would think long and hard about anot one.
Not sure if you still have the bike, I just got myself a new T120 and I was wondering if your opinion on these springs is still the same and you recommend this upgrade? I have change my rear suspension with the Fox/ Triumph and clearly the front needs an upgrade
Just carried out this upgrade. Very informative clip. Thank you. Shame Triumph charge a premium for a bike that needs both ends of the shocks sorting, great bike but come on - how much would better shocks cost the OEM
Stuart, can you please tell me why you decided on these springs instead of Hagon springs for front suspension? Was it because of a lighter fork oil with Hagon springs or another reason?
Hey! I have a question that you may be able to help with. I was replacing my headlight "ears" (brackets) without raising the front wheel and frame. This lead to the shock "sliding into itself" and now I am wondering what I can do to get it back out. Will supporting it allow me to pull it back up? Let me know here. Thanks!
Hi Stuart, I'm on my 4th time watching your fork spring install and review video and noticed that you mentioned using TEC for the springs because you didn't have to change the fork oil. Do Hagon Fork Springs require the fork oil be changed to a lighter weight? I have recently purchased and eagerly await a set of Hagon 2810's and at the time plopped in a set of Fork Springs too (because it seemed like a good idea to bundle the parts). Either way - Keep up the great work!!
Hello sir! the answer to that one is yes Hagon do recommend that you change to a lighter 5wt oil for the best results with their springs, but i dont think it mandatory, if you have already purchased them go ahead and fit them and see how they feel. they may be a little firm at first but either way they will be a huge improvement over the factory springs!
I fitted progressive springs to my old T100, made a big difference. But one damper rod for both legs? I've re-built many a set of forks, some early ones with no dampers, some with shuttle valves, but I've never encountered that before, it doesn't make engineering sense. I wonder if another one can be fitted to the other fork leg? (with the correct top nut of course), good vid anyway, cheers, Dave
Hi Dave I fully agree. the top nuts are the same so fitting a new one wouldn't be a problem and yes Triumph do apparently sell replacement cartridges! suitable for the left leg! thanks for watching sir!
As to front spring dampening, isn't the fork oil part of that process? But I guess pre spring compression doesn't leave to much room for heavy brake drive.
