Brown Spring Lefty 140

isn't the step above red, black?

i had a red in my Phrophet and thought it was too soft, put black in for about a month and went back to red...too stiff. i'm usually 225 (222 today).

Yep, the black is in between the red and brown

I also switched the red spring to black. As I lost weight (I now weight 175 as opposed to 215) I found the black to be too stiff and changed back to the red.

I think I don't really need the black anymore and might be willing to part with it. PM me if you're interested.

Thanks for the info guys.......as I am on the boarder of red to black and always wondered if I should buy a black spring only to stay in spec. Never did because I love the way it works now. Preload on the stiff side, still, now I can let that thought go. Save some weight on my brain.

hmm, yeah I called the techs at Cannondale - woman I spoke with never heard of a black spring for the 140 max, said the brown spring was the stiffest. Either way, brown or black, I don't like how stiff it is and will be switching back to red.

I have the brown spring, I weight between 215 lbs, I couldn't be happier. I like a very taught ride though.

Are you guys sure you have the preload set correctly?

FurryWookie said:

hmm, yeah I called the techs at Cannondale - woman I spoke with never heard of a black spring for the 140 max, said the brown spring was the stiffest. Either way, brown or black, I don't like how stiff it is and will be switching back to red.

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I have the Lefty-SPV and a brown spring isn't even mentioned for this fork. The other Lefty's (TPC and FFD) list the red spring as given with medium frames where the step up from red is brown...will black work?? in the parts list red=firm, black=xfirm, and brown=xxfirm...i can't see why not.

Craig or Tony are the best ones to ask. They make more sense with their responses too.

Hmm, yeah... They're all the same sized spring, no? Black/Brown, Nuclear Green, whatever. Brown is too stiff.

Even with my black spring and the adjustment rings all the way toward the top of the threads, my sag was less than 1/2". That was when I was 215 pounds, I couldn't even imagine how stiff a brown spring would be. Now at 175, the red spring is perfect and I haven't even come close to bottoming it out.

Maybe Craig will chime in, but I believe Cannondale's weight's for their springs are a bit conservative.

Doc D - are you getting use of most of your travel with the brown?

FurryWookie - like Cheaptrick said before, black is in between red and brown. You skipped a step in stiffness.

FurryWookie said:

Hmm, yeah... They're all the same sized spring, no? Black/Brown, Nuclear Green, whatever. Brown is too stiff.

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yes same sized spring but the springs have different compression properties which is designated by the different colors.

trying not to sound like an idiot and trying to remember my kinematics class from many years ago...the "k" factor is different with each spring. the "k" factor is contributed to carbon content in the spring, cord diameter and finishing properties. But yes, the lengths and OD are the same.

Black was the stiffest for the 130 Max - and that's what I ran for my 210lb self. Preload was with shims (1/16"?)- and you only were supposed to use a few, so maybe 1/4" preload max?

When I went 140, I got an SPV - and ran the recommended black. The SPV chamber pressure works with the spring, so you have to back off a bit. I will be converting that Lefty to TPC+ Real Soon Now, and have a brown spring ready in case. So far, the black with 35 psi in the SPV is working well - sag is right and it doesn't bottom. I do have preload on it as well but I can't recall how much for sure.

Red spring

I am at 205 and I need a red spring. Where did you guys buy yours? Is there an online retailer?

CDale

sandmangts said:

I am at 205 and I need a red spring. Where did you guys buy yours? Is there an online retailer?

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I think any LBS can order from CDale, but definitely any CDale dealer - or as previously mentioned: Mendoncyclesmith (shopname and mtbr handle) no weborder, just email or call Craig

Bubba74 said:

Doc D - are you getting use of most of your travel with the brown?

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Yes, I believe I am going through most of the travel. Although I have not verified this, it's a little hard since you can't do the zip tie around the sanchion trick.

I can verify that standing still just bouncing on the suspension, I can blow through about 2-3 inches of travel. This is a prophet 5 btw, with the basic lefty max. I love the way it feels, very stiff and still nice and plush. I hate sloppy travel.

Doc D said:

Yes, I believe I am going through most of the travel. Although I have not verified this, it's a little hard since you can't do the zip tie around the sanchion trick.

I can verify that standing still just bouncing on the suspension, I can blow through about 2-3 inches of travel. This is a prophet 5 btw, with the basic lefty max. I love the way it feels, very stiff and still nice and plush. I hate sloppy travel.

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I see, I'm glad it works for you. I like my travel a little sloppy.....just like my women