"Why did you install Dakar forks?"

#1 and #2 are the screw-in caps on the Dakar forks. I've knocked the clips out of the GS forks twice now (both sides) - POS design.

#3 is suspension travel. Regardless of where the forks sit in the trees, there's still more travel... and boy is it nice. Even with the stock Dakar springs, it's nicer than progressive springs in the GS forks.

#4 is the additional clearance. I've raised the front up about an inch to match the additional inch I gained when I had the Ohlins set up for the rear. I'm level again. (though just barely able to touch the balls of my feet... and I mean barely... more like tip-toes)...

+ a buddy on here hooked me up with a good price for the Dakar forks... so for a reasonable investment...

Here we go...

One of the seals in the "new" forks appeared to be leaking, so I disassembled my forks and removed the seals and dirt wipers and installed them on the new forks (since I just changed them recently on the old forks).

I also wanted to use the lower half of my old forks, so I swapped all that too...

There were some bound threads, so I needed to re-tap a hole ...

I knew I would have to tuck the tops of the forks up into the trees a little 'cause of my short legs, so I tried a few different combinations. This first one put the bike exactly where it was with the GS forks...

I tired a few other options, but ultimately, I settled on this (at least until I put the different springs in on Wednesday). It's got me raised up about an inch... and that's about all the stretching I need...

When I put the Touratech fork protectors back on, I noticed one of them was cracked...

POS.

Anyway, I went for a test ride...

With the stock springs in the there... she's a nose-diving machine. I had the progressive springs in the GS forks, so I know that problem will go away as soon as the UPS man shows up on Wednesday with my progressive springs for the Dakar forks.

And, I'll admit it... the extra travel of the Dakar front end is pretty darned impressive. Very nice!

Progressive spring installation

I put the TT progressive springs in the bike once they arrived.  The nice Lincoln Continental ride from the stock springs is now gone.  With the progressive springs and the 15wt oil in the forks, it's definitely a firmer ride.  Better?  I guess time will tell.