How to tell if front springs are shot

I bought the bike with progressive springs in the front, and the guy who I got it off gave me the standard springs in a box.  The bike is a bit too ltall for me and I was thinking to put the standard springs back in.  

The bike was sold as "you wont find a better deal" - "willing to wait for right price" etc etc and so far Ive replaced the front caliper, speedo sensor, bearings front and back and spacers,pads front and back - (only ridden it about 12 times) and now Ive noticed the cooling fan was fucked and had a cowboy repair job done on it..........

So the guy gave me some bits n bobs in a box to go with it.  Which included the front original springs.

So the question is..... Is there a way of telling if these springs have seen better days - without going through the hassle of changing the fork oil and dropping the forks.  Or should I just take it as a given that they are shot?

Don't worry clarky , like me , you'll soon throw away all notions you used to have about how long you think things should last ! 12 rides , I'm surprised it still starts .

mufynman wrote:Don't worry clarky , like me , you'll soon throw away all notions you used to have about how long you think things should last ! 12 rides , I'm surprised it still starts .

UMM...... Well it didnt the other day when I left the heated grips on all night

I also need a new cooling fan kit at £85 a pop.... bloody expensive this off roading   :bounce:  :bounce:

Its not to expensive its just you were brain washed into buying a ktm,

I,d try the other springs in shouldent take long to swap them over without taking the forks off the bike.
Or depending how tall the bike can you drop the forks through the clamps a bit?

What makes you think the springs are bolloxed? You'd have to do a few hundred hours of constant whoops to wear a set down. They probably need a good service. Most manuals will say to change oil every 20hrs and replace bushes/seals around 40hrs.

If the last owner was bigger/fatter than you he's probably put stronger springs in.. if the spare ones he give you are standard you'll gain little in drop changing them back. But if it handles bad try the standard springs back in there and get a good service. Dropping them in the yokes will lower it, but it can cause handling headaches unless you know how to set them up to suit.

I would put the standard springs back in & check the last owner has not up rated the rear spring (if he was a bigger guy) put new oil at the right weight & level in the forks & put all the suspension settings back to comfort factory settings.

Then check the static sag & riders sag to suit your weight as a start point.
It shows you how to do it all here....

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If you feel the bike is to tall after that you can cut down the seat foam like I did or buy a lower seat.
If you try to lower the suspension you will loose ground clearance & handling will be shite.