Although coil-overs for the C and D are already well established, I was concerned about the redistributed suspension loads. For this reason the bottom mounting has been made much wider so that the suspension loads on the bottom bolt are nearer to the RFM bearings, to ensure the bottom bolt does not bend. Plastic bushes are also used to introduce a bit of compliance. I thought this was a useful precaution, as a lot of different parts of the bike have to be machined and assembled with perfect accuracy if the damper mountings are going to be perfectly aligned and square to each other. No wonder the D series coil-over was rubber mounted! The top mounting also has a steel bush rather than a bronze one. This is so that the top bolt can be tightened firmly, improving the rigidity of the top mount. With the bronze bush fitted, anything more than gentle pressure causes it to be crushed onto the bolt by the spacers.
From a cosmetic point of view, at my request the alloy bits have been left natural. AVO would normally have red anodised them, which looks a bit anachronous.
As was my intention, I think the appearance is a lot like the D series. Can anyone tell me if the D series coil-over was bare as standard? Many bikes seem to have rubber bellows/gaiter fitted, but was this a rider mod? If so, who supplies the bellows?
For convenience, four steel bushes are also supplied to replace the spring eyes so that the original spring bolts can be used.
The first prototype used my original Vincent D8 top mounting. This proved the design worked, so AVO then designed and produced their own slightly modified version of D8 that is better able to support the spring collet. (This new D8 is also now used in the ready-t0-fit dampers.)
The second prototype then went to Big Ed, who did the two-up testing.
After I had done 1000+ miles and Big Ed had done 2000+, AVO had both units back and stripped them for inspection. Both passed with no problems, so I have a lot of confidence that riders will find them easy to fit, very comfortable, and reliable. They can also be rebuilt by AVO, but I think they would go a very long way before that is required.
As requested, this is the appearance on my bike. My cobbled-together-in-a hurry luggage rack rather gets in the way, but I can assure you there are no clearance problems. The offset bottom mounting lifts the unit well clear of the battery.
This is the revised damper, now sold complete and ready to fit
Damping adjustment on all units is by allen key.
Coil-over price is £200 +vat. Dampers are £140+vat.