We're often asked if a rider should get a heavier spring with their YamaLink. Our reply is always "if you're on the border of needing a heavier spring with the stock setup you will most definitely need one with the YamaLink."
Why?
The WRF stock spring rate of 5.3 is set up for a rider around 175 pounds BEFORE gear. When you put on your boots, helmet, riding pants and protection you're getting pretty close to needing a heavier spring to achieve 3.9 to 4.1 inches of sag. Add a tool pack and backpack and things get even closer to needing a heavier spring.
The YamaLink has an increased leverage ratio which means it will make your bike a lot more plush on the square edge and choppy stuff in addition to making it get better traction because the tire can bite into the ground better. It also means the leverage will make the rear wheel move through its suspension easier which can lead to much easier bottoming. This is where the proper spring rate comes in.
If you are about 180 pounds before gear and are an aggressive rider, you will need a heavier spring even without a YamaLink. Add the YamaLink and, well, you know the answer. Someone on ThumperTalk recently posted his WRF and YamaLink experience. Click HERE to read about it. Too lazy to click? Okay, here is what the Colorado-based rider wrote:
"Just an fyi based on personal experience-bought and installed the YamaLink and resprung (from 5.3 stock to 5.9). Static sag and laden sag are now perfect, and the bike is transformed. Rear wheel slides are dial-a-slide easy with the throttle, the suspension is plush but not saggy, and overall riding is great. I'd recommend it to anyone, even if you aren't doing it to lower the bike.
BTW I'm 6'2", 180 w/out gear so the stock stuff was real close already. I do mostly trail riding with a rare track day."
