Suspension Servicing / Upgrades

[madmcnish]

How much difference does servicing the stock suspension and having it correctly sprung for your weight make?
My bike's a'95 steelie and ridden back-to-back with my cousin's '03 CRF450, the CRF's sussies are light years ahead.
I've wound up the compression damping gradually to stiffen the front & back up, as it was way too soft, but the CRF feels stiffer and still soaks up the bumps alot better.
I reckon my suspension definately needs servicing and re-springing to suit my weight, but would it be a better idea to upgrade to more modern units if possible?
I ride almost 100% motocross.

[dannygraves]

changing out the turkey gravy and getting it properly dialed in can make a HUGE difference... go for it dude

[AlisoBob]

changing out the turkey gravy and getting it properly dialed in can make a HUGE difference... go for it dude

X100

Forks get funky pretty quick.

[teemtrubble]

FIRST AND ALWAYS "FIRST" WITH ANY SUSPENSION WORK!

RESPRING FOR RIDER WEIGHT!
FRESH FLUID!
RECHARGE IF APPLICABLE!

Then if needed revalve to your liking, not what someone else says it should be!

ALWAYS!!!!!!!!!!!

[sabreguy]

How do you tell what weight your forks and shock are sprung for?

[redrocket190]

Use Race Tech's on-line calculator to show the spring rates estimated for your weight and then compare to the stock rates they show for comparison. If you have an after-market spring with an unknown history, look for markings on the spring - stripes/colors etc....

[Mad Dog]

FIRST AND ALWAYS "FIRST" WITH ANY SUSPENSION WORK!

RESPRING FOR RIDER WEIGHT!
FRESH FLUID!
RECHARGE IF APPLICABLE!

Then if needed revalve to your liking, not what someone else says it should be!

ALWAYS!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds logical enough.
This revalve thing is like some kind of mystical black magic to me.
How does one determine to what is one's liking?
How does a suspension tuner make that decision?

[madmcnish]

Had another ride at the local track tonight.
I was on my '95 and my cousin was on his '03 CRF 450.
We're both equally as fast (or slow would be a better description) and we took turns at riding each other's bikes and raced each other at every opportunity - always very close.
I have to say that I take back most of what I said about the CRF's suspension.
I actually preferred my old '95 steelie.
Sure, it's a bit soft and will definately be getting a suspension service and re-sprung for my weight when I'm on holiday, but it seemed much more forgiving and the front end felt much more secure in the corners than the CRF.
Where my CR seemed a little soft, the CRF was too hard and launched you up into the air off the jumps.
My cousin also felt this was the case, even though the CRF is set-up for him.
The front end of the CRF felt much more nervous and 'tucky' than the CR and whilst this should make it faster turning, it didn't seem to give as much feedback as the old CR.
I also preferred the riding position of my CR.
The CRF's seat is much higher. flatter and harder than the CR, and I felt perched 'on' the CRF and thought that it took away some of the feedback from what the bike was doing underneath.
Overall, I was well chuffed with my old girl!
Can't wait to see how much better she fells with the sussies serviced!