midstroke harshness

[2strokeforever]

i rode a 08 kxf 450 with a rekluse, hated the whole rig except the stock suspension
compared to mine (09 crf 250) its way plush, and the guy that owns it weighs 300lbs and i saw him get 5-6ft off the ground with a flat landing and didnt bottom, or didnt bottom hard

so how do make my suspension like his? my front is okay but the back is way too stiff and bounces instead of tracking straight through like the KXF

i have my compression almost all the way out and its still way harder
im 145 lbs

[M.F.D.B.]

All Hondas have mid stroke harshness from hell.

When you say you backed out your comp, was that low speed or high speed?

If you didnt compensate the rebound you are prolly "packing down" which is no good...

[2strokeforever]

When you say you backed out your comp, was that low speed or high speed?

both , the HSC made a big difrence but not enough

If you didnt compensate the rebound you are prolly "packing down" which is no good...

so i should try faster/softer rebound, that makes sense ill try that thanks

[M.F.D.B.]

both , the HSC made a big difrence but not enough

The stock spring is at least 2 sizes too stiff. You are prolly riding around nearly topped out, especially if you havnt set sag. That causes your rear to top out easily if the ground drops away which makes your tire leave the ground rather then drop down and keep traction...

so i should try faster/softer rebound, that makes sense ill try that thanks

I would highly recommend having a friend video tape you hitting whoops from the side. Then go back and look at what the bike is doing, this will greatly help you diagnose which issue needs what attention...

[2strokeforever]

especially if you havnt set sag

im at 100mm

i think the Spring rate: 5.3 kg/mm , i cant get the race tech calculator to work to get an idea

i also get decent air <50ft but with bad landings so i need a compromise,still havent bottomed the rear yet, the front gets bottomed a bit tho

i do live in canada, but i set my sag and jet my bike half decent... unlike the rest of my country except maybe roosty

[M.F.D.B.]

FRONT FORK SPRINGS
Recommended Fork Spring Rate: 0.432 kg/mm (use closest available)
Stock Fork Spring Rate: .460 kg/mm (stock)

REAR SHOCK SPRING
Recommended Rear Shock Spring Rate: 4.88 kg/mm (use closest available)
Stock Shock Spring Rate: 5.2 kg/mm (stock)

[2strokeforever]

thanks, when i get money ill try those

[gregrobo]

balance between front forks and rear shock are the key hold the front brake on and push sharply on the foot peg with your foot and see if both ends go down relatively even and observe how fast they return. if you have the compression full sof and the rebound fast it will still appear hard and will buck like a bitch i normally start in the middle of the clickers for both comp and rebound like ive said before i am no expert you should be able to get it close before needing to respring it my

[M.F.D.B.]

I would try to do it without using the front brake, it seems to effect the geometry slightly. If you have a wheel chock stand thats the best way...

[2strokeforever]

its even, but it feels like they acidently put robbie madisons suspension on my bike
the subtanks fixed the front

[2strokeforever]

i rode a ktm that was revalved by riders edge/ ian mckill and it was amazing, and hes local and i can go riding with him so he knows exactly what i need... im saving up

hes famous for his good riding and suspension, hes had whole bikes shipped from europe and mexico to him just for him to revalve them

[M.F.D.B.]

Sweet, you wont regret it...

[dannygraves]

...yeah... its hard to beat perfection like the stock kawi suspension

A revalve is one thing you absolutely will not regred as long as you don't get it done by rhacks

I haven't revalved the kawi yet for the simple fact that stock is pretty damn good and the stock springs are perfect for my weight. I will get it done eventually though, maybe after the DPF delete on the truck.

[gregrobo]

where in the clickers is your rebound set at

[2strokeforever]

i dont know the front, but the forks are aceptable, mostly because of the subtank bars
and the best working rear settings are
full out comp high and low
8 out rebound
103mm sag

[dannygraves]

hondas suspension in stock form is sprung for someone of my weight 180-190lb and is valved too damn harsh even for my weight, seeing as how I've got 40lb on you, that bike must ride like a '71 atc90.
Seriously, revlave and respring and you'll be way stoked! I'm serious, the first set of whoops you mobb through will give you a fucking HARD-ON!

[2strokeforever]

the guy that owns the ktm i rode said: hit the whoop section as fast as you would go if it was completely flat, i did and it was smoother than my bike which i have to go at least a gear slower, and my gears are faster too

i forgot to say but the front tire pushes/plows too, ill come to a corner lean over and turn the bars and ill still go straight, i bailed hard because of it in first gear i needed help loading my bike and could barely steer my non power steering truck... could be the shitty d742 fa with all the side knobs falling off, and 16-18 psi too
im getting tubliss for the front and a 952 or s12 front friday

[M.F.D.B.]

MX-51 90-100-21 if you ride soft loamy a lot

MX-51 80-100-21 if you ride pretty firm a lot



...trust me

[dannygraves]

where are your forks in the triples? My kawi would plow bad in the soft stuff, I pushed the fork tubes down in the triples since stock it was 20mm, now I'm at 5mm. The mx51 @ ~12-14psi also helps, lowering sag would help too, 103 is ok, but you also have to think that with the springs being too stiff, your backend probably gets pushed up a lot which would hurt the steering stability.
I say respring and revalve, set sag ~100mm set the forks at like 10mm then fine tune from there, almost any change is a waste of time until you get properly sprung and valved.

Also don't forget that chassis was for a 4 stroke and by putting a 500 motor in it, it has been lightened up some which further hurts your harsh springs and valving.

[M.F.D.B.]

almost any change is a waste of time until you get properly sprung and valved.

You have learn vewy much grasshoppa!

[dannygraves]

[2strokeforever]

where are your forks in the triples

stock/flush