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Cheapest easiest front suspension upgrade/Mod?

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Posted by: Jason02R---------------------

Ok my bike mechanics are limmited, all of my mechanical knowladge is in automotive. My question is what can I do to improve my front suspension that would be cost effective and easy for me to do to my bike? I am 200 pounds so I am wondering if there is anything simple and cheap other than replacement?


Posted by: KDX200Kev---------------------

Replace your fork springs


Posted by: dirt bike dave---------------------

Adding oil will dramatically improve bottoming resistance (you can use automatic transmission fluid). You can stiffen the springs by cutting a few coils off (measure the gaps to make sure you won't coil bind at full travel). Add pre-load with washers or a peice of PVC pipe.

Simple and cheap.


Posted by: JasonWho---------------------

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Posted by: adam728---------------------

Stiffer fork springs, definitly. I added oil and used heavier oil, but it didn't help what I needed. My biggest problem was that the front end would compress very far under hard braking and only leave me with 2-3" of travel in harsh braking bumps. And in tight corners with all the weight on the front tire it would try and wash out very easily. Going to a 0.40 kg spring greatly reduced the problem.

Cutting and preloading will also work, but you need to do the math to find out how much to cut to get the proper spring rate. I'd rather buy new and have the ability to change back to stock if ever selling the bike.


Posted by: rv6junkie---------------------

Changing the fork oil and springs is the first step. A better setup is adding to that Race Tech Gold Valve Emulators.

The KDX's have have ridden with the emulators are noticeably superior to just a spring swap.


Posted by: m0rie---------------------

Quote:
Originally Posted by rv6junkie
Changing the fork oil and springs is the first step. A better setup is adding to that Race Tech Gold Valve Emulators.

The KDX's have have ridden with the emulators are noticeably superior to just a spring swap.


Minor note, the Gold Valve Cartidge Emulators are for the older dampener rod forks (C and E series bikes) not for the newer H series KDX's. The H series KDX's are already Cartridge forks. They just use straight Gold Valves. Either way they are supposed to be a noticable upgrade.

-Maurice


Posted by: rv6junkie---------------------

Opps, you are correct. I didn't look at Jason02R's model year...I just assumed that everyone rides old stuff like me


Posted by: Jason02R---------------------

Quote:
Originally Posted by JasonWho
Lose 70 pounds. No mechanical ability involved. :-)

Seriously, if you have some automotive ability, then get a service manual and you can change them.



I am 6'3" so losing 70# will not work for me, lol


Posted by: Jason02R---------------------

I guess a manuel is the first thing I will do. Thanks for all of your input.


Posted by: nectar---------------------

Pull out the forks and shock and send them to FRP for revalve and springs per your riding style and weight. Perhaps not the cheapest but night & day difference in performance...spend the money its worth it...


Posted by: JasonWho---------------------

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Posted by: Jason02R---------------------

Great Info, thanks guys


Posted by: css_elfers---------------------

You should chk this guy out " http://www.brucessuspension.com/html/setra.htm" I just got off the phone with him and he used to race kdx's. Hes found a pretty concrete way to make the forks have rebound and compressions settings. The left controls rebound and the right controls damping or something like that. He said it would run about $400 or $500 to do so I opted for the $110 spring change.

Later
Elf


Posted by: JasonWho---------------------

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Posted by: canyncarvr---------------------

A major improvement to be had (and it's FREE) is to set your shock sag. If that is off, an out of balance (front to back) bike may well exacerbate any front-end insufficiencies you have now.

Springs will run you $70 or so. The oem springs (fork) are generally considered to be good for about a 130# payload.


Posted by: bereal---------------------

I'm close to 200 and after blowing my front seals off a 10 ft drop off I had my forks redone by race tech. What a difference. the best money I ever spent on the bike. I went with Eibach 42 springs and race tech Gold valves. It was about $430 a couple of years ago. Have never had a front end problem since!

Eric


Posted by: RoostRider---------------------

Playing with your dampening and fork oil weights is free (well, $5 for good fork oil... I don't recommend tranny oil simply because you don't know the weight should you decide you would like slower or faster dampening)

I don't think it will dial in your suspension to your weight very well all on it's own, but it might suit you good enough... depending on how you ride, what conditions you ride, how seriously you ride, and how much you like to tinker with your bike...

Either way, it is cheap to try, and you should know how to do those things anyways (to properly tune ANY suspension... even if you go with different springs and valves)...

Get a service manual... and check out this site, http://www.dishers.com/hobbies/Repairs/Index.htm for details (someone from these forums I believe, I forget who, but thanks to whoever it was)



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