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02 Kx100

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Posted by: redrider100---------------------

I have a 2002 KX100 and i am having some trouble with the rear shock. I set the sag up and i adjusted the rebound clicker and when i adjusted the compression clicker, thats when the shock started getting weird.The shock doesn't return real well now. When i sit on the bike, the shock compresses but when i bounce on it, the shock is rebounding real sluggishly. When i was adjusting the compression clicker, i mistook a graph for the rebound clicker so i was turning the compression clicker to fully seat it. it is possible that i might have overturned the compression clicker? i don't know what to adjust to get it back to normal.


Posted by: redrider100---------------------

i know i used the word clicker alot so if you don't understand what i'm trying to say, tell me so i can try to clarify it. thanks


Posted by: marcusgunby---------------------

You should try to adjust the rebound back to std and if its still very slow you may have jammed the clicker in the fully seated position.It will have to be serviced to unseat it but occasionally riding it can unseat them, you be very carefull as with a slow rebound it wont take the bumps very well.


Posted by: redrider100---------------------

i think that is exactly what happend, do you know around how much it would cost to have somebody unseat it?


Posted by: marcusgunby---------------------

should just cost the price of a normal service ,as you only push it down with a soft tip metal rod.


Posted by: redrider100---------------------

I'm pretty handy so is unseating it something i could do or would i be better off just having a proffesional service it?


Posted by: marcusgunby---------------------

If you can service a shock its just a case of pushing a rod down the shaft.


Posted by: redrider100---------------------

i think i'm gonna have it rebuilt by racetech because it has been a while since its been rebuilt.


Posted by: tnrider---------------------

can the suspension on one of these be setup for a 175-lb rider. i think the kx100 would make a great "backyard mx" bike.


Posted by: marcusgunby---------------------

no.


Posted by: redrider100---------------------

i think you might be able to by throwing some heavy duty springs and a works shock on it but i personally haven't set up a bike like that before.


Posted by: tnrider---------------------

Quote:
Originally Posted by redrider100
i think you might be able to by throwing some heavy duty springs and a works shock on it but i personally haven't set up a bike like that before.


darn - guess i better get back on the diet!! and i just came back from the local Outback and polished off the ribs platter...


Posted by: bikepilot---------------------

I know this is an old thread, but why wouldn't one be able to set up the suspension on a KX100 for a heavier rider. Springs are available in much stiffer rates than stock. The stock valving is capable of way too much damping with just clicker adjustments so it seems it would have sufficent range to controll the rebound with a much stiffer spring, if not a re-valve would do the trick. It will flex a bit with a heavier rider, but less so than just about any other back yard mini options....what am I missing?


Posted by: motometal---------------------

I've tinkered with two KX100s, a '99 and a 2000. I weigh about 155, and found the forks on both to be waaaaay too soft. You can add oil right up to the point where they hydrolock, never blew out a seal but of course you don't want to add that much oil. Heavier springs are available, but both times I ordered heavier springs, I felt like they still weren't heavy enough. I'm running at least 10 weight oil, maybe heavier.

The rear wasn't as bad. I fixed the spring rate by collapsing one of the turns using a torch. This process isn't for everyone, but it turned out great for me and saved $80.

Bikepilot--i'll have to disagree on the valving, unless they changed it for the 2003 models (and my gut feeling is they haven't made any suspension changes for many years). Clickers all the way in front and back, and still pretty soft.

I guess it depends what you are trying to do with the bike. Even with stiffer springs, this bike is way plush in the woods. It's capable of doing small to medium sized jumps with an adult aboard (I flogged it for a few laps on the track at cooperland last year) but sooner or later you WILL bottom the forks, and hard!

I heard that the valving system in the forks is pretty low tech and cheesy, and would be expensive to upgrade.

These bikes are a real hoot to ride, anyone under 5'11" should have one in their garage. They weigh around 150 lbs, and it takes a very heavily massaged four stroker to hang with the power of a stock KX100.

If anyone has a hook up on stiff fork springs, let me know please.


Posted by: bikepilot---------------------

I've not had the KX100 on a MX track in a long time, but in the woods with stock suspension its not terrible for me (155lbs), it just rides a little low in the stroke. I have a set of .39kg/mm fork springs (stock is .29kg/mm) (came from R&D suspension) I will be installing shortly. The shock damping on the 03kx100 can be adjusted to have so much damping that it will hardly move even with me on it. I have never tried running the fork damping adjusters all the way in. The valving system is rather low-tech, though it is a cartridge set up and could be re-valved at reasonable cost. Inorder to get fully modern and fully adjustable valving you would probably need the externally adjustable race tech gold valves ($170). I have not purchased a new shock spring yet, but race tech has them in 5.4kg/mm which should work well for my weight. I also have a R&D rear link which should give it another 2" of travel in the rear and make the rising rate more linear. Again, I've not installed it as I'm hopping to get an ohlins shock and will do both at the same time

The bike is great fun, especially in tight woods. On a tight course my lap times are quicker on the 100 than my CR250 (I race B class harescrambles and MX).


Posted by: motometal---------------------

can anyone confirm one way or the other if there were any suspension changes to the KX100 in the last five years? Mine has only a four position compression adjuster on the rear. On the stiffest of the four positions, it's still pretty soft. The rebound has more clicks, I run it only a few clicks out but yes it will get pretty slow if you go all the way in with it.

Forks--all the way in (compression adjuster) is soft, and anything other than that is of course even softer. There is no rebound adjuster, but the oil vis. can be used to adjust the rebound.

Sounds like those fork springs are what I should have gotten in the first place. It would be interesting to try just the linkage by itself, otherwise you won't know what did what between the shock and the linkage. Let us know how it goes.

How much taller will the bike sit with the linkage? Sounds like you would have to move the forks way down to compensate in the front?


Posted by: bikepilot---------------------

I didn't win the ohlins shock, so it looks like I will be installing just the linkage and probably fork springs soon. I am worried that the stock re-bound adjuster for the shock is stuck in as mentioned earlier in this thread as the rebound seems very slow and the adjuster doesn't seem to make any difference. I'll post back with the results.

I suspect that the new link will allow the wheel to travel further up, so that it gets closer to the fender rather than extending lower (to make the bike taller) but we will see.

My 03 KX100 has 4 positions for the compression and about 10 (I think) for the compression.

The fork adjusters don't seem to click. As they turn it looks like the adjuster screw is unscrewing and I'm afraid to mess with them before I get a manual or take the forks apart as I don't know if they are supposed to be like this.

cheers


Posted by: motometal---------------------

yes, they should click, 1/4 turn increments I believe.

What's R&D's official name? Can't find a web site. I'll probably ask Jeremy what he has for springs first, but I may eventually want to try that linkage as well.


Posted by: bikepilot---------------------

R&D racing

website is here
http://www.randdracing.com/Pages/kawasaki.html

Is the fork adjuster screw supposed to un-screw like a normal threaded screw or should it stay in the same place (vertically, in relation to the fork) like a normal full size bike clicker adjuster? Whatever the case, it looks like I've got some work to do as mine does not click


Posted by: motometal---------------------

it stays in the same position. I have run accross a few that don't have much of a click or detent to them, as long as the adjustment can't move by itself, chances are it's still doing the job. Just a simple needle valve with detent. Quarter turns times 18 clicks would be four and a half full turns, although there may be a few extra clicks on the "soft" or counterclockwise end that don't really do much (because the needle is so far out of its seat). Try turning clockwise until it lightly bottoms (the screw that is) then turn it out however far you want assuming the detents are quarter turn each.



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