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xr250 suspension question
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Posted by: Tasc---------------------
I just recently bought a 2000 xr250r. I don't have the owners manual and would like to know how to adjust the suspension and what the default settings are. I've seen two separate adjusters for the rear (in the form of two H-S screws) - I'm guessing one is for compression and one is for rebound.
How do you determine what settings you are currently on, and anybody know what the default factory settings are? Thanks for any info.
Posted by: snaggleXR4---------------------
Hey,
Without looking at the manual there is no way to tell the stock settings. I do strongly recommend purchasing the Honda Service manual for your bike. It's about ~$60 I think, but well worth it if you plan to keep your XR for a while and take care of it.
On my XR400, the rebound for the forks is the screw in the middle on top. The other screw to the side is for letting out any air that could build up while riding, do so with front wheel off the ground. On the bottom of your forks is the compression adjustment.
On your shock, the compression is on the nitrogen canister sticking out in front of your airbox. The rebound is on the side of the bottom base of your shock, kinda behind your chain looking in from the left side.
All settings are in terms of the number of turns out from full hard. The screws will seat as you tighten them clockwise, this is the full hard postition.
I recommend setting your "race sag" before you mess with anything. Put your bike on a stand with rear wheel off the ground. Measure from rear axle nut to a fender bolt behind your seat. Next put the bike on the ground and support it upright, without the kickstand. Measure this distance. This "free sag" measurement should be ~1" less than while the bike was on the stand. With all riding gear on, sit on your bike in a normal position with your feet on the pegs. A friend is a big help for this step. Measure with you on the bike, this should be ~4" less than when the bike was on the stand, or 3" less than when the bike was on the ground without you on it. If you bike does not sag far enough, decrease the preload on your rear shock by unscrewing the lock nuts on the shock housing, holding the spring on the top. This makes the spring longer, decreasing preload, allowing your rear to sag more. If your sag is way to much, you need to increase the preload by screwing down the lock nuts, shortening the spring. After adjusting preload remeasure the sag until it's in the ballpark. Obviously you have a limited range of adjustment for the spring. On my 400 the standard spring length is 212.3mm(8.36in.), minimum is 205.3mm(8.08in.) and maximum is 217.3mm(8.56in.). Yours will be similar but probably not the same. In other words, don't try to tighten or loosen the nuts an extreme distance. Lengthening or shortening the spring more than 1/8" - 1/4" in any direction is not good. Anymore and you need to get another spring, more in your weight range.
After you have the sag set, get a screwdriver and go riding. Warm up the suspension and pick an area where you ride where you have suspension troubles. Keep riding the same area over and over with the different settings. Adjust ONE setting full soft and practice ride with it a few minutes. Adjust the same setting full hard and practice with it a few. Work your way to a position somewhere in between that you are happy with, giving each adjustment a bit of time to take effect. Make sure on your forks to adjust both forks the same. Repeat the process with all four settings, front and rear until you get a good balance. After you know what rebound and compression "feels" like, go to other areas and fine tune. Keep in mind settings need to be made while the suspension is warmed up, and only change ONE thing at a time. Be patient and persistent, get a Service manual, and keep on thumpin'!!! Good luck.
Posted by: Tasc---------------------
super information, thanks for taking the time to post it!
Posted by: Big dawg---------------------
the two screws are compression and dampning and the rebound is what you turn on the yellow spring thats how it is on my 01 250 anyways H=hard S=soft
Posted by: mgorman---------------------
The fork on my '99 XR250 does not have a rebound adjuster. The compression adjuster is under a rubber seal on the bottom of the fork. The screw in the top of my fork is an air bleed.
The rear is exactly as Snaggle noted
I weigh 215lbs and I am a Slow A or fast B rider in scrambles. I use a 0.46 spring in the front and a 11.5 in the rear. If you are just trail riding the stock springs aren't too bad.
Posted by: Big dawg---------------------
sorry, for rebound i was talking about the rear shock
Posted by: mgorman---------------------
I thought maybe honda finaly put one on the fork. But then I remembered that honda only redesigns XR's every 10 years...
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