I'm about to change the fork oil in my '00 YZ250. What oil should I use? This is the first time that I'll be changing fork oil, I plan to pretty much take the forks completely apart and see what the hell they look like. I'm beginning to enjoy working on my bike more than riding it. What tips do you have for this, any special tools you suggest? Thanks.
Posted by: Jeremy Wilkey---------------------
Sigar,
Lots of god threads on this.. USe Mobil 1 ATF.
Jer
Posted by: MTRHEAD---------------------
Get a seal driver and a cartridge tool. Makes life simple.
Posted by: John Curea---------------------
Check out Ebay, they have a 46mm seal driver on the auction right now going for 26.00. Item #454618691. I bought the same brand new driver from this seller for 31.00 ( about half price). He must have quite a few , because he has been selling them for a while now.
Good Luck, John Curea
Posted by: Coop37---------------------
The correct fork oii is KYB 01 oil, set the oil height to 125mm from the top, with out the fork spring, with the fork fully compressed, Depending on your weight, and rider ablity, I ran .44kg springs with the oil height at 128mm, I also changed the rear spring from a 4.8 to 5.0kg.
See ya Coop
Posted by: Jeremy Wilkey---------------------
Coop,
KYB 01? @ 125mm Why 125mm? Try more like 105-110 at the lowest.... I would also not waste your time and money with KYB 01... That fork is so soft I can't see why 125 or 128 would be good.
Jer
Posted by: Jeff Howe---------------------
NG.
Posted by: Jeremy Wilkey---------------------
NG?
Posted by: Jeff Howe---------------------
Yeah, right just like you said. Maybe NFG makes better sense. 125mm= NG
It's funny how the "F" always puts things into perspective... I must be warped..
Posted by: Coop37---------------------
Hello, earth to jer ??? std oil level is 135mm, that is to soft, that is why we go with 128mm," depending on rider " I ran .44kg springs at 128-130mm, work real good, trust me kyb 01 is the best oil to use, there is cheeper, but it is just that CHEEP !!.. I have tested pj1 01, and race tech very light, and all spectro oils, none work as well as kyb 01, trust me I have done a few of these forks.. If you are running 105mm, you need stiffer springs, or your springs are clapped out ?? that is way to much oil for a 2000 yz 250, that might be a good level for a 99 maybe, ( they dont have the bumpers in the fork, so they take more oil )?
See ya Coop
Posted by: Jeff Howe---------------------
What DO the 99's have in the forks Coop? Jeeeeeeer, I thought they did. And I thought the 98's did too. Hmmmm...... Guess what Coop. My 00YZ250 doesn't have any bumpers in them, I just went and looked. In fact I found them sitting in my service trailer. They are almost in the trash can. You want them?
Posted by: Jeremy Wilkey---------------------
Coop,
Hey man I was not tryingh to slam you, but I would be careful. I get really werid when people make recomendations, and they don't seem to be able to back them up. What works for is great! But when telling other people what to do you had better know what your talking about.. I just wanted you to defend your comments. I like to poke at people and see what they really know.. I was a teacher once, still am I supose and it's just part of fleshing out what we understand. I use this forum as a way to flex my brain..I'm chaleanged to talk about things that I understand more interms of variables than something concrete. Unfortunatley for you I don't agree with your YZ recomendations so I wanted you to elborate, maybe to help me see where you are comming from..
There are some sharp people on this board and as long as you can back it up with your ideas your fine. We are here to learn..
Now that being said What kind of oil reasaech did you do? I have done some myself..and I suspect that I'm not much for being called "cheap".. Quite the oposite infact... So I'll let the gloves fall on this one.. Got anything good.. I love a good debate..
Regards,
Jer
Posted by: Coop37---------------------
Jer. I am not coming on here to argue with any body, But I did miss the year, I meant 97 yz250, 98-2001 all have bottoming rubber.
The oil I have tested has all been seat of the pants testing, riding and setting up new YZ's & RM's for the past 20 yrs, The oil height you gave is for 97 and older, as I have never ran 100mm of oil in the 98-2001 forks, doesnt mean you cant run that height though, just means if I ran any height more than 120 the forks fell real harsh, ?
as for oil's the pj1 01 seemed to foam up, and I had to blead the forks more often. samr with the rest of the oils, the kyb 01 didnt foam no were near as bad. That is my test, What are your test's you have done !!
See ya Coop
Posted by: Jeremy Wilkey---------------------
Coop,
Lots of checical analysis and feild testing. It is my job and all.. (Blantent tongue in check hummor) I wonder what you think actually might cause the fork to be harsh with 10-20mm higher oil.. Also how does the bummper fork have a different oil ht. Does it take up more volume? What are you going to do with the RM's with balder forks.. You do know what oil to set those at? Man is that not going to be real harsh or what? Just some food for thought..
You see a air spring is not going to really cause harshness.. Valving does.. It's speed sensitve not postion sensitive.
Jer
Posted by: wrench---------------------
Coop,
I really think that you should check out the MX-Tech website link, BEFORE YOU POST ANY FURTHER IN A DEBATE WITH JER, when talking suspension.
JMO
wrench
Posted by: Coop37---------------------
I belive it is call air over oil, more oil = more air pressure under full stroke, causing stiffer feel, the bumper does take up more room in the fork, therfore less oil is required, also from many years testing, when you raise the oil level, it rasies ride height in the fork, And yes valving has alot to do with it, I tell you what you run 100mm of oil, and then put in 125mm, and you will see for your self, But that isnt what the post is about, it is about changing fork oil on a 2000 yz 250, with is what I am refering to. What are you refering to ?
Posted by: Jeremy Wilkey---------------------
Coop,
Do you know that your testostron levels fall all day. Yes A man is most bull in the morning..hum.. Well maybe thats my problem now but one way or the other I can't even imagine a fork riding higher from oil ht. The compression factor of air in the tube is almost nothing till the very bottom of the stroke. Really..
You do have the right idea about volumes but it still is almost completly insignifcant.. Harshness will almost always be casued by valving never anything else beyound structraul or materials standpoint.. (so from one fork the same to the other)
I think the point was really about Oil quality.. The KYB o1 is very cohessive, almost stringy. That does prevent it from being a problem when bleeding but there are other things to consider. For one your air spring prevents your fork for "foaming" durning use..
Mobil 1 ATF as back yard as it sounds is the bomb... Years ago I would have scoffed at my own advice and dismissed it as a farce.. however I have learned a few things since then and as much as I would have made a mochery of anyone suggesting it.. I was wrong.. So if you are more comfortable putting KYB oil in your KYB fork enjoy! I'll use my M1ATF and meerily laugh at my own naive ignorance.. (knowing that my forks work better beacuse of it..)
Regards,
Jer
I'm justing having fun.. Don't take me too seriusly..... K...
Posted by: Coop37---------------------
Jer, I dont take anyone serious, I know what I know from experience, and nothing eles, Tell me why did they drop oil height when they started using the bottoming rubber cone?
I know they leave enough room in the fork for air & oil at bottoming, but it seems when you put the max oil level in the fork it becomes ? how do I say STIFFER or HARDER ? Why is that ? I talk with ross mieda,( enzo) and Ed shiedler,( yamaha testing) And they gave me good imput on this, I would like to know your imput,
How much oi would you put in a 97 yz250 fork? just wondering.
Thanks for the info, jer
See ya Coop
Posted by: Jeremy Wilkey---------------------
Coop,
I put even more oil in a older fork. The actual air spring is very light! Mace calculated it out in a old string and it is like 15-20 lbs of force at full compression.. Almost nothing.. Not that you can't tell but it's just not going to make much never mind for the bike durring 75% of the travel. When Talking to an Engineer or a expert remmember what they say is for the record.. So yes techincally a fork with more oil will make the fork ride higher, but show me a rider who can really aperciate the difference other than say MC or the like.. It only really impacts botoming..
Jer
Posted by: Coop37---------------------
jer, I raised my fork oil from 135 to 128, on my 2001 yz250, and made a noticeable difference, in ride height, and plushness. ( as the fork now rides up in the softer part of the stroke, meaning less spring tension) It made a world of difference to me.
So maybe the older forks arent so noticeable? but the new stuff, you can really fill the difference, It think that before I changed the oil height, it may not of had the 135mm like it stated in the book. but the fork was much harsher, and the fork didnt sit as high ?
On my last years bike the forks were way to soft, after break-in, so I installed .44kg springs, and changed the fluid to 120, and it was to stiff at the first part of the stroke, I changed the oil to 125, and it was better, but still felt a little stiff, at the first part of the stroke, so I went to 130 mm of 01 oil, and it was real nice, So this is were I am coming from, with my spec's, that you called NG, NFG, etc, So as you can see I spend alot of time on my fork spec's to get things right,( I ride every saturday) As for the mobile 1 ATF, I dont dissagree with your spec, I just dont think it is valved for that oil. but I wouldnt post back on public forum "NG, NFG, etc"
Enough Said !
See ya Coop
Posted by: Jeff Howe---------------------
Jer didn't post that Coop, I did.
Posted by: Coop37---------------------
That would figure from a name like shocknut !!! lol
See ya Coop
Posted by: Weasel---------------------
JAG.....hand's down!
Enough said....pfft.
Posted by: Jeff Howe---------------------
Just as good as what, Weasel?
Posted by: Jeremy Wilkey---------------------
Coop,
What is wrong with say a more viscous fuild.. How do you suspect that impacts suspension performance.. I Ask another question is the air spring a postion issue or a speed issue... In other words does it respond to interia or load? I wonder if you know where this is going? Humm....
I wonder if the force of resistance to compression is any diffrent than say a heavier spring.. So lets say we run a lighter spring and higher oil ht.. How would that impact performance.. Hum.. What is the difference in nature between the two? I mean they are similar but yet diferent some how.. Coop?
Jer
Posted by: Coop37---------------------
Yes the two are different, but dont you think yamaha tryed both ways, and came up with the best overall setup, to fit a wide range of riders,?
I think they tryed heavier oils like mobile 1 atf, but they came up with the oil that works the best, for a wide range of riding styles, and a oil that fits there valving, But, as I stated before, it is all about changing oil in yz200 250 fork, and the spec I gave him is what I would say 95% of the people are running, wouldnt you say jer ? besides this is getting very old, and worn out, I think you thought you had some punk kid, you could make a fool of? and well I WILL BE NO ONES FOOL ! You could have posted " yea coop that will work fine, but I have some other settings that work real good, like I run mobile 1 atf," etc, etc,etc.... But instead it seems you would rather argue the point to death ? And acting like the allmighty 'JER"
Dirt Rider mag, says , The changes to the kayaba fork and shock did improve to be significant improvements, both ends were much more responsive, the most noticable gains were made in braking bumps where the 46mm inverted fork featured more control..humm? they go on to say "the fork doesnt dive into turns and is morepredictable than the past. hummm ?
Sounds like someone else agrees with me, but what do they know, right ! lol
See ya Coop
P.S This is really my last post on this !
Posted by: Coop37---------------------
Oh one more thing, Some one posted this about the same front forks ??
"The 01 YZ's have the worst fork yet.. Yam changed the mid-valve stress by lengthing the float of the midvalve by .75mm what a joke! They did not fix the problem but made it completly out of the realm of effectiveness... What a waste.. hummm??
See ya Coop
P.S, O.K this is the last post,!!!
Posted by: wrench---------------------
Quote:
Originally posted by Coop37:
P.S, O.K this is the last post,!!!
Thank You DIRT GODS!!!!!
Posted by: Jeremy Wilkey---------------------
Coop,
Sorry Brother.. I thought we were done.. IF you really wanna talk smak why don't stop droping names and using other quotes. The point is you don't know how a fork works from the way a watch winds. IF you want to argue you tell me how I'm wrong.. You can't. I'm really getting ticked off.. Your like a misquto that won't land long enough to sqaush.
If you got any brass why don't you post some more or is mom calling you home for dinner.
Jer
Posted by: Coop37---------------------
dont get mad jer... just poking fun !!
All I am saying is you have your ways, dirt rider mag has there ways, And I have mine, thats all, It is a big world out there, and there is room enough for all our thoughts.. Dont you think? Really didnt mean to tic you off, as I thought we were going to go riding, and show each other our setups ?
See ya Coop
Posted by: Jeff Howe---------------------
Jer,
I can have my 2 YZ's loaded and ready to go tomorrow. You can take my truck and trailer for a week if you want. Just come and get it.
Coop, do you have any front teeth? I would be surprised if you did really? Is your nose crooked? Or are you some stick man with a rack to hold you vertical? You picked this fight Coop, you got a whole crowd of people showing up for it and now you tell us you are an invertabrate? I don't think a cat could hear your marbles hit the floor if it was standing between your legs when you dropped them.
Posted by: Coop37---------------------
Shocknut, what crawled up your but ? Go talk big some place else !!
See ya Coop
Posted by: Jeff Howe---------------------
Uhhh... Geez Coop, Sorry! I didn't mean to tic you off or anything. I was just stating my opinions that's all. I think this world is big enough for that, don't you? I mean you have your opinions and I have mine and we can share them right. Blah blah blah.
I bet your local river has risen 2 feet by now hasn't it Coop? See, this is called sarcasm dude. It cuts kinda deep don't it?
You use it at the wrong time on a guy you don't know and you might be looking to get your throat cut. You will be lucky if Jer accepts your limp wristed attempt at an apology.
You could have argued your points with valid posts but you kept poking and prodding with sarcasm. You could have taken a day and thought about what you guys have been discussing. At one point, I thought the same thing you did. Ask Jer, I have questioned the same thing with him here and privately. But, I was able to take his word and learn from it. You apparently think of yourself as a stack of brittanica's or something. Do you not have any room left in your pea sized brain to accept knowledge? Come here and share what you know Coop, but be ready to learn too. State your opinions matter of factly, but don't get sarcastic until you have been known here long enough so people will know when your "poking fun"!
I don't know anything about you other than what your profile says. Jer is one of the more tolerable moderators on this site. I guarantee you start this kind of crap with Rich or Eric and they will nail your ass to the wall boy! I see your a service manager of something, what, refrigerators and dishwashers? If you work in the motorcycle industry you are going to be able to post some things from experience and people would like that if you have some insightful and resourceful things to offer. Now, let's get that ride setup for next season. I got a set of YZ forks that will blow the vegetation out your ears. You will love em'!!! My forks are better than yooooooooour forks nanananananaaaaaaaaaaaaa....
You do it right and you will make some friends here. You do it wrong and you will have half the population wanting to stretch your neck. Tact Coop, Tact. I know, I ate my feet here awhile back buddy! Hopefully you are taking my place as resident moron now. Probably not though as I have apparently worked pretty hard for it. I guess it won't be difficult for me to keep.
Posted by: Coop37---------------------
Shocknut, I know jer is very smart man, I just seem to have a warped sence of humor?
I was really was looking forward to meeting him, and checking out his stuff, I never did say my forks work better, hell they are stock valved, Didnt mean to set you off either, I am a service manager of a multi line motorcycle dealership, I deal with this kinda stuff all day long, And to be honest with you, it is all in fun. this forum is the best one I have seen in a long time, I know eric also, I have sent him lots of work over the years, he is a great guy, I just simply have never heard of mobile 1 atf in a fork ? Hell I may even try it! but it sure would be fun to get together and go out testing, as that is what I like doing,
So it sounds like everything got blown way out of porportion, So for that I am sorry !
I really think we could all lighten up a bit.
I didnt know you guys, and I kinda thought I did, thats why I was kidding around, I do that were I work and we have fun with it??
Any way Sorry shocknut, and jer !!
I wont post here any more.
See ya Coop
Posted by: Byrd Man---------------------
Coop, I hope this thread doesn't discourage you from posting here on DRN. I value everyone's experience and try to learn from it. This started out as a good debate. I have really enjoyed this thread until the last few post. It was starting to get ugly. Looked like you were getting tag teamed, hehe. I think shocknut is just trying to help, and took you the wrong way with your sick sense of humor. see ya
Posted by: Jeff Howe---------------------
Coop37, you have experiences to relate that other people will like to hear. You are not being asked to leave this board Coop. I was trying to make a point.
Nobody has a more warped sense of humor than me dude. Stick around and help these guys out. I've got too much stuff going on with snowmobiles right now so I'm the one that's gonna disappear for awhile.
Posted by: Coop37---------------------
buttnut, oh I mean shocknut, what sleds you working on, I do some mods my self, as we sell sleds to!, We got about 12 inches the last storm, buy the way, seeing you have two yz's get with jer, and come out!, I have so great riding out here, bring your sled if it is winter time and your bike, we will do it both, sled one day, (8 ft of fresh powder, at 10000 ft. and ride the desert or the slick rock of moab !! I will stick around, maybe I change my name to ****STIRER.. LOL
See ya Coop37
Posted by: Jeremy Wilkey---------------------
Coop,
I'm getting a handle on you.. I feel bad when you want to leave.. Maybe I've become too teritorial and your the new Dog in the pack.. GOD I have become a Junkie..
Seroiuly though... We wnat you here I'm sure you have a lot of helpful things for people... I'm probalby only slightly more stable than Shocknut.. As Eric once said suspension guys are all werid.. They breath to many oil vapors.. Who knows.. I'm a health nut well I supose other than a like of cabornated malted barley beverages on occasion as a nonhealth food..
The point is Im think you have survied your onoffical inetation.. (I never new we had hazing here..but it would seem..) I ask that you please consider that I really dislike answers that come from now where.. I try to know everything I can about suspesnion.. And the details count... I'm far more apt to here someone rattle off some convoluted..left feild bulroar than a "limp wristed" uniteresting idea.. I stuck in a self concocted world of questions and the easy stuff is bore.. So enjoy..I'll accept you if we can end our little tussle and move forward..
Your lucky I suspose as I was going to bustout the valving specs..
BTW.. The reason the 01YZ rides higher is the new CV is firmer... So even though the mid-valve is now a joke the CV is doing more work so to say.. Hence riding higher.. For the Record o'l Shocknut figured out the Cv was not actually a high speed blow off but it did have a complete speed range impact..
Good day Coop... When I'm out.. We are riding.. And I will "Show you" a few suspension things..
Jer
Posted by: Jeff Howe---------------------
Coop, I will try to keep in mind you get your 2 ends mixed up. Now, sleds is conversation material that I won't get into on this site. If you wanna talk sleds, we do it privately. You would have some interesting things for me since we ride 2 different environments in snow. I'm a flatlander. I could use your input on some powder issues.
Byrd,
Where in Flowery Branch are you ...Do you ride in the woods?????
wrench
M1-ATF ride impressions SOON!!!
Posted by: Byrd Man---------------------
Hey Wrench, I live off spout springs rd. just outside the city limits. I ride woods occasionaly, but prefer MX. My 426 is better suited to the track. I do like toccoa OHV, good trails there. I sent Ivan a email a few days ago. I'd like to meet you guys at Aonia pass one day soon for a fun ride. I also ride Lanier MX (went there today), Monroe and Loganville. Let me know if you guys are planning a ride sometime. see ya
Posted by: Jeff Howe---------------------
Kx vet,
No you don't! Coop deserves his chance here as well as anybody. In case nobody noticed, I got this situation diffused instead of egging it on. Coop never did anything to offend me personally. Because I know Jer a bit I know how he thinks too. I can guarantee if I had not done this there is a stack of 155mm shells that would have been put into action bro.
Wrench,
you would not have been able to hold onto your popcorn bucket in the middle of an artillery barrage anyway. You crack me up dude. And you are not quite creative enough yet to replace me as site moron. Keep trying though, I will crown thee at the proper time. For now I remain entitled OK.
Byrd man,
Thanks for standing and being a nice guy here and requesting Coop37's continued presence. Everybody has stuff to share and personally I would like to see some more personal experiences regarding suspension tuning and such. I think Jer could walk away for awhile(he has sort of) and the rest of you guys would be able to get each others problems solved.
And Coop37,
As a new member, welcome aboard. Your opinions mean as much as anybody elses here. Everybody can learn from your experiences. And yes, you should try the Mobil 1 ATF, at whatever level you wish. I would like the idea that I might make it out there some day as I have been thinking about riding Moab. You got any trials bikes handy for a day's cruise in the slick rock? I heard that's a blast. I'm sorry I got so harsh dude, didn't know any other way to mellow things out here. I guess it's just my style and why I where the moron crown. Funny I haven't been kicked out yet. You didn't owe me an apology Coop37. I just don't want anybody experiencing shell shock here right now. I would rather everyone concentrate on helping JG out. Here we are bickering about oil level and such and that guys fighting for his life. Get them donations in guys. You might even win a bike.
Shocknut, What do you mean, 'HE IS FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE: ?
And yes, we could find a bike for moab, and yes, it is the seveneth wonder of the world for bike riders... awsome !!
See ya Coop
Posted by: Jeremy Wilkey---------------------
I'll come with him.. MT biked Moab but not rode a bike there yet.. Man you even get to snow board I'll bet.. Lucky man you are Coop!..
Jer
Posted by: Coop37---------------------
Belive it or not, I have never snowboarded, but I do snow ski, but we have had such mild winters, that if there is dirt showing, I am riding and testing my bike, and mountain biking is for the birds, dirt biking at moab is awsome, you can cover the main areas in about 2 days, Malcom Smith and tucker rocky went there this spring, I missed that one, but I did go with malcom in colorado, in harmel ranch, it was great also,,, So we can go snow sking one day, dune and desert riding one day, and moab, one day !! hows that sound ?
See ya Coop37
Posted by: Jeremy Wilkey---------------------
Your a lucky man for the nth time coop.. I'm defiently comming.. If you like to ride and and ski.. You will love to board. I made the transtion about 4 years ago and love it.. It's like getting really whipped out and landing perfect back side evrery time kinda feeling once you get it.. Really smooth and fun.. But a hard learning curve...
Jer
Posted by: Jeff Howe---------------------
Maybe I WAS wrong Kxvet!
I just want to learn how ride trials Coop. You guys can go ski, I will stick to motorized fun.
JG has some form of rare disease he has been having bouts with on and off during his life. I wish this guy the best luck in knocking this thing back into remission. BUY YOUR RAFFLE TICKETS! NOW! C'mon you guys $25 for a worthy cause. If your lucky enough Okie will give you his bike.
I got a new theme for this thread- Mr Jers Neighborhood..... (with the tune "Wont You Be my Neighbor" softly playing in the backround)!! http://dirtrider.net/ubb2/confused.gif
Also been a proud member of the half baked sense of humor club!!
Whats up with reference to 155mm shells?? You an old artillary dog?? I put time with the 81mm at FT Bragg, been there??
------------------
Posted by: Jeff Howe---------------------
Nope, never was actually in the service, but a hobby was military history. I love the strategy stuff. Sometimes when you collect all the facts you find out things like just how bad Westy mucked up Khe Sahn. Boy, did he ever blow that one. Interesting stuff.
I could have used mortar rounds but the 155's are big and exaggerate the point.
Posted by: John Curea---------------------
Shock,
You want to talk SNAFU, I went to Grenada with the 82nd and we had to use tourist maps for the first couple of days to navigate! Talk about a botched up operation!
Yeah, we better take this off line. But, I'm interested. Lugging a base plate &tube around Grenada might not have been a good vacation.
I think the subject here now seems to be riding with Coop37. Geez, lets close this one up. I think everyones happy now, except Wrench. He seems to want my title.
Posted by: wrench---------------------
Man, I go for the TWINKIES and SNOWCAPS....when I return ... someone has change the channel to LOVE STORY!!!!! Where's my CRYIN' TOWEL? http://dirtrider.net/ubb2/tongue.gif
Jer, in switching from KYB 01 to Mobil1 ATF is it necessary to disassemble the fork completely ( for draining purposes ) before switching oil's.
Posted by: Jeff Howe---------------------
No it isn't, Mobil 1 ATF is compatible with all mineral/pertroleum based products to my knowledge. But, the idea of a good cleaning out is still a good one. You'd be surprised how much crud you can scrub off the inner surface of the chrome leg itself.
Posted by: marcusgunby---------------------
Jeff Talking of crud have you noticed how much muck comes off the bladder in a CR/KX fork?I wipe it with a white paper towel and it takes ages for it to be clean.
Posted by: Jeff Howe---------------------
Yep, that brown sludge? You'll find it on most shock bladders too. Like you say Marcus, it takes some good wiping even after a solvent scrub sometimes.
Marcus, we need to talk 01 CR125 again. Got a bud here interested in what you did to yours to make it scream. Email me when you get a chance.
rick#3, I should clarify though that is necessary to pull the cartridge out and pump the oil out of it, if thats what you mean by completely disassemble.
Posted by: rick#3---------------------
Thaks guys you have answered my questions.
Posted by: DAVE C---------------------
Jeremy, would you suggest the same oil height in a 2001 YZ 125 for a 175 lb moderately aggressive rider? I am planning on putting the Mobil 1 ATF (synthetic) in my forks this evening and was originally going to go with 130 mm from the top tube and increment up 5mm if needed, but I have a feeling I will be bottoming out. I was bottoming out pretty bad with Silkolene 2.5 wt oil at 130mm. Valving is stock. Thanks!
Posted by: slideways11---------------------
Dave I run mine at 80mm and like the extra bottoming resistance it affords. For your weight you will probably need a heavier spring.
Posted by: DAVE C---------------------
Thanks slideways11,
OK, this may be a little long winded, but here goes. I got this bike about a month ago and the fork seals and oil had just been professionally replaced. I blew out one seal on the first day. While replacing the seal, I had to change the oil in the other fork b/c I had no idea what was in it. It measured 70mm, which is 10 more than the recommended maximum. I called the shop that replaced the seals in the first place and he said to run 130mm. I was totally confused, but put 130mm in anyway. The forks were bottoming really bad even on very small jumps, so I tore it back down last night and put the Mobil 1 ATF at 110mm. The forks are still off the bike b/c I'm waiting form my new triple clamp which should be in today.
Do you think I should go ahead and put in more oil until I can get stiffer springs? Should I go with .44kg/mm springs? The bike came with .41's I think.
I bought a sirynge last night for on-the-fly additions at the track, so maybe I should just try it like it is and add some if need be.
Thanks for the wealth of knowledge I have received from this post so far. I'll get this down one day!
Posted by: slideways11---------------------
I would run the fork oil level at 80mm. As for the fork spring I would go to a 46. Hope this helps
Posted by: Jeff Howe---------------------
.46 is quite steep for a 175lb guy on YZ 125. Probably .42 is enough, and .43 at the most in my opinion. I weigh 215 and run .46's in my YZ 250!
Posted by: slideways11---------------------
I Weigh 140 and am running the.42s now and was thinking of going to .44s. I get some pretty severe bottoming with the .42s. Probably you should try the .44s first. Springs are cheap enough to buy a couple of different rates and swap them around till you find what you like. Shocknut did you change the valving in your 250??
Posted by: Jeff Howe---------------------
Yes...I have changed the valving many times... why? Should I be running .50kg springs?
Posted by: Wakisashi---------------------
I am running .45kg springs and I am heavier than any of you , but it is a woods foof bike ( or is that foo-foo bike ) so that explains the differance.
Posted by: slideways11---------------------
I also have a yz250 and was wondering if you lightened up your valving when you went to the heavier spring , and what effect it had on bottoming.
Posted by: Jeremy Wilkey---------------------
Slideways 11,
Thats what most suspension companies do.. IMO it gives the bike a very loose and harsh feel. With no valving the bike will osilate back and forth, with no control. A long timne ago I used to think this was great..
But its the trick that most suspension Guys do to "improve feel" on the first bump, and not "bottom" .
