Maintenance & Technical > KX500 Original

Suspension Upgrade

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Polar-Bus:
I am kinda curious, what exactly do you look for setting up a suspension on a "dune" bike? I am a long time woods, weekend MX'er, and I tend to favor a forgiving and quick reacting initial, to mid stroke suspension. I don't focus too much on "bottoming out" . As long as my suspension doesnt break my teeth filling loose, it's good enough. I also am not launching my 500 off 100ft jumps either, LOL

FuriouSly:

--- Quote ---I am kinda curious, what exactly do you look for setting up a suspension on a "dune" bike?....Polar-Bus
--- End quote ---

Think about all the riding you do in the woods and mx, then think about what percentage of that riding is in loamy/sandy conditions?  Maybe 10%, that being probably high even.

Well in the dunes you are 100% in the most dragging, power stealing, non-suspension friendly environment known to two-wheelers.  Your front tire cuts through the top 3-9 inches of sand like a pizza cutter until you reach about 15 mph where it will finally float on top.

So as far as suspensions go, the sand steals your first 3-6 inches of plush fork travel at speeds lower than 15 mph.  Basically your front end is plowing the sand and compressing until you are up to speed, meaning stiffer springs than most riders and stiffer compression also.

When up at speed, now you have a ride that is stiff like a mx rider, but on the sand.  If you threw nobbies on my KX5 and took it on the dirt it would be a bit harsh and stiff, not ideal. 

Another way to look at it would be the sand is like an additional suspension setting for your bike and you have to adjust for it.  It is soft so you have adjust stiffer to compensate for it.

I think to sum up a dune two wheeler suspension to a MX one would be:
1. you need one or two up stiffer fork springs with stiffer valving to keep from plowing.  Set the fork preload to highest (spacers inside the forks with the springs) and then slide the forks as far down the triples to help with steering rake.  Makes a little crisper turning, if that is possible in the sand... lol
2. set the sag in the back like normal but the spring is one stiffer as well.
3. compression for front is stiffer to keep from blowing through the stroke too fast and handle the dune face entries.  Try to keep the front from blowing through all the travel and bottoming out because that will take any control away from your steering.  Rebound is a little less so the forks can return faster to keep from loading the travel on woops and for landing drops/jumps.
4. compression for the rear is stiffer to keep the tire in the sand for traction and when landing jumps since most all dune landings are 80% rear and 20% front.  Rebound is a little less as well to help keep the rear in the sand for traction and steering, since alot of the turning in the sand is with the rear end and throttle.

Of course these are my findings and are not an experts set-up, just what is getting better for my style...

Sly

kx666:

--- Quote from: Polar-Bus on November 16, 2006, 09:42:09 AM ---
--- Quote from: kx666 on November 16, 2006, 05:30:48 AM ---do not use factory connection. some of the bikes i have worked on the cusomer had spent thousends of $$ on work from them. i never saw any revalving, shimming or anything. if there was any difference at all ocationally they would put a heavyer spring (any one could do that). you are paying for a sticker.

i am not saying they allways rip people off, but i have seen it a lot. the bikes that they acutally do work on turn out good.

--- End quote ---

Dude, get your facts straight. Factory Connection does NOT cost "thousands" for their suspension rework. A complet re-spring and revalve will run you about $800. F/C has set up 4 different bikes for me. Furthermore TONS of NESC New England pros rely on F/C for awesome suspension rework at great prices.

--- End quote ---
when i was working at Al's honda/yamaha in Bellingham, WA the most expencive one i saw was $2500 and all they did was change the springs and fluid, another customer from about the same time spend $1800. back even farther when i was working at Cliffs Cycle center in Bremerton, WA i had yet again another customer riped off although i never did see his recipt.

i never said they ripp off every one, i am not claiming the ripp off most. i am just telling everyone what i have seen. Polar, it is fantastic that you enjoy you suspention work. maybe we are sending the forks to different locations, mabe i am just unlucky i do not know. all i can do is reflect from my personal experence.
~steve

don46:
Factory connection has authorized service centers all over the country, they are not employed by factory connection, but are independent companies. It would seem reasonable that there would be different levels of service from different locations. This could be said for most companies, what is great for one person may noot be worth a darn for another. For my .02, the best suspension I have ever had, came from Tom Morgan racing, on the flip side the worst came from Enzo, after many calls to Ross and him telling me it was the way the bike was being rode, I went into it on my own and low and beholdthe nuts on the forks and shock had not been ground off, so I paid him over $700 to change oil and install springs in the forks, Major rip off. I know people swear by his work, I swear at it.

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