2000 KX250 with full Showa suspension

[Jeeks]

 

[BDI]

Looking at the two shocks in your picture the showa shock shaft looks shorter then the KYB, you may have shorted yourself on travel. The two bikes these shocks came off of probably had very different linkage ratios.

Jeeks   The 05 RM125 shock came in this afternoon so I figured I'd tinker a little.

Showa on the left, original KYB on the right. Below the new shock are the pieces I removed from the clevis.

As far as the clevis goes, I just drilled a new hole in the appropriate location and cut off the excess. The width of the clevis was the exact same as the original KYB. Even the upper mount fit like a glove.

I did, however, have to grind some of the frame for clearance. I removed a 1/8 to 1/4" sliver from the gusset so the shock fit. You can see how close the fit is in the second pic.

[Jeeks]

I will probobly need to shorten the rubber bumper 1/4".   

Here's the 07 KX250F clamps and the temporary stop.  I'll be tearing the bike down over the winter when I'll fab/weld up some permanent stops.
Haven't had arm pump since the swap.

[stuart1981]

hi, just looking at your stainless steel rad covers? i bought the same ones an found them a pain to fit, how were yours? any chance you could put a pic of them on to see how you did it? thanks

[Jeeks]

hi, just looking at your stainless steel rad covers? i bought the same ones an found them a pain to fit, how were yours? any chance you could put a pic of them on to see how you did it? thanks

LOL.  Hell yeah they were a pain!  MSR garbage!  Made from aluminum though.  The angled bend I had to put in a vise and bend the opposite direction so you could actually fasten them.

Half the hardware was missing and whoever designed the instructions was on crack.

[stuart1981]

yeh mine seem to look the same, when i got them on i thought they had sent me the wrong ones,m but even the instructions say that they need to be bent to fit? they could be a really good product if they had a bit more thought to them?

[stuart1981]

thats the way i did mine, the bend on the bracket side, i had to use a lond T-bar to get behind to put the bolts in if you see what i mean? it explained on my instructions to do it like this so to space them off the rad?

[Jeeks]

Yeah, I think that's the way the design is "supposed" to work.  But you lose the clutch cable bracket that way.  Obviously a zip tie or another bolt may work.  The design is cheesy to say the least.  I'm buying Devols next.

[BDI]

I think there is like 3/4 inch difference between those two shocks,I don't think cutting a 1/4 inch off the bump stop is going to fix that. It could add up to quite a bit at the end of the swingarm. I'm sure you have done your home work though I really can't tell from here. All I can do is measure the KX shock I have here and then measure the shocks on the screen, then figure the scale and do the math. It might help out if you could put a tape measure up next to the shock shafts. when you show mods like this you should give as much info as possible as too why this is a good idea. I just hate to think someone might follow someone elses example on something like this without knowing all the facts.

[Jeeks]

I think there is like 3/4 inch difference between those two shocks,I don't think cutting a 1/4 inch off the bump stop is going to fix that. It could add up to quite a bit at the end of the swingarm. I'm sure you have done your home work though I really can't tell from here. All I can do is measure the KX shock I have here and then measure the shocks on the screen, then figure the scale and do the math. It might help out if you could put a tape measure up next to the shock shafts.

It was only 1/4 -5/16 of an inch.  The stopper wasn't pushed completely down in that pic.  I removed the difference from the stopper and tested the action on the bike with the spring removed.

when you show mods like this you should give as much info as possible as too why this is a good idea. I just hate to think someone might follow someone elses example on something like this without knowing all the facts.

What do you mean why it's a good idea?  It's called "tinkering".

The fork swap was an incredible improvement.  So I decided to attempt the shock.  I'm not telling people to go out and do this to their bike, I'm just showing what could be done.  

[Jeeks]

Anyway, I got the shock back from the suspension shop with new oil/charge.  Mounted it up and set the sag.

It seems to go hand and hand with the feel of the forks.  I'll get some good seat time on it this weekend.

[BDI]

It was only 1/4 -5/16 of an inch.  The stopper wasn't pushed completely down in that pic.  I removed the difference from the stopper and tested the action on the bike with the spring removed.

 
 When you tested the "action" did you measure the the travel  .I'm measuring the distance from the shock body to the spring seat on the kx it's 36mm on the rm it's 30mm. That's a 6mm difference and thats at the size the shock is on my screen. Thats just under 1/4 inch at what is probably 1/4 scale at full scale thats .020 shy of an inch. Evan at third scale it would be 18mm shorter. I also don't think that cutting the stoper adds any stroke to the shock it just means your shock is going to bottom out harder.

What do you mean why it's a good idea?  It's called "tinkering".

You know, things like this shock is better for my bike then the one kawaski put on It because??
 I once heard someone say that the idea of this site was to compile the best information on the KX.

The fork swap was an incredible improvement.  So I decided to attempt the shock.  I'm not telling people to go out and do this to their bike, I'm just showing what could be done.

   According to race techs spring calculator the spring you now have on your bike is a 4.6Kg. Also according to race tech your bike is now sprung for a 90 lb rider  how much do you weigh.
  Weather you like it or not people come here looking for ideas.

[Jeeks]

  Weather you like it or not people come here looking for ideas.

I couldn't have said it better.

[BDI]

  Weather you like it or not people come here looking for ideas.

I couldn't have said it better.

So in other words even if you are not telling people to do what you have done other people are going to do it. I just think if someone is going to do a post like this there should be some good educated info on the hows and whys of it.

[Jeeks]

  Weather you like it or not people come here looking for ideas.

I couldn't have said it better.

So in other words even if you are not telling people to do what you have done other people are going to do it. I just think if someone is going to do a post like this there should be some good educated info on the hows and whys of it.

If I have to explain to you the differences between 8 year old KYB suspension and modern Showa, I'm better off talking to pre-schoolers.

I'm done with the pissing match you started.  If you don't agree with my mods, don't perform them.  My bike is MY BIKE, I can do what the hell I want with it.  I can put Harley shocks on if I please.  So get off my back. 

This thread is called "CREATIVE CONTENT" which is what this forum does not have. So go police somewhere else unless you're bringing something useful to the table and not just "by-the-book" BS.