HELP! 2013 250SX Suspenion

Barnett117
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Barnett117
Edited Date/Time 8/12/2015 1:55pm
I've had it re-valved by Pro-Action, swapped the fork springs to .44KG and the shock to 4.9KG. It still seems really harsh in breaking bumps and over tree roots and breaks traction easily even in tacky dirt.

I was contacted by another local susp. guy and he told me he thinks the softer springs are making the susp. pack? I'm not very familiar with it and looking for other options on how to make it work for me.

BTW its a hare scramble bike, I'm 5'10"/ 170LBS, AA class.

Any help would be great, thanks!
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woodsracer667 8/11/2015 5:58pm
8/11/2015 5:58pm
Yeah, those sound quite a bit soft, probably need closer to a .47 in the front and a 5.4 rear, with those soft springs you are riding lower into the travel causing a harsh condition
OR Racer46
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OR Racer46 8/11/2015 6:03pm
8/11/2015 6:03pm
I am 165lbs 5 10 And run a 5.4 rear spring on my 15 350 sxf. At 110 mm sag
Barnett117
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Barnett117 8/11/2015 6:08pm
8/11/2015 6:08pm
woodsracer667 wrote:
Yeah, those sound quite a bit soft, probably need closer to a .47 in the front and a 5.4 rear, with those soft springs you are...
Yeah, those sound quite a bit soft, probably need closer to a .47 in the front and a 5.4 rear, with those soft springs you are riding lower into the travel causing a harsh condition
Is that what comes stock? I still have my stock springs. The local guy says he wants to run the stock stuff since the manual say my weight falls right in that spring rate range.

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Barnett117
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Barnett117 8/11/2015 6:10pm
8/11/2015 6:10pm
OR Racer46 wrote:
What is you sag set at ?
I think 3.5 inches. I know my buddy's dad set it at a race.
Barnett117
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Barnett117 8/11/2015 6:11pm
8/11/2015 6:11pm
OR Racer46 wrote:
I am 165lbs 5 10 And run a 5.4 rear spring on my 15 350 sxf. At 110 mm sag
I think we had the sag at 4 inches and reduced sag to force more weight to the front end since it was skating around so much.
OR Racer46
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OR Racer46 8/11/2015 6:11pm
8/11/2015 6:11pm
Stock on my bike was 5.7. But I could not get my sag correct with that
OR Racer46
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OR Racer46 8/11/2015 6:13pm
8/11/2015 6:13pm
That's 100mm I would try and raise your forks up a little and set your sag around 108.
DL
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DL 8/11/2015 6:39pm
8/11/2015 6:39pm
Enzo is the answer
OR Racer46
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OR Racer46 8/11/2015 7:19pm
8/11/2015 7:19pm
I think you should make sure what springs you have. From the sounds of it you are underspung . Your sag is way off and who knows what else you have going on
loftyair
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loftyair 8/11/2015 8:01pm
8/11/2015 8:01pm Edited Date/Time 8/11/2015 8:10pm
Sag is #1, its got to be right or nothing else will work. So get the right springs for your sag, both laden and un has to be right first. Then you can deal with the rest. Enzo sucked on my bike, not that it will for you. Best to find a close guy, than way he can watch you and change it for free!
Barnett117
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Barnett117 8/11/2015 8:21pm
8/11/2015 8:21pm
GeorgiePorgie wrote:
List bike.

Sell bike.

Go buy yamaha.

Adjust clickers.

Perfection.
I rode a 2015 YZ250 at a local demo day I fell in love. The bike was stellar.
Barnett117
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Barnett117 8/11/2015 8:23pm
8/11/2015 8:23pm
loftyair wrote:
Sag is #1, its got to be right or nothing else will work. So get the right springs for your sag, both laden and un has...
Sag is #1, its got to be right or nothing else will work. So get the right springs for your sag, both laden and un has to be right first. Then you can deal with the rest. Enzo sucked on my bike, not that it will for you. Best to find a close guy, than way he can watch you and change it for free!
This guy I have been in contact with me seems to really want to help. Not to mention he is giving me a killer deal. He said he would come to the track with me after we put it back together and get it dialed in. Thanks for the input!
Barnett117
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Barnett117 8/11/2015 8:24pm
8/11/2015 8:24pm
OR Racer46 wrote:
I think you should make sure what springs you have. From the sounds of it you are underspung . Your sag is way off and who...
I think you should make sure what springs you have. From the sounds of it you are underspung . Your sag is way off and who knows what else you have going on
I will check tomorrow what the springs are. The bike keeps blowing forks seals. About every 3 rides...

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Cancerman
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Cancerman 8/11/2015 10:57pm
8/11/2015 10:57pm
OR Racer46 wrote:
I think you should make sure what springs you have. From the sounds of it you are underspung . Your sag is way off and who...
I think you should make sure what springs you have. From the sounds of it you are underspung . Your sag is way off and who knows what else you have going on
Barnett117 wrote:
I will check tomorrow what the springs are. The bike keeps blowing forks seals. About every 3 rides...
You may have a too high oil level in the forks. With soft springs in the forks, you are riding to low in the stroke, right where it stiffens up. If your oil level is too high, it will blow seals. One side or both? If it's one side, you may have a nick in a tube. And yes, if your sag and or shock is off, you transfer more load to the forks, aggravating the fork problems.
CarlinoJoeVideo
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CarlinoJoeVideo 8/11/2015 11:16pm
8/11/2015 11:16pm
I know it sounds like the wrong thing to do when your suspension feels harsh, but try going stiffer on the compression. Like someone mentioned above, your suspension might be too soft and riding in the harsher mid part of the stroke... Also, try 105 sag...
Markee
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Markee 8/12/2015 6:35am
8/12/2015 6:35am
OR Racer46 wrote:
That's 100mm I would try and raise your forks up a little and set your sag around 108.
3.5 in = 88.9mm
seth505
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seth505 8/12/2015 6:40am
8/12/2015 6:40am
I have a '13 and had WP do the supsension, I weigh 150 so they put softer springs on. I have been around 104 for sag, where as my yz250 sweet spot seemed to be around 108.
Riesenberg448
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Riesenberg448 8/12/2015 7:44am
8/12/2015 7:44am
There are a lot of reasons it could feel harsh... before you do anything, have you installed your front wheel properly to make sure the forks are parallel and not pinched? I know this sounds ridiculous and simple, but you wouldn't believe working trackside how often a bike goes from un-rideable to magic by just loosening the axle and putting it back the right way. Here is a step by step guide to ensure the forks are aligned: http://racetech.com/page/title/Fork%20Installation

Also, have you talked to Pro Action about your issues that you're having, and did they offer and solutions or ideas? I would assume most suspension tuners would stand behind their work, I know we have a 100% guarantee you'll love it or we'll either revalve it for you for free until you are happy. I know they have a completely different theory on suspension tuning than we (Race Tech) do, but they also still have happy customers or their doors wouldn't be open. I would start there and give them a chance, you believed in them once. They should be happy to help you out.

If you can't get happy or they aren't willing to work with you, then I'd look elsewhere.

On the spring rates, Race Tech is recommending a .457 fork spring. On the shock side, we're recommending a 5.376.

If you have any questions you'd like me to run through our tech support department or just if you'd like some things verified, don't hesitate to shoot me an email. chris@racetech.com I hope you get your bike sorted and comfy!
OR Racer46
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OR Racer46 8/12/2015 8:04am
8/12/2015 8:04am
OR Racer46 wrote:
That's 100mm I would try and raise your forks up a little and set your sag around 108.
Markee wrote:
3.5 in = 88.9mm
He had posted 4 inches
Suns_PSD
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Suns_PSD 8/12/2015 10:39am
8/12/2015 10:39am
OR Racer46 wrote:
I am 165lbs 5 10 And run a 5.4 rear spring on my 15 350 sxf. At 110 mm sag
My personal experience is that seated sag is hard to get right on these KTMs, or maybe it's just me. What I do is use the chart to pick the correct spring rates, then I just set the free sag at around 35mm. That's it.

Since I started using this method my bike's ride much better. The problem really came down to the fact that me moving my ass 1" on the seat had me setting up my sag just all wrong.

Good luck!
seth505
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seth505 8/12/2015 11:16am
8/12/2015 11:16am
OR Racer46 wrote:
I am 165lbs 5 10 And run a 5.4 rear spring on my 15 350 sxf. At 110 mm sag
Suns_PSD wrote:
My personal experience is that seated sag is hard to get right on these KTMs, or maybe it's just me. What I do is use the...
My personal experience is that seated sag is hard to get right on these KTMs, or maybe it's just me. What I do is use the chart to pick the correct spring rates, then I just set the free sag at around 35mm. That's it.

Since I started using this method my bike's ride much better. The problem really came down to the fact that me moving my ass 1" on the seat had me setting up my sag just all wrong.

Good luck!
Interesting, I'd like to try this and then see where my rider sag falls.
loftyair
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loftyair 8/12/2015 11:20am
8/12/2015 11:20am
Suns_PSD wrote:
My personal experience is that seated sag is hard to get right on these KTMs, or maybe it's just me. What I do is use the...
My personal experience is that seated sag is hard to get right on these KTMs, or maybe it's just me. What I do is use the chart to pick the correct spring rates, then I just set the free sag at around 35mm. That's it.

Since I started using this method my bike's ride much better. The problem really came down to the fact that me moving my ass 1" on the seat had me setting up my sag just all wrong.

Good luck!
Not sitting is a good way to do it. Just standing on the pegs. Full gear.
Riesenberg448
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Riesenberg448 8/12/2015 12:08pm
8/12/2015 12:08pm
Our techs did some tests with sitting vs. standing setting sag.

While sitting (and attempting to be in the same position each time) there was a large variance.

We now test sag with the rider standing on the pegs, not gripping with the knees and hands off the bars. This gives a measurement within a mm.
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UpTiTe 8/12/2015 1:55pm
8/12/2015 1:55pm
Barnett117 wrote:
I've had it re-valved by Pro-Action, swapped the fork springs to .44KG and the shock to 4.9KG. It still seems really harsh in breaking bumps and...
I've had it re-valved by Pro-Action, swapped the fork springs to .44KG and the shock to 4.9KG. It still seems really harsh in breaking bumps and over tree roots and breaks traction easily even in tacky dirt.

I was contacted by another local susp. guy and he told me he thinks the softer springs are making the susp. pack? I'm not very familiar with it and looking for other options on how to make it work for me.

BTW its a hare scramble bike, I'm 5'10"/ 170LBS, AA class.

Any help would be great, thanks!
To me, it sounds like your compression is stiff or you have too much rebound which holds suspension down into the harsh part of the stroke. You should soften the compression to absorb the square edge hits and sharp edges of the roots and or rocks, and can usually go a little softer on the rebound (faster) to make your suspension a little more responsive and smooth. Try going two clicks at a time until you get to a comfortable place.

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