Posts
91
Joined
6/10/2014
Location
Mocksville, NC, USA
Edited Date/Time
6/19/2014 11:10am
Hey guys, long time vital lurker just now making an account. And I am in some desperate need of some advice haha
A little background, I am a 6'1" 165 lb 23 y/o A class rider from NC who is looking to get back into racing again. I recently purchased a 14' rmz 450 and the suspension is killing me (absolutely hate these sff forks). I'm very mechanically inclined so working on my own stuff would not be a problem.
My question is, should I send my suspension off to get it done professionally, or could I do it myself and see a great improvement? I am considered one of the faster rider around here (in comparison to someone who is well known I ride with, I'm around Jake Hayes speed)
What I feel more than anything about this bike is how HARSH and UNPREDICTABLE my front end tends to be. My riding style has me on the front of the bike a lot, which was the main reason I switched off Yamahas (do NOT like how they corner, but suspension is awesome.) Slowing down into breaking bumps is where I feel it most, I never know what to expect coming into corners.
I am willing to start from scratch on settings if anyone has any ideas I can try as far as clickers/oil levels/shims. As well as suggestions on what revalving kit
A little background, I am a 6'1" 165 lb 23 y/o A class rider from NC who is looking to get back into racing again. I recently purchased a 14' rmz 450 and the suspension is killing me (absolutely hate these sff forks). I'm very mechanically inclined so working on my own stuff would not be a problem.
My question is, should I send my suspension off to get it done professionally, or could I do it myself and see a great improvement? I am considered one of the faster rider around here (in comparison to someone who is well known I ride with, I'm around Jake Hayes speed)
What I feel more than anything about this bike is how HARSH and UNPREDICTABLE my front end tends to be. My riding style has me on the front of the bike a lot, which was the main reason I switched off Yamahas (do NOT like how they corner, but suspension is awesome.) Slowing down into breaking bumps is where I feel it most, I never know what to expect coming into corners.
I am willing to start from scratch on settings if anyone has any ideas I can try as far as clickers/oil levels/shims. As well as suggestions on what revalving kit
Have you tried playing with the preload adjuster on the fork?
The shock piston has to go into the trash.
And the fork has to be re-valved (dare I use that word) in order to make them work.
That said, with faster guys on the SFF, it's not too uncommon to see cracked free pistons, bent free piston shafts, or blown free piston shaft seals. So...stay on top of things.
The 13 and 14 RMZ also has a slight problem with blowing out upper tubes.
Your two options for DIY kits are Race Tech and SMART Performance (yes, that's a plug). Both are good.
If you do tune things yourself (kit...etc.) you save a lot of money, learn a lot and keep your suspension close at hand.
The Shop
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Let us know if you have any questions on how stuff works.
All the spring calculations were set to 2014 rmz450, motocross, standard age, standard height, standard tank, 165lbs without gear, and dirt professional. (thought things were off so double checked 3 times
1st thing I need to figure out is spring rate. I noticed many of you were saying that the fork spring is too stiff, I used their calculator and came up with 0.981kg for the fork. Stock is 1.00kg and the nearest racetech offers is their 1.00kg or 0.96kg. Should I stay with my stock spring since its closest?
For the rear the calculator came up with 5.778kg. Stock is 5.4, big difference here. They offer a 5.7kg which id assume i would get.
Im entirely lost on the valving kits, many options, need opinions. I am doing all the work myself.
Again, a few details on me
23 y/o
6' 1"
165lbs no gear
A/Privateer level
Many say i have an odd riding style, I like to be on the front of the bike a lot.
http://www.jm-racingmb.com/
https://www.facebook.com/JmRacingIllinois
My advise .... try what the recommend 1st.
Last one I did for myself was ultra plush yet never felt it bottom..... great stuff!
I've used RT stuff numerous times before and I've been around since DaveJ started developing his products (and I've used/installed several of them) and I would steer you to Dave.
You won't find better customer service, attitude or help... anywhere. You won't get the same type of help/advice/guidance from others that you'll get from Dave and he can answer the "why" questions as well.
They installed one of his fork kits in the OC WP forks on a friend's KTM and the comment from another friend (who is an expert level rider) was that they were the best he's ever ridden. And if you're familiar with KTM WP suspension then you know this is no small compliment.
Nothing in it for me, just sharing an opinion based on experiences.
Good luck and I hope whatever you use makes you happy.
Maybe I havent heard of smart performance because he is west coast based and very few east coast guys run it?
Regardless, Ill be contacting Dave shortly.
I'm about as far in the US as you can get from Dave (as is my friend with the KTM) but that didn't mean anything when it came to results. Dave obviously doesn't spend a fortune on marketing and advertising which may be why you haven't heard much about his company. I could offer my opinion on why he does what he does, but it would only be a guess and really doesn't matter. What matters is how good his stuff works - and it works very well.
My background is Mech Eng and having watched how Dave analyzed and solved the issues with suspension I can tell you he's on solid ground and isn't trying to be the next "insert big suspension company here" - he wants to solve problems that allow him to offer the best product he can while still being affordable.
He saw a void in the current market and is filling it. He caught a lot of criticism from some "name" tuners when he would share his thoughts on issues, but as they say "the proof is in the pudding" and shows that there is more than one way to skin a cat. He's been very public in his development and has actively sought feedback and criticism so he can produce the best product he can. If someone thought a prototype lacked in an area, Dave made changes until he got what he and they wanted. Performance and results driven, not "fleecing the customer" driven.
I think you'll get a much more personal and satisfying experience if you go that route. Remember the old ad campaign about "we're #2, we try harder"? Lot's of truth there.
Good luck and let us know what you decide to do and how it works out for you.
May sound crazy, but these methods come straight from Paul Thede's RaceTech books, which I recommend you buy if you are getting serious about doing your own suspension.
I would call RaceTech and see if they are willing to sell springs separately. I imagine they do enough volume and custom tuning that they can get you whatever combination you need.
Here is a SMART Performance "kit" that was installed by Suspension 101 (Alpine, CA.) for the KX450F TwoTwo Motorsports bike of Axell Hodges.
Axell qualified for Loretta's on this bike in 450A and Open Pro Sport.
And yes, we are swamped with orders at the moment, and turn-around varies based on the bike and kit, and we are doing everything humanly possible to keep things moving and to get riders a truly re-engineered suspension. In other words, we don't do "re-valves". If you want a re-valve, go to Race Tech or Factory Connection or Pro Circuit.
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