2015 crf250r Shows Forks

bianchi825
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bianchi825
Edited Date/Time 5/17/2016 7:42am
I like the forks but it seems that as the day goes on and the more I ride the worse the forks feel. They become rigid feeling and harsh. I've only heard good things about these forks and I like them in the beginning of the day just the inconsistency later on is frustrating. Any thoughts?
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bvm111
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bvm111 5/16/2016 8:09am
5/16/2016 8:09am
Do you check the air pressure later in the day?
bianchi825
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bianchi825 5/16/2016 8:49am
5/16/2016 8:49am
Yes I did. I ran 175 inner chamber and 186 balance chamber. Feels nice in the morning, start riding at about 10a.m. and gets harsh and more rigid. It was about 1p.m. I checked my air pressure and got 173 inner chamber and 176 balance. Not sure if I lost psi or it is just filling the pump but I have read you can't check the pressures only set it. I use a works connection no air loss adapter as well.
bianchi825
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bianchi825 5/16/2016 9:11am
5/16/2016 9:11am
I had them sent out and done by FC and it just seems that the first 50% of the stroke is harsh. Braking bumps are hell but I like the bottoming resistance they have. I'm thinking about going back to spring forks just because they seem to be more consistent. Before I make a drastic decision I'm just trying to find people's opinions and advice.
mtl
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mtl 5/16/2016 9:16am
5/16/2016 9:16am
I own 2 2015 CRF250R's and before that had 2 2012's.

The air fork is terrible exactly in the ways you describe it and there is no fix available.

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bianchi825
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bianchi825 5/16/2016 9:22am
5/16/2016 9:22am
Do you know any information on switching to a spring fork? Will it affect the balance of the bike? Can I use KYB forks or stick with Showa? I love how the bike rides, the power lacks compared to the other brands but how it handles I love. The suspension is just not to my liking.
motosicko
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motosicko 5/16/2016 9:28am
5/16/2016 9:28am
Try running it with a little less balance pressure. We found about 2-3 lbs. less in balance than spring air gives more plush feeling and helps bike turn better.
DownSouth
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DownSouth 5/16/2016 9:34am
5/16/2016 9:34am
bianchi825 wrote:
Do you know any information on switching to a spring fork? Will it affect the balance of the bike? Can I use KYB forks or stick...
Do you know any information on switching to a spring fork? Will it affect the balance of the bike? Can I use KYB forks or stick with Showa? I love how the bike rides, the power lacks compared to the other brands but how it handles I love. The suspension is just not to my liking.
Race Tech makes a spring conversion kit for your existing forks
bianchi825
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bianchi825 5/16/2016 9:34am
5/16/2016 9:34am
Do you know where you run your clickers at? I use to always run a lower balance chamber air pressure than the inner chamber. Factory connection has me almost at the max psi in the balance chamber (185) with compression clicker at position 15 (from hard)
bianchi825
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bianchi825 5/16/2016 9:37am
5/16/2016 9:37am
bianchi825 wrote:
Do you know any information on switching to a spring fork? Will it affect the balance of the bike? Can I use KYB forks or stick...
Do you know any information on switching to a spring fork? Will it affect the balance of the bike? Can I use KYB forks or stick with Showa? I love how the bike rides, the power lacks compared to the other brands but how it handles I love. The suspension is just not to my liking.
DownSouth wrote:
Race Tech makes a spring conversion kit for your existing forks
I've looked into that. But idk if I want to try because it still incorporatese the SFF design and I've heard that this set up can also be rigid and harsh?
motosicko
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motosicko 5/16/2016 8:27pm
5/16/2016 8:27pm
bianchi825 wrote:
Do you know where you run your clickers at? I use to always run a lower balance chamber air pressure than the inner chamber. Factory connection...
Do you know where you run your clickers at? I use to always run a lower balance chamber air pressure than the inner chamber. Factory connection has me almost at the max psi in the balance chamber (185) with compression clicker at position 15 (from hard)
Rebound and comp. at 12 out for most tracks. RG3 typically valves a bit softer than FC, in my experience.
Problem with running so much balance air is that when it gets warmed up it expands a few lbs. , and that is even more exaggerated than the outer air, since the balance chamber has such a low volume to begin with, and the balance chamber heats up faster and has less oil to cool it down. Less balance air let's the front ride higher in the stroke, more travel. More air sucks the forks down, gives less travel, and can wear on you as the moto goes on.
mtl
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mtl 5/16/2016 8:33pm
5/16/2016 8:33pm
SFF deflects rather than absorbs. Yet another major unrepairable flaw.

I'm hoping that 2018 will be a big year for the Red tiddler or I'll be on blue..
Bruce372
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Bruce372 5/16/2016 9:02pm
5/16/2016 9:02pm
Most forks feel worse through out the day because the track gets rougher.
cwtoyota
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cwtoyota 5/16/2016 11:13pm
5/16/2016 11:13pm
Bruce372 wrote:
Most forks feel worse through out the day because the track gets rougher.
A great point. Also you get tired and that compounds the issue.
FLmxer
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FLmxer 5/17/2016 6:58am
5/17/2016 6:58am
I put 2012 spring forks off ebay for $800 on my 15 crf450 and absolutely love it. Only had to get a brake bracket for like 25$.
MXD
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MXD 5/17/2016 7:20am
5/17/2016 7:20am
Bruce372 wrote:
Most forks feel worse through out the day because the track gets rougher.
Get out of here with that talk. We all know air forks suck. Laughing
Kawasaki-rider 5/17/2016 7:42am
5/17/2016 7:42am
I have a 2015 and feel exactly what you feel, first part of the stroke is like hitting a concrete wall. Running 175-180 inner and 185-190 balance.

Fuck*ing shit fork.. I'm going öhlins or wp cone valve on mine..
EMA884mx
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EMA884mx 1/14/2017 1:23am
1/14/2017 1:23am
For all of you who own or have previously ridden a 2015 CRF250R, are the forks really that bad? I have an opportunity to buy a new, leftover '15 but am hesitant based on what I have read about these forks. Should I avoid purchasing this bike? Any help on this would be appreciated.
walent215
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walent215 1/14/2017 4:17am
1/14/2017 4:17am
We owned a 15 and my son got along with it ok....We raced moto and big6 ( off road gps) stuff. He was a fast Nov, int. Weighed about 130-135lbs. We ran our pressures at about 160 inner 155 Balance and I added a Schrader valve to the outer chamber and ran about 5 psi. Sometimes ran 0 in the outer depending. We ran these settings with stock valving for quite some time before having it revalved. After the revalve we still ran very similar settings from what I can remember. The biggest thing I remember was our tuner to not get more than a 15 psi spread between inner and balance chambers.
loftyair
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loftyair 1/14/2017 8:06am
1/14/2017 8:06am
Everyone is different. I know a good local socal pro who has the 15 crf250, he can go fast as hell on the mx and sx track, suspension is stock! But, that doesn't mean it cant be better. Its all about how 'you' feel!

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