Posts
220
Joined
12/18/2019
Location
Moto town, TX, USA
I need some help with my 17yz250f. It is valved for gncc/off-road by a good tuner. I have 20mm clamps (22 is stock) on the bike and it does help her turn better.
Tuner gives a base setting and recommended sag/fork height. He did my 125 and it worked very well. I just can’t gel with this 250f. I’ve gone out and tested (on my own) just to feel turned around. I do one adjustment at a time.
What I feel...like the front end just dives into holes, gets “stuck/endo” in soft dirt but also feels “skaty” or loose on the hard pack sharp hit crap. I feel as though I’m getting the worst of both worlds instead of good in one area and deal with it being shitty in another. I have messed with clickers, but just keep coming back to the baseline. Going stiffer has not seemed to fix the problem.
Rear end isn’t terrible but feels pretty loose as well. Rear end lights up all the time and the rear ended locks up very easily while breaking (not pulling clutch in)
I’m wondering if I need to mess with geometry. Recommend sag is 105 and fork at 5mm with stock offset. Did slapping the 20mm really change it that much? I have yet to try more sag or anything lower than 5mm, but I think trying 3mm with baseline clicker settings is my next move.
I am do for a rebuild soon so I will speak to the tuner when I’m there, but just wanted to see what I could do before then.
Thanks!
Tuner gives a base setting and recommended sag/fork height. He did my 125 and it worked very well. I just can’t gel with this 250f. I’ve gone out and tested (on my own) just to feel turned around. I do one adjustment at a time.
What I feel...like the front end just dives into holes, gets “stuck/endo” in soft dirt but also feels “skaty” or loose on the hard pack sharp hit crap. I feel as though I’m getting the worst of both worlds instead of good in one area and deal with it being shitty in another. I have messed with clickers, but just keep coming back to the baseline. Going stiffer has not seemed to fix the problem.
Rear end isn’t terrible but feels pretty loose as well. Rear end lights up all the time and the rear ended locks up very easily while breaking (not pulling clutch in)
I’m wondering if I need to mess with geometry. Recommend sag is 105 and fork at 5mm with stock offset. Did slapping the 20mm really change it that much? I have yet to try more sag or anything lower than 5mm, but I think trying 3mm with baseline clicker settings is my next move.
I am do for a rebuild soon so I will speak to the tuner when I’m there, but just wanted to see what I could do before then.
Thanks!
Was there a reason you put 20mm on there?
Next time you ride, I’d try a moto with the bike as is, then put the forks flush. Then try a moto with the stock 22mm clamps and the forks at stock 2mm.
Sounds like you might have done too much to change the bike from stock form?
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expert/AA off-road. 17 250 is valved and sprung for my weight. Once I had the suspension done, I did some testing at a pretty rough loop. I was fairly pleased with the action of the suspension in stock form (stock clamps at 5mm/105mm sag). Bike seemed to hold up well and absorb all the trail junk. However, I just didn't feel confident in the front end in turns (initiating or mid turn). I tried 6 and 7 mm for the forks and still wasn't super stoked.
lucky enough, I had a set of Ride 20mm clamps. Slapped them on at 5mm and 105 sag. Front end was great!! Felt like I could take any line I wanted! The action of the suspension was good as well. I could immediately tell that the front end had more weight on it...so i did some motos after turning in the rebound a few clicks and liked that better.
I actually went in a few clicks on the rear rebound as well. I felt it helped keep the rear end "under control" but of course it had an inverse affect on traction.
I never raced the bike with the stock clamps, but have raced a few hare scrambles with my current set up. Courses I have raced must have been higher speed/softer dirt or I was pushing harder, because the suspension has been pretty terrible since my testing sessions. I immediately felt like the front end rides low, blows through in large hits and feels "loose" on more hard pack stuff (possibly due to going in on rebound). The rear end feels a bit high (or maybe front is low) and spins constantly. I even feel the rear end break traction and "skip or skim" across breaking bumps when entering a corner.
I am thinking I should return everything back to the baseline my tuner had given me and turn out highspeed comp on the shock a half turn...ride. Then see how she handles when I drop the forks 2-3 mm in the clamps.
What do you guys think?
Turn the fork compression in all the way and then back it out 3-4 turns.
If you want a band aid fix try going up a rate on the fork springs.
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