21 Husky Linkage vs aftermarket

crawfishoo
Edited Date/Time 3/22/2021 2:28pm
Anyone inspected or measured the 21 Husky linkage knuckle? I'm curious how it compares to Luxon, REP, or Pro Circuit for newer KTMs. I'm about ready to pull the trigger on a linkage setup and SuperTrax. I was planning to use a Luxon knuckle, however with the updated Husky linkage I'm thinking about OEM parts and Supertrax setup for 21 Husky. This this going on an 18 KTM 250SX.
1
|
Bruce372
Profile picture for user Bruce372
Posts
6329
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
USA
Bruce372 3/21/2021 9:23am
3/21/2021 9:23am
Surely if you go to the husky parts its gonna drop the back end? And ride like a chopper.

Many people always said those first grn aer forks rode high , so you might even exacerbate this phenomenon?
Luxon MX
Profile picture for user Luxon MX
Posts
1382
Joined
11/6/2017
Location
San Diego, CA, USA
Fantasy
33rd
Luxon MX 3/21/2021 11:11am
3/21/2021 11:11am
We haven't fully dived into the 21 Husky yet, but we have mapped out the linkage ratio for the knuckle and arm. I still need to measure the frame pick-up points and swingarm points to see if those changed or not, but the linkage assembly itself, as installed on a KTM frame will look like the following (along with some others for reference):



It's basically a little less progressive than stock KTM and softer across the board (you'd need a higher spring rate). There isn't much of a reason to put one on a KTM really, as once you get the right spring rate to compensate, your wheel rate will be nearly the same as it was.

It's worth noting that the 21 Husky linkage alone does NOT lower the bike 10mm, it only lowers it 1mm. So their 10mm is coming from somewhere else (other pickup points may have moved or it could be as simple as a different seat or subframe). The 21 Husky linkage alone also actually increases rear end travel. The 21 Husky has less travel than a KTM because they're using a thicker shock cap to limit the travel. So if you just put the 21 Husky linkage on your KTM, you'd get some fender rub at bottom out.

FYI the Pro Circuit isn't plotted on the graph above, but it's similar to the Luxon G2 linkage, but a touch more progressive. Not sure what a Ride Engineering linkage curve looks like, but I'm confident they don't either based on their claims... I've heard it's an exact copy of the Pro Circuit geometry, but haven't had one in my hands to verify.
7
crawfishoo 3/21/2021 12:19pm
3/21/2021 12:19pm
Wow, very valuable insight. I assumed based on new bike literature it was more progressive than pervious linkage and similar to the Luxon. Not so! That makes the choice easy, Luxon it is. Thank you for the data.
2
Bruce372
Profile picture for user Bruce372
Posts
6329
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
USA
Bruce372 3/21/2021 12:27pm
3/21/2021 12:27pm Edited Date/Time 3/21/2021 12:28pm
Luxon MX wrote:
We haven't fully dived into the 21 Husky yet, but we have mapped out the linkage ratio for the knuckle and arm. I still need to...
We haven't fully dived into the 21 Husky yet, but we have mapped out the linkage ratio for the knuckle and arm. I still need to measure the frame pick-up points and swingarm points to see if those changed or not, but the linkage assembly itself, as installed on a KTM frame will look like the following (along with some others for reference):



It's basically a little less progressive than stock KTM and softer across the board (you'd need a higher spring rate). There isn't much of a reason to put one on a KTM really, as once you get the right spring rate to compensate, your wheel rate will be nearly the same as it was.

It's worth noting that the 21 Husky linkage alone does NOT lower the bike 10mm, it only lowers it 1mm. So their 10mm is coming from somewhere else (other pickup points may have moved or it could be as simple as a different seat or subframe). The 21 Husky linkage alone also actually increases rear end travel. The 21 Husky has less travel than a KTM because they're using a thicker shock cap to limit the travel. So if you just put the 21 Husky linkage on your KTM, you'd get some fender rub at bottom out.

FYI the Pro Circuit isn't plotted on the graph above, but it's similar to the Luxon G2 linkage, but a touch more progressive. Not sure what a Ride Engineering linkage curve looks like, but I'm confident they don't either based on their claims... I've heard it's an exact copy of the Pro Circuit geometry, but haven't had one in my hands to verify.
It's interesting that within the usable range, is between the point of sag and then the bump stop, the curves look very similar in that they run parallel (slope)..... aside from luxon which is the most progressive of the bunch.

Conversely, the big differences in slope are at the extremes... how much travel really happens when the bump stop kicks in?

The Shop

See All »
Luxon MX
Profile picture for user Luxon MX
Posts
1382
Joined
11/6/2017
Location
San Diego, CA, USA
Fantasy
33rd
Luxon MX 3/22/2021 2:28pm
3/22/2021 2:28pm
Bruce372 wrote:
It's interesting that within the usable range, is between the point of sag and then the bump stop, the curves look very similar in that they...
It's interesting that within the usable range, is between the point of sag and then the bump stop, the curves look very similar in that they run parallel (slope)..... aside from luxon which is the most progressive of the bunch.

Conversely, the big differences in slope are at the extremes... how much travel really happens when the bump stop kicks in?
Well, the whole range is usable, really. There are plenty of situations where the rear end doesn't see a full sag load, be it unloaded or simply leaned over. And plenty of times when it's deep in the stroke as well. The bump rubber comes in when there's still 25% of the stroke left to go through yet.

Regardless, it's hard to see the differences from this plot alone as it's small and busy. Our linkage is very progressive relative to the others as you've pointed out, but the Factory Connection is the opposite being much more linear. The stock KTM is in the middle of the two. They all have very different feels on track with different spring and valving requirements.

I would make the argument, though, that the whole thing is a system. If you have a setup that's working really well, it's unlikely that you'll be able to take someone's linkage, bolt it on (with your current valving and spring rate) and end up much better than you started. You need the whole package for it to be really good.
1

Post a reply to: 21 Husky Linkage vs aftermarket