Posts
9
Joined
6/7/2022
Location
Livermore, CA, USA
I got a 2021 RMZ250. Installed Race Tech lighter springs front and rear. Sag set at 105mm, and clickers around 8-10 out. For the most part it works good but it is very rigid compared to my 18 CRF 450. Steering was stiff also. Anyone got ideas on how to loosen it up, get more flex, and handlebar shock?
The good news is it’s KYB suspension so it has potential!
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You say you swapped springs twice, front and rear. What sizes did you ultimately land on? I weigh about the same, also a vet rider with similar riding preferences. I called FC and they recommend .48 in the front and 5.1 in the rear with revalves. Race Tech recommended .44 in the front and 5.4 in the rear with revalves. I just bought the bike with very low hours but noticed it’s way too stiff and want to soften it up.
I have .46 springs in my bike now but still don't use the last three inches of travel. Believe my oil level is down 20 also. FC did my forks. As I mentioned I am riding on an often rough but no jump track. My other two Suzukis have .44 springs which were too soft on my old track with supercross jumps but fine now. On the shock I am down two KYB sizes from stock, have to look at the package for the number. Based on free sag I probably could go one more down on the shock. With the forks full soft now on compression the shocks has too much high speed compression in my opinion. Next time I'm putting time on that bike my plan was to open up the shock low speed more just to loose a little more high speed. Bike is a world better than when I started.
Just checked with my slacker, currently with a 4.9 shock spring and my race sag at 103mm the free sag is about 35mm. At 175 lbs. looks like I have the correct shock spring for where I'm at.
Thanks! I’m at 106 race sag and 41 static with stock shock spring. I called FC again yesterday and they said I’m barely within range but recommends a slightly lighter 5.1 spring (one size difference) in the back with a revalve to balance any work they may do in the front.
I asked about going down to 46 from their recommended 48 in the front but they advised against it. Said the big guy (Ricky Z) reviews and approves all the work orders. Everywhere I read, it seems 46 is the sweet spot though. I ride typical motocross tracks with some jumps but nothing huge. Colorado soil is either blue groove (unmaintained practice tracks) or amended with loamy soil (Thunder Valley, Aztec and Two Rivers). I used FC when I raced regularly throughout the 90s and early 00s and trust they know their stuff. 🤷🏻♂️
How tall are you? I’m 5’10” 170 lbs without riding gear.
I'm a little shy of 5'8" and 177 currently. I had originally told FC I wanted .46 springs but they also convinced me I should have .48s. I rode with them for a while but was only getting about seven inches of travel. Ended up sending them back and they put .46 springs in and lowered the oil level. They were re-valved and had lighter ICS put in on the first trip. I'm still only getting about nine inches max travel now with the compression out all the way. I really think they need the valving lightened more and I'd like to try .44 springs. As far as the shock goes I'm pretty sure they come with a 5.1 spring. My first try was a 5.0 but I still didn't like my free sag numbers so I went to the 4.9. I still have the new 5.0 spring with an hour or two on it if you want to try one.
I was mistaken, just looked at the springs I had tried. 5.3 must have been stock. I first tried a 5.1 which is the one I have extra besides the stocker.
Yep, they also list a lighter 1.7 kg pressure spring set with the revalve up front.
Correct, 5.3 is what’s stock in back. Your 5.1 is the next size down and is what they want to replace mine with. Maybe the difference in our height warrants a slightly softer/lower setting for you?
Any interest in selling the 5.1 rear and .48 fronts they want to fit mine with? Are you done with them?
I'd take $70 for the almost new 5.1. When I sent my forks back they just swapped the .48 for the .46 springs. Unless you're jumping a fair amount I'd be surprised if you are happy with the .48s. My riding buddy and I ride hard and train, when we still raced we were both vet experts at the front.
Pit Row
I’ve got a brand new set of .48 fork springs if there’s any interest. I’d let them go for $65 shipped if there’s any interest
Just curious, what is your weight and what springs are you running now assuming you're riding an RMZ250? Thanks
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