Upgrade to enjoy this feature!
Vital MX fantasy is free to play, but Premium users receive great benefits. Premium benefits include:
- View and download rider stats
- Pick trends
- Create a private league
- And more!
Only $10 for all 2026 SX, MX, and SMX series.
Im about to send my forks out to REP/Aeo to have the 6500's put in w/revalve and some mod parts. Sending my shock as well for revalve and bladder kit. At 285lb I was in need of a revalve no matter what for my 2022 350sxf that I picked up in the fall. I was torn between the 6500 and kyb inserts from enzo. Didnt want cv's. I tried to find as much info as possible on the 6500's and its tuff because they are so new in the bike world. The consensus was to stick with someone who specializes in wp or else you might run the chance of not being as happy with the results. With that being, I was looking for someone who was really fine tuning the 6500 with reaserch and development as opposed to your basic revalve. I liked what REP had to offer without breaking the bank. Ive heard great things about REP and the few people out there that shared info with me, said that REP knocked it out of the park with the 6500.
I talked to most of the bigger suspension companies, some smaller and some local.... they all had something different to say as dar as going with the 6500 or kyb. When I got my 350 I was dead set on the kyb inserts, but the more I researched I found out that they wouldnt be the same as the sss stuff on my yamaha's and some tuners even eluded to the fact that they werent as good, but they were still alot better option.
REP is one of the few tuners who recommended staying with the air fork which blew my mind and really made me think about staying with air. Sadly like the 6500's, i never really came across people saying they loved the air fork after a revalve and that the results were light years better.
I'm looking for a direct 6500 vs raven offroad opinion from someone who has tried both
Has anyone put the 6500 inserts into the older generation 2017 thru 2020 AER forks?
I’ve had both. What kind of offroad do you ride?
The Shop
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Free shipping: VITALMX
It's mostly flowy single-track with some tech spots (ruts/roots/logs/rocks). Sometimes hs courses which get destroyed after the first hour with over 400 entries these days!
You don’t have to though. I bought a 18 250 sx after 8 years away from the sport & not ridden a 2 stroke for 15 years. Went 2nd & 3rd overal in my regional vet championship on 50 plus hour old aer forks.
unless your riding at pro level no body needs to modify stock suspension out side of spring for weight.
Sounds like Ravens might be the ticket. They are baby poo soft but still have decent bottoming resistance. If you don’t want to feel the ground, the Ravens are the way to go.
For high speed stuff (like desert racing) the 6500s have better hold up and overall balance in my opinion.
Thanks!!
Did you not know your bike had air forks when you bought it? Was it some kind of surprise? With all the negativity about air, why would you go that way in the first place?
Has anyone tried the both KYB and the 6500? Curious on what you guy thought? I heard somebody say the kyb insert was worlds better.
I have not tried both. I listened to a Podcast from Keefer and emailed him before I went the 6500 kit route. Here is the link to listen if you wish too. I am very satisfied with my REP valved 6500 kit.
https://www.keeferinctesting.com/rmatvmc-keefer-tested-podcast-show-276…
Bump!!
Where is the best place to buy these 6500s as a drop in kit? How does it work with the settings needed?
I’m also curious if any tuners that sell them offer free setup or discounted? I’ve read the stock valving is good for mx, but if I’m throwing that much money at inserts I may as well have them valved for me
I have a brand new set that I'd probably sell. Bought them set up for 200 lb intermediate, but ended up with a different setup.
Sent you a message
Certainly interested, I need to find out whether they make different versions for both the stock ktm and shorter husky forks.
Yeah, these ones were purchased for the 2023 KTM 450 Xact forks...could definitely be longer than the Husky ones, but I'm not certain...
I am gonna call some shops, looks like you've got a potential buyer.
It might be easier for me to buy them setup for me with springs. I've done my own suspension for years and not ridden springs since a 2009 rmz450.
I love airforks, but sometimes you have to try things out for themselves
Pit Row
Checking in with a few updates.
1. I now have 3 AX races, 5 county fair races, and 5+ hours of outdoor moto time on my 6500's. In AX I did not have the Race Tech gold valve (nor shock bladder conversion - more on that later) but since having JH2 respring, revalve and gold valve upgrade my forks with the 6500 conversion, they're hands down the most dialed fork kit I've ever used. This setup has a very live feel in the bars, where many say the air fork has a dead feel. Do not confuse this for vibration in the hands, I specifically mean the front wheel goes where you tell it while the rear follows - and you will feel the motorcycle doing it. Some may say this is too precise a feeling.
2. I highly suggest the WP factory split clamp with the PDHS. The split clamp when set to the correct torque specs will still allow some slipping of the fork tubes upward, but we're talking about 1mm or so for every 45 minutes of riding at a pro level. This does require resetting and re-torquing but the comfort and preciseness that this system provides is worth the price and maintenance.
3. On the note of the shock. While a dialed fork is a huge help, an equally dialed shock is just as important. The stock valving isn't bad, but I do not care for the stock shock piston setup. During long motos, shock performance dips as the piston begins to heat up and cause a harsh jarring feeling under acceleration specifically. It's like packing during acceleration, and cannot be clickered-out. The Race Tech bladder conversion eliminates this entirely, and provides a much more consistent performance throughout the riding session.
In all - these three upgrades are so essential to a more works feeling bike if that's what you're looking for. Some guys just straight up need nothing out of their bikes and in stock trim the KTM delivers great performance. For those of us who want something with a more dialed in feel - specifically having a front end that cuts like a knife, has lots of active feedback (in a positive manner), and feels flexible where you want it.. this is the setup for you. It's worth every dollar. Yes, KTM's come ready to race. This combination makes your bike ready to win.
https://www.facebook.com/route15cycles - JH2 Suspension
An irresponsible weekend lead to this in the garage. I ordered 6500’s today from Factory Connection. I’ll report back how they work when it’s not 98 degrees in the shade.
Congrats dude, they had two of those when I picked up my regular sxf and those barcia editions may well be the coolest looking dirtbike ever!!!
Is anyone just buying and dropping in themselves, or are people getting revalved etc?
There are people doing that. You can also go through JBI and get them valved for you and he’ll ship them to you to drop in.
Anyone decide to go with the cone valves instead? I wonder if it's a better value proposition over the long term.
The WP Xact Pro 7548, AKA Cone valve fork is quite expensive to purchase, service and maintain.
For motocross, the 6500 spring cartridge insert is not as harsh at the initial stroke and still has the stability and advanced damping and rebound of the WP pro fork with less initial and maintenance costs, and has the same basic internal components as the Xact Pro 7548 fork. I think Kris Kiefer wrote the same thing somewhere...
I have 2 sets of newer WP Pro forks and they are going up for sale ASAP in favor of the 6500.
Several fast guys I know both in the USA and Holland are choosing the 6500 over the WP Pro components for that reason - but the caveat is that the fork must be set up correctly for the riders skill level and weight. You can't just buy the inserts off the shelf and drop them in, there are no "one size fits all" or magic solutions in order to get good front suspension.
I have seen KTM and Husqvarna factory riders on what appear to be 6500 equipped forks on test days lately, who knows what they really are inside but they were not WP Pro forks.
Go see Mark Johnson at REP, there is no better WP tuner anywhere on the planet IMO...
While I feel that we all have our own opinions of what works for each of us, I’d have to agree to disagree on the 6500 kit being better than the 7548 CV fork.
Mark is no doubt one of the premier WP tuners and I’m sure he can make the 6500 kit work amazing. I’ve ridden a 450 that he did with a set of conevalve forks and a Trax shock, which was set up for the same weight/ skill rider as myself and it was very good. I’m not sure a set of 6500 inserts would feel the same, but maybe so…
I’ve been using Billy at PowerBand since ‘14 and have purchased several sets of suspension from him. Every bike, whether Mx or off-road has been exactly what I wanted from the time I bolted it on my bike(s). He’s ANOTHER really good WP tuner that has an equally impressive reputation. Billy doesn’t have a bunch of expensive upgrades to the forks/ shock like Mark does and I’m not sure it’s needed for anyone except a national level pro racer.
As far as that goes, I am certainly not needing this top shelf suspension to make me a better rider. But what I can say is that it has saved me on more than one occasion of a big crash and possibly broken bones/ injuries. That alone is how I justify spending $4-5K on new suspension. Lol
Let’s be honest here, we have Webb and Plessinger racing with AER forks on their race bikes and they have all the options of factory stuff…. Personally, I didn’t mind the AER forks on a smooth track, but I wasn’t about to try and put money into them to get them to work for me.
I buy a set of forks/ shock and move it to the next bike. When the shock changes or I have a couple hundred hours on them, I sell them and buy new ones. It’s cheaper in the long run to do this, rather than invest money into the stock forks/ shock that I’ll never get back.
Shaun, it looks like those 7500 are for road racing??? So many 600 and 1000 road bikes are upgraded for the Supersport and superstock classes by just changing rhe cartridges...springs look more like road forks also.
On the 6500 kits, I am not sure i am bothered at this point... the parts are $1300, springs are $150 and that's where the fun starts, or rather the spending, lol. I've called a few places this week, very friendly and open dialogue, but tuners are swapping out a lot of parts and not just shims.
Yeah, you are right.
interesting, I thought I’d read that there was a new 7500 CV cartridge kit coming out. Maybe I jumped the gun on that one
lol
Would you recommend the 7548 if I found one for $2,900? I'm thinking of going that way instead of dropping 2k+ on the 6500 kit.
Post a reply to: WP 6500 Spring Conversion first ride.