21 AER Forks updates video

luckyguy19
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Albuquerque, NM US
12/21/2020 7:35am
I'm not a fan of air forks but it seems like WP is getting closer than ever to spring forks. This video does a great job breaking down the updates. It also shows that you may still need to have the forks tuned to your conditions.

https://youtu.be/dYh9xmAxkCg

I just found Dirt Bike TV, its a great channel for riding/wrenching, they do a really good job with the videos.
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Bruce372
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12/21/2020 7:37am
Yeah, the new mid valve design is very tunable.
1
Tuna
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CA
12/21/2020 9:30am
Bruce372 wrote:
Yeah, the new mid valve design is very tunable.
It needs tuning if you are riding or racing woods. The 21 setting is not very good. Ok for MX but struggles for offroad
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Schlava
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5/13/2017
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Wilmington, DE US
12/21/2020 10:08am
My 21 Gas Gas AER fork is much better off road than my 19 AER that was revalved for woods racing. Much plusher has much more action and moves better. This is at the recommended pressure vs a revalved fork that had modified air side besides shim shuffle. A lot better starting point.
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hubbardmx50
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12/21/2020 10:46am Edited Date/Time 12/21/2020 10:56am
Meh, I'll stick to my shitty (according to MXA) Showa 49mm spring forksWink No but seriously really cool video! I love learning about suspension. Looks like some great upgrades for 21.

The Shop

wrc777
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Greenwood, IN US
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12/21/2020 10:52am
Bruce372 wrote:
Yeah, the new mid valve design is very tunable.
Tuna wrote:
It needs tuning if you are riding or racing woods. The 21 setting is not very good. Ok for MX but struggles for offroad
Have you gotten yours figured out yet?
bvm111
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Las Vegas, NV US
12/21/2020 11:03am
i really tried to like mine on the 20.5 FE, i revalved them on my own, tried gold valves and my setting was better ...they are good, but still an air fork. you will never have the planted feel of a spring fork. they will always push entering a corner, and then oversteer at apex and be vague on exit, there will always be a harshness you can’t tune out... and try landing to flat rear wheel first and tell me they are good.

It’s like people trying to tell you the fish is good because it “isn’t too fishy”
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hubbardmx50
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12/21/2020 11:06am
bvm111 wrote:
i really tried to like mine on the 20.5 FE, i revalved them on my own, tried gold valves and my setting was better ...they are...
i really tried to like mine on the 20.5 FE, i revalved them on my own, tried gold valves and my setting was better ...they are good, but still an air fork. you will never have the planted feel of a spring fork. they will always push entering a corner, and then oversteer at apex and be vague on exit, there will always be a harshness you can’t tune out... and try landing to flat rear wheel first and tell me they are good.

It’s like people trying to tell you the fish is good because it “isn’t too fishy”
Wow, really? Why didn't you go with a Kawasaki, Yam, or Honda?
Tuna
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12/21/2020 11:16am
bvm111 wrote:
i really tried to like mine on the 20.5 FE, i revalved them on my own, tried gold valves and my setting was better ...they are...
i really tried to like mine on the 20.5 FE, i revalved them on my own, tried gold valves and my setting was better ...they are good, but still an air fork. you will never have the planted feel of a spring fork. they will always push entering a corner, and then oversteer at apex and be vague on exit, there will always be a harshness you can’t tune out... and try landing to flat rear wheel first and tell me they are good.

It’s like people trying to tell you the fish is good because it “isn’t too fishy”
A lot of the people I talk to that think they are good have never ridden a truly good fork set up. I was pretty disappointed as I purchased a 21 vs a 20 pretty much solely on the fork updates.
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1
bvm111
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Las Vegas, NV US
12/21/2020 11:24am
bvm111 wrote:
i really tried to like mine on the 20.5 FE, i revalved them on my own, tried gold valves and my setting was better ...they are...
i really tried to like mine on the 20.5 FE, i revalved them on my own, tried gold valves and my setting was better ...they are good, but still an air fork. you will never have the planted feel of a spring fork. they will always push entering a corner, and then oversteer at apex and be vague on exit, there will always be a harshness you can’t tune out... and try landing to flat rear wheel first and tell me they are good.

It’s like people trying to tell you the fish is good because it “isn’t too fishy”
Wow, really? Why didn't you go with a Kawasaki, Yam, or Honda?
I would have had to set up my suspension for my big boy size with any brand! I am a Kawi guy since 2000 and i was going to get a 2020 KX450 but i also like to be different and wanted to try the KTM. To be fair the 21 AER is night and day better than the Showa TAC for that was on my KX450s... but it still has the same overall air fork characteristics as the TAC did.
1
Bruce372
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12/21/2020 11:29am
Is the planted feel from spring forks from the spring action or from having an extra 3 to 4lbs weighing down the front of the bike?
1
Bruce372
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12/21/2020 11:33am
Btw... on the midvalve tuning, from memory, I changed one of the .15 to a 0.1 on the trampoline stack and one of the 0.15s on the mid valve to a 0.10 shim.

Net effect is ightly lowering compression damping across the board and also slightly increasing the midvalve float so opening the initial window of where compression damping kicks in. At same time running 155 to 160 psi to keep the forks in the stroke.

At the same time added two 0.2s and one .2 to the shock compression and rebound to keep the shock held up and under control for thr big 57 spring to handle a bigger rider and keep chassis balanced
1
bvm111
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12/21/2020 11:59am
i’m 230 naked ... pretty sure the planted feel has nothing to do with 3 pounds of extra spring!
Bruce372
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12/21/2020 12:09pm
bvm111 wrote:
i’m 230 naked ... pretty sure the planted feel has nothing to do with 3 pounds of extra spring!
Lol... you realize people on this forum can tell the difference between a few inch lbs on their head stays? 😁😂

1
luckyguy19
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Albuquerque, NM US
12/21/2020 12:32pm
Bruce372 wrote:
Is the planted feel from spring forks from the spring action or from having an extra 3 to 4lbs weighing down the front of the bike?
Its the sensitivity of the spring. Air springs have a higher threshold to get them moving vs a coil spring. This is the purpose of the negative chamber, to make the forks softer right off the top.
cwel11
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Orangeville, PA US
12/21/2020 3:57pm
Had air forks done on my 2018 TC 250 by factory connection. The stock forks on my 21 FC 350 are as good if not better. They’re constantly learning and improving the air forks.
1
TeamGreen
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Thru-out, CA US
12/21/2020 4:10pm
Meh, I'll stick to my shitty (according to MXA) Showa 49mm spring forks;) No but seriously really cool video! I love learning about suspension. Looks like...
Meh, I'll stick to my shitty (according to MXA) Showa 49mm spring forksWink No but seriously really cool video! I love learning about suspension. Looks like some great upgrades for 21.
Ain’t a damn thing wrong with those “49s”. The frames/triples/front axle on some models conspire to make the front feel “harsh”.
12/22/2020 10:09am
bvm111 wrote:
i really tried to like mine on the 20.5 FE, i revalved them on my own, tried gold valves and my setting was better ...they are...
i really tried to like mine on the 20.5 FE, i revalved them on my own, tried gold valves and my setting was better ...they are good, but still an air fork. you will never have the planted feel of a spring fork. they will always push entering a corner, and then oversteer at apex and be vague on exit, there will always be a harshness you can’t tune out... and try landing to flat rear wheel first and tell me they are good.

It’s like people trying to tell you the fish is good because it “isn’t too fishy”
dang im still running the oem set up from a 17sx250 haha 70hrs on them and no complaints/ big jumps rough chop it seems to soak it all up still at 70 hrs almost
hubbardmx50
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Rancho Cucamonga, CA US
12/22/2020 10:41am
Meh, I'll stick to my shitty (according to MXA) Showa 49mm spring forks;) No but seriously really cool video! I love learning about suspension. Looks like...
Meh, I'll stick to my shitty (according to MXA) Showa 49mm spring forksWink No but seriously really cool video! I love learning about suspension. Looks like some great upgrades for 21.
TeamGreen wrote:
Ain’t a damn thing wrong with those “49s”. The frames/triples/front axle on some models conspire to make the front feel “harsh”.
So true. I love the current Showa stuff, I’m picky as hell and I think it works great. And if you have the money to get it valved and sprung properly it’s even better
skeef
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AZ US
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12/22/2020 10:53am
I could use some advise, I have a 20' 450xcf with about 18 hours so far. I enjoy the forks besides a few situations where things get "sketchy" First off Im about 205lbs wet. I ride 50/50 track and desert single track with some open fast sections. I have upped the air pressure a bit, I believe I am at 147 psi. I clicked in the rebound on the bottom a few clicks, Softened the commpression. It seems to be a solid set up right now. Now the things that conern me, When I am moving through some deep whoops that span about 4 to 5 whoops (natural terrain whoops) When I section them the bike tends to "pogo" up super high and throw my balance and everything off, It is aggresive the way it does it. Any help apprectiated.
soggy
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12/22/2020 11:33am
skeef wrote:
I could use some advise, I have a 20' 450xcf with about 18 hours so far. I enjoy the forks besides a few situations where things...
I could use some advise, I have a 20' 450xcf with about 18 hours so far. I enjoy the forks besides a few situations where things get "sketchy" First off Im about 205lbs wet. I ride 50/50 track and desert single track with some open fast sections. I have upped the air pressure a bit, I believe I am at 147 psi. I clicked in the rebound on the bottom a few clicks, Softened the commpression. It seems to be a solid set up right now. Now the things that conern me, When I am moving through some deep whoops that span about 4 to 5 whoops (natural terrain whoops) When I section them the bike tends to "pogo" up super high and throw my balance and everything off, It is aggresive the way it does it. Any help apprectiated.
Add a few more clocks off rebound to slow it down
1

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