Posts
27442
Joined
7/22/2007
Location
St Helens, OR
US
jeffro503
7/19/2016 10:22pm
7/19/2016 10:22pm
Hey guys , I have about 1 month left and I'll be picking up a 2016 ( or possibly 2017 ) KX450F. I haven't owned a bike with the air forks yet and just had a couple questions.
Side note : shortly after I get her , the suspension is being driven strait to Factory connection.
1.) Do you guys check the air pressure after every ride? Like if I put in 6 motos that day , do I need to check it every time?
2.) how many chambers are there to check , or exactly which ones fluctuate that I need to check?
3.) And what do you guys actually change from morning practice when the tracks are smooth and fast , to when the track gets progressively rougher with more braking bumps and so forth?
I seriously know nothing about air forks , so any advice I can get to sink into my brain before hand may help me a lot. Are the air forks pretty simple to adjust once you get them down , or are they a PIA always?
Side note : shortly after I get her , the suspension is being driven strait to Factory connection.
1.) Do you guys check the air pressure after every ride? Like if I put in 6 motos that day , do I need to check it every time?
2.) how many chambers are there to check , or exactly which ones fluctuate that I need to check?
3.) And what do you guys actually change from morning practice when the tracks are smooth and fast , to when the track gets progressively rougher with more braking bumps and so forth?
I seriously know nothing about air forks , so any advice I can get to sink into my brain before hand may help me a lot. Are the air forks pretty simple to adjust once you get them down , or are they a PIA always?
Sorry, I couldnt resist
This video is pretty solid and will be a good start.
Check your pressures and fill them in the correct order. It's a feel thing, some guys love air forks, some don't mind them, and others despise them. They do have a different feel, not necessarily better or worse all together; but definitely can be one way or another for different riders.
Last piece of advice I'd have is, remember that your air pressures act in place of your coil spring, and how often with a coil did you tune with spring rate? While some tuning is okay, using your clickers is still extremely important and many times will be the solution to get to where you want to be.
Hope that helps!
PS. I'd love for you to send your suspension to Race Tech instead! If that's something you'd consider, shoot me an email to chris@racetech.com.
I've noticed that the inner, and outer chambers stay fairly consistent most of the day. The balance chamber (the one on the bottom of the right fork leg) does seem to drop in pressure. At least mine does. Typically the inner chamber pressure is set within a few lbs of the balance chamber.. Outer chamber usually zero to 15. Yes, it is best to check the pressures before every moto. If the pressures are off, you'll know it-
I've got a RM-Z450, but I hear the Kawi's valving is a bit better. I bet you'll still need to re-valve, but I'd at least break it in w/ the stock stuff first to find a base setting, and find out the short comings of the valving.
I'm running 164 inner, 5 outer, and 158 balance, but is likely specific to my re-valve.
Hope this helps
Inner: 188
Outer: 0
Balance: 188
suzuki rmz 450-15, showa triple sff
checking everytime im about to go out and ride.
The Shop
i have a 15 kx450 with the triple air fork, i found a setting i liked and stick with it, ill check it in the morning of the ride, and do my tyre pressures then as well, then leave it all day, its easy to get lost with all the settings,
I always checked mine at the very beginning of the day and then mid day. Checking them every time you go out would be overkill IMO. The only time I saw the pressure rise would be when I checked it in the AM and by mid day if the temp had gone up 20 degrees, so it was worth rechecking mid day.
-NO, at first I did and nothing changed so wasted time. I check it once a month if that. No issues or major changes for me.
2.) how many chambers are there to check , or exactly which ones fluctuate that I need to check?
-3 chambers, I was told to check them outer, inner, and then balance, seems to work well.
3.) And what do you guys actually change from morning practice when the tracks are smooth and fast , to when the track gets progressively rougher with more braking bumps and so forth?
-Only chamber I have messed around with was the balance chamber on the bottom of fork, I fluctuated pressure there for how fast it rebounds back on certain tracks. I like the air, everyone makes it more of a big deal then it is, most of them people dont have air forks.
I like my air forks.
Just remember, the air replaces the spring. How often to you see people changing out springs between motos to compensate for a rougher track? Never. They spring it for their weight, and then leave it alone. So it makes no sense to adjust air pressure all the time. Find a pressure setting that works for your weight (factory connection will probably give you a recommended pressure setting-if that is where the OP is sending it) and then make adjustments for the track with the clickers like you would on a traditional spring fork.
I very seldom check my air pressure unless I'm riding somewhere at a significantly higher/lower elevation or higher/lower temp than where I usually ride. I used to do it all the time, but I found that the pressure never changed, so I just stopped doing it and ride it.
Pit Row
I weigh 155 so I had Factory Connection do my suspension.
They did an awesome job. And whenever I need advice on adjustments, their customer service is always helpful.
I think the air forks work very well when you get them dialed in. But until then they can be confusing.
Post a reply to: Air forks....I know nothing , and could use advice.