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3/6/2017
Location
Indian Trail, NC
US
Edited Date/Time
6/14/2018 4:52pm
Getting my suspension set up soon on my 2017 KTM 350SXF. Looking to see what other heavy guys have done to their AER forks (250lb+ folks). I've been talking to a lot of places and everyone has a different theory on the direction I should go but real world riding trumps theory ten fold.
Anyone used Race Tech Gold Valves and left the air spring? I emailed Chris from RT yesterday and he was super helpful and only one of a handful of folks who said you may not want to do a spring conversion, atleast not at first.
There is a guy in Ohio who does the SSS internals swap, the price is right and until I spoke with Chris I was pretty much dead set on that.
Not getting Cone Valves because I want to stay married, but if I came across a good deal on the inserts I would consider living in the dog house. Lol. Any real world experience and suggestions are welcome, thanks!
Anyone used Race Tech Gold Valves and left the air spring? I emailed Chris from RT yesterday and he was super helpful and only one of a handful of folks who said you may not want to do a spring conversion, atleast not at first.
There is a guy in Ohio who does the SSS internals swap, the price is right and until I spoke with Chris I was pretty much dead set on that.
Not getting Cone Valves because I want to stay married, but if I came across a good deal on the inserts I would consider living in the dog house. Lol. Any real world experience and suggestions are welcome, thanks!
I have rode an AER on a 150sx that was re valved by FTI and it was by far the best air fork I have ridden. With that said I'm 195 LB's.
The Shop
There’s so much adjustment in those aer48s you really don’t even need to get them valved or anything.
I’m an SSS guy through and through but the aer48 got it right. I like them better than my Yamaha’s. Never thought I’d say that!
I sure would start with the right spring rate on your shock. Set sag and settle in on your fork pressure.
I've had KYB on my last KTM, now using the AER air, very very similar. They are not so far apart in performance that I would do the conversion again. I do notice a "vague" feeling in corner entry, but thats pretty much standard in air forks. Use to it now.
I'm pretty sure you can get away with leaving the forks stock, but you're going to run a super high air pressure to balance the front end with the rear end, which is something I would like to avoid and I'm trying to see what other heavy weight guys are running/what company they used.
You would actually be surprised, two companies mentioned going with a shock revalve/spring, leaving forks stock and working from there, and if I stayed with a local shop that would definitely be the way to go. However boxing suspension up and sending it off doesn't sound fun, so if I went with a Race Tech or Factory Connection I would just send it all at one time.
My goal isn't to find a tuner who can build me something that is going to be the missing piece to why I'm not riding A class, but more so make the bike handle as it was designed to; setting the sag and balancing the front end with that is 99% of what I need.
I had ProTune set mine up and it is great.
You are correct, you are going to need more rebound valving for the heavier spring rates. Once you have that done, the AER is sufficient and I am sure you will like it. There are a few guys in the series I race that are blistering fast on stock AER stuff.
If you want to spend a little, ask Corey at ProTune about doing the Closed Chamber spring conversion. (Not SSS). It pretty reasonably priced and is what I have for this year. I used the AER for a year and liked it but when he offered me to try this setup, I went for it. (Perks of sponsorship ?)
If you don’t use ProTune, I would absolutely recommend doing the gold valves. If you are capable of installing yourself and understand suspension in the slightest, the race tech stuff is very good. I was sponsored by them in 2004 and loved the setup that they had for me. I am a believer in Paul Theade and his products.
Question - Being an XC guy, do you know Todd Ghearing? He's my wife's uncle (she's from Columbus, we visit Jackson for Holidays and stuff). I try to go ride with them when we come up, although I'm no woods guy not even in the slightest.
Pit Row
More pressure will work fine as long as the rest of the fork is set up accordingly....
I would love to use your pistons/valving but its a little out of my budget right now, plus I would have to ship my stuff from Charlotte so that's more cash on top.
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