Posts
71
Joined
4/21/2018
Location
AU
Hi all,
Just wondering. Suspension set up. Where does it count or more importantly,when does it make a difference.
I read that it s one of the first and best thing to do as an upgrade.
Will a novice like me notice a difference and ride improvement? I probably now have over 30hours on the 2015 Honda CRF250R.
What will a suspension set up bring me? Is it better for jumps, or general handling.?
To be honest, I am having as much fun, if not more, cornering than jumping. I may not do big airs, but I love to overtake in and out of corners, playing with the clutch and leaning the bike really “hard”...
Such a blast that sport... just wish I had picked it earlier, but due to my line of work, I could not really afford the risk of coming off and not working for 4 weeks...
Just wondering. Suspension set up. Where does it count or more importantly,when does it make a difference.
I read that it s one of the first and best thing to do as an upgrade.
Will a novice like me notice a difference and ride improvement? I probably now have over 30hours on the 2015 Honda CRF250R.
What will a suspension set up bring me? Is it better for jumps, or general handling.?
To be honest, I am having as much fun, if not more, cornering than jumping. I may not do big airs, but I love to overtake in and out of corners, playing with the clutch and leaning the bike really “hard”...
Such a blast that sport... just wish I had picked it earlier, but due to my line of work, I could not really afford the risk of coming off and not working for 4 weeks...
Thanks for the replies.
My current setting: I find the bike a bit stiff, but that could be my lack of experience on how to handle it and positioning.
My goal: to have even more fun. ? to make it less fatiguing I guess and handle better.
The Shop
Once your get your suspension, fine adjustments can be made to suit different tracks and trails.
But setting your sag is very important, and not just once but check it a few times as you gain or loose weight. Also suspension breaks in and will effect your sag number.
Sag: is the amount the bike settles with a rider sitting on the bike in full gear. Higher the sag number, the more the bias is on the rear, less sag a lower number, more bias is on the front. Your bike manual will have more details.
Setting Sag, having the right spring rate for your weight and changing your oil does wonders for stock suspension.Most people neglect those three things and go right to a tuner.
I always tell guys, once they have experienced great suspension, they will never want to ride with anything less. It's a blessing and a curse all at the same time. Not much can beat the feeling of a exceptional suspension setup that makes you feel 1 with the bike, but you'll then always have a "need" for that.
Is the suspension currently completely stock? How much do you weigh? Race Tech recommends rebuilds every 20-30 hours to keep everything in proper working order and prevent damage to your components.
A few other things to keep in mind when thinking about your suspension:
- Suspension is more than just jumps, bumps and whoops. The way it corners, goes into and out of ruts, tracks up and goes where you want it can all be affected by suspension.
- Spring rates (or air fork pressure) will set the balance/geometry of your bike while valving will control the action of your suspension.
- Check your sag, fork alignment, bleed your forks, maintain your air pressures, make sure your bike is properly greased, fork bolts are torqued to spec. All of those things drastically affect your suspension performance and are free.
If i were you...I'd only modify your suspension so far as you can do it in its stock form (clickers, sag)-unless you are way over/under weight, then springs are a must do-and spend all the money you might have spent on a suspension revalve on a good riding school. That will get you far more gains in terms of speed and confidence than a revalve will.
It's not your bike (suspension) slowing you down at this point...its your technique.
If you are way under or over the target weight you'll need a revalve with your springs. The damping works with the springs to compliment each other. If you have too heavy of a spring with too light damping it won't have the effect you're looking for. I've had friends who weigh 140lbs trying to set the sag on a 450 and they've turned the spring so much that the compression damping of the shock was holding their weight up.
When I was a beginner rider I had my forks rebuilt mid-way through a season on my 30 hour old 250F when my seals started leaking and just getting fresh oil made a HUGE difference. You'll be surprised what you get used to. At that time I was jumping everything on the track except for the lone "big triples" that tracks used to put in to separate the men from the boys, and I was one of the faster beginners - borderline sandbagging...If you're just really getting started I think you have a little time before its an issue unless you're pushing 230lbs +
I have a bad wrist and comfort is important to me. I can’t ride more than a few laps if my wrist is killing me because of suspension. But once set up for comfort, I can go for quite many laps and outlast the other old guys. :-)
So like I said...D, C, and some B riders would be far better off spending money on a riding school than they would on suspension.
I think you may be right by saying that I may not be experienced enough to notice a major difference.
I am sure , my body position is wrong and intend to do a 2 hour one on one session with a coach then a few group session.
I get a bit of a sore wrist in the left from time to time.
The reason for asking about suspension, is that though I enjoy riding the CRF250R, I don t feel confortable on it. It seems to me that it s bulky..
When I was picking my son ktm50seniors I jumped on a new KX250F and though I did not take it for a ride, it felt better in between my legs.
Could just be a placebo effect of a spanking new kx and nothing else ?
This in turn led me to start looking at different bikes, set up....
I don t mind spending money p, I just hate wasting it. I am afraid that I will spend $ on a new bike, or improve mine and not see a difference due to my lack of experience...
A good tuner will know more about what you need anyway. Good luck
It’s actually a really good indicator of well setup suspension if my wrist never gets sore! It’s my secret weapon.
Pit Row
If you're hanging onto the bike you're going to get some feedback from the front end. Whoops...braking bumps...anything the front end deflects off.
Running, swimming, core strength like Pilates, yoga or may be just strength work out like lifting weights...
Any advice would be welcomed.
I m obviously not going to race pro, but intend to race next year in the beginner or novice class ( might be different classification in the USA).
I would like to say that I don t care if I finish last, and that it s trying that counts, but that s not me.
I want to race and finish first. Reality will probably be more likely the opposite ...?
Just thought of another question actually.
If you were to recommend a bike to a new comer, would it be a 125 2 stroke or a 250f.
Cheers
If you feel like your legs cant withstand big landings or theyre weak or wore out at the end of a moto then do front squats and deadlifts.
You should be able to feel what you need. Some people need cardio and some need strength. For me it changes monthly and i can feel which one im lacking.
A 250f is a beginner bike. Its not going to bite you if you grab a handful.
Remember stay away from the trouble makers and dirty riders cause good fast clean riders will ALWAYS get help and Factory rides before the dirty one do!
A lot of guys in here will give you their regiment and IMO most people push too hard too often through the week. Anything you do through the week should compliment your riding on the weekend, but riding the bike should be #1. Pushups, Pull ups, planks, and live in zone 2 on the aerobic apparatus of your choice (bicycle, rower, skierg, treadmill) will help you tremendously. Riding is hard and people want to mimic that stress with their workouts, and I admit nothing makes you feel more alive than an acid bath but keeping the intensity lighter on your aerobic workouts will give you the specific physiological adaptations that will help you to push harder on the dirt bike when you pick up the intensity and recover easier.
The more you ride, the faster you will go. The faster you go, the more you will notice where your suspension is lacking. But.. that will take hundreds of more hours practicing.
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