2016-2017 Cone Valve settings (KTM/HUSKY) 350/450?

For some reason I feel like I remember 390cc is max oil you in the cone valves. But maybe I'm making that up in my head... I weigh less than you and on a 250f but good to know for comparison. Also each forks valving is going to make it different, so settings won't really cross over. But for reference:

2016 KTM 250f
4.7 spring
380mm
Fork tubes 2 lines up in clamps
Sag 105-106

Fork:
3 clicks of preload(Soft track, hills, ruts, needed more hold up)
Comp 9
Reb 8

Also I used this setting yesterday: (hard base track, trying to get more front end bite and settle in corners)
2 clicks of preload
Comp 12
Reb 12

CarlinoJoeVideo wrote:

For some reason I feel like I remember 390cc is max oil you in the cone valves. But maybe I'm making that up in my head... I weigh less than you and on a 250f but good to know for comparison. Also each forks valving is going to make it different, so settings won't really cross over. But for reference:

2016 KTM 250f
4.7 spring
380mm
Fork tubes 2 lines up in clamps
Sag 105-106

Fork:
3 clicks of preload(Soft track, hills, ruts, needed more hold up)
Comp 9
Reb 8

Also I used this setting yesterday: (hard base track, trying to get more front end bite and settle in corners)
2 clicks of preload
Comp 12
Reb 12

Na, 420 is max. I know they say they can customize it, but, at least my valving is stock what comes recommended from WP.

If you want more bite in front end you went in the wrong direction on clickers. I run 13 rebound on soft tracks, 10 on hard packed. That will make it feel like tire is glued to ground on flat sweepers with poor traction. Compensate by going 1-3 click stiffer on comp instead.

CarlinoJoeVideo wrote:

For some reason I feel like I remember 390cc is max oil you in the cone valves. But maybe I'm making that up in my head... I weigh less than you and on a 250f but good to know for comparison. Also each forks valving is going to make it different, so settings won't really cross over. But for reference:

2016 KTM 250f
4.7 spring
380mm
Fork tubes 2 lines up in clamps
Sag 105-106

Fork:
3 clicks of preload(Soft track, hills, ruts, needed more hold up)
Comp 9
Reb 8

Also I used this setting yesterday: (hard base track, trying to get more front end bite and settle in corners)
2 clicks of preload
Comp 12
Reb 12

aees wrote:

Na, 420 is max. I know they say they can customize it, but, at least my valving is stock what comes recommended from WP.

If you want more bite in front end you went in the wrong direction on clickers. I run 13 rebound on soft tracks, 10 on hard packed. That will make it feel like tire is glued to ground on flat sweepers with poor traction. Compensate by going 1-3 click stiffer on comp instead.

Above was just giving a quick overview not the complete details of track conditions and reasons for the settings. Hope it helps.

The track was sandy but slick base in corners so the front end wouldn't settle with no ruts dive in on. The bike was riding high in the front. Going softer on preload and compression let the front end settle down and carve more in turns. Faster rebound gave me a bit more hold up where I needed it.

CarlinoJoeVideo wrote:

For some reason I feel like I remember 390cc is max oil you in the cone valves. But maybe I'm making that up in my head... I weigh less than you and on a 250f but good to know for comparison. Also each forks valving is going to make it different, so settings won't really cross over. But for reference:

2016 KTM 250f
4.7 spring
380mm
Fork tubes 2 lines up in clamps
Sag 105-106

Fork:
3 clicks of preload(Soft track, hills, ruts, needed more hold up)
Comp 9
Reb 8

Also I used this setting yesterday: (hard base track, trying to get more front end bite and settle in corners)
2 clicks of preload
Comp 12
Reb 12

aees wrote:

Na, 420 is max. I know they say they can customize it, but, at least my valving is stock what comes recommended from WP.

If you want more bite in front end you went in the wrong direction on clickers. I run 13 rebound on soft tracks, 10 on hard packed. That will make it feel like tire is glued to ground on flat sweepers with poor traction. Compensate by going 1-3 click stiffer on comp instead.

CarlinoJoeVideo wrote:

Above was just giving a quick overview not the complete details of track conditions and reasons for the settings. Hope it helps.

The track was sandy but slick base in corners so the front end wouldn't settle with no ruts dive in on. The bike was riding high in the front. Going softer on preload and compression let the front end settle down and carve more in turns. Faster rebound gave me a bit more hold up where I needed it.

Thanks appreciate it. How much do you weigh, and what rear spring are you running?

aees wrote:

Hi everyone,
What settings are you running on your cone valve spring forks, and how much do you weigh, what SAG do you run and rear spring?

Ive tested 400 and 420 oil with 4.8 to 5.0 springs with various preload and clickers. 196lbs, KTM 450.

Performance is great no matter what, just struggling a bit with balance (which is due to lack of time testing).

Just curious to see where everyone else landed.

2016.5 250 SXF FE
180 lbs without gear
California mx tracks

Forks
4.8 spring
1 click of preload
350 cc oil (tried 390,380,370,360)
Fork tubes 3 lines up
14-16 comp
12-14 rebound

shock
108 sag
4.8 spring
1.25 HSC
12-14 LSC
10-12 rebound

In europe cones valves come with setting 15clicks comp and 12 clicks rebound. Everyone i know is stifferning the rebound (15clicks out) and softening the comp (12-13clicks out).

aees wrote:

Hi everyone,
What settings are you running on your cone valve spring forks, and how much do you weigh, what SAG do you run and rear spring?

Ive tested 400 and 420 oil with 4.8 to 5.0 springs with various preload and clickers. 196lbs, KTM 450.

Performance is great no matter what, just struggling a bit with balance (which is due to lack of time testing).

Just curious to see where everyone else landed.

Vadim wrote:

2016.5 250 SXF FE
180 lbs without gear
California mx tracks

Forks
4.8 spring
1 click of preload
350 cc oil (tried 390,380,370,360)
Fork tubes 3 lines up
14-16 comp
12-14 rebound

shock
108 sag
4.8 spring
1.25 HSC
12-14 LSC
10-12 rebound

Hey Vadim, what were different feelings you were getting in oil heights? Why did you end up at 350?

CarlinoJoeVideo wrote:

Hey Vadim, what were different feelings you were getting in oil heights? Why did you end up at 350?

On the first day testing I started with recommended settings.
6 on preload
12 comp
15 reb
1st line hight
390cc
forks go very high in a stroke, I started playing around with clickers and stoped at 16comp 12reb 1preload, it feels better but it's a little higher than what i like, and there was around 2.5" left till bottom. I didn't have oil with me, that's why I had to take out 10cc at a time. Overall 390/350cc feels very close for me. I like when bike feels a little lower on the front end, and I still have 1/2" till bottom. I'm not a fast guy, and my jumps is 50-75 ft.

aees wrote:

Na, 420 is max. I know they say they can customize it, but, at least my valving is stock what comes recommended from WP.

If you want more bite in front end you went in the wrong direction on clickers. I run 13 rebound on soft tracks, 10 on hard packed. That will make it feel like tire is glued to ground on flat sweepers with poor traction. Compensate by going 1-3 click stiffer on comp instead.

CarlinoJoeVideo wrote:

Above was just giving a quick overview not the complete details of track conditions and reasons for the settings. Hope it helps.

The track was sandy but slick base in corners so the front end wouldn't settle with no ruts dive in on. The bike was riding high in the front. Going softer on preload and compression let the front end settle down and carve more in turns. Faster rebound gave me a bit more hold up where I needed it.

aees wrote:

Thanks appreciate it. How much do you weigh, and what rear spring are you running?

Sorry for the late reply. I believe it's a 4.3 spring. On a 250f. I'm 160lbs.

So done some more testing. Gone back to std linkage. So now on 48-rear spring and 105mm sag (SXF 450 2017). Feel like i have good ride height but fork is a bit harsh into braking bumps for example, lot of chatter.
(Weight 90kg (185cm) and running 4.8 springs with 420 oil and 0 preload. 13R and 10C)

I have tested 400 oil with more preload instead, but did not like the feeling of that.

Maybe going to 5.0 springs (1 or 2?) and instead lower the oil level for my weight to try and get that harshness out?

aees wrote:

So done some more testing. Gone back to std linkage. So now on 48-rear spring and 105mm sag (SXF 450 2017). Feel like i have good ride height but fork is a bit harsh into braking bumps for example, lot of chatter.
(Weight 90kg (185cm) and running 4.8 springs with 420 oil and 0 preload. 13R and 10C)

I have tested 400 oil with more preload instead, but did not like the feeling of that.

Maybe going to 5.0 springs (1 or 2?) and instead lower the oil level for my weight to try and get that harshness out?

Have you tried add 1 or 2 clicks of preload and backing out the compression? For each click of preload I've found you can go out 2-4 clicks of comp. with the right combo you can get more hold up and let the fork feel more free and not ride in the harsh mid stroke.

Takes some time to get the right combination, but great feel when you find it.

aees wrote:

So done some more testing. Gone back to std linkage. So now on 48-rear spring and 105mm sag (SXF 450 2017). Feel like i have good ride height but fork is a bit harsh into braking bumps for example, lot of chatter.
(Weight 90kg (185cm) and running 4.8 springs with 420 oil and 0 preload. 13R and 10C)

I have tested 400 oil with more preload instead, but did not like the feeling of that.

Maybe going to 5.0 springs (1 or 2?) and instead lower the oil level for my weight to try and get that harshness out?

CarlinoJoeVideo wrote:

Have you tried add 1 or 2 clicks of preload and backing out the compression? For each click of preload I've found you can go out 2-4 clicks of comp. with the right combo you can get more hold up and let the fork feel more free and not ride in the harsh mid stroke.

Takes some time to get the right combination, but great feel when you find it.

yes did try that this weekend, did not like the feeling it created unfortunately.

I run 330ml oil in mine for off road, not mx

Did do some light testing today, with 5.0 springs and 375 oil (13R/12C, 0 preload). Was a bit soft (but no bottoming) and a lot of movement so went to 380 oil. Will test it on two different tracks this weekend.

For sure the fork felt about 5x as plush as it did with 420 oil and 4.8 springs.