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fullysicmate
2/13/2021 11:39pm
2/13/2021 11:39pm
Just seen this video..... I have a fe501 2019 and fc350 2018, I have been riding the 501 most lately and after a big day on rocky ground on the 350 I am hating it’s fork. Any ideas on how to make it more plush? I tried it on the manual and on various other sites recommended soft settings and this video goes against them all. Any advice appreciated
https://fb.watch/3Ez4onyHxf/
https://fb.watch/3Ez4onyHxf/
Here's what I use on my various bikes:
(1) FasstCo Flexxbars
(2) NEKEN SFS clamps (probably my fave)
(3) XC Gear's MAKO360 bar clamps
(4) All bikes get a steering damper (Scotts or GPR V1 set on low-resistance settings)
(5) Twisted Engineering 4X bars --- haven't tried, will assess this summer
While it is absolutely possible to get the perfect fork setup (which I did ... KYB A-kit (both PSF1s and spring) and stock SSSs are it for me), the above products give me the extra level/margin of safety/reduced shock to make me a better, more relaxed rider. And when I am more relaxed, I flow better and have waaaay more fun. Turns out, you're much faster consistently, too. Win-win-win.
Good luck - you'll find improvement for sure with fork settings alone!
The Shop
I recommend you CAREFULLY pop out the 10mm fork vent screw located next to the schrader valve and see if the outer chamber is pressurized. From what you described I'd bet your having the same problem I did. I was never able to properly fix the problem and hardly rode at all last year because of it.
Also, one of the biggest knocks on the AER fork is a lack of control, predictability and connection w the ground. The biggest factors for consistent AER fork performance are bleeding and setting your air pressure.
1. Double check your fork alignment. After 10 or more years riding KTM, I just learned the other day about the correct order for fork alignment.
2. Always set your fork at your preferred pressure.
3. After fork warm up, always bleed your fork. If you have significant elevation or temp changes, bleed again. The air sits over the oil and is uncontrol/undamped. It feels very springy and highly variable compared to oil-controlled damping.
These are three of the basics. Once you've checked those things are are still not happy, you can talk about mods.
I had Factory Connection work mine over and it made a huge difference. But they still aren’t great in the rocks. They just don’t have the suppleness like a spring fork. The slap down feedback in the bars never went away. I tried them with Flexx bars and it’s better, but only slightly. There’s too much stiction. You have probably double the amount of seals in the air cartridge. You could lower the pressure, but as someone else mentioned, you trade the comfort for the fork diving and the whole bike pitching when you apply the brakes and get into the turn.
That being said, I went to Ohlins forks and never looked back. They’re amazing. There’s enough adjustment in the clickers to run them from rocks to the mx track and everything in between without needing a revalve.
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