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I’d like to start a discussion about A-kit suspension for the KTM/Husky big bikes. Yes, I know there are tons of threads about Cone Valves and stuff like that, but I’m creating this thread for a friend of mine that’s curious about it.
Here is his situation. He’s a +40 Vet B guy and weighs in around 220lbs or so. His son is a faster B, slower A guy here in Wisconsin and weighs in around 170lbs. He rides a 2019 Husky 350 and his son a 2019 Husky 450.
He wants to go A-kit on both bikes. I’ve given him my thoughts on (spring) CV and Trax, but I don’t know anything about the Ohlins stuff, the KYB conversions, the MX Tech Lucky stuff, or anything else that’s out there. What opinions do you folks have on all of the options out there? Pros and cons to it all. I’m going to send him the link to this and he will be checking it out. Maybe he will sign up and chime in himself.
Thanks to all.
Here is his situation. He’s a +40 Vet B guy and weighs in around 220lbs or so. His son is a faster B, slower A guy here in Wisconsin and weighs in around 170lbs. He rides a 2019 Husky 350 and his son a 2019 Husky 450.
He wants to go A-kit on both bikes. I’ve given him my thoughts on (spring) CV and Trax, but I don’t know anything about the Ohlins stuff, the KYB conversions, the MX Tech Lucky stuff, or anything else that’s out there. What opinions do you folks have on all of the options out there? Pros and cons to it all. I’m going to send him the link to this and he will be checking it out. Maybe he will sign up and chime in himself.
Thanks to all.
The Shop
When I got my CV from Powerband I though they were way to stiff from just pushing on the front end with the brake on. Riding in 1st gear around the track I then though they were way to soft and even riding at 70% for some warm up laps I though they felt to soft and went in 2 clicks on the compression. Once I started to ride hard fast laps I ended up going back to their settings and I've never been happier with a suspension setup as I have been with this one. When I sent them back in for a refresh I talked to Billy about maybe needing some valving or clicker changes because I've gotten faster and was blowing through the stoke way more often and he said it wasn't needed and added 10cc of oil to the forks. That made a huge improvement on them. Everyone that rides my bike to try them love them, including a buddy that has the Factory Connection spring conversion.
On my 2017 Husky TC250 I had Enzo revalve a set of WP CC spring forks and the stock shock. This setup works very well.
On my 2019 KTM 450 (recently sold), I put about 10 hours on the stock stuff, 5 hrs on a set of Cone Valves and Trax from Powerband, about 5 hrs on revalved stock components from Enzo.
Before buying the CV/Trax setup, Craig recommended KYB inserts and revalve of stock shock. I didn’t listen.
After talking with Craig again on specific issues I was having on CV/Trax setup (lack of front end feel in loose turns) he explained that was a common complaint on CVs and why they use traditional midvalve.
I had Enzo revalve the CV and Trax for my TC250. The CV forks are better than the CC (better on hard hits and front end feel) and the Trax is better than the revalved stock (more hooked up feeling).
Since then have moved the revalved stock stuff from the 450 to my FC350, and most recently moved the CV/Trax to the FC350.
Takeaways for me:
The revalved AER and stock shock work very good.
I like spring forks better than air forks.
Cone valve setup with cones works great on hard hits and very rough tracks (but lacks my preferred level of corner feel).
I will probably try a set of KYB inserts at some point in the future.
Post a reply to: Let’s talk KTM/Husky A-Kit