Suspension Last Ditch Effort

lcgordon711
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lcgordon711
Edited Date/Time 5/4/2019 6:54am
Alright guys this is my last ditch effort before I sell this thing. I have an 03 rm250 and the rear shock seems too springy. I have a 03yz125 and a 14 yz450 and when I sit on them they go down and stay down pretty much with out coming back up. When I sit on the Rm it springs back up. I even have the rebound in 20 clicks. Sag is set right about 105. Last year I did buy race tech recommended springs for my wt and I rebuilt the shock with the pivot works kit myself. My question is is there some kind of set up I should change or try or check? Or is there something I could have screwed up inside the shock? What about the shop not doing right nitrogen psi? I don’t think I did this but what if i flipped the shim stack? Any ideas. I don’t mind taking this thing apart again even though the shop charges 40 bucks to refil nitro

When I ride it about every jump I get a small kick and it has me scared to ride the thing.
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sandman768
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sandman768 5/2/2019 5:34pm
5/2/2019 5:34pm
turn your rebound screw all the way in until it stops, now see if shock rebounds fast, it should barely rebound back, if it still rebounds fast, something is wrong...rebound clicks should be counted “out” from screw fully turned clockwise “in”
lcgordon711
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lcgordon711 5/2/2019 5:48pm
5/2/2019 5:48pm
I’m an idiot always thought it was the other way. I’ll check when I get home
lcgordon711
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lcgordon711 5/2/2019 6:48pm
5/2/2019 6:48pm
Ok got some news. Turned all the way in it barely moved felt like a 2x4 shock. 3 clicks out not much difference. 5 clicks out might be too much. I feel like I may like 4 or 5. 4 feels like my 125. Weird though that stock says 10-12 clicks and I think 7 clicks is not rideable. My question is now do you think there still may be something wrong or would maybe the stiffer spring ( one rate up from stock I’m 170 lb) the valving May be off and I could use a re valve or something.

I will say some how I thought I checked but on my 125 I was riding with comp and rebound all the way out one day and could not even tell. My 250 if it’s at 7 clicks seems un rideable.

Thanks guys oh and sag is closer to 110. I can change that back to 105 tho
chump6784
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chump6784 5/2/2019 8:16pm
5/2/2019 8:16pm
The yz's are similar in that they have a very fast rebound. Lately I've been riding some hard pack tracks and been finding the back end kicking me in the bum on braking bumps. Been going in and in on the rebound and have now stopped at 5 clicks out. That is stock valving on an 18 model. If you are happy with 4 clicks out just run it at that.
Also note that you changed your spring rate. If you went to a heavier spring you will need more rebound damping to control that spring over the lighter oem spring

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NeedMoto
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NeedMoto 5/2/2019 8:27pm
5/2/2019 8:27pm
Well... The fact you got some rebound response by going the right direction is a plus.

If you did a total rebuild, bushings and all, you might have some stiction until broken in.

Also, I would verify the spring rate is actually what was sent to you. I only say this, as there has been a fair amount of times, that that actual spring differs from what the labeling is. I'm anal, and always get mine checked, as correct spring rate is essential for good suspension.

Maybe a suspension tuner will chime in, as I'm not one.
lcgordon711
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lcgordon711 5/2/2019 8:49pm
5/2/2019 8:49pm
Thanks guys. It feels close to my other bikes but I will know better when I take it out Saturday. Sorry about my ignorance up until a couple years ago I never messed with clickers. I’m pretty much self taught with the readjng I do on here. I’m usually not crazy picky so I’m hoping it will be good enough to be safe. I was to the point I was literally scared to ride the thing over any regular easy jump. I’m excited to ride the thing. A little bummed I was gonna sell it and my 450 and buy a new 450 but if I like it again I may just have to find a couple more grand somewhere else.

lcgordon711
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lcgordon711 5/2/2019 9:05pm
5/2/2019 9:05pm
One more question I have on this bike. I have a real hard time getting the silencer to connect to the expansion chamber. Most times when I ride the rubber connector slides back and the pipes come apart just a tad or almost. It also does it with the stock expansion chamber. I used to have the same issue with my stock sub frame too but the silencer mount broke off so I ebayed a 2001 subframe. Any tips from you Suzuki guys?
chump6784
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chump6784 5/3/2019 4:55am
5/3/2019 4:55am
lcgordon711 wrote:
One more question I have on this bike. I have a real hard time getting the silencer to connect to the expansion chamber. Most times when...
One more question I have on this bike. I have a real hard time getting the silencer to connect to the expansion chamber. Most times when I ride the rubber connector slides back and the pipes come apart just a tad or almost. It also does it with the stock expansion chamber. I used to have the same issue with my stock sub frame too but the silencer mount broke off so I ebayed a 2001 subframe. Any tips from you Suzuki guys?
Make sure all the exhaust mounting bolts are loose when putting it together and on the bike. Once it's fitted together then tighten it all up. Just have the exhaust springs in
lcgordon711
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lcgordon711 5/3/2019 6:04am
5/3/2019 6:04am
Sounds good I usually do that but usually when I take my exhaust off to do work or something I leave the silencer on. I feel like it works better when I loosen that too.

I know you guys like bike photos so here is one


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soggy
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soggy 5/3/2019 6:40am
5/3/2019 6:40am
use some zip ties on the grommet where pipe and silencer meet, might help hold it in place.
lcgordon711
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lcgordon711 5/3/2019 6:44am
5/3/2019 6:44am
soggy wrote:
use some zip ties on the grommet where pipe and silencer meet, might help hold it in place.
They come stock with these spring things and I use those. They seem to be about as tight as I could get zip ties. I could try zip tie them tho. I was also thinking there is a tab on the silencer I believe the rubber is supposed to sit against not allowing it to move back. But it is so far behind the rubber because I can’t get it together. I was thinking to buy rubber hose just big enough to go over the silencer pipe to go between the tab and the rubber connector.
Falcon
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Falcon 5/3/2019 11:13am
5/3/2019 11:13am
One more detail about your shock: if you are running 105mm of sag (or 110, as the case was earlier,) it will feel "springier" or "livelier" in motion. This will be more apparent on deeper travels of the shock: seat bounces, big fast rollers, etc.

You may want to try running a little less sag (95 to 100mm,) to "deaden" your shock spring a little. Keep in mind this will alter your chassis balance a little though; your front end will start feeling lower and twitchier. Be careful on a Suzuki with this kind of setup. I used to run 95mm on my YZs to slow down the rear and get the front end to bite a little more.
crc245
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crc245 5/3/2019 11:34am
5/3/2019 11:34am
Lower chain guide rubber. ASAP!
lcgordon711
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lcgordon711 5/3/2019 12:11pm
5/3/2019 12:11pm
I checked last night it’s set at 110. I thought it was 105 which it may have been before I started screwing with everything. I do like the rear end to be lower by a bit or atleast sitting on my other two bikes that’s how they feel. I’m trying to just match my other bikes and have some consistency.
lcgordon711
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lcgordon711 5/3/2019 12:12pm
5/3/2019 12:12pm
crc245 wrote:
Lower chain guide rubber. ASAP!
Huh? You talking about the worn out chain guide and the chain going through the metal. That has all been changed out. This is an old pic
crc245
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crc245 5/3/2019 10:51pm
5/3/2019 10:51pm
lcgordon711 wrote:
Huh? You talking about the worn out chain guide and the chain going through the metal. That has all been changed out. This is an old...
Huh? You talking about the worn out chain guide and the chain going through the metal. That has all been changed out. This is an old pic
10-4. Just double checking!
lcgordon711
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lcgordon711 5/4/2019 6:21am
5/4/2019 6:21am
crc245 wrote:
10-4. Just double checking!
Cool thanks for that. I was confused. What you were talking about. This bike was hammered when I bought it. I’ve been slowly making it better
lcgordon711
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lcgordon711 5/4/2019 6:54am
5/4/2019 6:54am
I did get the pipe on. It seemed to fit pretty well. The front hanger down under the motor was really tight.

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lcgordon711
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lcgordon711 5/4/2019 10:49am
5/4/2019 10:49am
Well thanks for the help guys it was way better today. But it’s still getting sold. I just don’t feel comfortable with it. It feels too different from my Yamahas. Maybe I’ve just been riding the 125 too much. If this was the only bike I rode it would be fine but it’s not. I’m gonna sell this and my 450 and buy a new 450.
captmoto
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captmoto 5/4/2019 1:22pm
5/4/2019 1:22pm
That bike is going to feel like hell compared to anything else that has come along in the last 10 years. It's a vintage thing.
lcgordon711
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lcgordon711 5/4/2019 1:51pm
5/4/2019 1:51pm
captmoto wrote:
That bike is going to feel like hell compared to anything else that has come along in the last 10 years. It's a vintage thing.
I spend most of my time on an 03 yz125. It’s not that it’s worse it just feels a lot different.

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