[[email protected]]

I'm new to this forum, anyway i have an 09 crf450, I had factory connection set my suspension up, went all out, it works awesome, but tends to head shake violently at speed some times. It's a bit on the stiff side, I messed with the clickers softer and harder, not sure which way to go. The best thing i did was soften the rebound on the forks a couple clicks, anyway anybody got any advice??? In the bike manual it says stiffen the suspension when it headshakes, in the trouble shooting tips it says soften when it headshakes, and i've done both, not much luck. There was a small ding in the front rim too that I believe helped cause the headshake, i'm in the process of putting a new rim on right now, anyway anybody have any suggestions???? My sag is set right, and my suspension is a bit on the stiff side

[Aussiecrf230]

Welcome to the family here.

How long ago did you have the suspension work done?
Have you spoken with factory connection about your problems, most good companies won't mind the feedback and the chance to get it right for you.
Everybody is a little different as to their suspension set up.

Is it stiff on bump or rebound?

You will need to include your riding weight and what springs you have installed front and rear. What sort of riding do you do can make a difference as well.

[[email protected]]

@aussie, I bought the bike in 2010 new (it's a 2009 but i got a deal on it since it was a leftover), I got it in the winter thats when i got the suspension work done, I never rode it with the stock suspension, it was freezing cold, I would have liked to, but figured it would be easier just to get the suspension done in the winter. last season at the beginning of the year I had the oil changed, then about a month into the season i broke my foot and missed pretty much all of 2012 Anyway I weigh about 145, i'm like a vet b rider, I live right by redbud. I got the steering damper all the way stiff. I just put a new rim on, i'm gonna test it out tomorrow and see if that makes a difference. there was a small ding in it, it was small but i think it made a difference, when i power washed it, and the wheel would spin from the water, it would bob up and down from the ding in the rim. anyway I was hoping to make a race at redbud tomorrow, but got home too late, i'd have to get up in three hours, i'm gonna go to a diffrent track in the afternoon, The new rim and new front tire i'm excited to try, and i'm gonna mess with my clickers some more, so far seems like softening the rebound is the only thing that helps, if i soften it to much i hate the way the thing rides, suspension is complex lol. I should give factory connection a call, that is a good idea i'm really hoping that new rim makes a difference, it always shook (the worst used to be right after the ski jump at redbud if any of you are familiar, they changed it abit where it's slower now so i don't have such a big problem there anymore), but i don't think it was always so bad!

[[email protected]]

had the suspension oil changed, i meant above, and it's usually stiff on the bump not the rebound it seems like.

[JimDirt]

You might try to ADD a little sag , the less weight on the front should help with head shake
the lower the rear the less chance of head shake

When you ride do you ride way over the front ??, if so that would contribute to shake , hence the lower rear will help, since you most likely have the forks all the way to the top already , or you can install taller bars or risers to keep the weight to the rear

[[email protected]]

2jim dirt, On high speed sections i'm on the back of the bike. Yes i do have the forks all the way up in the trip clamps. That is a good idea adding more sag, and the bars too. I'm gonna try that. I went riding today, I could tell a difference from the new rim, my old one wasn't horrible, but it did have a little ding. anyway it was a bit hard to tell cause the track I was at wasn't very high speed today. anyway thank you!

[motosicko]

Tighten up your steering stem just enough so it stays where you turn it when on the stand. Check your bar mount cones and tightness. Make sure you are letting the air out of forks before each ride. Just a few contributing factors that some riders overlook.