[Sammy Davis Jr.]

Can't seem to get forks compliant enough... too stiff felling... weight 168. Currently trying to make newly installed RaceTech valving work ( gold valves for both compression and rebound )and am running .47 spring. 10 clicks out on rebound and 10 out on compression. Has anybody tried the softer rebound spring? I like the bike but the forks have really been a problem. Any information or ideas welcome. Bike is used for motocross. Thanks

[crfsonly]

have you replaced the pressure spring yet with a more lighter version?

http://www.crfsonly.com/catalog/product ... ts_id/2395

ken

[Sammy Davis Jr.]

No, I still have the stock rebound spring in it... I just saw that RaceTech offered them and wondered if anyone's had any experience doing that...

[Sammy Davis Jr.]

I meant to say "pressure spring".

[crfsonly]

race tech and factory connection versions accomplish the same thing. this will improve your forks overall plushness and reduce mid-stroke harshness. changed them in both my 450R and my 450X.

[JimDirt]

I have put them in both my bikes , the change is definitely noticeable , it takes away the initial hits of rough chop on the MX track or rocks and roots in the woods , make sure your bike is sprung correctly for your weight first , as a bike with too soft a spring can give the same feeling of harshness because the suspension is too far down in the stroke which does not allow the valving to work when its supposed to in the stroke , and a bike with too stiff a spring for your weight will keep the bike in the initial part of the stroke and not allow the valving to do its work

I also re-valved both my bikes with Gold Valve Kits and that helped even more , it took me a few tries on my R before i got the valving where i was happy both on the track and in with woods , which is hard to do to get it valved to work in both situations with just clicker adjustments between the 2 types of riding , but i enjoy doing it , and i got it as close as i think i could have so i am happy with my results , i can hit stuff with either bike and its like most of it is not even there , the suspension gobbles up the rough stuff and makes for a less fatigued ride , on the track and in the woods or desert

Even if your bike has stock valving the Pressure Spring will make a noticeable difference , the rate depends on your needs , i run a 1.76 in both my 450X(off-road only) and 450R(MX and off-road) , stock rate is 1.90-2.1 depending on year and bike , i believe Kevin Windham ran a 1.76 for racing SX as a example

What ever size you choose its a cheap way to take away harshness in the initial part of the stroke

As for adjustments 10 is ok on the compression , but i think its IN too much for the rebound and might be contributing to your harshness , remember when you adjust compression it affects the rebound and vice versa , so you may have to adjust your rebound stack to get you up a little farther in the adjustment , you want to be in the middle of the adjustment range , if you have to keep it in that far then your issue might be in the stack (you should be around 12-15 out) so you need to fix that , but i would still go for the pressure springs

[Sammy Davis Jr.]

Great information, thanks!

[Chrismx]

Did you change your rebound spring like you mentioned? That yr has an extremely stiff check/reb spring that causes a lot of problems. As said before the pressure springs will change the ride but I don't usually change them, it's more of a give and take thing so your call. Racetech also recommends removing the mid valving which is a mistake too,it just needs to be adjusted on that year but thats more of a thing for a pro tuner. I see your in Napa, let me know if you need some help I'm right around the corner in Vacaville.

[Sammy Davis Jr.]

Thanks, Chrismx... Vacaville, huh? My son and I are regulars at Argyll Park! He's the one with the '08 CRF that has the fork harshness. He's 21 years old and getting faster... I'm 61 years old and getting slower... oh, well... it's still fun... and the best exercise you can get really. Anyway, we've Gold Valved both compression and rebound and are running the stock springs ( he weighs 167 ) I think I may get him the softer compression springs for Christmas.