Kx Fork Swap Report
Posted: 06:53 pm Apr 21 2018
I had promised a report on my fork conversion.
My bike is a pretty stock 1999 kdx 220. I purchased a set of 2001 kx250 forks via eBay for 190 incl freight. They included bar mounts and front axle. I also located a wheel with brake disc, set of fork protectors, new Pivot Works wheel bearing kit including collars and caps. I was able to use my kdx brake caliper. I also decided it was time for a new front tire so went with a Shinko Fatty. That left two potentially expensive things (1) swapping stems and (2) fork rebuild and revalved. Another KdxRider member, who just happens to be a darn good mechanic and had already done his own fork swap, agreed to do the stem swap. (I’m not going to identify him here as I don’t know if he wants to do more. He will speak up if he does I am sure.). I got SR1, a suspension shop in NC, to tear down the forks, replace and service the forks and revolve and tune specific to my needs. He talked to me about what I did not like about the stock forks and what problems I was hoping to solve. A complete rebuild and revalve wound up costing me $272-.This was by far the single most expensive part of the project but, I thought it was fair. It also didn’t make sense to me to go to the expense of making the swap and not having a professional who knew what he was doing and had done this conversion before give me a set of forks that would be right. I got really lucky in that when they tore down the kx forks they discovered the PO had already installed Gold Valves. Jared Daniels at SR1 set the forks up so that all I had to do was bolt them on. He told me exactly how far he wanted the forks to protrude above the triple clamp and where to start off with the clickers. Since I had never owned forks with adjustable rebound, Jared talked to
Me about adjusting rebound and compression for various terrain. Turns out you would typically adjust both compression and rebound as they are inter-related. I didn’t know that but it makes sense. In my
Opinion it was well worth the money to work with a pro on the forks themselves.
I went on a short ride today and was astounded at the difference! I should have done this a long time ago instead of continuing to fart around with the kx forks myself! I have my first race with the new forks next Sunday. I can’t wait to hear the starter call out “tennnnnnnnnn seconds”!
My bike is a pretty stock 1999 kdx 220. I purchased a set of 2001 kx250 forks via eBay for 190 incl freight. They included bar mounts and front axle. I also located a wheel with brake disc, set of fork protectors, new Pivot Works wheel bearing kit including collars and caps. I was able to use my kdx brake caliper. I also decided it was time for a new front tire so went with a Shinko Fatty. That left two potentially expensive things (1) swapping stems and (2) fork rebuild and revalved. Another KdxRider member, who just happens to be a darn good mechanic and had already done his own fork swap, agreed to do the stem swap. (I’m not going to identify him here as I don’t know if he wants to do more. He will speak up if he does I am sure.). I got SR1, a suspension shop in NC, to tear down the forks, replace and service the forks and revolve and tune specific to my needs. He talked to me about what I did not like about the stock forks and what problems I was hoping to solve. A complete rebuild and revalve wound up costing me $272-.This was by far the single most expensive part of the project but, I thought it was fair. It also didn’t make sense to me to go to the expense of making the swap and not having a professional who knew what he was doing and had done this conversion before give me a set of forks that would be right. I got really lucky in that when they tore down the kx forks they discovered the PO had already installed Gold Valves. Jared Daniels at SR1 set the forks up so that all I had to do was bolt them on. He told me exactly how far he wanted the forks to protrude above the triple clamp and where to start off with the clickers. Since I had never owned forks with adjustable rebound, Jared talked to
Me about adjusting rebound and compression for various terrain. Turns out you would typically adjust both compression and rebound as they are inter-related. I didn’t know that but it makes sense. In my
Opinion it was well worth the money to work with a pro on the forks themselves.
I went on a short ride today and was astounded at the difference! I should have done this a long time ago instead of continuing to fart around with the kx forks myself! I have my first race with the new forks next Sunday. I can’t wait to hear the starter call out “tennnnnnnnnn seconds”!