suspension

[jbowens2401]

I'm trying to set up a hybrid for my wife and wanted some help with the suspension. She weighs 125 in street clothes, so probably 150 with full gear. MX tech say .40 front and 4.6 rear, Factory connection says 4.2 rear and .38 front, race tech says 4.5 rear and .40 front. Do you all have any reccomendations. We ride harescrambles, technical trails, and very little mx. She is a good rider and stands up most of the time when riding. Any help setting this up for her would be appreciated.

[SS109]

I can tell you this. I'm an aggressive C/B rider, I weigh 150 without gear, running .41's up front, 4.7 rear, with an off road re-valve, and it is still pretty stiff IMO.

Going by my experience, if I were to lose 25 pounds, I would go with the Factory Connection recommendation. The MX Tech and Race tech recommendations seem like they would be way too stiff for off road unless she is an A rider and/or riding MX.

[hybridracing65]

Pay attention to the details.
The spring rates for race tech is rider with gear on, the rates for others sites is without gear.
Gear is 10 to 20 lbs so thats the difference.
Also race tech has age, highth, type or riding, and ability charts to select before answer.
What suspension are you running, the new twin chamber of the old cartidge?
I would guess about .40 and 4.5. You can go plus or minus ten pounds pretty easy and any of the setups.

[Julien D]

Seems stiff. I weight about 140 and run 38's up front.

[jbowens2401]

Thanks they are the cartridge forks. I was thinking rt and mx tech would be stiff for her. Should I have it revolved as well.

[SS109]

Pay attention to the details.
The spring rates for race tech is rider with gear on...

Theirs is listed without gear as well.

[jbowens2401]

I did mind the details. I called FC and they gave me the specs. Do you guys think buying a gold valve set would be worth it?

[kdxtreme]

I would just do the shim stacks to suit. we did that on my twin chambers and got the bike to work very well.

[jbowens2401]

Any idea how I need to modify the shim stacks?

[jbowens2401]

Just to make sure I have this right. The rebound is on top of the fork and compression on bottom. Shock is rebound on bottom and compression on top. I think this is correct but just want to make sure. Also, if anyone has the stock clicker setting that would be great. My 2003 kx125 service manual wont be here until next week. I would like to set the clickers back to stock and go from there.

[SS109]

Correct on the rebound/compression adjustments for both ends.

Don't worry about stock settings as they, too, are just a starting point. Just set them at their mid points and make a note of how many clicks that is. Then adjust from the mid points and find what works best for your given terrain and record that. Everytime you make a change for different riding conditions be sure to write down the settings used. You will begin to build a log of what works where and it will save you lots of time next time you encounter similar conditions.

[hybridracing65]

Pay attention to the details.
The spring rates for race tech is rider with gear on...

Theirs is listed without gear as well.

yep racetechis with gear, the mx-tech is without gear, my bad!

[hybridracing65]

make some cheap subtanks for the forks, they really help with the harshness on little stuff.

[jbowens2401]

Thanks, I will look into the subtanks.