5.2 Spring - Holy Weaponry, Batman
Posted: 03:12 am Nov 22 2020
The KDX just keeps getting better!
Either I magically got 20% faster in last 2 weeks, watching James Stewart rip a KX125;
Or my new shock spring is the coolest bolt on adder, ever invented.
The setup numbers didn’t really change that much. Race sag 100: old stock spring 19 static, new spring 23.
(I was using the Bufftester, “get the one for the weight you want to be” calculation method)
I figured I’d need a track day to really tell if the thing made much difference.
The new shock was about 2” longer, so figured there’d be some difference.
It was amazing!!
I was able to keep my buddy/dirt bike mentor within sight, on 2 of the trails.
And these are fairly nasty (Walker Valley) roots and rocks trails. I had never had him in sight for more than the first corner, ever before! He rides a decked out KTM300, and races B enduros regularly.
My KDX always could make the rides. But never before did I feel confident enough to push the speed like that.
I kept going just a little faster and little faster. Bike just did what I wanted like it could read my mind.
I was even carving corners on single track, to the point that if it had a bank (or wall) I was purposely trying to hit that instead of the trail.
One time he stopped to pull over, “Just checking to see if that was you (or if someone need to pass). You’re right on my ass. good job!”
To be honest, I wasn’t really right on his ass. I think he was just pleasantly surprised that I stayed within earshot, for first time.
Toward end of day, he even had me lead a couple times.
Either I magically got 20% faster in last 2 weeks, watching James Stewart rip a KX125;
Or my new shock spring is the coolest bolt on adder, ever invented.
The setup numbers didn’t really change that much. Race sag 100: old stock spring 19 static, new spring 23.
(I was using the Bufftester, “get the one for the weight you want to be” calculation method)
I figured I’d need a track day to really tell if the thing made much difference.
The new shock was about 2” longer, so figured there’d be some difference.
It was amazing!!
I was able to keep my buddy/dirt bike mentor within sight, on 2 of the trails.
And these are fairly nasty (Walker Valley) roots and rocks trails. I had never had him in sight for more than the first corner, ever before! He rides a decked out KTM300, and races B enduros regularly.
My KDX always could make the rides. But never before did I feel confident enough to push the speed like that.
I kept going just a little faster and little faster. Bike just did what I wanted like it could read my mind.
I was even carving corners on single track, to the point that if it had a bank (or wall) I was purposely trying to hit that instead of the trail.
One time he stopped to pull over, “Just checking to see if that was you (or if someone need to pass). You’re right on my ass. good job!”
To be honest, I wasn’t really right on his ass. I think he was just pleasantly surprised that I stayed within earshot, for first time.
Toward end of day, he even had me lead a couple times.
