jaguar
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Primary Problem: front end nose dives on small inclination lipped jumps.
Solution implemented: stiffer front springs and stiffer front compression damping and weaker rear compression damping
Secondary Problem: front is now too stiff on small bumps and the rear bottoms too much from jumps but if I stiffen the rear compression or soften the front compression then the nose diving problem returns.
Race notes: I am only moderately on the gas in 3rd gear because I don’t want to jump too far on this jump since there’s a turn right after it. I can get the front end up if I gas it more and lean back more but I really don’t want to. It’s kind of a coasting jump and other riders don’t have the same problem (probably because they have real race bikes).
Settings:
13 CW front compression (16 is maximum) with 6.7W oil
13 CCW rear compression (16 is maximum)
measured front spring rate at 10 lbs/10mm (45Kg/cm)
front free sag 23mm, rear free sag 22mm
front race sag 44mm, rear race sag 72mm
my weight is 145 lbs
bike is ’89 KDX200
From the sags I’d say the front is sprung stronger than the rear, so then the springs aren’t the problem. I suspect I need different valving but I was hoping otherwise since I have the official fork tool from Kawasaki but still can’t get the forks apart. So I’d have to spend $100 shipping them to the States and then another $100 getting them back (since I’m in S. America).
Last week I solved most of the problem by changing out the 14 year old shock oil which eliminated the stiction and allowed me to soften the front compression setting by one click but its still a little too stiff as it transmits all the little bumps to my hands. What suspension valving (front) would be necesary for this situation? (needed: softer initial fork travel but progressively harder for normal sized bumps)
Solution implemented: stiffer front springs and stiffer front compression damping and weaker rear compression damping
Secondary Problem: front is now too stiff on small bumps and the rear bottoms too much from jumps but if I stiffen the rear compression or soften the front compression then the nose diving problem returns.
Race notes: I am only moderately on the gas in 3rd gear because I don’t want to jump too far on this jump since there’s a turn right after it. I can get the front end up if I gas it more and lean back more but I really don’t want to. It’s kind of a coasting jump and other riders don’t have the same problem (probably because they have real race bikes).
Settings:
13 CW front compression (16 is maximum) with 6.7W oil
13 CCW rear compression (16 is maximum)
measured front spring rate at 10 lbs/10mm (45Kg/cm)
front free sag 23mm, rear free sag 22mm
front race sag 44mm, rear race sag 72mm
my weight is 145 lbs
bike is ’89 KDX200
From the sags I’d say the front is sprung stronger than the rear, so then the springs aren’t the problem. I suspect I need different valving but I was hoping otherwise since I have the official fork tool from Kawasaki but still can’t get the forks apart. So I’d have to spend $100 shipping them to the States and then another $100 getting them back (since I’m in S. America).
Last week I solved most of the problem by changing out the 14 year old shock oil which eliminated the stiction and allowed me to soften the front compression setting by one click but its still a little too stiff as it transmits all the little bumps to my hands. What suspension valving (front) would be necesary for this situation? (needed: softer initial fork travel but progressively harder for normal sized bumps)