'00 rm125 forks hard.

pyromaniac · Sep 29, 2002

Hey

I just bought me a less than 3 hours old suzuki. Havent taken it to the track yet but i feel just by trying to compress the forks that they are very hard. I cant tell how they are on the track but i would think they are too hard. The bike is very stock and they forks havent been tuched since new and i have heard that they arent that very serious at the factory when they put them together, having different volumes of oil in the forks etc. That shouldnt make it rock hard but maybe they have may too much oil.

The oil volume shouldnt affect the hardness or the forks other than in full compressed should it? The viskosility(or how it spells) of the oil shouldnt make so much different should it? I would think change to softer springs will make the trick.

What do you think?

marcusgunby · Sep 29, 2002

Ive got a feeling the std spring wernt that stiff but it depends on your weight-goto www.mx-tech.com and use the spring rate generator to see.
The 00 fork i remember was a bit harsh and needed revalving-some showas seems to get very stiff for no reason and need new bushes.

The oil level/airgap will only affect the fork in the last third of the travel.
A lighter weight oil will help a little.

shockdoc · Sep 29, 2002

Make sure your R/S fork is NOT bound up on the axle. Many bikes coming out of dealerships aren't set-up the best.

doc

DEANSFASTWAY · Oct 1, 2002

Yeah like SHOCKDOC said check that axle for alignment , Some of the $7 /hour kids that assemble the bikes arent very detail oriented . Also you really should ride the bike and break in the suspension and then make an evaluation . Some bikes seem a little stiffer when new Although your bike has been sitting for awhile . 00 RM 125 was a little firm though esp if youre a lighter rider. GOOD LUCK

pyromaniac · Oct 4, 2002

The first thing i checked was the axle alignment. The mx-tect site recomendation was .42 spring and thats what i have according to them. My friends 02 cr125 had much softer forks and its .44. I noticed that the forks are very beefy, much thicker than the ones on my 250.

However i will try it on the track and see if i like it and if it gets any softer. How long should i need to ride before they break in ? If its still hard i will get softer springs, are they like $70 pair or for one?

marcusgunby · Oct 4, 2002

The forks take 10 hours to fully bed in but soften up alot ofter 5.If your springs are correct and the CR ones were stiffer yet had a nicer ride, it shows springs are not your problem.
IMO its the valving that needs looking at and you will be throwing you money away on springs.

tankslapper · Oct 5, 2002

Even though the oil level should only effct the last third of travel I altered my buddy's fork oil level on his 00 RM125 from 170mm to 150mm for exactly the same reasons as you describe and it made a dramatic difference to all the travel

pyromaniac · Oct 5, 2002

I'll try play around with different oil levels and type before i do anything expensive. If you say springs arnt the problem then i guiss i believe you and try revalving instead.

marcusgunby · Oct 5, 2002

I always say try the cheap stuff first.I would use a light oil (2.5wt) and set the airgap to the max recommended and then put the comp clickers on full soft.If that isnt soft enough you know you need a revalve and its only cost you a litre of oil.

tankslapper · Oct 6, 2002

marcus, one of the troubles with using 2.5 weight oil in the forks is that it will also speed up the rebound and may cause arm fatigue with the forks acting like an undamped pogo stick.

pyromaniac · Oct 6, 2002

Originally posted by marcusgunby
Iset the airgap to the max recommended

Whats that? I may know, we may just have a totally different word for it. But i can admit suspension is one of my weak areas. I havent played around too much with suspension in my days but on later years i realise suspension is the most important factor on a motocross.

marcusgunby · Oct 6, 2002

The airgap is the the same as oil level-i often switch terms mid thread, i know its confusing to do this but its a bad habit of mine.Tankslapper the 00 forks i seem to remeber were stiff on comp and rebound and although it will speed up rebound the adjuster should be able to be adjusted to cope.

'00 rm125 forks hard.

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