Front Forks

K

KDXFreestyle

Damn Yankees

Member

Nov 19, 2002

645

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• Feb 10, 2003

• #1

I have a complete stock 2003 KDX200. My forks are feeling spongy, is there any way to make them stiffer?

 

K

KDXFreestyle

Damn Yankees

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Nov 19, 2002

645

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• Feb 10, 2003

• Thread starter
• #2

PS...I mean in doing this without new springs

 

P

prk03

~SPONSOR~

Jun 24, 2002

62

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• Feb 10, 2003

• #3

I tried several things such as 7w oil and clickers all the way but really not any help. I weigh 180. Just changed to 38 springs this weekend. Will try them this weekend but just sitting on bike can feel a big difference. Easy to change fork springs. Got them from Fredette. They were the same length as stock so used the stock spacer.

 

R

Robcolo

Member

Jan 28, 2002

342

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• Feb 10, 2003

• #4

Shorten your current springs about 1 1/2"

 

K

kx_693

Member

Jul 2, 2002

97

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• Feb 10, 2003

• #5

the best thing you can do is send your forks somewhere and get them set up for your weight. I had FCR do mine and they are the best thing in the world, he has been doing mine and my brothers suspension for years. Other then that turn the clickers in,a nd oil....

 

K

KDXFreestyle

Damn Yankees

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Nov 19, 2002

645

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• Feb 11, 2003

• Thread starter
• #6

ok, i understand that adding il, might make them stiffer? Is this an easy process to do if I follow the maual? are there any special tools needed? How much do new springs cost? (im on a tight budget) How much does it cost to get the FRP change? THANX!!!

 

C

canyncarvr

~SPONSOR~

Oct 14, 1999

4,005

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• Feb 11, 2003

• #7

Loosen the top clamp bolts. Remove the top cap. Add oil. No special tools needed.

Add the same amount in both forks. It doesn't take a whole lot. Add it in 5cc increments (an example).

New springs will run you $60-80 or so.

Having a tuner revalve, respring and service the forks will run easily into the hundreds of bucks range.

You can also pressurize the forks. Put a valve where the brass screw is. Add air to suit (as in a few pounds of pressure).

None of the cheap fixes (adding oil, pressurizing) is a substitute for the correct spring and valve.

 

K

KDXFreestyle

Damn Yankees

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Nov 19, 2002

645

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• Feb 11, 2003

• Thread starter
• #8

thanx canyoncrvr..Im gonna go and buy dome oilel today as soon as I get home from skool.

 

K

KDXFreestyle

Damn Yankees

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Nov 19, 2002

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• Feb 11, 2003

• Thread starter
• #9

o by the way, youmean by the t o caps as the...not the brass screws, but the whole top?

 

K

kx_693

Member

Jul 2, 2002

97

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• Feb 11, 2003

• #10

i wouldent add pressure to the kdx forks. they are ment to work with atmospheric pressure, and adding more results in blow fork seals. Adding oil will make the forks fell stiffer, but your not going to notice it untill the last 4 inches or so of the travel, it well also make the forks rebound faster. just something to think about. The cheap way works, but the right way is to have springs and a pro revalve the forks.

 

C

canyncarvr

~SPONSOR~

Oct 14, 1999

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• Feb 11, 2003

• #11

What am I thinking! Heck..if you're just adding oil, do it through the bleed screw hole.

So..just take out the brass common-slot screw on the top of the fork and squirt the same amount of oil into both forks.

Make sure the fork is clean...don't want ANYTHING to fall into the hole.

Sorry.......my one brain cell must've been otherwise occupied during the earlier response. :(

Sorry 'bout that.

No, I wouldn't add pressure to the topend, either. A couple of psi isn't going to blow out anything......unless it's on the way to blowing anyway.

 

K

KDXFreestyle

Damn Yankees

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Nov 19, 2002

645

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• Feb 11, 2003

• Thread starter
• #12

ok, thanx guys..i think i got it by tightening upo the clickerz liek a bitch..Im all set..thanx!

 

P

prk03

~SPONSOR~

Jun 24, 2002

62

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• Feb 11, 2003

• #13

If you want go to Fredette site www.frpoffroad.com and can get prices on springs

 

G

G. Gearloose

Pigment of ur imagination

Jul 24, 2000

709

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• Feb 12, 2003

• #14

Originally posted by KDXFreestyle
ok, thanx guys..i think i got it by tightening upo the clickerz liek a bitch..Im all set..thanx!

Click to expand...

Since this is only the rebound adjustment, you may not be getting the affect you are looking for. This will net a very quirky combination. Increasing compression damping is via oil viscosity, else you must get them reworked. If the fork's layden sag is over 40-50 cm, you could add some preload to get it into the 37-47 mm range, but since you've implied before you may be jumping this bike hard, springs are in order.

 

K

kx_693

Member

Jul 2, 2002

97

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• Feb 12, 2003

• #15

hey i think you guys are backwards. the clickers increese or decreese compression, ther are no rebound adjusters on the KDX forks, the rebound is taken care of by the oil, and the valving. But the clickers are compression adjustments

 

G

G. Gearloose

Pigment of ur imagination

Jul 24, 2000

709

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• Feb 13, 2003

• #16

Egad - thanks for the correction!