I have a few questions I was hoping I could get some answers to if that is ok (opinions are fine too)
I have a 2002 XR400R (Honda)
It is 100% stock in the suspension department to my knowledge and the bike has a better carb but other than that is 100% stock also.
I am 6'1" and 255 lbs
I am a realtively new rider (back after 25 years off) and am riding trails some and more and more am liking a local MX track at my park.
When I ride, I notice a few things;
1. My bike is really heavy compared to other bikes and two strokes. I suppose that could only be remadied by changing bikes or me loosing more weight ( I am working on it and amd on the way down in last year)
2. When I ride the MX track, the front end dives more than I like in corners and if I go in a little more aggresively when I shift the weight to the back of the bike on acceleration out of the corner it does not feel really stable. Is this a result of me being to heavy for the suspension? I do not know the history of a rebuild on my suspension.
3. When I take table tops or the rythem section of the track it seems like the bike does not want to stay in a straight line when I go faster. I am hoping some practice will work some of this out but also wonder if suspension has something to do with it.
4. When I jump up on the table tops or down from them (no I do not clear them I am still kinda new to all of this but I do get up in the air) the suspension does not bottom out but I can tell I am working the front end at least pretty far down and it can sometimes cause some stability (like left right motion) after landing... at lower speed and distance this does not happen, it seems to happen with speed. I am pretty smooth I feel and it is not super far but the more I am getting more comfortable jumping I am noticing it. I have tried repeatedly and even back down to try to see if it is me. Could be but wanted to ask. ( I had the mechanic check bearings when I just had it serviced and he said they were great if that matters)
5. I really like my bike but I also realize it may not be designed to do the things that I am doing (but at my basic skill level I seriously doubt I am asking it for more than it can so far) but my question is this. If I get more and more comfortable jumping and riding the track (I enjoy it way more than I thought I would) will paying to have the bike sprung and valved for me make my bike at least remotely capable on the track for non-supercross but some fun and more spirited riding on the track? (Taking a double etc..) or are there other parts of my bike that will make this not good for it if I go that far (frame, general construction etc)?
Reason I ask is that if it is just a function of putting some money into doing the suspension right and it should be great then I would not mind diong it. If my bike and the suspension, frame or some other part of it are not made for this kind of thing I do not want to sink a lot into it and would consider changing to a bike that I may be able to trail ride more but would be more adept to this kind of riding.
I know a little but not a lot so anything would be appreciated. I do not mind investing in something I love but I really hate to waste money and do not want to head down a path that I would end up turning on later by trying to make a bike into something it is not and spending a lot of money doing it.
Thanks....
I have a 2002 XR400R (Honda)
It is 100% stock in the suspension department to my knowledge and the bike has a better carb but other than that is 100% stock also.
I am 6'1" and 255 lbs
I am a realtively new rider (back after 25 years off) and am riding trails some and more and more am liking a local MX track at my park.
When I ride, I notice a few things;
1. My bike is really heavy compared to other bikes and two strokes. I suppose that could only be remadied by changing bikes or me loosing more weight ( I am working on it and amd on the way down in last year)
2. When I ride the MX track, the front end dives more than I like in corners and if I go in a little more aggresively when I shift the weight to the back of the bike on acceleration out of the corner it does not feel really stable. Is this a result of me being to heavy for the suspension? I do not know the history of a rebuild on my suspension.
3. When I take table tops or the rythem section of the track it seems like the bike does not want to stay in a straight line when I go faster. I am hoping some practice will work some of this out but also wonder if suspension has something to do with it.
4. When I jump up on the table tops or down from them (no I do not clear them I am still kinda new to all of this but I do get up in the air) the suspension does not bottom out but I can tell I am working the front end at least pretty far down and it can sometimes cause some stability (like left right motion) after landing... at lower speed and distance this does not happen, it seems to happen with speed. I am pretty smooth I feel and it is not super far but the more I am getting more comfortable jumping I am noticing it. I have tried repeatedly and even back down to try to see if it is me. Could be but wanted to ask. ( I had the mechanic check bearings when I just had it serviced and he said they were great if that matters)
5. I really like my bike but I also realize it may not be designed to do the things that I am doing (but at my basic skill level I seriously doubt I am asking it for more than it can so far) but my question is this. If I get more and more comfortable jumping and riding the track (I enjoy it way more than I thought I would) will paying to have the bike sprung and valved for me make my bike at least remotely capable on the track for non-supercross but some fun and more spirited riding on the track? (Taking a double etc..) or are there other parts of my bike that will make this not good for it if I go that far (frame, general construction etc)?
Reason I ask is that if it is just a function of putting some money into doing the suspension right and it should be great then I would not mind diong it. If my bike and the suspension, frame or some other part of it are not made for this kind of thing I do not want to sink a lot into it and would consider changing to a bike that I may be able to trail ride more but would be more adept to this kind of riding.
I know a little but not a lot so anything would be appreciated. I do not mind investing in something I love but I really hate to waste money and do not want to head down a path that I would end up turning on later by trying to make a bike into something it is not and spending a lot of money doing it.
Thanks....