harsh forks

i am just a newbie to the whole motocross game, but as i have been riding more and more, i find my self less and less impressed with my bike, the suspension to be exact. now while I need to obviously work on my conditioning and technique, i have been finding my bike harder and harder to hold onto as i try to push it faster and faster. in the corners i feel smooth and i am rock solid off all the jumps, but as soon as i get into bumps, weather breaking bumps, or rough straights, the bike trys to kick me off. i mean i actually lose my grip on the handlebars sometimes. its is so harsh, i keep getting flat tires. i thought that this was just a problem i was having because i'm not used to the bike, but it really started to bug me. i have adjusted my clickers a bit but i don't notice any difference. i haven't checked my oil level, but i trust the factory would have set it up, right? i weigh 160lbs+/-

so while complaing to my buddy today, he suggested i try his yzf250, for comparison sake. holy shit! i can't belive that i can even ride my bike, compared to his. it was soo plush(and he weighs 210lbs, and his bike is set up for him) all the little bumps that destroy me on my 250, i could hardly feel on his. i could have ridden hot lap after hot lap and been hardly fatigued, where i only last a half a lap on my bike, then i hafta slow down.

now it feels to me like the forks are the problem, but i guess the suspension components affect on another. i have retorqued the lower triple clamps, realigned the wheel, adjusted the compression clickers(i never fooled with the rebound ones) all in a quest to soften them up. they will bottom slightly if i over shoot some of the bigger jumps on our local track, so i think i'm using the full stroke. today somebody said i should check the rebound and make sure its not too much, because the forks could be packing? anyone have any advise? and how should i go about checking my oil level? thanks for reading

I won't even try to help you with the suspension issue (you DO NOT want MY help there) but I was very curious about you getting flat tires. I have never heard of suspension causing that, but I guess anything's possible. What PSI do you run in your front tire?

KRS

It sounds like the oil level in the forks is too high. Even though your bike is new (I assume), it is possible that a mistake could have been made at the factory.

Set your clickers to the factory settings (turn them all the way in, then count the clicks backing it out [counter-clockwise]). See if that helps first.

i run 15 psi, front and rear, my two flat rear tires were due to pinch flats, and i haven't got around to fixing my front tire that went flat yesterday, its funny because, i'm not really aggressive or do i over jump everything. and i check the pressure every ride. i think it is because the suspension is so harsh it puts too much stress on the tires. haha it feels that bad! but thats really a long shot, and probably not the case.

also how do i check the oil level? like measure from the top of the tubes with the forks extended?
thanks guys

MAN!!! If you think your suspension is bad, I would like to see you ride a KTM!!! lol. If its really that bad and it bothers you that much, and you can afford it, get your suspension re-valved. I think thats the best mod for a bike, but probably one of the most expensive. Suspension is what allows you to get the power to the ground, and if you can't do that, then your not riding as fast as you can, and what fun is that? But I would go by your manual and play with the clickers a little bit and see how that works out for ya, but just remember this, clickers can only do so much for ya! Good luck!

I hear you Nathan. I am a little guy on a 250 and its pretty tough! Corners im pretty solid jumps I do fine but the small bumps just kill me. ROuch stuff is where i get beat. I think its the sag that needs to be set, then the springs and it should be revlaved and adjusted for your weight.

thanks roost and smoke, i weigh about 157 lbs, although i'm only 5'6'' i think 160 is about the perfect weight for the stock springs. you find your bike kicks you around aswell twosmoke? what see untill i rode my buddies bike, i thought it was just because i'm new and not used to it, but shat! i couldn't believe how smooth his bike was, pretty funny considering his sag ways wayy out and his suspension is set up for his 210lbs. it was like night and day difference. my problem is not a minor suspension tweaking issue, i think its not working properly. maybe i'm crazy, but has anyone see new bikes that just don't work right? i read something on thumpertalk about a dude with the same harsh fork problem, anyone seen this before?

p.s. somebody know the best way to check the fork oil level?

have you tried to bleed the forks?
if you dont bleed them, air builds up in them and they become harsh, if you dont know how to bleed them heres how: put the bike on a stand so the front wheeel is above the ground, and above the clicker there is a small screw undo that until you hear air come out. then wait for it to stop and do it back up.
it wont solve all problems but it may be less harsh, also try backing of the rebound.

nathantheman wrote:

p.s. somebody know the best way to check the fork oil level?

I've never worked on suspension. Maybe someone else can chime in here. I know the factory service manual explains it. Maybe even the owners manual.

to check the oil, i remove the spring, colapse the forks and use a little ruler or something to measure down? is that right?

On some forks I think you measure the volume of oil, and some you measure the air space at the top.

i found the best way to handle acceleration bumps is to lean back, and give her hell, keep the front as light as possible,and that should help with your grip problem.

You dont mention any particulars about youre bike...but im assuming its a new yz250....if it is...join the club Im having the same problem with my 2005 yz 250 and ive tried everything to remedy it...bleed the air, set my sag, clicker settings in numerous different postions and combinations, loosen the fork clamps and retorque...nothing works...it beats the living sh*t out of my wrists. Ive surfed this subject on the net and ive seen numerous times that people with this problem are adding 10 cc's of oil to the outer chamber of the fork and backing the compression clickers out 2-4 clicks from stock and setting rebound in 2 clicks from stock and they say this has helped...I havent had a chance to try it yet ...but will try that when its nice enough to ride around here again and if that doesnt work...im gonna bite the bullet and get a revalve done front and back from a reputable suspension company.

just my 2 cents

thanks dudes, you know this past weekend i had some better luck, i backed out the rebound two clicks and the compression three clicks. i felt alot better the rebound seemed to make the most difference, tek giver a try next weekend, i'm gonna go one more click out each and see what happens

It kicks me around good. Mostly in the whoops though.. I havent messed with my suspension because I dont know where to start.