dirtbikes - can the springs be reset?

[Tocchi]

basically, KTM dont make lowered springs for their bikes.

this poses a problem for me... because i cant touch the ground on my bike (08 250sxf) ... and i think id struggle to touch the ground even without a seat .. FML..

anyways, if i got the spring reset (to a shorter length), would that work?


would resetting it affect its recoil mass ability.. i weigh 65kg so i dont need the spring to become any stiffer.

[RGVFAST]

any spring should be able to be reset, but you're going to effect the bikes geometery , for better or for worse i dunno.

mates brother works at a srping joint that can shorten coils but still have same spring rate. im sure same techniques can be used on bike springs

[Pav]

Hey Tocchi, i dunno if you've ever read any magazines with dirt bike techniques and what not. But you don't actually have to be able to touch the floor with both of your feet whilst mounted on the bike. As long as you can touch one of your feet (preferably flat foot) on the ground on either side of the bike, you will be fine!

When i first got on my CR80 back in the day at age 12 or so, i couldn't touch. And then when i upgraded to XR250 i still couldn't. But yeah, once you get past the head fuck, feeling like you're always gonna fall over coz you can't touch ground with both feet, you'll get used to it. As i said, whenever you stop just put one foot down and slouch to one side. Or better yet, don't stop!

I thought most bike had 3 or so stiffness settings. You might be able to adjust that so when you are mounted on the bike it sags down a bit more, therefor it's easier for you to reach the floor. I've also heard of people reducing/lowering the amount of padding in the seat and having it recovered.. Although bikes these days come with fuck all padding as it is.. Gl man.

[Tocchi]

pav, to touch the ground with tippy toes on ONE foot... my ASS is off the seat :O inside of hammy touching seat

my seat is a low profile aftermarket one too :(

[Pav]

pav, to touch the ground with tippy toes on ONE foot... my ASS is off the seat :O inside of hammy touching seat

my seat is a low profile aftermarket one too :(

Ahh ghey! Is your other foot still touching the footpeg though? I assume no.

The japs usually make their car interiors too small for anyone over 6ft to fit comfortably. And their bikes too tall for anyone under 6ft to mount on! Go figure :p. Oh wait KTM is a skippy manufacturer isn't it?. Ah well there's your fail. Go buy a Honda man ;)

[munchmunch]

isnt ktm american ??

[Lasoya]

isnt ktm american ??
No it isnt

And in answer to ur spring question, im only like 5ft10" and i touch the ground with 1 leg on my 450cc, if u start lowering the spring heights then ur bike wont handlethe jumps well, as well as wont ride smooth over the woops or bumps

[Sigem]

KTM is from Austria not Australia

[Tocchi]

Ahh ghey! Is your other foot still touching the footpeg though? I assume no.

The japs usually make their car interiors too small for anyone over 6ft to fit comfortably. And their bikes too tall for anyone under 6ft to mount on! Go figure :p. Oh wait KTM is a skippy manufacturer isn't it?. Ah well there's your fail. Go buy a Honda man ;)
hondas ftmfl

my other leg is flailing in the air hahah




No it isnt

And in answer to ur spring question, im only like 5ft10" and i touch the ground with 1 leg on my 450cc, if u start lowering the spring heights then ur bike wont handlethe jumps well, as well as wont ride smooth over the woops or bumps
oh ok. damn... i guess ill just have to get used to it... epic hard trying to start bike when you cant touch ground



KTM is from Austria not Australia
bingo... austria = epic prices

[McLOVIN]

Rear spring should be on a height adjustable platform. I'm assuming this is wound all the way down? You could also drop the front mounts down the shafts to get it a bit lower.

As mentioned though, it will obviously reduce clearance and affect suspension geometry and behaviour a fair deal.

[Tocchi]

yeh. its a coilover... BUT if i wind it out anymore, the spring will be "loose" and bounce freely ....

[Pav]

KTM is from Austria not Australia

Ahh true.. Knew it was Au-something. :p

[2jzlux]

Just take it to a bike suspension guy and he will set it up for your weight and riding style with the right spring .
Sounds like you need a softer spring.
They are available but wont be from ktm usually eibach or ohlins or something.
JPN suspensions used to do mine but i dont think he does now(retired or some shit).

[sneezn_effsix]

tocchi you should be able to touch the ground by putting one foot on the peg and leaning to one side. some young kids at morotcross race 250fs and manage to just touch lol. You can take it to a few suspension shops to get it set up for your weight, sag, rebound etc etc. You can also drop the fork legs through the triple clamps at the front to help lower the bike. Best advice would be take it to a shop an get it set up. you will find the bike a lot easier to ride. i race motocross an its the first thing that gets done before any mods.. because no point having power and not being able to get it to the ground and trying to fight the bike :)

[Token]

oi Matt, never said u couldnt get a lower spring, just a seat is an option.

i think springs for the kato's go for like 200, but you could get aftermarket.

any part numbers on the spring, or a N/mm rating, and i can get u a part number. you'd be like less that 80kg, so you'd probably need like 1 or 2 steps lower in the spring rate.

[Tocchi]

theres 65-75kg and 75-85kg springs.

i have got an aftemarket One Ind. seat... its low. lol

[Token]

yeah you looking at ur parts book now. something like 9121???

[Tocchi]

what page is 9121 on?

[Token]

that might be the part number for the spring. look in the shock disassembled page

[Tocchi]

ive got the powerparts book 2009 offroad

only part for rear suspension is page 9

shows a photo of the shock and spring as 1 piece.

WP pds one

[31-EVO]

Makita Springs > Resetting

I was in the new KTM shop in Bunbury looking at bikes the other day and they had a whole shitload of different type kg rated springs.

[Token]

lol. wrong book.. when u got ur bike, u should of got a spare parts manual for the chassis and engine? or was it missing

[Tocchi]

got the right book now carl... in that lovely folder i get with the bike. hahaha

id probably need the 63Nm spring

page 11

[mr_mike]

serves you right for buying a KTM if u bought a bike with regular rear suspension you could of bought a lowering link for it hahaha

But other bikes dont look as tuff as KTM's


Wont putting a softer spring in just increase the amount of sag?

[Token]

lol, nothing wrong with KTM hahaha

yeah thats the one.. even ring Andrew, who took my job, just to see if its in stock. somewhere in the owners manual it should say wat spring suits which weight. pretty sure i cant log onto the system anymore so i cant check, but that will make sure u get the right spring for your weight

mr_mike, when i worked at KTM, we run with a listing that goes by the riders weight, certain n/mm spring is suited to a particular riders weight with gear. tis the same with fork springs. once its fitted, might take some fine tuning to get it perfect. but a shop can do that piece of piss

[evoeata]

southern racing suspension will be able to get in a spring to suit your height/weight and ability.
http://www.perthmx.com/rotate/southernRacingSuspension.jpg
make sure u set your sag and clickers up before hand. plenty of guides on thumpertalk.com

maybe ask a couple of questions in the KTM part of thumpertalk too. will get a definate answer, maybe even part numbers or suppliers in the states.

[Token]

southern racing suspensions, shit whats his name, delt with him a lot with genuine ktm shock and fork springs