Sag Redux

FWIW, my dealer called KTM (presumably North America): "KTM didn't have the measurements on your front end but the stated that your rear sag should be 185mm off bike and a third or 124 mm on bike." My dealer is still waiting for his service manuals (gulp!) and will share if he learns more.

I thought rear travel was 160mm so I'm not sure what KTM means (although to me it says some unflattering things about KTM and their customer care). Reading between the lines they seem to suggest that sag should be set so that rider on bike uses up 1/3 of suspension travel.

Any thoughts welcome.

Hey Joe - I've had some back ordered parts take a while to get to me, but I knew that was an issue when I bought the bike so I was prepared to live with it. I am a little surprised that KTM wouldn't take the time to figure out or remember the answer to a fairly simple question. I'm also surprised that my dealer is waiting on the service manual. I think fairly highly of my dealer - they try hard to help me, seem honest and charge fair prices. I get the impression that KTM is overwhelmed with demand and just trying to keep up (or maybe we currently are a small market and so don't get as much attention). Either way, the SD is so damn good I'm hooked.

I've posted a link a couple of times now to a progresive suspension c spanner that fits to a 3/8 ratchet and extention. Works a treat and can get in anywhere.

You need to find a job where they pay you to eat

There is truth in the 1/3 setting's that is about where the ride should be with the rider no matter what the style or speed,you just need to adjust springs and valves to accomodate .Suspension IS a bit of a black art sometimes, but when you do fully understand it ,it's like a light comming on? I am an agressive track rider and weigh 250 lbs and LOVE to brake late, I used to think that the stiffer the suspension, the faster I would be able to go.....NOT ! as it turns out, the faster you go , the more suspension you need to keep it STABLE (not skittering and chattering in corners) so the settings need to be more soft edged, and use greater travel to fully absorbe bumps.


I was taught this way.
take an egg......drop it from 5 feet and catch it in your hands, in order for the egg to not break or crack, you moved your hand downward when catching the egg in order not to break it......right ?

now take that same egg and drop it from 20 feet ,you will have to move your hand in the downward motion for longer and faster to meet the speed of the egg.....no?

well friends,suspension works the same way, to go faster ,you need to use more or ALL of the available travel you have in the suspension, now let's go break some eggs !

CAR'S Suspension is totally the opposite ! it needs to be tight andd move next to none to go fast