Suspension Settings

The problem with getting someone to dial in your bike is you never learn anything, and you'll need someone to do your next bike, or this one if you end up riding on a dramaticly different surface.

Start by setting static sag to your weight - then use the settings in the books as a baseline.

First, you should go into the manual & reset the suspension to stock, or go to the "comfort" settings and tweak from there. No special tools are needed, just bust open your KTM toolkit & twist away. It's easy, and takes like 10 minutes. For your light(ish) weight, the comfort settings will be a good start, and then stiffen from there.

Ordered today (as long as the fax with credit card details went through ok.)
p117 for both. As per the special from WP UK distributor Full Travel, link is in this thread posted by lamb.

I'm sorting out where/what to buy a pin spanner for the fork preload cap, other tool needed is a thin 22m open end spanner (can grind one down on a belt sander.)

And an engine crane [as per joe] for hoisting the front end, it'll also serve the purpose of lifting the front for bleeding cooling system. You can get folding ones, so it doesn't have to take up so much space...it can get hung up on the wall. I think it's either that or put rawl bolts into the concrete ceiling and use straps or a hoist...I think the engine crane'll be simpler.

The shock...I need to find a local place that has a shock spring compressor. One of the local KTM dealers is Alfie Cox, ex-Dakar racer, so he should know. And I'll be there to watch, to make sure they don't stuff it up, that they have proper protective things in the vise and so on. First of all, to see that they do have the proper shock spring compressor/plier.

email just popped up from Will at Full Travel - the springs have been despatched. It was 117 + 45 for carriage, btw. A lot less than $ price, I checked, because normally everything costs much more in the UK.

You may not need a spring compressor for the rear - as once you wind off all the preload it may all come apart.

Haven't done an SD but with other bikes I haven't needed one.

You will need a decent C spanner to adjust preload.

Forks you can get away with if you have 4 - 6 hands (2 to pull spring down, 2 to pull rod up and 2 to insert spanner).
I have done it single handed buts its tricky and I wouldn't recommend.

Having said all of that with the correct tools its a 5 min job and if your bike shop is friendly etc

I might be wrong, I might have got that idea from the wrong WP shock manual. (I've been collecting them.) I did take off the preload as much as possible, so that only a mm or two of threads are left, and the spring was turning easily - I think, I need to check just how freely it turns. So if that's the case, either it can just come apart, or maybe a couple of tiedowns will be enough, for just a mm or two.

The preload spanner, I have a few C spanners, but I'm getting one of the proper ones - the aluminium ones, they look like they're all made by Enduro Engineering. The C spanners are all too thin and too sharp - they work, they're ok, but when it's tight they're digging into the alloy a bit. I've just been holding off from ordering one until I decide whether to get the EE preload cap tool at the same time, or get a normal pin spanner, that works without the handlebars having to be taken off.

mm, I see the point about two hands to pull the spring down. At the moment, I can't even pull the spark plug caps off. My wrist/whatever is buggered. After 5 weeks or so, I can do things, but I have to be careful about what angles I apply pressure with that hand. But I can organise someone to pull the spring down, and hopefully I can insert the spanner and organise something to hook the rod with. ...It'll be much easier if the spanner is very thin.

I bought an Ohlins shock a few years ago that came with a C spanner, would have done the job but I ended up buying a decent C spanner. Fits much better and does less damage.

Are you going to change the fork oil ? as you may find the oil levels go out when you pull the spring out plus not sure how accurate they are from the factory.

Other then that I think you've got it all covered Cat - will be interesting to see how it rides.

Here is what I settled on, after several trips to my suspension guy to get it dialed in right...

1) Rider Sag: Front 40mm/Rear 30mm

2) Front fork settings: Compression – 10 clicks/Rebound - 9 clicks

3) Rear shock settings: Low-speed compression – 13 clicks
/ High-speed compression – 1 full turn/Rebound – 8 clicks

4) Additional changes : Forks dropped so that the top of the fork cap is recessed 5mm into the top triple clamp.

We raked it out a bit because the bike was too twitchy and not stable. He loved how it just dropped into turns, but when he pushed it to 70% and beyond, the bike was not stable and it got scary.

Another chassis guy rode it and said, "It's a track day guy's dream and a racer's nightmare"... haha

But it feels really nice now.

Had my sd set up at a trackday last month by Pete Clifford of Actiforce,
id been toying with the idea for ages but finally did it and now wish id done it sooner,
anyway heres the settings
Forks
compression 9 out
rebound 11 out
static sag 30
forks flush with top

Rear shock
static sag 14
compression ls 6 out
compression hs 1.5
rebound 20

the difference in the bike is amazing , hope this helps

What weight are you?

sorry 11 stone without gear

He did mine for me last year,

Mine are very similar to yours

Forks

Static Sag 27
comp 5
rebound 7

Shock
Static sag 14
comp ls 6 hs 1
rebound 21
preload +1.5

I weigh around 93 kilos kitted up, the bike was a lot a better, but i've found lately as i'm pushing it more on the track and breaking a lot harder and later, i'm getting chatter from the front forks.

What bikes do you guys have ?
And what springs ?

standard sd apart from sdr tail ,lighter cans etc with standard sd springs and oil

My bikes a standard SD as well.

fuel, is that you on trackday riders?

fuel, is that you on trackday riders?

Yes that's me. Are you on there as well?

yep although very rarely post