rear shock size?

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lange-koeln
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rear shock size?

Post by lange-koeln »

Hi,

i´m thinking about changing the rear Shock absorber into another one. It has the same Problem like my KLX: The Power oft the spring is ok if i adjust ist to my (heavy-) weight, but the damping is too less. In the KLX i found the tipp to change to a Öhlins - Suspension of an older Husqvarna with an individula made spring. It works perfekt!

Now i think about a solution for the KDX 250. For that i must know the size of the shock-absorber: the lenght between the both eyes an the size of the eyes. After that i must find another / knewer / better absorber with the same size.

Does someone know the size of the KDX 250 rear absorber?
Does someone know, what other bikes have the same size?

Thanks!

Christian
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bufftester
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Re: rear shock size?

Post by bufftester »

Not much adjustability on those old shocks. You will probably find that the motocross shocks from the same years will be a close fit, but without knowing the year/model of your bike I can't say. Race Tech also makes revalving kits, not sure of the applicable years but you can look on their website.
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Re: rear shock size?

Post by KDXGarage »

How long has it been since you had the oil changed?

What is your weight in full riding gear, including all water backpacks and tools.

Have you changed the stock spring?

A MX shock will almost always be longer, causing a major headache on geometry.
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lange-koeln
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Re: rear shock size?

Post by lange-koeln »

Its a KDX 250 built ´91 or ´92. I think its based on the 250 KX of 91. The silencer fits. GBut i didn´t found a used rear suspension in good condition to by. And i will try to make it with cheap / used parts. Otherwise its easier to sell the bike and by a modern one.

How long has it been since you had the oil changed?
The oil of the rear suspension? I think it is the first ....

What is your weight in full riding gear, including all water backpacks and tools.
I aprechiate round 130 KG, i dont have a scale to check it exact :grin:


Have you changed the stock spring?
i adjusted it to "hard" and it seems to be enough, cuse i like soft suspensions.
The prob is, that the damping is too soft, so the bike jumps on every bump or step.

A MX shock will almost always be longer, causing a major headache on geometry.
The geometry seems to be no prob cause its easy to change the bones in the uni-trak.

Regards

Christian
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Re: rear shock size?

Post by KDXGarage »

If you are 130 Kg, then you surely need a different spring. The spring is to hold up your weight. Read up on checking suspension sag.

If it jumps on every bump or step, then it makes me wonder if the shock has any oil at all.
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Re: rear shock size?

Post by bufftester »

Yeah, that shock needs rebuilt and the proper spring for your weight installed. Sounds as though it's running on just spring tension, and since you set it firm you're going to feel every bump. New oil/nitrogen, proper spring, set sag and you should be golden.
lange-koeln
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Re: rear shock size?

Post by lange-koeln »

I´m searchen for a low-cost solution and will not spend too much money in this old bike. I made the experience, that many parts from other bikes may fit or can be installed with less work. Sure the best way wood be, to give ist to a suspension - specialist renovate it and spend a individual spring. But thats more expensive, than a good used part. And then its still a ´92 Shock-Absorber. In my KLX i tried the same way. A friend bought a used Öhlins from a Husqvarna in good condition and spend a strnger spring. Later i had the chance to by that. So for 120 € (~ 150 $) i had a perfect working suspension in my bike.

Now i will the same in the KDX. I found springs for the fork (i don´t know from what bike these springs are, i think they are from a KX) in my old KLX-Parts and they work good. The springs for the Motocross-Bikes are normaly harder, than in the enduro. So it may fit for my higher weight as an Enduro-Spring. So i will try to find a Suspension from a Motocross-Bike, that fits in the KDX.

The next problem is, that my garage is 30 miles away from cologne and i´m not a professionel mechanic. So i try the find the "plug-and-play-solution" in the Internet, organise the parts, i need and than begin to work. :grin:

So if someone has a KDX - Suspension liing in his garage, he may give me the datas and i know, what i must search...
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Re: rear shock size?

Post by KDXGarage »

Good luck in your search. :bravo:
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lange-koeln
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Re: rear shock size?

Post by lange-koeln »

Now, whats about the size? Nobody knows?
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Re: rear shock size?

Post by gsa102 »

Dirt bike shocks do not have standardized sizing and the configuration of each model can vary greatly. As in nitrogen reservoir orientation, etc. I'm sure the manufacturers have a chart or something, but it is not common knowledge. If you search this forum you will find some people have found some units that will fit, but need to be modified by an expert to work properly.

I almost did the same thing but it was cheaper and easier to rebuild my old unit. Search "kayaba shock rebuild" on youtube, and there are several videos that will show how to do it. Jason has a parts kit available just for that, and he probably knows way more about suspension than I do.
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Re: rear shock size?

Post by KDXGarage »

I sold the one kit I had put together.

This guy is in Germany.
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