KDXRIDER.NET

Here is a question for you fork wizards. Has any one mixed fork springs of different weights. I have my stock fork springs and a pair of .48's that I got before I learned about this site or much about my bike. I weigh about 210 with all my gear and ride single-track.

I put the .48's in but they seem to stiff. Freddette recommends .42's. If I mix one of each I can get much closer to that. My question is if doing so would cause any damage to my forks or myself. I know I could just spend the dough and buy a new set, but that spoils the fun of experimentation!

Thanks,

It is possible you could do harm to your bike or yourself. By mismatching the spring (and compression rates) you would be putting a lot of stress on the axle and front wheel by extension. Straight line you may not feel anything, so if all you do is drag race it you'll be fine

I was wondering about that. Since the springs are exerting different pressure the front wheel will want to rise unevenly, putting serious stress on the fork tubes and axle mount. Sometime ago I was talking to a guy who had used two different springs, but they were much closer together in size.

sounds to me like it would be a great set up for circle track

I find it hard to believe it would do any damage. If the new forks run the spring in one leg any the compression in the other, why could you not run different springs or valving in different legs.

That is what I was thinking. But before I did this, I thought I'd throw it out to the rest of you. Hopefully someone here has done this type of thing before and can provide a definitive answer.

I would not try it with the stock fork setup, as the new mx bikes with unequal fork springs are most likely stronger around the axle. I would think you would be inviting binding issues as well.

Just to throw this into the mix, what about trials bikes, they have compression in one leg and rebound in the other. But I don't think I'd mix spring rates in a KDX.

hehe NASCAR might have a few tips for you for asymmetrical suspension setups

Try replacing the spacer on the .42's or stocks, if you are on conventional forks because I don't know USD forks at all. You could swap out the spacer up top for a longer one for more preload. That would be the cheapest most effective method IMO

Now that seems to be an interesting idea and a lot less extreme!