Mix and match fork springs
-
- Supporting Member II
- Posts: 134
- Joined: 07:00 pm Sep 27 2009
- Country: USA
- Location: Michigan
Mix and match fork springs
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,
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,
Sthutch
1st Bike: '72 Arctic Cat Whisker (rode it to the wheels fell off)
2nd Bike: '76 KT250 Trials (gone, but not forgotten)
3rd Bike: '01 KDX200
4th Bike: '96 DS80 (okay, my 9yr old's and it's gone)
5th Bike: '04 RM65 (okay, he's now 10 and it's gone)
6th Bike: '08 KTM 105xc (okay, he's now 13)
7th Bike: '06 KTM 200xc-w (okay, he's now 16)
1st Bike: '72 Arctic Cat Whisker (rode it to the wheels fell off)
2nd Bike: '76 KT250 Trials (gone, but not forgotten)
3rd Bike: '01 KDX200
4th Bike: '96 DS80 (okay, my 9yr old's and it's gone)
5th Bike: '04 RM65 (okay, he's now 10 and it's gone)
6th Bike: '08 KTM 105xc (okay, he's now 13)
7th Bike: '06 KTM 200xc-w (okay, he's now 16)
- bufftester
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 3459
- Joined: 06:03 pm Oct 31 2012
- Country: USA
- Location: University Place, WA
Re: Mix and match fork springs
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
-
- Supporting Member II
- Posts: 134
- Joined: 07:00 pm Sep 27 2009
- Country: USA
- Location: Michigan
Re: Mix and match fork springs
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.
Sthutch
1st Bike: '72 Arctic Cat Whisker (rode it to the wheels fell off)
2nd Bike: '76 KT250 Trials (gone, but not forgotten)
3rd Bike: '01 KDX200
4th Bike: '96 DS80 (okay, my 9yr old's and it's gone)
5th Bike: '04 RM65 (okay, he's now 10 and it's gone)
6th Bike: '08 KTM 105xc (okay, he's now 13)
7th Bike: '06 KTM 200xc-w (okay, he's now 16)
1st Bike: '72 Arctic Cat Whisker (rode it to the wheels fell off)
2nd Bike: '76 KT250 Trials (gone, but not forgotten)
3rd Bike: '01 KDX200
4th Bike: '96 DS80 (okay, my 9yr old's and it's gone)
5th Bike: '04 RM65 (okay, he's now 10 and it's gone)
6th Bike: '08 KTM 105xc (okay, he's now 13)
7th Bike: '06 KTM 200xc-w (okay, he's now 16)
- diymirage
- Supporting Member II
- Posts: 2909
- Joined: 05:00 pm Sep 19 2011
- Country:
- Location: michigan
Re: Mix and match fork springs
sounds to me like it would be a great set up for circle track
newbbewb wrote:DIYmirage has it right.
-1996 KDX 200 woods weapon (converted to 99 green body)
-1996 KDX 200 plated street toy (barney edition)
-2003 Yamaha TTR125-L (wifeys bike)
-1997 KDX 220 project bike
-
- Supporting Member I
- Posts: 567
- Joined: 10:38 am Aug 20 2012
- Country:
- Location: anderson sc
Re: Mix and match fork springs
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.
-
- Supporting Member II
- Posts: 134
- Joined: 07:00 pm Sep 27 2009
- Country: USA
- Location: Michigan
Re: Mix and match fork springs
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.
Sthutch
1st Bike: '72 Arctic Cat Whisker (rode it to the wheels fell off)
2nd Bike: '76 KT250 Trials (gone, but not forgotten)
3rd Bike: '01 KDX200
4th Bike: '96 DS80 (okay, my 9yr old's and it's gone)
5th Bike: '04 RM65 (okay, he's now 10 and it's gone)
6th Bike: '08 KTM 105xc (okay, he's now 13)
7th Bike: '06 KTM 200xc-w (okay, he's now 16)
1st Bike: '72 Arctic Cat Whisker (rode it to the wheels fell off)
2nd Bike: '76 KT250 Trials (gone, but not forgotten)
3rd Bike: '01 KDX200
4th Bike: '96 DS80 (okay, my 9yr old's and it's gone)
5th Bike: '04 RM65 (okay, he's now 10 and it's gone)
6th Bike: '08 KTM 105xc (okay, he's now 13)
7th Bike: '06 KTM 200xc-w (okay, he's now 16)
- gsa102
- Supporting Member II
- Posts: 453
- Joined: 12:33 pm Aug 16 2011
- Country:
- Location: PA
Re: Mix and match fork springs
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.
This is my rifle, this is my gun, the YZ to go fast, the KDX is for fun!
96 KDX 200, 09 YZ 250
96 KDX 200, 09 YZ 250
-
- Supporting Member II
- Posts: 674
- Joined: 07:54 am Jun 26 2012
- Country:
- Location: Rhode Island
Mix and match fork springs
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.
- Gotanubike
- Supporting Member III
- Posts: 898
- Joined: 01:00 pm May 22 2013
- Country:
- Location: Ontario, Can
Mix and match fork springs
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
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
1990 KDX200
Bike Profile -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 61#p136315
Suspension Overhaul(Shock+89-92 conventional forks) -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 15&t=15255
96'-98' RM125 Showa 49mm fork swap -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 04&t=16994
KDXrider world map! -> https://www.zeemaps.com/map?group=186158
Bike Profile -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 61#p136315
Suspension Overhaul(Shock+89-92 conventional forks) -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 15&t=15255
96'-98' RM125 Showa 49mm fork swap -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 04&t=16994
KDXrider world map! -> https://www.zeemaps.com/map?group=186158
-
- Supporting Member II
- Posts: 134
- Joined: 07:00 pm Sep 27 2009
- Country: USA
- Location: Michigan
Re: Mix and match fork springs
Now that seems to be an interesting idea and a lot less extreme!
Sthutch
1st Bike: '72 Arctic Cat Whisker (rode it to the wheels fell off)
2nd Bike: '76 KT250 Trials (gone, but not forgotten)
3rd Bike: '01 KDX200
4th Bike: '96 DS80 (okay, my 9yr old's and it's gone)
5th Bike: '04 RM65 (okay, he's now 10 and it's gone)
6th Bike: '08 KTM 105xc (okay, he's now 13)
7th Bike: '06 KTM 200xc-w (okay, he's now 16)
1st Bike: '72 Arctic Cat Whisker (rode it to the wheels fell off)
2nd Bike: '76 KT250 Trials (gone, but not forgotten)
3rd Bike: '01 KDX200
4th Bike: '96 DS80 (okay, my 9yr old's and it's gone)
5th Bike: '04 RM65 (okay, he's now 10 and it's gone)
6th Bike: '08 KTM 105xc (okay, he's now 13)
7th Bike: '06 KTM 200xc-w (okay, he's now 16)