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Questions and comments about converting to beefier forks..
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layoutd
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Post by layoutd »

enough to try it out, no headlight, etc. but together and riding. not enough trails around to give it a good try, but i did notice that the front end seemed a lot lighter. it was more prone to come up and easier to make come up. i am guessing that is due to less weight at the axles. got watch the way i ride until i get used to it.
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Post by Indawoods »

Sprung vs. unsprung weight.... makes a difference. :wink:
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Post by Green Hornet »

Is it also due to the front being pitched a bit higher???
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Post by KDX220PHIL »

>|<>QBB<
Green Hornet wrote:Is it also due to the front being pitched a bit higher???
That would make sense, it is harder to wheelie going down hill :rolleyes: .
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Post by m0rie »

I thought most people took that "pitch" out by spacing the top clamp up so the forks could be slid up higher in the clamps?
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Post by canyncarvr »

Did you happen to measure your 'before' setup to help with getting the 'after' setup in the same neighborhood?

Mentioned before...but I like it..so I'll repeat it.

Figuring the height of the bike by measuring axle-to-clamp does have some problems between the KX and the KDX frontend. I don't think that's a very meaningful way to get the job done.

I set a level on my bike before I started..marked the spot on the seat (or tank..same) where the level needed to be set to read 'level'. I setup my KX frontend to 'read' the same.

re: Sprung vs: unsprung

Yep. It does make a big difference. I do wonder if that ends up a positive or negative in the case of a fork swap. The inner tube (either fork type) I'll bet is heavier than the outer tube.

I have nothing to base that on..even though the inners are smaller dimensionally speaking, I think they would be heavier.

Still..your frontend seems lighter because it's taller, I'll bet. Not usually a good thing on any uphill.... :wink:

I've often found it farily easy to 'wheelie' going downhill. Well...if you want to apply that term to the rear wheel coming up! (going over?) :wink: Maybe that's a 'stoppie'.

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Post by layoutd »

i did not measure the before and after height, probably should have, but didn't. i have the spacer under the triple clamp and measured 7/8" from the top of the clamp to the top of the fork. the bike feels the same when sitting, not that i would probably notice, only been riding a motorcycle since may '04, kinda like it light up front. i did a little hill behind the house and did notice that i needed to sit up farther on the seat, but i attributed that to being lazy and not getting up on the pegs good. maybe i will leave it like this for a bit to encourage me to stay up on the pegs and more forward on the uphills. a recent enduro i did, first as well, i noticed that i was holding on with my navel entirely too much. i'll ride like this for a while and force myself into better form. not sure that i could go much further up on the fork anyway.
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Post by m0rie »

Which brake caliper did you end up using with your conversion?
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Post by canyncarvr »

IF you used a spacer...and IF you're 7/8" up past THAT...you should be right close to a 'correct' attitude.

Well, that's close to my setup..and I'm level.

Maybe your bike just runs great and hooks up better!

Heck...may as well think on the positive side.

Let us know how you like it after summore riding..........

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Post by Indawoods »

>|<>QBB<
canyncarvr wrote:re: Sprung vs: unsprung

Yep. It does make a big difference. I do wonder if that ends up a positive or negative in the case of a fork swap. The inner tube (either fork type) I'll bet is heavier than the outer tube.
CC... you think the inner tubes are heavier than the cast aluminum receivers? I don't think so and that is what is being sprung besides the internals. I'm pretty sure the KX forks sprung weight would be much less.....

I thought this is one of the reasons that the switch to USD's was done.
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