E vs H/A series chassis
Posted: 11:59 pm Nov 28 2015
Posted this in my Black Friday video but figured some of my knowledgeable KDX brethren might have some answers if you actually see the questions.
Ok, I'm riding a '98 KDX220 now. Even running a Scotts damper (without it the bike is almost unrideable for me) the stock KDX forks just can't do what I need them to do without a lot of work and they still won't have separate compression and rebound adjustment. I can out ride them way too easily and I have almost paid the price for it on more than one occasion. I need forks I can go from slow crawling technical terrain up to 6th gear pinned desert riding since I do both and everything in between. I have some '05 KX250f forks I will be swapping on some time in the near future. The '01-'02 RM125 rear shock, from what I have heard, will help with riding whoops and other high speed hits so I plan on this mod as well.
So, my question. Can anyone confirm that the H/A series chassis, or maybe just the swingarm, is even shorter length wise than the E series? I didn't think much of it but noticed it doesn't track as well as my old E did across whoops and seems to be way easier to cross-rut. I just put on the chain and sprockets I saved from my E series on to my 220. On my E I barely had enough chain to keep the tire from hitting the swingarm with the adjusters at 0. On the 220, even with the adjusters maxed out, the same chain was way too long. I had to take a link out and now it is adjusted perfectly at 2.5 on the snails. That tells me something in chassis changed. What exactly?
Anyway, I really love the power of this bike just not the suspension. I dare say I think I like the 220 engine better than my old E. I think once I get the suspension sorted out it will be a very capable bike in almost any terrain.
Ok, I'm riding a '98 KDX220 now. Even running a Scotts damper (without it the bike is almost unrideable for me) the stock KDX forks just can't do what I need them to do without a lot of work and they still won't have separate compression and rebound adjustment. I can out ride them way too easily and I have almost paid the price for it on more than one occasion. I need forks I can go from slow crawling technical terrain up to 6th gear pinned desert riding since I do both and everything in between. I have some '05 KX250f forks I will be swapping on some time in the near future. The '01-'02 RM125 rear shock, from what I have heard, will help with riding whoops and other high speed hits so I plan on this mod as well.
So, my question. Can anyone confirm that the H/A series chassis, or maybe just the swingarm, is even shorter length wise than the E series? I didn't think much of it but noticed it doesn't track as well as my old E did across whoops and seems to be way easier to cross-rut. I just put on the chain and sprockets I saved from my E series on to my 220. On my E I barely had enough chain to keep the tire from hitting the swingarm with the adjusters at 0. On the 220, even with the adjusters maxed out, the same chain was way too long. I had to take a link out and now it is adjusted perfectly at 2.5 on the snails. That tells me something in chassis changed. What exactly?
Anyway, I really love the power of this bike just not the suspension. I dare say I think I like the 220 engine better than my old E. I think once I get the suspension sorted out it will be a very capable bike in almost any terrain.