'10 EC 300 suspension observations at 20 hours

Bailey28

New member
Hey guys I am just over 20 hours on my 10 300 with the Sachs/Sachs setup.

I started fiddling with the clickers a bit as the bike seemed to change in handling from when it was new. I feel the bike has gotten smoother but softer as well.

First, I ride a mixture of woods, with roots, rocks etc, hardpacked motocross, sand whoops, rock gardens, and pavement. I ask my bike to do it all.

I'll start with the fork: I kept the compression at 10 clicks out as standard, and played with the rebound a little, going from 7 out back to 9 clicks out as standard. The forks are at the 1st line on the upper triple clamp. I did not open them up. The forks seem to handle well on just about everything, with the only complaint being a quick hit at speed, they seem a tad harsh but they don't deflect.

The rear is what is a little concerning to me. The stock specs are 25 clicks out on rebound of 40 total. I counted only 31 clicks total. At 25, the rear feels good over choppy stuff but swaps like a mo fo over most jump faces, causing an unwanted whip. My buddies thought I was 'stylin on purpose. :eek:

If I turn in the rebound more, the bike tracks very straight however it slows down overall bike "turn in" at the start of cornering or directional changes. I have my sag set at 40 free/ 125 race sag. I tried the sag at 30/110mm but it seemed to make the bike jittery and nervous, it kept wanting to cut inside at mid corner and tuck so I went back to 125mm. My dealer Kirt recommened the 125 number also. I am 185 lbs in street clothing.

I went in one click on the high speed compression on the rear for 1 1/4 turns out from full in, and my low speed is set at 4 clicks out from full in. I was surprised that the low speed has only 8 clicks, the high speed had 20 total for 5 full turns.

I found that after riding a sand track the other week that I had ended up with the rear rebound all the way in at 0 clicks. That worked well in the sand but the bike required lots of effort to initiate a turn. Totally un-GasGas like.

Tonight after reinstalling my stock bars, I reset the rear rebound to 9 out like the front. Anyone have a '10 300 with the Sachs, and care to list what your clickers are?

Again all in one spot:
Front comp: 10 out
Front reb: 9 out

Rear LS comp: 4 out
Rear HS comp: 1 1/4 out (5 clicks)
Rear rebound: 9 out
Rear preload: 40/125mm
 
Update:

Rear sag at 108mm
Rear rebound 25 (stock)
compression 6
HS compression 6 clicks = (1 1/2 turns out)

Front compression 10
Front rebound 11
Forks at 2nd line

Now we can corner! ;)
 
Rear sag at 108mm 100mm/27mm sagRear rebound 25 (stock)20compression 6 6HS compression 6 clicks = (1 1/2 turns out) 22

Front compression 10 12Front rebound 11 9Forks at 2nd line top

Haven't spent much time getting it dialled in properly.I think my sag settings are right.
I've got 26 clicks on the shock rebound?I better count again.
 
Thanks for adding your settings. I am stock on my clickers. If I go in on the sag tighter, less than 108-110-30 free, the bike gets squirrley.

I know on a jap bike with a linkage, 100mm is the preferred. GG3, what do you weigh?
 
I weigh right at 200 lbs and have had my front all over the place trying to find a soft smooth spot for the small stuff and a smoother mid stroke. I can't find either LOL. The front isn't as harsh as it was when new but it still feels stiff and doesn't seem to use much of the stroke at all. Any suggestions before I go TTX or send them out to Les at LTR?
 
Why would anyone spend thousands on TTX stuff before simply revalving the Sachs to suit their needs? Its not magic and has to be valved to suit you anyway. I wish I was half as fast as the limits of the stock components with proper setup.
 
Why would anyone spend thousands on TTX stuff before simply revalving the Sachs to suit their needs? Its not magic and has to be valved to suit you anyway. I wish I was half as fast as the limits of the stock components with proper setup.

I had my Sach revalved and they worked pretty good. I then got a set of 48mm wp forks with the TTX inserts from a friend for a steal. The difference in the stock TTX and the reworked Sachs was huge. After I had the TTX revalved they are even better.
 
What terrain? Are you an A rider? Who revalved your Sachs?

My problem is that nothing works here to anywhere near its potential without a custom revalve. The northeast is at the extreme end of the suspension tuning spectrum. A $10K Nambo with stock TTX would likely ping pong ball off the rocks and beat me to death while my well used but precisely valved '07 Sachs/Zokes just sucks up everything it hits. So, for me anyway, it would be a big $$ hit to have workable TTX. Don't get me wrong though, if I was a real fast guy and felt I was being held back by the OEM stuff, I'd get it.

For a 52 yr old SS B rider, the best investment seems to be more physical conditioning. If you turn into a sausage before the race is over it doesn't matter what fork you have.
 
I wonder if you have ever actually ridden in Texas, the terrain is very similar to VA. in lots of ways. Lots of people who are not from here imagine wide open desert like terrain but that is not the case most of the time. Most of our trails are tight single track through all kinds of trees and brush etc.

Last man standing gives you a good idea of the variation. About the biggest difference is that VA. has more elevation changes than most of Texas.

A good setup in TX. would also work very well in VA.

I am a big guy and a b rider, top 3 or so usually. If I get a little faster I will move to A. I can usually keep up with the A class for awhile but need better conditioning to hang.

I feel that the cc forks are a lot better for a guy my size. They just seem to work better everywhere.

I had the suspension done by house of horsepower and I feel they did well with the Sachs forks but they just do not have the potential of the TTX or the cc WP for that matter.

I am happy with my Sachs shock. I also run the LTR 120mm pull rods.
 
Sorry, yes I should have stated "parts" of Texas. :D

I've ridden a little there. My relatives are in Tyler and College Station.

No doubt I would be happy if I could have put my 2010 WP forks on from my SXF since they were super nice with the revalve I had, but I'm hoping my revalved Zokes will do the job.
 
Hope you get it working good for you. I hope to come up and ride in Virginia someday. I have a friend from there.

I would love to race a VCHSS race, the crowds yall get are amazing.
 
Yes, the VCHSS puts on an awesome race and with the support from Monster Energy it's really a great event. We are pretty fortunate to have such a top notch series. There are some fast boys in the main event. Last race local Bakken was there, Duvall, Whibs, and some others attended. Usually Mullins races a few. Pretty awesome to see those guys get it done.

Riding my new setup on Saturday since it's FINALLY going to stop raining here.

If you do come out and ride then send me a PM. I know of a few great areas to ride and hope to do quite a few races next year.
 
I 've only rode one bike with Ohlins TTX and it was my son's 08 KTM SX505 and it was crazy good. Without it ...I hated the bike. I most likely will send my suspension off to LTR but the TTX sure was sweet on that bike anyway. BTW I don't race but I do want the front end to absorb the blows rather than my 52 year old body. BTW Brad Bakken joined our club (CVTR) and he put on a little clinic for us and he is so smooth and fluid it's unreal.
 
Hey Jeff, are you by chance running a Rekluse EXP 2.0? Just put one in and have some adjustment ?s


Jeff

No, I have the EXP/core unit. I think that is what it is called. It was installed when I got the bike and I have not even removed the clutch cover yet.

Good luck on the 2.0. I have heard great reviews.
 
FWIW, I race enduros in the B class in Texas and I am VERY happy with my Pro Action re-valved Sachs units (11 EC300). I've had different bikes every year, sometimes several, all re-valved, since 2002. I believe this one is the best-only the YZs I've had come close but I could never get them quite as good for high and low speed rocks like these Sachs are. The only current setup challenge I have is when I set the rebound fast enough for rocky races it understeers a bit in the sandy sections.
 
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