2013 EC250R - 65Hr Report/Review
- Thread starter Jakobi
- Start date
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Jakobi
Super Moderator
I don't think anyone does yet.. but I'm in the process of sorting it out. The Marzocchis still have a 35mm lug offset, and I believe (I should measure and confirm) 22mm triple clamp offset. I think the steering head angle is different though as the new chasis needs around 98mm of sag to turn well, where the older ones could get away with heaps more. I need to think of some accurate methods to compare data.
Newer KYBs with the smaller OD upper will slide straight into the triple clamps, but the axle lug is 32mm which will give a 3mm difference. More trail. More straight line stability, more likely to hold a line once engaged, but can be felt in a big way in tip in. Once laid over more likely to continue and needs more rider input to stand it back up. It might work really well, it might become a bit sketchy in the faster corners. I'm not unhappy with the current geometry so its a gamble (better or worse).
The normal KYB route with 25mm offset triples and 32mm offset lug has less effect on geometry, but requires more parts and the stops fabbed up. The less I have to do the better.
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nknudsen
Member
Do you have a year range when the KYB's SSS forks have changed in size specs?
Jakobi
Super Moderator
Its hard confirming them as they changed at different years for different models. I have some notes coming together but will post once details have been confirmed. Don't want to give anyone a bum steer.
In other news, anyone with 45mm Zokes wanna measure their upper and lower clamp diameters?
twowheels
New member
I think you meant 32mm offset lugs
. The 2012 WR450 forks I have holding up the front of my Beta 250RR have a 35mm lug, but the larger 56mm upper clamp diameter.I have a set of 2011 YZ250F SSS forks here getting set up for Swazi Matt's 2010 that are 54mm upper clamp, 32mm lug offset.
Jakobi
Super Moderator
I think you meant 32mm offset lugs
I have a set of 2011 YZ250F SSS forks here getting set up for Swazi Matt's 2010 that are 54mm upper clamp, 32mm lug offset.
Exactly Steve! Axle lugs are 32mm vs 35mm indeed. The 2010/11 YZ250F used the 25mm offset clamps, the 2012 YZ250F and on moved to the 22mm triples.
With Matts, are you selling him one of your triple clamps to retain closer to stock handling, or going to see how it handles with the extra 3mm trail?
I want to chase a set with the 54/59mm setup so I can see how they perform on the 2013 chasis with the extra trail, but need an option incase it doesn't work out. Be it other triples or one of those adjustable axles. Can you shoot me a PM?
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Jakobi
Super Moderator
Are you sure they are 2011 models (or if they are, thatthey are off a 250F?) Parts fiche indicated it wasn't until 2012+ that they received the 54mm upper clamp area.
twowheels
New member
2011 as indicated by the seller. Silver fork lugs.
Jakobi
Super Moderator
Thats odd. Everything I have seen shows them having the brown lugs. Think the YZ125/250 still got silver ones but thought they all ran the wider upper clamp too. So much info to track down.
Jakobi
Super Moderator
Suspension project underway and has a thread of its own.
The engine was broken in nicely - dusty ride.
Steering head stem bearings completed. Old grease looked pretty OK still, but packed with fresh stuff. Pictured below is how they came apart.
and back together
Marzocchi 48mm CC serviced and revalved again - I will continue to use them for now. Removed a 12mm bleed shim from the mid comp and replaced with an 18. Opened up the float from .4mm to .5mm chasing a slightly softer feel/ramp up without feeling mushy. I'm using a 13mm bleed shim on the BV which still gives it quite a bit of compliance at low speeds. I'll report how it feels overall and then look at posting up the stacks I'm at if anyones interested.
The engine was broken in nicely - dusty ride.
Steering head stem bearings completed. Old grease looked pretty OK still, but packed with fresh stuff. Pictured below is how they came apart.
and back together
Marzocchi 48mm CC serviced and revalved again - I will continue to use them for now. Removed a 12mm bleed shim from the mid comp and replaced with an 18. Opened up the float from .4mm to .5mm chasing a slightly softer feel/ramp up without feeling mushy. I'm using a 13mm bleed shim on the BV which still gives it quite a bit of compliance at low speeds. I'll report how it feels overall and then look at posting up the stacks I'm at if anyones interested.
fletchman45
New member
That bike is getting some nice love!!!!
Jakobi
Super Moderator
Any idea what changes the tuner made? Even at the last revision I had no issues with deflection. Fork was just a touch on the firm side, but mostly I think that the 12mm bleed shims on the mid valve just meant that the rebound clicker was always turned right in. Even once removing the rebound side, you still get uncontrolled bleed via the comp piston as it never truly seals against the piston face. Moving from a 12 to 18mm face shim should reduce this and still leave some bleed.
Jakobi
Super Moderator
Yeah Nath. I put coins on it that it will be a jump in the right direction. Stock bike has a load of bleed, as well as a load of float. This makes for a really soft plush feeling fork which is really nice in the slow going technical areas, but as the pace increases or you get aggressive in how/what you hit I felt that the fork would start to thud and deflect instead of absorb and track true - at least thats what I felt when I rode the 2015 model the other week. It felt better the slower I went, as opposed to mine which felt better the harder I pushed.
Goal of this latest tweak is to land somewhere in between.
Goal of this latest tweak is to land somewhere in between.
Jakobi
Super Moderator
Smashed out a solid 70km loop today which covered rainforest (roots, red clay, fallen trees), light sandy covered hard pack, thick red dirt and rocks and also some goat tracks which were soft slippery sand littled with big joongah moon rocks. A good mix of terrain to test in.
Base valve may still be on the firm side of the field for me as I didn't appear to bottom them out and was still working in the 15-18 clicks range. Even with the stock BV stack this is where I found myself.
Mid valve. The reduction on bleed was a bit of a 2 sided sword. It made a really noticable difference to the rebound and allowed me to run the clicker at 10 out without feeling busy, but certainly allowing the front to return between impacts/feeling dead. It actually allowed me to speed up the rebound a touch more on the shock to keep it balanced nicely. Compression wise the fork felt less compliant on the small/slower impacts due to less bleed. It didn't deflect or do anything too scary in the quicker sections and cornered really quite well. The extra .1mm float did what I thought it would and was noticable in that the fork moved through the stroke easier.
Back to back, here or there. They both have pro's and con's. With more float I find the front wheel tracks the ground a little too much for my liking if that even makes sense. Like hitting something it wants to climb with/over/around the object where less float tracks straight through it. The latter obviously feels much firmer, but to me is also more confidence inspiring.
I'm not pulling them down to tweak out. They are good to ride and ride them I will. I think .45mm float with perhaps a 15/16mm bleed shim and maybe one less face shim in the mid would be spot on. Could probably afford to soften the bv a touch too but its not bad.
Base valve may still be on the firm side of the field for me as I didn't appear to bottom them out and was still working in the 15-18 clicks range. Even with the stock BV stack this is where I found myself.
Mid valve. The reduction on bleed was a bit of a 2 sided sword. It made a really noticable difference to the rebound and allowed me to run the clicker at 10 out without feeling busy, but certainly allowing the front to return between impacts/feeling dead. It actually allowed me to speed up the rebound a touch more on the shock to keep it balanced nicely. Compression wise the fork felt less compliant on the small/slower impacts due to less bleed. It didn't deflect or do anything too scary in the quicker sections and cornered really quite well. The extra .1mm float did what I thought it would and was noticable in that the fork moved through the stroke easier.
Back to back, here or there. They both have pro's and con's. With more float I find the front wheel tracks the ground a little too much for my liking if that even makes sense. Like hitting something it wants to climb with/over/around the object where less float tracks straight through it. The latter obviously feels much firmer, but to me is also more confidence inspiring.
I'm not pulling them down to tweak out. They are good to ride and ride them I will. I think .45mm float with perhaps a 15/16mm bleed shim and maybe one less face shim in the mid would be spot on. Could probably afford to soften the bv a touch too but its not bad.
