2013 EC250R - 65Hr Report/Review

[Jakobi]

Maybe add a face shim on the rebound side if going back to a smaller bleed on the comp side of the piston.

I think with the bigger float the bike didn't quite handle the sharp hits as well. With less bleed it didn't quite handle the small trail trash as well at lower speeds. I think I prefer tighter float and less damping. If I was going to change anything it'd probably just be as above. 16mm bleed shim on comp, or remove a face shim from that stack, and possibly add one to the rebound side just to get the clicker open further.

I was running PFP around 1/4 turn and backed it off a bit. Not sure if its the bad cart or rider fatigue with the heat, but it didn't feel quite as nice towards the end of the day as it did at the start either.

 

[Jakobi]

Latest valving either stinks, or these forks are breaking down badly as the oil fouls. Had to come out considerably on the comp adj today, as well as run the rebound in at 8 clicks to get some kind of compliance in the rocks. Soft comp then had the bike fall through the stroke a bit too freely and then jar as it all ramped up.

Hit a rock mid corner on some singles, deflected the front inward and towards a nice sized tree. Laid it over and bailed. Bike wedged with the tree between the front wheel and fender. Shoulder into the ground. Caught my right leg against the bars on the way and tore the pants from knee to ballsack. Think I grazed my nuts too. Popped them out on the trail to make sure they were still in place. Luckily all good, other then an egg on the shoulder and a little gravel rash. Not much fun when testing goes wrong.

I like the smaller float with more bleed much more. Feels softer initially and then firms up really well on the square edges without bouncing/deflecting. The odd thing is, we pushed out around 130kms of singles from 7:30am-11:30am. Keeping a good pace and riding a load of terrain, and while I had little faith in the suspension and didn't feel that it was nice, or that I could trust it, I don't feel overly fatigued by it either.

 

[Jakobi]

Pulled the carts down - the culpret one is doing its old tricks with highly contaminated oil after just 200kms. The other one was a bit dark as well for 5-6hrs ride time.

I was going to go back to my previous mid setup (maybe slightly softer) with the tighter float and then soften up the base valve a touch, which I will likely do, but I don't even think there is much point in riding these forks at the moment.

 

[VxZeroKnots]

Bummer man, time to accelerate the SSS project?

 

[n_green]

Shit when they let go they let go fast don't they. No good mate.

 

[Jakobi]

Ended up going back to the 12mm bleed shim, 0.4mm float, mid stack is a little softer (dropped the 14 and 12mm shims off end of the stack). Left the bv as it was. I like the stability and progression the tight float offers.

 

[Jakobi]

So actual stacks as of now.. and will probably be the last development I do with these forks.

Mid comp goes 12, 20 (3), 18, 16, 11x.2 (2) - 0.4mm float. Some may prefer anywhere between .4 and .55 ...Previously I also ran a 14 and 12 in the stack.

Rebound is along the lines of 20 (2), 12, 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 11x2.5 ...I' probably opt for another face shim or possibly even a larger crossover to beef up the rebound (especially if using heavier springs). With .44kg/mm I'd still find 10 clicks out about the max, and 7 is where it felt best, but could pack down a little in rock gardens.

Base valve 13, 32 (3), 24, 32, 32x.15, 30, 28, 26, 24 ... 16, 14x.2, 11mm post. With this I'd run the clicker out around 15-18 clicks. If you wanted to run the comp adj in further or found this too firm for your liking you could either drop the 14x.2, substitute it for a 14x.1 or move to a smaller crossover.

Hopefully it helps someone out along the way. I think I'll do another ride or two on these forks until I get the KYBs sorted, or I could use the TTX carts I have in some Sachs legs. Might at aswell give this a berl though.

PFP shy of 1/4 turn, 5wt fluid (13.9cSt). Firm aggressive setup that did not deflect or skitter at speed, but was still initially soft when riding slow. I wouldn't really call it a plush setup, but definintely one I could trust.

 

[twowheels]

Jake: One of my guy has got a full set of TTX forks and a set of TTX inserts for the Zokes (TTX shock too) if you're interested.

PM me.

 

[bkwdc]

Steve. PM sent.

 

[Jakobi]

New packing is soaked and spooging again already. I've got half a clip leaner now 40 NECW#2 175. Test ride it does feel a bit flatter off the bottom under big loads, but more responsive, if that makes sense. I'll keep it and put 100km on it this way tomorrow. It'll be evident soon enough if it was a step forward or backwards.

 

[Jakobi]

Less spooge! Less loading up! Easy starting! Even less smoke! It sounds good, but there was a definite lack of grunt in the area between 1/4 throttle to 1/2 throttle. Under this was superbly balanced grunt vs throttle response with very little blubber. Over half throttle it was a space ship.

I think I need to try NEDJ#2 (and possibly a size up on the pilot).

 

[Jakobi]

Was too slack to change the jetting as I had a few other jobs on the go. This ride was a pink tape mission. Between the stopping and starting (and often on hills), it was evident the engine wasn't making the normal grunt. No pinging, no racing idle or surging but just didn't grunt. Spat coolant all over the shop.

I have a feeling this piston will show some serious signs of overheating.

Definitely changing before the next ride.