Boingers to LTR Soon. Any advice?

[AZRickD]

I'm going to do a race next weekend, then it's time to get the forks and shock R&R-ed. 2005 DE250 (title says DE, decals say EC, wires from the stator exit from the 10 O'clock position) 12-ounce FWW. Ohlins in the rear. Zoke/Shivers in front.

I'm about 40 pounds heavier than the former owner (I'm 199 nekkid), so the stock springs need consideration. Also, given that Arizona single track consists of rocks, boulders, and stones, I'm looking forward to having Mr. LT make it ride like the 99 EC300 he did for a friend a while back. Like magic over rocks.

I'm a mid-pack C racer (that's counting the DNFs as well). Sometimes I can surprise myself with pace, but usually it's all I can do to keep in the thick of the C-riders. Our races are supposed to be technical single track with the aforementioned rocks (and long sand wash). But lately, with government agencies making it tough to get use permits for races, we have been seeing one, then two, and now three of our races each year incorporating portions of MX tracks (as a result, the single track is added almost as an afterthought). I don't do the long tables but the short ones are doable for me.

So, I've been advised that I'll get the best results from LT-Racing if I'm "honest" in describing my needs. Anything else I can offer up?

Those who have gone with LTR (or other suspension shops), how have your results been?

Thanks,

Rick

 

[Boomhauer]

Rick,

Just tell Les what kind of riding you do, (ie, rocks, whoops, sand, etc) what caliber of a rider you are (AA,A,B,C, etc) and let him work his magic. He is one of the best ouyt there IMO. I wish I would have known about him when I had my KTM & Track Bike. The 3 times I ahve used him the sag was spot on right out of the box. You might, just might have to turn your clickers to your liking but I doubt it.

You will really like his work!

Boomer

 

[Skidad]

I'm thinking your correct about different springs. At 190lbs with no gear I'm thinking you should go up at least 1 rate on both ends. Stock fronts are most likely .42 and the back 5.2. You might be better with .43 and 5.3 or 5.4 (yes there is an Ohlins 5.3 spring). Stock the suspension is set for about a 170lb rider so talk to Les about this issue for sure.

If you want to want to try something outside the box give Trail Trick a try in CA. He is the KTM god at the moment and really seems to have a handle on suspension setup and has spent years in Europe tuning factory suspension for various teams. I have a spare Sachs shock with him at this very moment to see if he could become a good alternative for GG suspension.

 

[2 strokes 4 life]

well here in Canada the guy to go to is http://www.ridersedgesuspension.com/index.html

I am having him do my suspenders because he races the same series I do so he knows what he is doing.

 

[Boomhauer]

Skidad no offense here but I have seen trail tricks job and I was not impressed at all. A friend of mine here in Houston had his suspension done by him and the forks came back leaking. Plus I doubt he knows the Ohlins & Zookes like Les does.

Use who you want Rick but remember there are some folks that specialize just on the gasser brand so they do know their stuff.

 

[Grampy]

LTR racing

Les has done the work on my DRZ250, KLX450, KDX200 and will soon get my Gas Gas 250EC Ohlins. All of these bikes are very different in their suspension mode needs and he hit them all spot on. In case you didn't know Les rode Gas Gas for quite a while so knows them well.

 

[AZRickD]

I hope he knows "slow."

 

[Grampy]

All I did was tell him what it did that I didn't like and how I wanted it to work and he nailed it. On my Drz250 it bottomed quite often. I ride Tahuya single track which is very tight and lots of whoops and roots. I told him I didn't want it to bottom but I also wanted it plush on the roots and rocks. On my KLX450 it was much to hard on the little stuff but OK if you jumped off a cliff. He made it much softer on the little stuff but you could still jump off a small cliff. I am 62 and learned to ride sitting down so like my suspension very plush. I stand up when going over whoops or jumping but like to sit when cornering. Tell him how you ride what it does that you don't like and what you want it to do or feel like. He will make it happen.

 

[GMP]

Just be accurate about your use, honest about your ability and you will get what you want. Les is a great tuner and a great guy to deal with. The quality of work and service is the highest.

 

[AZRickD]

Let's say my current springs are, maybe, one step too soft. If I'm riding lower in the stroke, what kind of problems does that suggest?

 

[gasgasman]

Rick.
If it is riding too low, the valving won't be doing it's job.

Les is THE MAN when it comes to Gas Gas suspension.
You can actually talk to him, unlike the "big box" tuners.

 

[dave948]

This maybe useful to people in the northeast like skiddad, my gasser has suspension done by factory connection in Rochester NH. The previous owner had it done by them and although he is a lot faster than me he is also a little lighter. I must say it's the best I've ever ridden.

My husky on the other hand is close to the worst, it's stock. It won't track over a single rock, just deflects off of everything.
If I keep the husky I'm sending the parts to Les, I hear he works magic with the Zokes.

 

[gaspipe]

For anyone in the southeast (North Carolina) looking to stay local, Bruce Triplett of Bruce's Suspension knows the Gasgas suspension pretty well. He has two Gasgas's of his own, so he spent the time to figure out the 'Zokes.

He's done all my KTM RFS bikes, and also my '04 300EC. Works quite nice.

 

[AZRickD]

I've uploaded some photos of me on the Grinding Stone MX enduro cross section from yesterday's race.

Rock Garden:

Note the full compression of the fork over the rock garden and log hop, as well as the compression of the shock over the concrete pipe step-up (at low, enduro cross speeds). Out of 300 photos taken, I couldn't find any bikes that showed the same occurrence.

Log hop:

Second pipe step-up for the rear end:

 

[AZRickD]

The boingers are sent. ($53 shipping via the main UPS Customer Center)

I await Magic.

 

[GMP]

I ride GGs and my brother Huskys, I work on them both. GG Zokes have too much free bleed, thats why you use up the travel like that. They also lack high speed rebound. Husky TE Zokes seem to come with gear oil in them, they are much better with an oil change. The 2-stroke WR250 Husky Zokes were very harsh in rocks. Les can make it all good.

 

[AZRickD]

I spoke with Les over the phone. He looked at my pics and asked if I was going fast through those sections and if the bike was bottoming. I told him I was going "enduro-cross slow" and that I was unaware of it bottoming. He wasn't to concerned at that point.

 

[AZRickD]

Uh-oh. Les e-mailed me to send me a copy of his "worksheet" (weight, skill, terrain, etc). He mentioned that even though I removed my quickie bleeder valves and replaced them with mini-screws, and even wrapped them in plastic and tape, they still leaked all over the place.

 

[AZRickD]

Les gave me the pre-re-valve call today.

He's going to move me up one tick in springs front and rear. He discussed the problems with the '05 Zoke forks that he would address (free bleed in the rebound and some mid-valve issues). The Ohlin shock was going to get some rebound work as well as some attention to compression valving.

They'll be in the mail tomorrow barring any mishaps.

He also said that although my fork tubes were okay, he has found that many Zoke owners crank down those three screws on the lower clamps. He said that was he does is to tighten the middle screw to 8 foot-pounds and then to take the lateral screws to just above hand-tight (or else you'll be chasing the torque as you tighten one side then tighten the other then re-tighten the other, rinse and repeat). The upper clamps are good at 10, 12, 14, whatever.

Rick

 

[LAWMAN]

GMP & others: I too have noticed now that I have more time on it that while my suspension is great crawling over rocks, it blows thru the travel too easy at hier speeds/harder hits. it already has heavier springs in it which ought to be OK for me (previous owner weighs about the same). so there is no DIY cure for this, it has to have a revalve?