MonsterTruck
New member
So I have just completed a fork swap on my 2011 300. It was a Zokes/ Ohlins. Now it is a WP/ Ohlins. My suspension trouble started early. Basically, I did not follow the recommendations for decreasing the torque on the lower clamp. By the time I sorted It out, the forks had major problems. I tried some revalves with LTR (best wishes) and with a local guy and good friend Adam at Kreft MOTO. Ultimately it came down to ditch the bike or swap the forks. Well, I struggled with the decision for a while. Where I am now, I am super glad to have gone throuht with the swap.
Details: this is to be a dedicated mountain goat, alpine single track machine. I am a moderately aggressive rider. I don't race. I am #190 naked, and 210-220 with gear.
Fork: 2008 WP closed cartridge. It has had the full meal deal done at Kreft MOTO including his Dynamic Float Midvalve in a woods set up. It has 46 wt springs in it.
Triple clamp: I had the good folks at Emig Racing make me a new lower clamp to hold the WP forks. We kept the GG stem, and reused the upper clamp. The WP fork is bigger dia than most others. I was not comfortable milling out that much metal from the GG clamp. The Emig clamps are beautiful CNC aluminum, burly and have a 2 bolt pattern. $400
I got a smoking deal from oemdirtbikeparts.com on a set of used KTM wheels, axle and a friend gave me an old brembro brake.
Total cost was just at $1000. Good help from some good friend made it a fun project and a sweet fun ride.
Set up:
The WP fork is longer than the Zokes, and has less axle offset. Also, I run a trials tire in the back, which has a tall profile. We ended up with the forks fairly low in the clamp. So the front is about 5mm higher than it was with the Zokes. The steering and perceived weight balance are unchanged from stock.
Adjustments to the rear end: as has been mentioned, improving the fork does reveal hidden weakness in the rear. Basically with the low friction fork and woods valving, the rear end was to stiff and too slow. So Kreft MOTO did a revalve on the back. No details other than it was a basic revalve. I have a 5.6 spring. 110mm rider sag, 36mm free sag. Now, tracks sweet. No kick on square edges. Still supports the bike nicely in the turns. Whoops would blow through my set up. This bike will not see a lot of whoops.
Overall impression:
I got lucky and was able to get parts at a good price, and had a ton of professional and bro help. The end product is amazing. Super happy floats over all manner of rocks and roots. Still corners like a GG. I have offers from (orange bike riding) AA friends who want to race my bike at the next rocky course. Don't know if that will happen...
Happy Trails
Details: this is to be a dedicated mountain goat, alpine single track machine. I am a moderately aggressive rider. I don't race. I am #190 naked, and 210-220 with gear.
Fork: 2008 WP closed cartridge. It has had the full meal deal done at Kreft MOTO including his Dynamic Float Midvalve in a woods set up. It has 46 wt springs in it.
Triple clamp: I had the good folks at Emig Racing make me a new lower clamp to hold the WP forks. We kept the GG stem, and reused the upper clamp. The WP fork is bigger dia than most others. I was not comfortable milling out that much metal from the GG clamp. The Emig clamps are beautiful CNC aluminum, burly and have a 2 bolt pattern. $400
I got a smoking deal from oemdirtbikeparts.com on a set of used KTM wheels, axle and a friend gave me an old brembro brake.
Total cost was just at $1000. Good help from some good friend made it a fun project and a sweet fun ride.
Set up:
The WP fork is longer than the Zokes, and has less axle offset. Also, I run a trials tire in the back, which has a tall profile. We ended up with the forks fairly low in the clamp. So the front is about 5mm higher than it was with the Zokes. The steering and perceived weight balance are unchanged from stock.
Adjustments to the rear end: as has been mentioned, improving the fork does reveal hidden weakness in the rear. Basically with the low friction fork and woods valving, the rear end was to stiff and too slow. So Kreft MOTO did a revalve on the back. No details other than it was a basic revalve. I have a 5.6 spring. 110mm rider sag, 36mm free sag. Now, tracks sweet. No kick on square edges. Still supports the bike nicely in the turns. Whoops would blow through my set up. This bike will not see a lot of whoops.
Overall impression:
I got lucky and was able to get parts at a good price, and had a ton of professional and bro help. The end product is amazing. Super happy floats over all manner of rocks and roots. Still corners like a GG. I have offers from (orange bike riding) AA friends who want to race my bike at the next rocky course. Don't know if that will happen...
Happy Trails