[Bad66Chevelle454]

Hello Everyone,

I have an 06 450R....This is my first dirt bike. I've heard numerous times that rebuilding the suspension to your weight/riding style is one of the best improvements you can make. My theory was that since I had never really ridden a dirtbike before, I need to get use to riding, and get a feel for everything and learn how the bike reacts before changing anything. Plus I figured I'd rebuild it when I blew up the stock stuff.

So here's my question...one of my fork seals is leaking. Could I replace the springs and valves to my weight while I'm in there? I know this wouldn't be a perfect RG3 rebuild or something like that, but it should help me a lot correct???

I'm 6'1" and weigh 220lbs without gear on.

Any suggestions/tips/ideas?

[motoracer14]

Since your already making repairs, would be a great time to add stiffer springs and revalve. Do you have stock springs? I would also change the rear at the same time. I just did this on my bike about 2 months back and I let the track mechanic do the work and it cost me $350 for factory connection springs and all the labor. If you need springs I have the rear 5.5 kg and the front .46kg that came off my new 08 CRF 450R.

[Bad66Chevelle454]

Motoracer,

Yes my springs are stock...the entire suspension system is 100% stock. I'm use to it...but I know that its not right for my weight at all.

Is there a website that has some sort of chart that will show me what springs/valves/oil I will need???? I know it wont be a professional suspension rebuild, but I feel if I put in the correct springs/valves/oil for my weight and riding style then the suspension would be a lot better than it is now.

Thanks for your help!

[motoracer14]

factoryconnection.com

This will give all their products but you need to consult with a suspension mechanic on your riding style and they can best recommend the right springs. You can probably talk with the people at Factory
Connections and they can make suggestions. If you can find out what stock springs came with your bike, we can compare to my stock springs that I have and maybe the 08 came with stiffer springs. Regardless, once you find out your stock springs I would not increase the stiffness by .2kg in the rear and .02kg in the front. Suspension setup correctly is worth the money.

[Bad66Chevelle454]

MotoRacer,

Turns out those springs you have are the same ones that are stock on my bike. Another member gave me a link to Race Tech's website that lists the different springs and a calculator figure them out.

Stock its .47 in the front, I need a .49 and in the rear stock its 5.5 stock, and I need a 5.8.

I also talked to Race Tech and they said springs are the #1 thing in suspension...sort of the base, then everything goes around that. So for now while money is a little tight, I'm going to replace my seals and get the correct springs.

Thanks for all your help!

[[email protected]]

I also talked to Race Tech and they said springs are the #1 thing in suspension...sort of the base, then everything goes around that. So for now while money is a little tight, I'm going to replace my seals and get the correct springs.

And Race Tech is right, not to mention honest.
Suspension re-valved by pros is a wonderful thing, but occasionally reality checks are required.
At 220 if you run the right rate of springs so your sag can be correct without exceeding the minimum rear spring length you can read your manual on suspension set-up, then adjust accordingly to what you'd like to see happen and you'll more than likely be very happy with your suspension.
Also, consider that guys who are really fast usually run both springs and valving heavier than most us commoners. So, if that's the case and you're like me, as in not as fast as a lot of racers and heavier to boot, the stock set-up with just a spring change may well be closer than you think.
Again, I'm a big fan of really professional shops (I just can't hand over a several hundred bucks to garage operations) doing the whole nine yards to dial in suspension. Sometimes though, the budget makes the call ! Doug
P.S.-That Race Tech fork and shock oil is pretty special stuff, it's made a major and noticeable improvement in smoothness everytime I've used it .

[mikey526]

Try MB1. I used to think Factory Connection was the best before I heard of MB1. I am very pleased with MB1 and numerous racers that I have talked to said that it is the best suspension they have ever used.

MB1suspension.com

[motoracer14]

Sounds great, I will tell you after I had my new suspension installed I had to dial in my settings. I have made the rebound 4 clicks softer now and the compression 2 clicks softer. I changed my race sag to 104mm and I added the air release valve at the top of each fork. Are you a racer or just like hitting the trails?

[Bad66Chevelle454]

I think I'll just replace my leaky seals, and replace the springs to my correct weight. I think that will get me the best bang for my buck. I'd love to spend 2K on the best suspension out there...but I'm just not that good of a rider, so I probably wouldn't notice it. I'll check out MB1 also...but I plan on doing all this myself. I'm pretty mechanically inclined, plus I have that write up thats posted on here too. And lots and lots of dirt bike buddies.

Motoracer,

I do a little bit of everything...I ride the trails/hills around my house, go to the track, go to the desert, go to Glamis, etc. So on the Rach Tech website I clicked "MX" because I figured that'd be just about the best all around. When I clicked "Desert/Enduro" it gave me the same results, so I think I'll be good to go.

[[email protected]]

Hey 454,
I did my last couple re-valves myself via the Race Tech Gold valves and installing their ecommended valving stacks, the results were all I'd hoped for.
I'd just noticed you saying you're mechanically inclined, and I'll tell you I never had any more fun learning stuff about bikes than doing the re-valve myself.
Race Tech gives you outstanding DVD directions and phone help if you need it, plus you can buy their stuff right here.
The biggest point is it was a lot of fun to do. Doug

[motoracer14]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2G-b66F3es

cool video might give you some pointers. Good luck.

[Just me]

I just finished test riding my 250X on the new springs. What a difference! At 230, I'm way too heavy for the stock suspension and it had always been a lot of work riding the trails around here. With the correct springs, an oil change and some adjustments to sag and valving the bike is like a whole new animal.
I have a 26 mile loop of single track I have been running for a while. Today I did it way quicker (even with time to stop and turn screws) and wasn't at all tired when I got back to the truck.
The technical stuff was suddenly much easier to ride through and whoops were well tamed. Sand washes are still a downfall for me, I may try moving the forks in the trees next.


The suspension has been the best money I've spent yet on the bike. (and it was less than $250 for the parts and tools to do it.)

[[email protected]]

Nothing helps stabilty in sand, roots,rocks, you name it like a good steering stabilizer. Doug

[Riley]

Can I change the rear shock oil myself? Is that separate from the gas chamber in the shock?

Do I need to have the gas released and refilled by a shop to change the fluid?

Not sure how the shock is setup.

[Just me]

Can I change the rear shock oil myself? Is that separate from the gas chamber in the shock?

Do I need to have the gas released and refilled by a shop to change the fluid?

Not sure how the shock is setup.

You NEED the FSM before you attempt to work on your shock. You will also need some special tools. If you don't have them, you are better off (and money ahead) having a pro do your shock. The forks are easy enough without the correct tools, the shock is not.