All depends on the rider's weight. I'm about 175 without all the gear on, plus the bike's kit I always have along, and I'm pretty sure I need heavier springs front and back. I've added 1 1/2 turns of preload on the back, but I know it's best to have the proper spring. Lack of $$.

 

thanks for all the help peeps.

to clarify, the fronts are race techs, i think .44 or .46, the rear is stock. im 150 lbs., so the spring is either right are very close. by saying the compression/rebound is bumped up, im about 5 from the highest setting, but ill have to double check on that. also the rear has never been rebuilt, and i think the last time i had the front done it had 7k miles (bike now has almsot 21k). neither are leaking or seam to have lost compression.

and ill try to be more clear on the problem. i ride the bike like its a kx250f. on breaking bumps coming into a corner, the back tends to dance and jump, and coming out of corners, its very rough and bounces a lot. even on some bumps the front will absorb it fine and the rear throws me off the seat trying to throw me over the bars.

the sad part as it seams to me is im asking for it to be more compliant and plush while wanting more bottoming resistance, which seams to be two opposites directions. but then again i dont work for pro circuit, factory connection or jgr so there maybe a solution.

thanks again for all the help so far.

 

punken, you realize there's a separate adjuster each on the shock for rebound and compression, right? If you're saying the rebound is set 5 clicks "out", or counterclockwise from the recommended setting, you've reduced the recommended setting. If you're rear is kicking up in bumps and such, it sounds like you don't have enough rebound damping dialed in. Perhaps you should be going the other way and turning your rebound adjuster "in" or clockwise to increase the rebound effect which will slow down how the shock extends or how the back of the bike rises back up from a hit or compression.

Internet diagnosis for another rider's suspension setup can be tricky, but I'd try softening up the compression and tightening up the rebound. That means going 3-4 clicks counterclockwise from the manual's recommended "stock" compression adjuster setting and going 3-4 clicks clockwise from the manual's recommended "stock" rebound adjuster setting. It's like "loosening" the compression adjuster as to how it's turning and then "tightening" the rebound adjuster. Keep experimenting with the rebound until you minimize or remove the severe kicking up of the rear end.

Wanting plush shock action yet having bottomout control is the holy grail of suspension. The stock shock probably won't provide that without revalving the shock. You can, however, and hopefully, get a more decent compromise than what you're describing. Your stock spring rate is probably not the real problem here.

 

If the bike is kicking out on acceleration bumbs you have too much compression .
If the bike is packing , feels the same way as kicking , only the tail is low , not high as before , you have too much rebound .
Unless you have the weight of a wet chihuahua , the stock white spring is too soft . As such you don't need any more rebound or compression from the stock setting . It is normal with the stock spring to top out every 5 minutes of heated trail riding . Go to Moto-Pro Suspension and see what spring you need .
After installng the new spring you may need one or two cliks more on the rebound from stock and way less compression than what you have now .

 

I don't know...is the stock spring on the '09 and later really too soft for a 150 pound rider? From reading some of the feedback here, it didn't sound like it. I have an '06, so I won't claim ultimate knowledge on this. The fork springs on the other hand are too soft for just about anyone on all models, but it sounds like he addressed that sufficiently.

 

im going to go out monday (maybe tuesday) and try some diffrent settings, and if i make any progress might head to the new lake elsinore mx park (aka now the last round of the national series). ill let you all know, so cals going to get some rain so the dirt will be premo.

i think my main problem was i did the settings when i wasnt that good at riding ruts and had it more set for jumps, and now that i can decently rail ruts the original just dont work. i guess its just the progression of a rider. anyways, thanks for the help and ill let you all know how it works out.

 

punken lets us know. I am getting a heavier spring as I weight 70 more lbs than you. Mine kicks the **** out of me.