I clearly need a heavier shock spring as the stock spring gives me way too much rider sag even with the preload set way up from the previous owner. I used to have a KLR (so I'm el cheapskato) and was looking for a suitable substitute so I can buy a nice used spring rather than full price new.

What spring rate is recommended for a 200 pounder?

I went to ther racetech website and they call out an SRSP 6228 series for the 07 KLX250S.

Then I went to ebay and did a search for that series shock spring and found one for sale which states that this series spring is also applicable to the floowing bikes:

HONDA CR125R YEARS 2002-2007

HONDA CR500R YEARS 2000 2001

KAWASAKI KX500 YEARS 2001 2002

KAWASAKI KX450F YEARS 2007 2008

KX250F YEARS 2004 2005

KX 125 250 YEARS 2003-2005

KAWASAKI KDX200 KDX220 KLX300 YEARS 2001-2006


Can anyone verify that we can use a spring from any of those bikes to replace the stock KLX spring? Also, why is the KLX250 not listed as an application. Lust wanna check before buying something I don't want. Oh, BTW, I also saw a wr/yz 250 using the same application even though it's not listed here.

Do I understand that putting raising links on the rear changes the geometry of the rear and allows a heavier rider (i.e. 200 pounder) to use the stock spring. Seems like it would also make the bike turn a little quicker as well? Any experience on here?

TIA

 

My '06 stock rear spring rate is 5.8 kg/mm, and replaced with a 6.0. I'm at 200# plus gear. The SRSP 6228 numbers you reference match mine.

I recall some old threads where the raising/lowering links thing was discussed, and IIRC, on many bikes it changes geometry so that a raising link works to support a heavier rider better. However, this doesn't hold true on our KLX - the geometry doesn't change as on other bikes. Is this really true??? I don't know, just regurgitating what I recall reading. So take it for what it's worth.

 

dj, what year KLX do you have? As I understand it, the '09 and later does not share the spring with the 300 or the '06/'07 KLX250. In fact, some sites will tell you the '06/'07 250S won't share the 300 spring. The 300 spring is about 15mm longer, but I've had no problem with running the 300 spring on my '06. I hear the '09 and later rear spring is even shorter. It looks like I'm going to an Eibach 6.3 spring from my 6.0 Eibach 300 spring that I'm currently using to get a more appropriate sag number.

 

I noticed that the new spring was a little longer than stock, and it took just a little more effort because of it. But it worked. When did you decide to go to a heavier spring. Ya gettin fat?

 

LOL!...no, not fat. I knew I had a little more sag than recommended, but I've always like a softer setup than most. Still, on my Elephant Hill/Beef Basin run this month, I slammed that thing into the ground way too many times. After I get all my gear on, put on my huge backpack loaded with water and gear, and have that rear rack pack loaded, the bike needs a heavier spring. When I'm riding light at our local riding area with everything off the bike and a small hydration pack, it's OK...still a little soft...but not too bad. It's needed a heavier spring from the get-go, and I've just been too lazy. I will probably go to .46 fork springs from my current .44's. Eibach makes a 6.3 spring and Race Tech only has a 6.4.

The Race Tech site doesn't really have the '06/'07 250S in their listing for spring rates. You have to use the 300 rate, and it's a lighter bike with no rack. It's not usually loaded like an adventure or DS bike ridden aggressively. The '06/'07 can be set up with 300 parts, but you have to take the extra weight into consideration. I thought 6.0 would be sufficient, but it will do better with a slightly heftier spring. My rear shock damping is relatively soft and plush with my Gold Valve setup, and that probably contributes to it too.

 

Thanks for the info guys. Mine is a 2007 KLX.

IDRIDR - at least you verified that the Racetech SRSP 6228 series does in fact fit our 06/07 shock. Did you need to buy any endplate/adapter or did it fit right up?

I do know I put shorter dogbones on my 2001 KLX300 and my rear end did feel much more competent with the stock spring. I had to raise the rear on that bike cause I added KX250 forks which are about an inch longer than KLX forks.

I like a really plush ride as well. I used to think that a lower rate spring would do that. Turns out that the right spring or even one slightly heavier than recommended gives the plushest ride. A softer spring lets the shock/fork ride deeper in the stroke completely bypassing the plusher region of travel. I like the heaviest spring that allows me to successfully set static/rider sag because that minimizes the preload required and preload (stored energy) makes a bike harsh over the smaller stuff. Hard lesson to learn.

 

The Eibach spring for the KLX300 series also works, and it comes with the adapter ring/plate at no charge.

 

Thanks TNC - that adapter plate may be worth the price of admission. Hopefully they have a spring rate calculator to help with the sizing.

 

I've looked on Race Tech and MX Tech, and I haven't found a spring calculator for the '06/'07 models. Those two models are almost identical to the KLX300 in many respects, but not exactly. The 250S is heavier than the 300, and the internal valving is probably not exactly the same between the two. I used 300 valving and springs, and it has worked very well, but the springs are probably going to have to go up one more step for the front and rear.

 

TNC: that makes sense on the 6.0 vs something heavier. Let us know now the 6.3 works for you as I may go that direction.