Suspension adjustment

[Bobatvracer]

I am currently a proud owner a 07 400ex. I recently upgraded my front suspension by installing stock 450r front shocks and my rear shock remained stock. I race XC and my weight is approx 240lbs. I would like to know how I can improvement the performance of my suspension by adjusting the front and rear shocks. Currently my suspension feels extremely stiff. As I stated previously I would like to learn how to adjust the suspension I do not want to have the shocks revalved etc.. Is there a general starting point for compression and rebound settings?
Thanks Bob

[DnB_racing]

Originally posted by Bobatvracer
I am currently a proud owner a 07 400ex. I recently upgraded my front suspension by installing stock 450r front shocks and my rear shock remained stock. I race XC and my weight is approx 240lbs. I would like to know how I can improvement the performance of my suspension by adjusting the front and rear shocks. Currently my suspension feels extremely stiff. As I stated previously I would like to learn how to adjust the suspension I do not want to have the shocks revalved etc.. Is there a general starting point for compression and rebound settings?
Thanks Bob the 450 shocks are stiff, if you make them soft enough for trails, they will bottom out on jumps, but I would start by taking almost all the preload out, it will help soften them up

edit!!!! I just saw your weight!!! your in trouble

read this from nick@jet

Sorry , but there are some problems with stock shocks in stock form, that is why we do what we do with them.
Fronts are generally too stiff initially, and too soft on G-out, quad too high in the air, rear rebound too fast even if you screw all the way in, motion ratio of the rear linkage isn't great and compression adjusters don't do much when you dyno them. I am lucky to feel a noticeable difference between full hard and full soft. Rebound adjustment is a different story. All of these are addressed except for compression adjuster when we do our JET mods.

Spring preload adjusters adjust ride height - not sure how much you weigh but for woods and trail riding stock shocks, I would back off the preload adjusters until there is little or no preload on the springs (you can feel when quad is off the ground and just pulling down on the spring itself to feel the tension on it). Rear - the same unless you weigh above 225. This lowers the quad and gives a softer ride.

S = soft / H = hard (i'm sure you knew that)

Front and rear shocks, back off compression all the way until you get them modified.

Front rebound - slow enough so when your pushing down on the front with you hands it doesn't spring right back at you.

Rear rebound - screw all the way Hard easily (don't cram on this or you will damage it) then back off toward soft 1/2 to 3/4 turn. You never want to run the rebound all the way hard since this closes off the bypass needle inside ...which affects low speed compression as well! and we need the compression free so it can absorb all those little hits, rocks, cross ruts and roots and still maintain some plushness.

That is about all you can do with stock since they need some work, but the shocks themselves are a good platform with the steel tube and are fairly easy on oil for stock shocks.

KEEP THOSE shock bearings lubed!! You need help further, you can email me. Now I got to get back and build some shocks...

Nick @ JET