Stock Honda Suspension Vs Stock KTM

[dafydd roberts]

Why are stock Honda shocks crap compared to stock KTM shocks? Just seems you need to spend on the honda shocks straight away to do any real enduro stuff but KTM seems good to go out of the box. Show my front shocks a rock and all it wants to do is bounce me into a tree its doing my **cking head in, tried all the settings under the sun.

[B0000M]

Why are stock Honda shocks crap compared to stock KTM shocks? Just seems you need to spend on the honda shocks straight away to do any real enduro stuff but KTM seems good to go out of the box. Show my front shocks a rock and all it wants to do is bounce me into a tree its doing my **cking head in, tried all the settings under the sun.

CRF-X is aimed at a trail bike as far as i know - cant say ive had any issues though with either X or R suspension. what weight oil have you got in it and how much of it?

[bogan]

different styles maybe, my mate preffers my honda suspension to that of his ktms for mx stuff, both ride 125 two strokes

[dafydd roberts]

CRF-X is aimed at a trail bike as far as i know - cant say ive had any issues though with either X or R suspension. what weight oil have you got in it and how much of it?

Not sure came from the USA with the oil changed so not sure.

[dafydd roberts]

different styles maybe, my mate preffers my honda suspension to that of his ktms for mx stuff, both ride 125 two strokes


Ye honda seem a lot more Mx orientated. Every time I see a KTM it seems to be just floating on air if you know what i mean.

[Sensei]

Maybe the fact KTM has top end Whitepower shock & forks compared to run of the mill Showa / KYB the Honda use ?

[K6K]

Why are stock Honda shocks crap compared to stock KTM shocks? Just seems you need to spend on the honda shocks straight away to do any real enduro stuff but KTM seems good to go out of the box. Show my front shocks a rock and all it wants to do is bounce me into a tree its doing my **cking head in, tried all the settings under the sun.

Maybe the Jappas try to set it stock for a wider range of rider weights and styles than the KTM's?.

[Rcktfsh]

tried all the settings under the sun.


CRF-X is aimed at a trail bike as far as i know - cant say ive had any issues though with either X or R suspension. what weight oil have you got in it and how much of it?


Not sure came from the USA with the oil changed so not sure.

Tried all the settings under the sun yet you don't seem to know what weight of oil let alone quantity in your forks, bit harsh to write off the honda suspension on that basis.

[Danger]

There are plenty of KTM riders that don't think the stock suspension is good to go out of the box.

Just want to confirm, you're talking about a stock CRF250X and not a Christini awd which I thought you were riding?

[dafydd roberts]

There are plenty of KTM riders that don't think the stock suspension is good to go out of the box.

Just want to confirm, you're talking about a stock CRF250X and not a Christini awd which I thought you were riding?

Basically its a stock honda CRF250X with an AWD kit put on it, but the shocks are stock honda CRF250X christini just change the oil when they put the new drop-outs on.

[B0000M]

christini just change the oil

there you go..

[Danger]

Basically its a stock honda CRF250X with an AWD kit put on it, but the shocks are stock honda CRF250X christini just change the oil when they put the new drop-outs on.

Ok that puts a totally different slant on things and you can't compare it to a stock CRF250X. Different drop outs, no doubt a different axle and hub setup, these are things that need to be looked at carefully to be sure that there is no axle induced binding, not to mention the effects that torque from the front wheel driving that could result in fork binding as well.
Triple clamps also need to be looked at as I believe these may have been changed?
And more weight has been added to the bike along with the weight bias from front to rear, so spring rates need to be looked at. You can't just rule this stuff out and expect it to be good. And when were the forks last serviced?
While its true that an open chamber fork like the forks found on the EXC's can be setup much plusher than the twin chamber forks found on the CRFX (twin chamber forks have a lot more seal induced friction with more bushes and seals that need to move) the WP forks are not set up well stock to begin with and most riders are pretty happy with the CRFX setups.
The problem could be quite simple to remedy with correct alignment, spring rate and setup or it could be more involved but without seeing the bike and checking it over its all just guess work.