Email of the day from a YZ250F racer inquiring about the 1 inch YamaLink.
"I was wondering, if I was to get the 1" Race Yamalink for my yz250f,
do I still need to add 10% to my total body weight when determining
what spring I need for my shock.
My suspension has already gone out to factory connection, and I just
found your parts to day and I am very intrigued. I was going to have
them lower my bike but your part seems to be favoured.
I'm just wondering if I should be telling them to do the front forks
for a 190lbs rider ( my actual weight) and the rear suspension for a
220 lbs rider so that I can install a Yamalink and still have my bike
balanced.
I'm 5'8 with a 29 inch inseam."
Our reply:
When a rider tells us "I had my suspension done by so-and-so" it makes us pause. Here's what usually happens: you call the suspension company and tell them how much you weigh, what type of riding you do and what you don't like about the stock suspension. Nine times out of ten they revalve it and change the oil so the bike is a bit more plush on the small stuff (because stock MX valving beats the living daylights out of you on the small stuff in order to have enough big hit capability) but not bottom on the big landings. The suspension comes back and it's a lot better than stock.
Enter the YamaLink's extra leverage.
On a 100% stock bike such as your YZ250F, the Race YamaLink's extra leverage totally annihilates the braking bumps and square edge, plus it corners better and gets more traction. You weigh 190: do you have about 100mm sag now?
You may need a heavier spring to achieve proper sag in the stock bike with your gear on. The YamaLink can be set up with sag from 100mm to 90mm. Sometimes a heavier or more aggressive rider puts the next heavier spring on. The 1" Race does not require the 10% extra like a 1.5" YamaLink.
Your bike works best with around 100mm sag. By going to a heavier spring rate - at your weight - you can achieve that sag and still retain the big-hit capability while getting the plushness and lowering of the YamaLink.
Don't be surprised that when you tell the suspension shop about the YamaLink they will say "no, it'll screw this up and mess with that." Of course they're going to say that because it's their business to do revalving and oil changes; FYI, if you have them put a spacer in to lower the suspension you LOSE that amount of travel (1" spacer loses 1" travel) and the suspension has to be revalved for the spacer otherwise it rides like crap.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Yamaha WR250F WR450 suspension lowering link setup
A WRF lowering link rider from Big Sky Country asked for some setup tips. Our reply....
I'd follow the simple install instructions which are included, and set you
sag at around 94mm for starters.
Turn the shock's high speed compression (the big knob at the top of the
shock, not the flat blade) IN clockwise about 1/4 turn for starters. Then
turn in your rear shock's rebound (flat blade at bottom) a few clicks IN.
Slide the forks tubes up about 4mm. Test ride. Make adjustments to rear
first. Then fine tune.
You'll notice a huge increase in traction and plushness over the square edge
and braking bumps. Your main goal is to only have the rear bottom once or
twice per ride. You also want controlled rebound due to the extra leverage.
Email or call after your first test ride or two. At your weight it's a
pretty easy setup for off-road riding.
I'd follow the simple install instructions which are included, and set you
sag at around 94mm for starters.
Turn the shock's high speed compression (the big knob at the top of the
shock, not the flat blade) IN clockwise about 1/4 turn for starters. Then
turn in your rear shock's rebound (flat blade at bottom) a few clicks IN.
Slide the forks tubes up about 4mm. Test ride. Make adjustments to rear
first. Then fine tune.
You'll notice a huge increase in traction and plushness over the square edge
and braking bumps. Your main goal is to only have the rear bottom once or
twice per ride. You also want controlled rebound due to the extra leverage.
Email or call after your first test ride or two. At your weight it's a
pretty easy setup for off-road riding.
Monday, April 11, 2011
2003 WR450F suspension lowering spring rate question
Question: Hi,
I have purchased and fitted your lowering link for my Yamaha WR450F 2003 model and I have set all the suspension specs to factory settings. My problem is the suspension now feels very soft and has actually bottomed out a number of times, I know that I will need a stronger spring looking at your calculation on the website, however not sure of the specs needed, I weigh about 220 lbs, can you help?
Our reply:
The 2003 WR450F has a stock spring rate of 5.3 kg/mm. At 220 pounds (before gear) with the STOCK setup the spring rate for your weight is a recommended 5.7 kg/mm.
With the YamaLink's extra leverage the spring rate for your weight is 6.0 kg/mm
With proper sag you want the WRF to bottom just once or twice per ride but I know for a fact at your weight and the stock spring you are bottoming a lot more, the bike may understeer and you have too much sag. This is happening with and without the YamaLink because the 2003 WRF comes sprung for a ride weighing around 180 pounds.
I have purchased and fitted your lowering link for my Yamaha WR450F 2003 model and I have set all the suspension specs to factory settings. My problem is the suspension now feels very soft and has actually bottomed out a number of times, I know that I will need a stronger spring looking at your calculation on the website, however not sure of the specs needed, I weigh about 220 lbs, can you help?
Our reply:
The 2003 WR450F has a stock spring rate of 5.3 kg/mm. At 220 pounds (before gear) with the STOCK setup the spring rate for your weight is a recommended 5.7 kg/mm.
With the YamaLink's extra leverage the spring rate for your weight is 6.0 kg/mm
With proper sag you want the WRF to bottom just once or twice per ride but I know for a fact at your weight and the stock spring you are bottoming a lot more, the bike may understeer and you have too much sag. This is happening with and without the YamaLink because the 2003 WRF comes sprung for a ride weighing around 180 pounds.
Yamaha YZ 125 lowering kit question of the day
Does this kit fit the YZ 125? Also, does the kit lower the front and rear of the bike. or just the rear?
Reply: It fits certain years of the YZ 125: http://www.motorcycleloweringlinks.com/index.php?content=yamaha-yz-limited-lowering-link
As for the front: our super simple install instructions gives a starting point and some guidelines for raising the front forks based on personal preference and final rear sag setting. There is no 1:1 ratio since changes to rake/trail affect the geometry at a different rate than changes to the rear suspension.
Reply: It fits certain years of the YZ 125: http://www.motorcycleloweringlinks.com/index.php?content=yamaha-yz-limited-lowering-link
As for the front: our super simple install instructions gives a starting point and some guidelines for raising the front forks based on personal preference and final rear sag setting. There is no 1:1 ratio since changes to rake/trail affect the geometry at a different rate than changes to the rear suspension.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Brand new Yamaha suspension link coming
The 2012 Yamaha models are a long way away, but we've been working on a brand new Yamaha suspension lowering link. Strictly for the racers, go-fast guys (and girls), tall inseams and big jumpers.
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