2013 RMZ450 SET UP GUIDE

[bnyfe]

I read a set up guide for the 2013 RMZ450 in one of the motorcycle magazines. It even gave information about changing the handlebar to a flatter bar and also a lowering link. Does anybody know which magazine this article was in?

[humpness]

Oh probably mxa they put lowering links on all their bikes

[ac717]

LOL. Set it up how you like it. you ride the bike. Not the magazine. Lowering links are bad. It will spike up the rising rate and stiffen up the initial stroke. Go to a reputable suspension shop and they will have you hooked up in no time!...and yes it was MXA selling ride engineering junk. Ride Eng wants to know why Suzuki guys don't buy there stuff? Because the tolerances vary and its overpriced bling.Suzukis don't need it There..i said it. And that's from a guy that has bought ride engineering clamps twice (thought I would have learned first time).

[mikerides33]

My thoughts exactly. I went with the ride eng jewelery a couple times and basically sold it all and went back to stock. I learned to set the bike up and once I got things right the ride stuff took things too far. The link stiffens up the initial movement and it feels good over fast whoops but it suffers in other spots. Stock link and revalved for a bit more rebound control.

[mikerides33]

Oh probably mxa they put lowering links on all their bikes

Did you do the link on the 350 like me? Man I blew a lot on that bike. The zuke you just ride. Its nice.

[BCSNAKE]

LOL. Set it up how you like it. you ride the bike. Not the magazine. Lowering links are bad. It will spike up the rising rate and stiffen up the initial stroke. Go to a reputable suspension shop and they will have you hooked up in no time!...and yes it was MXA selling ride engineering junk. Ride Eng wants to know why Suzuki guys don't buy there stuff? Because the tolerances vary and its overpriced bling.Suzukis don't need it There..i said it. And that's from a guy that has bought ride engineering clamps twice (thought I would have learned first time).

I haven't heard anything bad about the ride link on the new RM-Z. Have a few friends that run the link with the offset clamps and Honda damper and say it made a huge difference. I hope it does cause I just ordered mine and hoping it helps. Just FYI these as motocross race bikes not trail riding machines.

[mikerides33]

Here we go

[BCSNAKE]

Here we go

Haha the old internet debate! Not trying to start a war just stating here say. Time well tell with me and I'll give a honest review when I am done with set up. My bike has a Fox RC3 shock and the forks are sprung and valve. I have no issue calling a companies products junk and don't listen to all MXA has to say but they do have some good advice.

Edited July 23, 2013 by BCSNAKE

[mikerides33]

Be sure to let us know how you like the shock. I am thinking about one....although the smart perf shock is pretty darn good

[bnyfe]

LOL. Set it up how you like it. you ride the bike. Not the magazine. Lowering links are bad. It will spike up the rising rate and stiffen up the initial stroke. Go to a reputable suspension shop and they will have you hooked up in no time!...and yes it was MXA selling ride engineering junk. Ride Eng wants to know why Suzuki guys don't buy there stuff? Because the tolerances vary and its overpriced bling.Suzukis don't need it There..i said it. And that's from a guy that has bought ride engineering clamps twice (thought I would have learned first time).

lol...you set it up the way you like...that is totally circular reasoning unless you do your own suspension ... otherwise...you tell your suspension guy which changes you would like etc do you not? My point is this: You're getting different suspension philosophies and massaging depending on who does your suspension regardless of what you tell them.

So if you like it that way, it's your "preference" but you are still getting "guidance" and most certainly they are interjecting their opinion into your revalve. You think about that.

It was not MXA..they had an article on the lowering link but not an entire article including handle bar suggestions....although I do like their approach in general as a decdent starting point for certain things.

Never needed my suspension done at all when I owned Yamahas for 10 yrs (except springs) but switched to suzuki and their stuff sucks compared to the KYB...my opinion.

have several friends who love the lowering link on the RMZ .. imo. .ramping up the rising rate and stiffening up the initial part of shocks stroke is a preference to do or not to do...i like lowering the bike a bit as well to lowering the center of gravity.

BTW..I switched my stock pipe for the FMF 4.1 full Ti with the CF end cap and weighed both exhausts on a digital scale. Lost 3.8 pounds!! That rocks!...on top of liking MXA, I also like a lighter bike!

but like I said....it was not MXA who gave the set up specs...I am going to check into it by contacting the mags..it was a cool article I just wasn't sure if I was buying another suzuki so I didn't take note of which mag it was in when I read it in the waiting room of my local dealership. It was not MXA..have a subscription to that mag...lol

Edited July 23, 2013 by bnyfe

[humpness]

I almost bought the link on the 350 but you saved me in time. Racerx the other day had a rmz setup article and it included every part from their "sponsors." Sort of like when Ryan Hughes did the ride engineering thing on the rmz. he recommended triple clamps but left out mentioning any offset change. While im on a roll i love the guys that buy the Airforce boot before they even ride the bike and say it rocks.

[ac717]

Its all good. just stating my opinion. I do my own suspension. I use a Fox podium rear shock on my rmz450. One of the best shocks you can put on an rmz. Suspension is personal preference. everybody will like something different.

THe MXA article I was referring to , they put a link,bling,clamps and 7/8 bars on it. Maybe it was Dirt rider. I laugh when I read them because they are big commercial ads. Did you ever notice the hot cams,big bore tests-its all the same company products-to me its fluff. They never show a dyno run. I have an FMF 4.1 on my 450. I smashed the stocker. I paid $260for the complete exaust Otherwise I would have never bought it. It the carbon one and I don't like them. they don't last. Yes they are lighter. But most complete systems are $900. That's almost $250 a pound!

As a side note,I own an 11 RMZ450,13rmz250 and an 05 rm250. I have done personal tweaking to them all. What I have learned in the process is I have spent some money that was pointless. I have spent some money that was worthwhile. On my 450-dont think I would buy the clamps again. If I did I would buy RG3 or xtrig. The FMF 4.1c and the powerbomb header-it was OK..not a necessity. The fox podium shock-pure awesome. best money spent. the forks-I did dave j smart performance setup.Think I would have been better off shim shuffling on my own. I did put a full hinson clutch in. I notched the stock basket.That's about all I have done to my bike. some gearing changes and regular maintenance. Great bikes and whatever you like is cool. If I came off harsh..didn't mean to. I just get pissed how hard I must torque the bolts on my triple clamps on my ride clamps so my forks don't slide up. I contacted them and they said its because they are billet. BS. I have owned tons of bikes

[BCSNAKE]

Its all good. just stating my opinion. I do my own suspension. I use a Fox podium rear shock on my rmz450. One of the best shocks you can put on an rmz. Suspension is personal preference. everybody will like something different.

THe MXA article I was referring to , they put a link,bling,clamps and 7/8 bars on it. Maybe it was Dirt rider. I laugh when I read them because they are big commercial ads. Did you ever notice the hot cams,big bore tests-its all the same company products-to me its fluff. They never show a dyno run. I have an FMF 4.1 on my 450. I smashed the stocker. I paid $260for the complete exaust Otherwise I would have never bought it. It the carbon one and I don't like them. they don't last. Yes they are lighter. But most complete systems are $900. That's almost $250 a pound!

As a side note,I own an 11 RMZ450,13rmz250 and an 05 rm250. I have done personal tweaking to them all. What I have learned in the process is I have spent some money that was pointless. I have spent some money that was worthwhile. On my 450-dont think I would buy the clamps again. If I did I would buy RG3 or xtrig. The FMF 4.1c and the powerbomb header-it was OK..not a necessity. The fox podium shock-pure awesome. best money spent. the forks-I did dave j smart performance setup.Think I would have been better off shim shuffling on my own. I did put a full hinson clutch in. I notched the stock basket.That's about all I have done to my bike. some gearing changes and regular maintenance. Great bikes and whatever you like is cool. If I came off harsh..didn't mean to. I just get pissed how hard I must torque the bolts on my triple clamps on my ride clamps so my forks don't slide up. I contacted them and they said its because they are billet. BS. I have owned tons of bikes

Great info. I love my podium shock on my 13 too. Speaking of shit companies Lightspeed has horrible customer service and I've had a ton of fitment issues with multiple products. You can see my KX 2 stroke build on here called Canada's nicest KX 250. All lightspeed and would never touch that garbage again.

Cheers

[bnyfe]

You didn't come off as harsh, just like some one who knew what they liked..wish I could do my own suspension...I got my pipe full ti for $250...what is bad about the CF end cap?

Edited July 24, 2013 by bnyfe

[adam8781]

Screw the magazines. All the 2013 would need is suspension setup for rider, (springs revalve) oversize front rotor. And the stones to ride it properly.

[ac717]

You didn't come off as harsh, just like some one who knew what they liked..wish I could do my own suspension...I got my pipe full ti for $250...what is bad about the CF end cap?

If you got a 13-the forks are super easy to work on. TT member has a post with a step by step with pics!. Carbon fiber isn't bad. The only downer to it,the resins will eventually degrade from heat and the exhaust will fail/crack. Typically if you keep up on the packing-it will last the life of your ownership. Carbon fiber looks cool as hell so I Dont sorry about it. I had a 4.1 carbon on an 05 crf450. It held up for a season. After that it cracked at the mounts and rivers got sloppy. From repacking and going to larger rivets it finally was shot. The end cap-i woukd think that would hold up-i have only had full carbon exhaust with titanium tip. Only live once might if you got some coin to throw around and try stuff-why not.

[mikerides33]

What didn't you like about the Smart forks. I have the Gen 3....decent but I shuffled shims before it and I think its a draw. However I may be too low on oil...he only has me at 325cc. The Gen3 mid is awesome but I am still burying it in the big sand whoops...heard my triple clamps squeak twice bottoming them. Going to try more oil.

Edited July 24, 2013 by mikerides33

[ac717]

Fluid is too heavy and foams. I feel just a reshim/revolve can accomplish same thing. Smart performance kit can just make it easier. In my case stock setting wasn't that far off. So starting with a new setup just adds more complexity. The sff fork is so easy to get working right. Since the valving is doing more small changes male big differrnce

[mikerides33]

Fluid is too heavy and foams. I feel just a reshim/revolve can accomplish same thing. Smart performance kit can just make it easier. In my case stock setting wasn't that far off. So starting with a new setup just adds more complexity. The sff fork is so easy to get working right. Since the valving is doing more small changes male big differrnce

That was my deal stock. I liked the stock forks because I can charge with it and really smash into stuff without worry of them blowing through. With this setup I have some nice plushness but I need to get back the high speed control that it had stock. I am only at 325cc with the Gen 3...I will try adding oil but I am wondering if I need more valving. One idea that James- one of his east coast installers had was actually backing out the compression to say 12 out and going in on rebound (midvalve) to around 7......in essence flip flopping them. I wonder how that will work and I wonder if it will oversteer like a bitch.

[ac717]

sounds like raise oil height. Add a face shim to the base valve. That should stiffen ii up and wont blow off as fast at high speed.My issue with daves setup was high speed. Mine wouldn't react. On slap down landings it felt like it wouldn't react fast enough. I figured F this.. I opened up the float .2mm more. I thought it would have been really soft but it finally tracked good. I went back to showa ss-5wt in the forks. No air build-up. His setup works good on smooth mx tracks,but in the east there is nothing smooth. Tracks get way too bumpy. I think the midvavle springs is too heavy or something. I like his base valve setup but I should have kept the midvalve setup stock. The oil was way too heavy for me. I t kept build up air quickly too. I rode for 20 minutes, took fork off and dumped some out. It was so foamy. Not a good thing. It works for some so that's great.Just wouldn't spend my money on the smart perf products again.