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Best possible forks

By FORMA MOTO,
in WR400F/426F/450F

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Grand Master

beezer

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The thing that killed the RSU's was they didn't look as bling as the USD's.

I still think the RSU's are better for offroad. A few of my buddies have put RSU's on their bikes and rave about them.

I had my DRZ 400 suzook revalved and it had great forks. Everything else sucked though.

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Grand Master

FORMA MOTO

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I have some sss forks off an 07yz waiting to get put on the WR or I would sell them to you...Will get them on in the next month or so before riding season starts up again. If I don't like them you can have em:thumbsup:

You will hate them. Don't even try them. They suck.

Now, how much did you want for them??

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dustdogg

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So, If I were rich, what forks from what bike would fit on the '07 WR450?

I see a lot of KX450 forks, YZ250f forks, etc on fleabay............

Krannie - I'm glad you brought this subject up because I'm curious myself. I just picked up a clean stock '07 as well and after I finish with the jetting, protection, HID setup etc... I will be looking into some suspension mods. I rememeber reading some threads in the past where (I think) '06 - '09 YZ 450F KYB SSS forks are practically a "bolt on" mod. I do rememeber having to use the fork guard(s) from the YZ and maybe a few other things, but mostly just bolt on and roll:ride: Of course they will still need to be revalved and sprung but this really needs to be done to the stock forks anyway. So in reality you have the added cost of the SSS forks on top of the cost of the revalve which you would have with the stock forks.

It would be nice to here from some riders that may have revalved there stock WR forks and then gone to the SSS forks afterwards. For serious desert/trail riders do you think that the added cost of the SSS forks are worth the price of admission? I know that the SSS forks have a lot of potential and have heard that stock they are as good or better than a revalved/sprung set of open chamber WR forks.

I am aware of most of the well known suspension tuners, but can only speak from experience about one. My '02 WR426 was done by Precision Concepts and I was happy with their work. From what can tell there still really isn't too many changes from my '02 to my '07 other than the 48mm vs the 46mm and possibly some spring and valving differences. I have read many threads about DaveJ and how much he is the man with the open chamber KYB's but I have no first hand experience. There is potential, but I think I feel the same way as you. Do I work over the stockers with a limited potential or spend a little $$ and have a better starting point?

Although I have been riding many years I wonder if I would even notice the difference? Up until now I have been happy with my "dialed in" 426 but maybe I don't know what I'm missing? To me this is where Yamaha is at a disadvantge with the Honda CRF450X. It comes with with suspension it is a better starting point than the WR. I looked at both bikes closely and still chose the Yamaha because of how reliable my 426 has been, which I bought new in '02 and still no valve adjustments needed:thumbsup:. I don't want to start a brand war because they are both great bikes but they each have there strong/weak points. I chose to leave the motor alone and concentrate on working on improving the suspension.

So lets hear from you WR guys about your thoughts on suspension:ride:

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dustdogg

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I had a 99 YZ400F and got a set 0f 02 YZ works fork from a friend i wish I kept in contact with. Man what a HUGE difference.. If I was smart I would have transferred those forks to the 07... If I was gonna change the forks on my '07, I would look for a set of YZF forks.

In '02 the YZ's and WR's had the same open bath forks with the exception of valving and spring differences. From what I know this is still the same basic design that has been used on all WR's up to the most current 2011 model.. In about '05 they bumped the tube size up from 46mm to 48mm so if you were to swap some '02 forks over to an '07 (which I have know idea why you would go through the hassle:bonk:) you would really just end up with a smaller diameter for with no advantage over the originals.

I think Krannie was trying to find out if the SSS forks from '06? on up were worth the added expense over just revalving the stock open open bath forks.

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Grand Master

FORMA MOTO

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I've tried Smart Performance work on my '03 and my previous '07WR, and while it was a substantial improvement over stock, it was still several levels away from the re-valved Showas on my 450X, and the re-valved KX450 (both done by Agent Smith Racing). That was my experience anyway.

I don't race anymore, but I do ride a lot, and on lots of different terrain, so I kind of need suspension that can do 65mph deeep whoops, and still not kill me on the rocky single track. The WR will be set up as more of a 'mule', than a racer.

Since I'm a huge guy (6'4" 265lbs) it's even more critical to get the suspension right, cause all that extra weight is very hard to control if the suspension is off.

It looks like '07 WR forks have a street value of $250+, and the '06 and later SSS forks about $ 350-450 depending on how new, if stock, etc.

So, the upgrade cost, if I sold the WR forks, is not that bad.

The '07 I currently have was re-valved/sprung by ESP, for a 210lb rider.

I already have .48/6.0 springs for the WR in hand, so I will put in those instead.

Still a little soft (should be .52/6.3) but they are 'free'.....Static sag will be pretty small........

Then we will see just what the ESP suspension has to offer, if it can keep up with the stiffer springs. Previous experience with ESP has been nothing special. Maybe this time will be different.

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kawi380

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The current setup I have on the wr was done by DaveJ and I really have no complaints. I came across some sss forks from a yz for almost nothing so I thought why not try them out and see what all the ruckus is about. For now I am not going to get them revalved because I am in the ballpark weight for the stock setup. Time will tell.

From everything I have read and from personal experience the wr open bath is an excellent fork for what is was designed to do. I have taken my wr to the moto track a time or two and it does ok. I don't think the suspension is the limiting factor there though, as the bike is pretty darn heavy. Not to mention dragging the license plate through corners:p

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Derwud

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In '02 the YZ's and WR's had the same open bath forks with the exception of valving and spring differences. From what I know this is still the same basic design that has been used on all WR's up to the most current 2011 model.. In about '05 they bumped the tube size up from 46mm to 48mm so if you were to swap some '02 forks over to an '07 (which I have know idea why you would go through the hassle:bonk:) you would really just end up with a smaller diameter for with no advantage over the originals.

I think Krannie was trying to find out if the SSS forks from '06? on up were worth the added expense over just revalving the stock open open bath forks.

The Fork and shock were set up for me and I have not had a chance ($) to get my 07 set-up for me and I miss that!

I would say for the 100 to 150 plus revalve, it would worth it!

Hell I might give Krannie a few buck to trade my barely used 07 forks for his.

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Grand Master

123BigcoopDawg576

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I've tried Smart Performance work on my '03 and my previous '07WR, and while it was a substantial improvement over stock, it was still several levels away from the re-valved Showas on my 450X, and the re-valved KX450 (both done by Agent Smith Racing). That was my experience anyway.

Interesting..I did a 6hr race on an X that was setup and I though the suspension SUCKED. It was nothing compared to my DaveJ setup. Then again, 210 vs 265 in weight does make things more interesting and challenging etc.

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SXP

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Still a little soft (should be .52/6.3) but they are 'free'.....Static sag will be pretty small.........

See, you should have listened to me the first time a couple of years ago:smirk:? I still have that Eibach 6.3 and it's ready to do the trip to Krannie's house AGAIN if so desired. Just say the word.....?:smirk:

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Grand Master

FORMA MOTO

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See, you should have listened to me the first time a couple of years ago:smirk:? I still have that Eibach 6.3 and it's ready to do the trip to Krannie's house AGAIN if so desired. Just say the word.....?:smirk:

Ha! It might just happen this time.

The WR is way down the list for 'financial expenditures' so it will have to suck pretty bad with the 6.0, to change it. I'll know next month. Besides, I'm not the only person that will ride this bike, and at 6.0, it will be stiff for them.....that's why I balked last time too....

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dustdogg

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I just dropped the forks off at Agent Smith racing, to have the springs and oil changed, and to take a look at what ESP did in there.

I'm interested to see what AS Racing suggests for the WR. I have a buddy on a 450X that had the supension done by him and he can't get over how well it works compared to stock. Does AS Racing know the Yamaha's too? Please keed us updated:ride:

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Grand Master

FORMA MOTO

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I'm interested to see what AS Racing suggests for the WR. I have a buddy on a 450X that had the supension done by him and he can't get over how well it works compared to stock. Does AS Racing know the Yamaha's too? Please keed us updated:ride:

Paul's shop is wall to wall Honda, with a occasional Blue or Orange bike.

His specialty has been quality head work, and in the last year or two he has been branching out to full race prep, including suspension. His bikes place high in the USDR standings.

He's a no-frills, no BS kind of guy, that likes to get to the 'bottom' of things. He's pulled apart suspension from every tuner in town, and he knows what works, and why, and what is just 'fairy dust' and hype.

He's familiar with the 'tricks' used by SP, ESP, PC, Enzo, FC, RT, etc.

Some of the tricks are brilliant engineering, with precision parts and design, while others are, well, not so much brilliant, as scary.

I expect he will inform me of what ESP has/has not done inside the forks, and what if anything he would recommend to change.

All I know is that he took my X forks after two other companies had a go at it, and made them great. He then did my KX forks, and they are absolutely magic. Ultra plush with total control.

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