uranys, on 05 July 2012 - 01:04 PM, said:

??? Why?
Motocross forks are sprung much heavier and tuned to take big impacts.
Mine are fabulous for my 240lbs with stock springs.  Work so well I haven't even played with the adjustments yet.   And take potholes like they aren't even there.  And did I mention they don't dive like a submarine when you hit the brakes?

MindBlower, on 05 July 2012 - 09:03 AM, said:

ohhhhhhhhhhh ok. I didn't know that piece came separately.

uranys, on 05 July 2012 - 01:04 PM, said:

Yeah I've heard the the stock 250's are a pretty good match.

elsalvadorklr, on 02 July 2012 - 08:06 PM, said:

The add just said crf 250

MindBlower, on 05 July 2012 - 08:29 PM, said:

Lets look at some numbers....

A crf250r weighs about 100lbs less than a xr650l

The stock spring rate on most crf250r's is .45kg/mm which according to race-tech's spring calculator is good for a 175lb amateur trail rider.

If you put in 275lbs for rider weight (to make up for the xrl's extra 100lbs) it recommends .52kg/mm

the general feeling is that their calculator is a little on the stiff side so .48kg/mm-.50kg/mm would probably be appropriate for a 175lb rider on an xrl.

Yes, in general springs for mx are heavier, but not that much.

The valving is another issue, mx valving is tuned for big hits and will typically be too harsh for trail riding, even with the right spring rate.

Unless the forks you got were tuned for a 320lb trail rider, i can't see how they aren't undersprung and over-valved for your riding.

That being said, If your happy with them then great! ride it and have fun.

MindBlower, on 05 July 2012 - 08:29 PM, said:

its a common myth I might add THAT YOU HAVE TO RESPRING AND REVALVE USDS first...

look at what the donor bike is designed to do first and use your judgment AND testing after installing and see what you would like to change

like mindblower my usds are a perfect match, yes they could be better, I thought I needed stuiffer springs but my sag specs are what cr250r specs recommend, and I have not bottomed out yet, despite some really hard hits, NOT JUMPS, hits

i have added oil t slow down the rebound a bit, I hae also adjusted my clickers from cr250r specs a bit too...

I agree that getting maybe 990 adventure wp forks on an xr600 then hell yeah, respring and revalve imediately

I think people get confused and assume because others have said so that you HAVE to do something

my usds swap cost me(even without selling my stock wheel or forks) $250. If I would sell those 2 things Id come out clean...

another myth is how expensice the swaps are...

uranys, on 06 July 2012 - 06:30 AM, said:

Ill agree that the xrl is both heavier and less "aggressive" for most riders compared to an xr600

My 88 xr600r weighs 287(yes I have weighed it)

thats roughly 50lbs or more than a cr250r

the thing is I weigh only 165 or so suited up

the difference in weight of the bike is compensated by the difference in nature if the forks and springs

My springs are .45kg my xr springs were .41 I weigh 50lbs more(the bike does) but I weigh less than the average rider on a motocross bike

in the end if you do your homework you will be rewraded.

cheers

elsalvadorklr, on 06 July 2012 - 06:32 AM, said:

I agree, you don't have to do anything.

But i'm willing to bet that although your new forks don't bottom, they are probably a lot harsher than your stock forks. If they are It's probably because they are undersprung and overdamped.

It doesn't have to be that way, take all that money you saved and talk to a reputable suspension shop, or do some research and do the work yourself.

The end result should be plushness and control and still resistant to bottoming. I can all but guarantee the difference will be worth it.

But again if your happy more power to you!

elsalvadorklr, on 06 July 2012 - 06:37 AM, said:

With your weight, .45kg is probably in the ballpark, checking sag will tell you for sure.

That being said re-valving will still make a dramatic difference if your not riding mx.

we agree completely

I have a revalved xrl shock in the back and that transformed my bike

I have meticulosusly measured sag front and back and my bike is completely dialed in

as for harshness

supposdedly crf450x are te harsh ones

cr250r are on the softer side

I also have my oil level on the plush minimum level per my request

these things counteract motocross harshness

but I agree completely

a revalve(no respring) would make my front end a million times better

I do know however that most people on normal xrl's do not notice little stuff like this and telling them you need a revlave at $250 or so scares them off a usds swap from the getgo

cheers man

christian

uranys, on 06 July 2012 - 06:30 AM, said:

Racetechs calculater is WAYYYYYYYYYYYY off.  All the others say .47-.49 for  240lbs.   And that is off road riding, if you are casual, dual sporter, type rider, softer than that is just fine.  Those would be WAY stiff for a 175 rider.
You can talk all the theory you want about valving and such, and I understand what you are saying and THOUGHT that would be a factor.
Thought I would have to have them resprung and maybe if you are trying to race that would be true, but for me, dual sporting and road riding, they are AWESOME,,,,,,,,,,,,, as is.  

uranys, on 06 July 2012 - 06:48 AM, said:

You are wrong sir.  

so hows it coming along?

The stock springs and valving in my RM250 forks are just about spot on perfect for the XR. Most spring rate calculators show the stock RM spring rate to be what the XRL needs for trail riding. The bottom line is that I wouldn't spend a bunch of cash getting USDs resprung or valved until you ride them. Of course, I dont do a lot of highway riding so my front end may be too "harsh" for some on the pavement, but it sure rocks in the nasties.

ThumpNRed, on 11 July 2012 - 11:18 AM, said:

wise advice...dont spend money unless you have too...at least try out the swap before investing in a revalve

for most a revalve only is needed

for racer a respring too

for normal riders nothing(unless you are way too heavy, jajaja)

cheers