FX450 front end

How's things guys?

Since owning/using the 450 for motard track work I was of the opinion the bike wasn't very planted in the front. I would constantly loose traction, it would chatter mid turn etc. eventually I went down.

I swapped bikes for a session on a YZ450. Well, immediately I lapped quicker than the other rider on my Berg by 1 second. I was taking it easy being not my bike. This bike would run through the corners beautifully and I was able to keep up with the quick riders.

I know I could get the suspension set up to motard specs etc, triple clamps and the like but none of these other bikes are modified. They are just dirt bikes with wheels. One other rider who runs around me says he hasn't even looked at the suspension settings since buying it second hand.

Prior to this ride day I replaced the rear spring for a stiffer one to get the sags right and brought the forks up through the clamps 5-7 mm.

What's your thought guys?

Guys, any idea which of the KTM triples with an 18mm offset will fit the likes of the FX/FE 70 deg Bergs?

RogerB39 said:

Factory rear sag is too much...take 10-15mm out (less sag).
I ran a 14mm offset triple as well. (Off a 125sx)
Any KTM triple after 03 to 16 will work.

Click to expand...

Thanks Roger.

From doing some research the common triples are 19mm up. Below that are looking to be from the 'hard parts' bin or the rare SXS.

Roger, I had fitted a heavier spring and set the sag around the 15mm mark.

I have a set 18mm triples on the way. I couldn't find anything with less.

Smash, you should own one. Matched up with the FX ECU is ideal, plus run a map switch on number 2. Open up that airbox.

Yeah there is so much conflicting opinions re riding style/setup etc. A mate sits right back on his Husky and goes around you like you wouldn't believe. Others up front. My thinking has been up front as you would off-road. Until I get the geometry sorted it will still be trial and error.

I'm also thinking 14mm offset would be more preferable than the 18mm considering how unstable they are in the front compared to others. I'll give the 18's a shot first and see how they go.

I have some 18mm triples on the way from WA.

Can't locate the SX 14mm clamps.

Guys, what's the thought on the ideal motard 'trail' compared to the original dirt bike 'trail'?

Using a trail calculator my standard trail with the 22mm offset/21" wheel is 149.6mm

With the 22mm offset/17" wheels it's 121.7mm. 27.9mm less.

So with the 18mm offsets I get 126.1mm. 23.5mm less than original.

If I did have 14mm offsets I'd have 130.6mm. 19mm less

Is there an ideal we are looking for against the original trail suited to motard? Different tracks diff offset I suppose but I don't do gokart tracks. More open flowing tracks.

Can the rake be altered by way of position in the triple be used to account for any loss in trail?

Thanks guys.

Al.

Thanks Paolo but equates to over $1,000.

At this stage I'm not sure of my final offset.

Thanks mate.

Well, i won 11/14mm XTrigs off Ebay. Looking forward to Broadford raceway on the 8th Oct.