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suspension for the big guys....

Joined Sep 2004
1K Posts | 1+
Clovis, CA USA!
Okay all,

I am a big guy, 300 lbs with pack and gear. I am loosing weight, albeit slowly, but i have a goal... Anyway, I am getting my new bike in about 1 week 04 FE550 :D and I need some suspension tips. I know that these bikes are built with the the expectation that rider and gear weight approx half my weight. so is there anything I can do on a temp basis, (1 year or so) until I drop approx 65-75 more pounds. would just buying a heavier spring do it? I don't want to drop another 700 bucks just to have to change it all again....

I have a buddy whom i ride with, who was big like me until last year. He had his 03 ktm 525 set up for his weight. now he is much smaller and wants to sell his springs and such, will they swap over?

I am an amature who, when i actually have a bike, rides 90% trail
 
I think I would give it try the way it is for awhile. I weigh 270 with gear and have not seen a reason to change springs yet.
 
I'm 255lbs 6'5"......
I now have my 06 Fe450. I am broke and in no hurry to spend a money on a suspension job.....I have also learned to go slow, don't be in a hurry to modify a new bike, let things break in.......I had to reset the sag just a bit after 10 hours of riding and now the stock Husaberg shock spring is holding up fine......the forks are doing great. I'm gonna keep riding it stock and not worry about it.



my two cents
 
regarding those used springs,how used are they?if they have been used alot dont buy them.they should be cheap as used springs dont bring much.what rate are the springs and howmany mm long is the shock spring?
 
Before you run out to buy and install stronger front and rear springs because you're a super-sized hunk of dude instead for now just try cranking up the front and rear preload settings and ride.

We know Sweden has it's fair share of big guys too so they must have designed some big guy carrying capability into the stock bike.

PS. Maybe add a few extra PSI in the tires based on weight.
 
My buddy just got his suspension redone by Dick's, and it cost him $900!!! 8O
I'm in the same boat as you but dropping that much money right after buying the bike, I think I'll stay with stock for a while.
I was budgeting $500, but sounds like I was in fantasy land.
 
900! OUCH... I guess if you have the cash and you really feel it is worth it... I was figuring a good job could be had for the 600 range but it was a pain in the arse just to convice the signifigant other that I really needed to upgrade... I am not even going to ask about dropping cash on the suspension... she would just say "go spend that money on the personal trainier, (sadly i would have to agree with her) My last bike had a MXtech suspension (not installed by me, but by the previous owner it was set up for a rider at 250 with gear) and it roder real nice... so I guess I really have no frame of reference for stock as opposed to aftermarket. I do occasionally get a little wild and take the ocassional jump... so i did not know if the stock bike could handle it.

I will just wait and see.
 
sorry I mis read your post saying you're an amateur, didnt noticed you have had bikes before. Sorry about the newbie comment.
 
ummmm compared to most people who buy husabergs.. I am a newbie!

We will have to get together and ride sometime! I love the area above sacramento. I spent A LOT of time there after during and after high school (went to sierra college for a few years in 89-90...)
 
I decided that I am going to spring the bike for my weight. I have got differing opinions and I was wondering if ya'll could weigh in..(pun intended :lol: )

300 lbs, 95-100% all trail/singletrack. slow to medium speed.

front spring suggestions have ranged from 46-52 and rear spring suggestions have ranged from 6- 9.8

I Also need to know if any body has information on what the stock spring rate in for the rear shock...

I need to decide today, so I can get them ordered and installed prior to picking up the bike...

thanks
 
'05 FE 550. 6' 4" 230. I have an 8.8 rear spring and .46 in the front.

At 35mm static sag I net about 105mm race sag. Pretty close to ideal, I would say. This makes for an extremely plush ride, but still controlled. I get some light bottoming (have the rubber marks under the fenders to prove it!), but only when it should. I am an "A" rider/racer, but mid-pack in the A class.

At your weight, I would say at least a 9.8 rear, maybe more. not sure on the front, maybe 50's? Once sprung properly, the bike will be much plusher. I overwhelmed the stock springs easily, I am sure you are too. Cannon Racecraft has the big boy springs all the way up to a 12.0! They are good people to deal with, and make a lot of springs that are re-branded for the Aftermarket.
 
I would really try to do some modifications if I were you, try 9.8 or even 10 in the rear and .54 in the front.

I say 10 because, being taller, you put more of your weight in the back.

As you can see, that's far from the stock springs. You'll turn more easily and will have better control going down too.

Fork work is something you can do in your garage, with the right tools and a bit of space, but changing the spring on your rear shock is a whole lot harder. When I mounted a PDS 9 on my 125SX it was not exactly piece of cake. So imagine 10 :)

Going OT: welcome to the "I will lost weight soon", I was weighing 275lbs 2 years ago, now I am under 220, and can do even do tractions, woohoo.
 
Risky and others,

Just some info to think about.

From what I have read in other posts here and on KTMtalk, the Husaberg suspension is better suited to heavier riders. I am 180lbs, 200 in full gear. After riding a mates KTM520EXC the suspension was plush, like a cadillac. My FC550 is like riding on bricks and I would love to have the suspension redone to my taste as it is much to harsh for me.
I did some questioning about the Dicks suspension last year with Splat(UHE member) and he had the Dicks suspension "works" package done and he was very well pleased with the results. I believe he paid about $700-$900 altogether and said it made a world of difference. From what I understand, Dick sets his suspension up differently than most has he sets one of the front forks up for compression and the other fork for rebound... I think that is right. He has a good reputation in the industry and has several endorsements from pro riders. Not to mention he specializes in WP forks and PDS shocks. I hope to have the $$$ some day to send my parts off for a complete job but in the meantime I will have to work with what I have. From what I have herd, Dicks is a little more costly than the others but worth it. Just my 2 cents.

Regards,
 
Nic,

Dicks Racing

My thinking is this, If I am going to spend a chunk of money for someone to do my suspension I want to have it done right, $100 or $200 dollars is a fair amount of money to save but is it worth it? Dicks has a WORLD WIDE reputation and many people put their needs in this guys hands. From what I understand, when you go with Dicks, you will personally get a call from this gentleman and he will discuss your riding style, terrain, and skill level to get an idea for what is best for your specific needs, Personalization, he does the work himself! I like that idea. He will custom machine some of the parts out of alloys for your suspension, not off the shelf plastic stuff if its close but not exact. He has many years of time invested into his work and has a good amount of feedback from riders who put his services to the test. Most importantly, he specializes in *********** suspension. In closing, I want to do this right the first time. It makes sense to me to send it out to the best and have it done right so long as it is economically feasible. Im no rich guy but I think the couple hundred dollars is worth it. If we were talking a difference of $1000 or more bucks then I might think differently, I guess it's a question of "Whats it worth to you?" Same goes for the carburation, I could mess with it myself but it would cost me at least a $100 and many hours of time and frustration. When I get to that point I will send my carb off to "The Man" and have it done right and pay for years of research and development resting on the experience of someone who knows what they are doing. I think its all worth it when you want your bike to fit around you and not you trying to fit around the bike.... if you get my idea? Hope this explains my thinking better, take care.

Regards,
 
I have been told by mx-tech and by the people at Race-tech to go for 52's in the front and a 9.8 in the rear. but I have also been told by others that was overdoing it and to go with 48's in front and an 8-9 in th rear.

a number of people here have said to leave well enough alone, but I am sure that I will be much happier with it re-sprung at a minimum since _ am not going top spend a lot on the suspension until I am at a reasonable weight.

on a side note, I have decided that the personal trainer my wife hired for six months as s christmas present was not a present for me :roll: he is kicking my arse! 10 lbs in two weeks, not to shabby... time to really start the eating right bit...

anyway,

I think I will co conservative on my spring choice and go with 48 in front and 8.5 in the rear. since am currently losing and hopefully in 7-8 months the dang thing will be as as harsh riding as a unsprung bicycle.
 
Risky, the two most reputable (IMHO) suspension companies told you the same thing, while "people" told you to not "overdue" it.

Face it: you are a big guy to put on a dirt bike, you have to admit it, ok? I was a big guy too, and I still am on the chubby side, so no hard feeling. Therefore: set up the bike's suspension properly.

.48 in the front and 9 in the back, that's way way too small. That would be "underdoing". Not the other way around. That setup is ok if you weigh 240lbs. Johnf's suspension is ok for his weight too. Not for you.

Sandskipper: Palo Verde works with MX-Tech, he knows his stuff, people in the valley swear by his work. He uses quality hardware and does the same work as Wilkey, pretty much.

The FC is an MX bike, that's why it comes with suspensions that are everything but plush. If you decided to go on STs now that you discover that you love them (har! har! I wish I did not miss that ride, because I may be worse than you) you need to check your sag and adjust the clickers. A spring job may not be necessary.
 
You will be WAY undersprung in the 8.5 range.

The stock spring, and this is from the manual, is designed for a 160 lb. person. Advice saying that the stock spring will be OK, just crank down the preload, for 100+ lb more than that is not right.

Get the right spring and your ride will be more plush. Being large myself, I've had to respring every bike I've owned and each time the ride improved.
 
LeFrog said:
Risky, the two most reputable (IMHO) suspension companies told you the same thing, while "people" told you to not "overdue" it.

Face it: you are a big guy to put on a dirt bike, you have to admit it, ok? I was a big guy too, and I still am on the chubby side, so no hard feeling. Therefore: set up the bike's suspension properly.

.48 in the front and 9 in the back, that's way way too small. That would be "underdoing". Not the other way around. That setup is ok if you weigh 240lbs. Johnf's suspension is ok for his weight too. Not for you.

.

point taken... I will go for the 52 and the 9.8
 

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