Problem with RaceTech Fork Spring Kit CRF300L
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ย. 2024
- RaceTech incorrectly cut the spacer tube. I installed their Fork Spring Kit on my CRF300L the other week and it felt too stiff. I wasn't able to use more than 68% of the travel no matter how hard I pushed. I partly resolved that issue. Had to take it apart again to do so of course.
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Greetings,
As always another brilliant detailed video production 🇺🇸🍾🎉🇺🇸
I newbie about CRF front suspension, so now each fork has a spring in it !?
Thank you so much for assisting me and keep producing more videos about the CRF.
Thanks, and yes, with the RaceTech Fork Spring Kit, you will have a spring in both legs. The stock spring remains in the right leg, and the new one goes into the left leg. New video coming out Tuesday on the K & N Filter for this bike 🙂
@@Scoottoots thanks for the quick response, one more question, do you think it i cut down another 5mm or more on the black tube I would use more of the fork traveling (as you said you only using 70% )
Again, thank you so much for your thoughts.
@@rosarioroberto5823 It makes very little difference to the travel I found, so I wouldn't bother. The Delrin tube is extremely hard stuff to cut.
sucks you had to go through this man. thanks for the update! mine had burrs on it too and had to clean it up. I definitely do not feel like taking that thing apart again. Mine seems ok I guess but I don't really have anything to compare it to. I just kind of wanted a temporary solution until I have enough money for cartridges
Yeah, the devil is in the details. I like getting things correct if possible, which is why I placed the zip tie on the fork tube, and here we are, lol :-)
As this is one of the vids i watched before installing the Race Tech spring and gold valve I have a little additional info.
I just did the install on my 2023 Rally yesterday. I did not use the brass washer at all, the factory fork cap is designed to accept the spring loads, more later. My installation in order of dropping parts into the fork:
steel washer
spring
steel washer
plastic bushing/washer
factory length spacer tube (forgot to measure it)
factory fork cap.
If you inspect the factory cap, you will find that the big washer of the cap is actually floating and rests against a rubber cushion. This washer/cap is designed to accept and cushion the spring loads. My set up provided me with a small amount of preload on the spring, i have good free and rider sag. Possibly in the CRF300, you might need to trim or possibly extend the supplied spacer tube to get the correct amount of pre load. Because of your video, I applied very light preload. Hope this helps someone.
If you are planning on gold valve kit, I found issue and simple solution for that as well.
Thanks for the info. That's interesting. I followed the RaceTech directions exactly. It sounds like with your leaving out the brass washer but using another steel washer (I think the directions called for one only but more if needed for preload) we may have ended up with the same or similar preload. The sag on my setup is okay now. My issue is the final spring rate is too high and does not allow use of the long travel. It's like they sprung it for an MX bike, not a dual sport. That said, I'm fine with it now. The bike handles very well for what I do with it and for what I paid for it. Thanks again for adding your info. It'll help someone out there as they do the install. I wish RaceTech would be accountable though.
@@Scoottoots I used two of the four supplied spacer/preload washers at each "end" of the spring to provide good/hard contact surface for the spring at both ends. The as delivered spacer tube length was spot on when not using the brass washer. Finally there is a bit of preload adjustment on the factory cap, as the threads inside of it as well as the cartridge rod are long. Been riding the bike few days, i agree the race Tech spring is too stiff for my 175 lbs weight. And yes, bit disappointed with the overall experience.
@@pawelwolski1316 I emailed RaceTech regarding the issues, especially the final spring rate. They didn't have the courtesy to respond. Not impressed with that. Perhaps if more customers communicated the problem to them they would step up and rethink that kit for this bike. Thanks for your info!
@@Scoottoots Agree, RaceTech has not delivered a high quality, "tuned" solution. One size fits all, does not fit all. The front end is too stiff for my 170 kgs, my YSS shock is well suited, it comes with 4 different spring rates. I use the bike mostly for touring, so that stiffer front end is not such a terrible set up. But yes, I expected better.
Update post, I am 170 lbs (street clothing), have lower crash bars/skid plate on the bike. i just came back from 3500 km adventure ride in Indonesia with another 25-30 lbs of stuff on the back. Nice paved roads, bad paved roads, gravel, dirt and 10 km beach run. I used 60% of the front travel at most. On road the stiffer fork is ok, in dirt too stiff. The YSS rear worked great. So I call this a fail for Racetech, unless you are 250 lbs.
I installed recently on CRF250 Rally … no issues … used the 3 extra preload spacers provided, and the extra 600cc oil level in the right fork at the same time … Installing Race Tech rear spring tomorrow
That's good to hear. I gather that it allows you to use almost full travel when pushed very hard? That's the goal anyway. I now suspect there are slight differences in the forks from the 250l to the 300l, otherwise I cannot fathom why this was so far off for me (other than the incorrect length space tube) and a few other 300l owners that I have heard from. I was aware that for many years it was successfully used on the 250L. That's why I ordered it. Anyway, enjoy 🙂
I had the same exact experience. I found that the upgraded cartridge kit was the key to making the bike handle well for me. For my weight, the original spring is good enough if I also added a little more oil (yes you can tune the oil level to your liking within reason).
When you say you had the same experience, was that also with the RaceTech Fork Spring Kit? I'm wanting to avoid the cost of a cartridge system. This is working better for me now that I've corrected the issue. I did not try to make the stock fork setup work for me. I suppose I could have played with oil volume a bit. The way it is now though is excellent. It handles great; no more wallowing. Feels balanced and planted. Cheers Casey :-)
@@Scoottoots Yes, I originally purchased the Racetech spring kit and found it to be much too stiff. I didn’t want to spend the money on the cartridge kit but I’m glad I did now that I have it. But I know that sort of thing isn’t for everyone. I’ve always said, it doesn’t matter what you have so long as it works for you and your happy with it. I’d much rather tune my own machines than resort to buying more parts!
@@Casey_Schmidt Ah, thanks for the clarification, and the confirmation regarding the overly stiff nature of RaceTech's one size fits all approach. It seems to me they designed it as they would for a dedicated dirt bike, not a dual sport. They get ridden quite differently. Cheers 🙂
@@Scoottoots just wondering what was the site you ordered your race tech kit from
@@Shadow-gk3yi I ordered direct from RaceTech. Their web site is atrocious so I phone them to order the correct kit.
Interesting... I just installed the same spring kit into my fork and I had a lot of fun holding the damping rod with a spudder probe (old telephone man's tool), using the spacer to compress the spring, and trying to get the top washer and the jam nut on. I thought I had done something wrong (usual cause) so I used a piece of bent wire to remove the spring and washers etc., put it all back in again very carefully and still the rod was shy of the top of the spacer tube. I ended up compressing the spring with the spacer in order to get the washer and nut on. I was short about two hands. But, got it all together and am very pleased with the improvement in handling and riding position with the extra preload. I'm likely a wee bit heavier than you as I found the travel to nearly ideal after hitting some cross ditches harder than I like just to check travel. I'm betting the spacer is a bit long like yours and was the cause of the difficulty getting it assembled. Great info! Cheers!
That's great it's working well for you. Thanks for that input. Yes, you are likely heavier than I if you're getting more travel out of it on hard hits. RaceTech is the only manufacturer of spring kits for this bike that do not offer spring rates matched to rider weight. It's a one size fits all solution. That said, I am very happy with the handling now, compared to stock. No more wallowing. The bike is balanced and feels planted. Cheers Daryl :-)
I think the reason I found such a drastic improvement in handling etc is that I haven’t yet installed the K-Tech rear shock as the Racetech arrived first. Can’t wait to ride it with the new shock, but, alas, bike’s in the shop 😢
@@darylelder1352 The shock makes the biggest improvement so I'm sure you'll be pleased 🙂
I had the same experience with the YSS cartridge kits. They are terrible, not only do the clickers not make a bit of difference, they feel like they are hydro locking. I am going to ditch the YSS junk and go with the Rally Raid.
Some of these companies are not paying attention to what they are doing. Sorry to hear that.
What was the final outcome.
I had already ordered the Racetech fork spring kit (.50kg) from Rocky mountain atv before i ran across this and some others talking about this sprong making it too stiff. Before I received it I ordered a set of used springs on ebay from a KTC EXC 400 that had the wp43 forks that take the same size springs. Same diameter and length, The used ones have a 44 marking so I dont know for sure but I think its 4,4N/M or just under .45kg. I installed one of those instead of the race tech spring and one washer at the bottom plus the other parts that came in the kit. I also replaced the fork oil with just under 500cc of honda 10w fork oil. From the test ride today of gravel road, serious washboard gravel road and poorly paved road with lots of potholes it felt great. I also replaced the rear shock with the Rachtech adv shock. This combo feels great.
It sounds like you made a wise choice. The RaceTech Fork Spring is overkill. You lose some travel that otherwise would be available, and that changes the response throughout the range of travel you end up with. One day I may change my spring for something more reasonable, but for now it's 'okay.' It's marginally better handling than the stock configuration. I'm very happy with the K-Tech shock though. 🙂
Any idea how many cc of oil was in the left fork from the factory?
Sorry, no I do not know.
You can adjust the oil level yourself to fine tune the "end" of the stroke. As the fork tube compresses, there is less "space" inside the fork. The oil can not compress, so it's the air (air gap) that compresses and starts to act as an "air spring" stiffening the fork. Take the forks off the bike, put a zip tie on each fork tube and now press hard on each fork. You most likely will bottom out the fork. The spring leg will require stronger push, the dampening side not so much. Mark the position of the zip tie with a marker on each leg, slide zip tie up and now add bit of oil, like 10 cc at a time. Repeat the push down routine, you want to get to a point where you cant bottom out the fork. The zip tie should stop 1/2 or 3/4 inch from the bottom out mark. Don't overfill the fork, you will loose travel and will end up blowing out seals.
Thanks for making this video! I’m getting ready to do this upgrade on my CRF 250 L. I have been talking to the folks at CRFs only about the Race Tech springs. I’m curious how much you weigh? I weigh 285 pounds and I think the stock springs are way too soft for someone at my weight. I’m planning to replace the rear spring too. Did you do that? They told me that the rear spring is dependent upon my weight, skill level and riding style. They recommended a 14.3 kg rear spring for me. Thanks
I weigh 180lb plus gear, so it may be just right for you, as it is overly stiff halfway through the stroke for me. The 250L has a bit shorter stroke on the forks but that might not influence things much. Be careful to clean out the inside of the Delrin spacer tube. Mine was cluttered with drilling debris. Let me know how it works for you once installed and tested. My issue was that no matter how hard I hit it on rough trails I could not use more than two thirds of the stroke, so it left some travel unavailable. For the rear I chose the K-Tech shock. They offer several variations according to your weight with gear. Just choose the one that falls within your weight range and it'll be set up correctly for you with the right spring and rebound damping setting. The shock is excellent.
@@Scoottoots Thank you. Will let you know how it goes
No issues with my race tech kit...i tuned my suspension to the load its going to see and changed the viscosity of the fluid all made for a good mild single track jumper compaired to the suicide suspension it comes with..
That's good to hear. When you say 'tuned' are you referring only to the oil viscosity, or did you also add or detract from the preload spacing? Before I installed it I phoned RaceTech to ask if I might be best with a different oil viscosity. They said no do not use anything but the stock 10 weight so that's what I did. Glad to hear you made it work for you. Mine is definitely better than stock, but some travel is not available no matter how hard I push it into dips and ruts. I especially notice the improvement on pavement at speed on a twisty road, so it's not a complete wash ;-)
Hello from your southern neighbor in WA. I get a clunky feeling in mine like the spring and tube do not like to work together in the first 1-3in of compression with a scraping noise in the tube. Going to swap to the rally raid setup in the front and rear here this winter. will definitely check the tube length in mine when i swap.
I have heard that same issue from another viewer. I wonder what it can be. Let us know if you determine the cause when you swap things out. Thanks for your input.
Curious how difficult the installation was for the fork spring kit? Do these companies ask for the rider’s weight or what kind of riding you do? Thanks Don PS The 550 Performance “Stock Improved” ECU is still doing great on my CRF300L, to me it made the motorcycle even more fun to ride.
The installation is straightforward. Not difficult. You just have to understand what you're doing and why, then follow good work practices. The hardest part was cleaning up the mess on the Delrin tube, and now of course, having to take it apart again to fix the issue. Glad to hear the 550 ECU is working well for you. I agree, it makes the bike more fun to ride :-)
I forgot to address your question regarding weight. No, RaceTech does not offer a spring selection based on rider weight and intended use. All other companies making spring kits for this bike do offer weight determined spring rates.
@@Scoottoots 👍
@@Scoottoots 👍Thanks
I have the same racetech kit and i think it’s too stiff also. Im going to take it out and do the ktech for now.
Thanks for the feedback on that. It seems RaceTech is not interested in listening to user input. Their loss I guess. Hope the K-Tech spring works well for you. Let us know how it goes please.
Scoot if you were to do it all over again would you have just stuck with the stock forks? I do very similar riding to what you do. Mostly logging roads, very little pavement.
I probably ride a lot more pavement than you do; maybe 50/50 pavement/dirt. Yes, I definitely would do it again if I turned the clock back. The front end was always iffy. It accounted for some of that wallowing the bike did a lot of when stock. The new rear shock corrected most of that, but I could still feel the front end being a limiting issue, especially on twisty pavement, but also on dirt. The bike now handles without issue with both front and rear sorted. I can now feel a balance between front and rear.
Thanks Scoot
Cheers :-)
I have the opposite problem with my K-Tech fork spring. I bottom out every time I ride. I weigh 160 with gear and the spring is rated for up to 210 lb lol.
Oh darn, that's not good. It sounds like no improvement from stock. I wonder if they shipped the wrong spring kit. Maybe contact K-Tech by phone to discus.
@@Scoottoots I talked to them and they weren't helpful. Going up a spring rate and getting the fork piston upgrade, that should do it.
@@ug9191 Ah, that's a shame. Hope the new parts sort it out. Enjoy 🙂
I thought you had the K-tech spring kit.
Nope. I have the K-Tech shock though, and it's excellent.
Do you remember the spring weight you got? As there is only .50kg available
I cannot recall. There was no choice of rates though. They sell the same kit they produced for the 250l for the new 300l even though the 300 has more travel in the forks. I found it is too stiff once you get halfway through the travel. It becomes impossible to use the bottom third no matter how hard you hit it on whoops and such. I should have gone with the K-Tech spring swap instead, I think.
it's because the spring gets fully compressed and stops. bad design
I tried communicating the issues with RaceTech. They didn't respond at all. Not impressed.
Same problem with the YSS fork kit. If they don’t ask for rider weight and type of riding DO NOT BUY THE KIT!
Honda launched an unfinished product.
Yeah, I would have gladly paid a few hundred more for better suspension out of the factory. All their positive upgrades from the 250L are wasted if the suspension doesn't allow a rider to take advantage of the improvements made in the handling and power departments.
@@Scoottoots My point exactly. Even worst is that we pay for garbage suspension that we must replace. The most reasonable situation would have been to let the costumers chose the type of suspension they want.
@@fcalin21 That would great!