2012 Kawasaki KX250F Owners Manual - Page 173

2012 Kawasaki KX250F Manual

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TUNING 171 TUNING Suspension Introduction No area of machine adjustment is more critical than proper suspension tuning. An improperly tuned suspension will keep even the best rider from attaining the full benefit of his machine's ability. Match the suspension to the rider and the course conditions. WHILE TUNING THE SUSPENSION, KEEP THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT POINTS IN MIND: If the machine is new, "break-in" the suspension with at least one hour of riding before making any setting evaluations or changes. The three major factors which must be considered in suspension tuning are RIDER WEIGHT, RIDER ABILITY, and TRACK CONDITIONS. Additional influences include the RIDER'S STYLE and POSITIONING on the machine. Before changing the suspension settings, test changing your riding posture or position to check whether it is the cause of the problem or not. It is a wise practice to adjust the suspension to suit the rider's strong points. If you are fast in the corners, adjust the suspension to allow fast cornering. Make setting changes in small increments. A little bit goes a long way, and a setting is easily over adjusted. front and rear suspension should always be • The balanced; when the one is changed, the other one • • • might need to be changed similarly. When evaluating suspension performance, the rider must make every effort to ride consistently and to recognize the effects of his input. Such things as changes in rider position and increasing fatigue may lead to incorrect judgments about necessary adjustments. When the proper settings have been determined for a particular track, they should be written down for reference when returning to the same track. Lubricate the bearings in the swingarm and UNI -TRAK® linkage after break-in and after every 3 races to prevent friction from affecting suspension performance. j Front Fork Front Fork Oil Capacity The fork oil capacity in the fork tube is adjustable. A change in the fork oil level will not affect the spring force much at the top of fork travel, but it will have a great effect at the bottom of it. When the oil capacity is raised, the air spring becomes more progressive, and the front fork action feels "harder" in the later stage of fork travel, near the bottom. When the oil capacity is lowered, the air spring becomes less progressive, and the front fork action • •

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TUNING
171
j
TUNING
Suspension
Introduction
No area of machine adjustment is more critical
than proper suspension tuning. An improperly tuned
suspension will keep even the best rider from attain-
ing the full benefit of his machine’s ability. Match the
suspension to the rider and the course conditions.
WHILE TUNING THE SUSPENSION, KEEP THE
FOLLOWING IMPORTANT POINTS IN MIND:
•
If the machine is new, “break-in” the suspension
with at least one hour of riding before making any
setting evaluations or changes.
•
The three major factors which must be considered
in suspension tuning are RIDER WEIGHT, RIDER
ABILITY, and TRACK CONDITIONS. Additional
influences include the RIDER’S STYLE and PO-
SITIONING on the machine.
•
Before changing the suspension settings,
test
changing your riding posture or position to check
whether it is the cause of the problem or not.
•
It is a wise practice to adjust the suspension to
suit the rider’s strong points.
If you are fast in
the corners, adjust the suspension to allow fast
cornering.
•
Make setting changes in small increments. A little
bit goes a long way, and a setting is easily over
adjusted.
•
The front and rear suspension should always be
balanced; when the one is changed, the other one
might need to be changed similarly.
•
When evaluating suspension performance, the
rider must make every effort to ride consistently
and to recognize the effects of his input.
Such
things as changes in rider position and increasing
fatigue may lead to incorrect judgments about
necessary adjustments.
•
When the proper settings have been determined
for a particular track, they should be written down
for reference when returning to the same track.
•
Lubricate the bearings in the swingarm and UNI
-TRAK® linkage after break-in and after every 3
races to prevent friction from affecting suspension
performance.
Front Fork
Front Fork Oil Capacity -
The fork oil capacity in the fork tube is adjustable.
A change in the fork oil level will not affect the spring
force much at the top of fork travel, but it will have a
great effect at the bottom of it.
•
When the oil capacity is raised, the air spring be-
comes more progressive, and the front fork action
feels “harder” in the later stage of fork travel, near
the bottom.
•
When the oil capacity is lowered, the air spring be-
comes less progressive, and the front fork action