2015 YZ250FX Part 4

The New Bike Journey Continues

 

After changing the oil and checking all the nuts bolts etc., I called Rekluse and at their recommendation I changed the settings (spring colors) to the lower idle engagement point which is supposed to help with engine braking. In my driveway anyway I also had to raise the idle in order for any sort of engine braking in the first three gears, I set the RPM at 2300. (Yamaha recommends a normal range of 1900/2100 RPM for this bike) Everything else seemed ok, I did notice inside the exhaust tip was very sooty which indicates to me it’s running rich, not sure what that’s all about yet. After scaring myself on the long down hills on my first ride I’ve ordered a Tusk Oversized front brake rotor kit, for me the stock Yamaha front brake doesn’t measure up to a stock KTM front brake.  I want at least the same stopping power as a KTM.

I went back and road the ground I did on my first ride and wow, holy mackerel and good grief, the simple but in creditably effective suspension changes Bucky at SBB suggested made a huge difference. The front and rear felt more balanced and handled the small stuff much, much better. By the time I finished my ride and another 1. 1 hrs I felt much more at home on the bike. I found I was able to ride the bike in a higher gear and use the clutch a little more to keep the motor pulling and in a sweeter spot power wise. Speaking of the motor it seems to me the FX has more low end than the F and maybe as much as the F on top. (With six gears it actually feels faster) The bike is surprisingly fast. To me suspension works better when you can find that sweet spot and not have to over rev the motor. The Rekluse worked better engine braking wise with the new settings, but not as well I would like on the long, long down hills. I haven’t ridden a two stroke in years but I think they’re probably very similar engine braking wise. I miss my engine braking, but I guess it’s just something I’ll have to adjust to. I can’t wait to get my Tusk oversized front brake rotor.  I’m sure that will help me feel more comfortable. With the changes made to the stock suspension the bike was more balanced but didn’t feel as good as I know it can on the steep fast rock strewn up hills and down hills. Bucky at SBB wants to rework the fork valving and change the oil in the shock. There are going to be a lot of these bikes sold so he wants to be ready for those who want have the suspension work better than stock. (I guess I get be his sort of old guy test rider)  Again the bike didn’t do anything chassis wise to make me feel uncomfortable and the ability to carry more speed into and out of a corner makes me feel that much closer to being like a real hero rider.

I was back at the sand track in Marysville for our Sierra Old Timers MC Ride day with my oversized front brake rotor installed. I took the hand guards and spark arrestor off the bike it looked like a real motocorsser, it acted like one as well. Dialing in a bike at some point for me becomes about making the small changes. (Remember I’m a tinkerer) You never know, some small change may make a huge difference or it might not. I think for the most part based on our past experiences we all know how we want things set up.

After a few laps I changed the bars to Pro Tapers Windham mid bend which I’ve used in the past and for me it made for another positive improvement. Bucky rode the bike and agreed with me that it felt like the front end wanted to push through some corners and was probably the stock tire it came with. However when I told him I had a lot of air pressure in it he suggested I drop it two and a half pounds and again that made a big difference. I’ve been amazed by what the seemingly small changes to the suspension have made. It was a fun ride day and the rider turn out for a Super Bowl Sunday was amazing the track was very good and with ninety plus riders on it became a typical rough sand track. And the more I ride the bike the more I like it especially my cornering speeds.

A few days later I met Bucky at Mammoth Bar the scene of rides #1 and #3 only this time with the newly revalved forks and shock done by Bucky of SBB. (Interesting side note, Bucky found the stock front fork valving was stiffer than on his stock 2015 YZ450F. Apparently Yamaha puts in a softer fork spring in the FX but then stiffens up the compression dampening. He also ended up revalving the shock because of its lack of adjustment for compression dampening) Remember I’ve had the compression backed all the way out on the forks and shock since my first ride and haven’t bottomed it out once. This is such a crappy place to ride but it gives you a great idea where you’re at suspension wise. It has a small sand MX track, long hard packed rocky up and down hills with a couple of side hill trails thrown in. The trails are the place you go when you want to beat the crap out of yourself not to have fun. The MX track is short and good for practicing cornering. Check out a couple of pictures from this place.

It’s been amazing to feel the transformation of the suspension on this bike from ride one day  to today. This also transforms how the bike works overall. To go from the stock settings to the very simple but very effective changes suggested by Bucky, to riding the bike with the suspension revalved and working so well. The suspension is so well balanced now, the front and back now work together. The bike lost most all of that twitchy feel it had initially and feels much more planted like a four stroke should. I even ended up dialing back the steering damper. And oh yeah that oversized brake rotor really helped on the down hills. Until the last ride on the MX course and up in the hills I had the Air Cells completely closed off and the bike worked amazingly well. Virtually no one uses any sort of air chamber technology anymore and quite frankly Bucky is the only suspension guy I’ve ever met who thinks they have any value or help add to any reworked suspension even his. By opening the cells up half way they made the bike better in the initial part of the travel and work even better over the small stuff on the trails. Even the front tire which I don’t like felt more planted.

I’m making notes of the changes I need to make when riding on an MX course vs. the trails. (Like closing off the Air Cells) Next up will be a CC race, a trail ride on some decent trails and more MX track practice. I’ll report on that in a future part 5, but for now I couldn’t be happier and so far the bike is exceeding all my expectations.

I would highly recommend SBB suspension. And I did pay for the suspension mod’s, so if it hadn’t worked I wouldn’t be recommending him. Actually I have no doubt Bucky would have done whatever it took to make it work for me, no worries though because it was spot on the first time out.

I’d also like to thank Roseville Yamaha for all their help and support without it this wouldn’t be as much fun and a bit more expensive.

Doug 21J