449/511 Suspension by Watson Performance

[oregonsage]

As I have alluded elsewhere, we have been working on fine tuning the suspension on my '11 TXC511. Having recently recruited my brother, Mark to ride the 511 in OMRA competition we decided it was a good time to make a great chassis work even better. The rider holds the #1 50 Expert GP plate in the OMRA, weighs about 180 lbs, does most of his riding in fast open central Oregon desert, but is no slouch in mud and trees. He has most recently been riding a KTM250 2 stroke, and came off a KTM450 about 3 years ago.

Step one was to have Bill's (BMP) add the 4mm shock lowering spacer. This did wonders for the steering and if anything enhanced straightline stability (and I thought it did both just great before). We took the bike to the Funky Chicken this way, and noticed a problem getting the preload to work 'normally'....could not get a sag reading with rider that made any sense, so we added a little tension to the spring and gave it a go. Steering and stability was still great, but the rear was too soft at racing speed.

While at the Funky Chicken we met up with Cory and Charles from Husqvarna. Charles got us his shim stack recommendations via BMP (see posted under the Bills Motorcycles Plus category) and gave us some pointers on spring rates based on what he and Cory were running. (For those who dont know, Cory ran away from the field on his 511 at this event until a lapped rider tangle dropped him to second on the last loop.)

With this information in hand, we turned to Tom Watson at Watson Performance in Hood River, OR.
http://www.watsonperformance.com/ Tom has done all Mark's suspension setup for a few years, is familiar with Zokes, Sachs and KYBs, had previously done work with Kevin Rookstool and Ty Davis on an old chassis 450 (which made him a bit gunshy) but was up for the challenge of the new chassis Husky. He was especially interested in the CTS setup as he patented a similar setup for bicycles, which Jamis now uses.

Before we move on to riding I need to give props to Bill's Motorcycles Plus in Salem, OR and Watson Performance of Hood River, OR for their work and support on this project. Thanks guys.

 

[oregonsage]

First Ride -

Mark took the 511 out with the Watson Performance setup last weekend. Initial report is that all the good traits are still there and now the suspension compliance is pretty much spot-on using stock spring front and rear. Next race is Sept 9 so the next update will be under race conditions.

 

[Motosportz]

Interesting. I know Tom. I have not ridden his stuff enough to know. Look forward to the report. Mine is going to Dave at TBT (if i can ever got off it long enough to send it off) as i know him well and have never had him do my stuff but rode many a bike he has done as my good ride partner Scott has all his stuff done there and it is fantastic. Feels to soft but is controlled and handles race speed perfectly. Not sure how he gets trail smooth and supple but stands up to race pace fine. Scott is a A class rider and titles to prove it so he is moving. He is a very fluid controlled rider though.

 

[oregonsage]

Feels to soft but is controlled and handles race speed perfectly. Not sure how he gets trail smooth and supple but stands up to race pace fine. Scott is a A class rider and titles to prove it so he is moving. He is a very fluid controlled rider though.

Sound like similar setup and a similar rider. Mark is also very smooth, and Tom's stuff I have seen is quite supple.

Tom also takes a thoughtful, analytical approach to his work which I find wonderful to work with.

 

[HomeFinance]

Good stuff! Thanks

 

[oregonsage]

Trial by fire day, Sept 9, 2012
50 Expert Class
Smiling winner

The Johnson Brothers/BMP TXC511 with Watson Performance suspension pulled a tie for the holeshot but had to wait a couple of miles on the 7.5 mile hard packed GP course to secure the lead in the 50 Expert class and then start walking away....... Until suddenly the bike sputtered a few times and eventually died allowing those trailing orange things to catch back up. It was quickly discovered that BOTH fuel petcocks need to be open :-) Without being passed Mark was back aboard and extending the lead once again. At the end of 90 minutes he had over a 2 minute lead on the dueling KTMs in second and third.

Temperature was mid to high 70s with a 30mph wind, course was mostly dry and hard packed and often dusty with several extensive rocky patches that just love to throw you off line, plus a couple of top gear sections for extra thrills. The bike tracked great in these conditions, turned nicely and hooked up well on the low traction course with the Pirelli Scorpions off of my new TXC449. On a couple of the most sever g-outs it would bottom; we will check in with Tom Watson on slightly stiffening the rear before the next round at Washougal on Sept 29. Washougal is a combination of the MX track you see at the (televised) National, a large grass track and a few hilly sections in the trees. Unlike most of our GP/XC courses, Washougal has real jumps, temping one to get a little air time.

The 1R TXC511 is now tied for the lead in the OMRA GP series with 4 of 11 events remaining.

Thanks to Bills Motorcycles Plus, Watson Performance and the Husqvarna Contingency program.

 

[Motosportz]

Awesome

did 262 miles on my Te511 this thursday-sat, amazing do it all bike.

 

[Tinken]

It was quickly discovered that BOTH fuel petcocks need to be open :-)

Haha too funny. You know, when I purchased my 511, the sales person told me that the efi tank was just the reserve and to only open the petcocks when I needed extra fuel. I sure needed extra fuel often, haha.

 

[db511]

Does the lowering of the shock help with thefro t end pushing? Am I just doing something wrong? I love everything about my 2011 txc 511, except i lose the front end way to often. Any help or Ideas would be appreciated. I am 24Olbs and just getting into racing. Most trouble is in slow to moderate tight stuff. I have turned the preload in on the shock, didnt seem to help the front end much. Thanks

 

[oregonsage]

Does the lowering of the shock help with thefro t end pushing? Am I just doing something wrong? I love everything about my 2011 txc 511, except the lose the front end way to often. Any help or Ideas would be appreciated. I am 24Olbs and just getting into racing. Most trouble is in slow to moderate tight stuff. Thanks

In my opinion, any my brother's yes it helps with the steering.... I also drop down a couple lines on the forks and run with very little compression dampening up front.

 

[Tinken]

Does the lowering of the shock help with thefro t end pushing? Am I just doing something wrong? I love everything about my 2011 txc 511, except i lose the front end way to often. Any help or Ideas would be appreciated. I am 24Olbs and just getting into racing. Most trouble is in slow to moderate tight stuff. I have turned the preload in on the shock, didnt seem to help the front end much. Thanks

I had the same problem. Your motorcycle was originally set up for a 150lb rider. For me, because I was 265lbs, my weight loads the front tire causing me to wash out frequently. New heavier springs and re-valving set to your weight fixes this issue. On a 2011, the rear shock is shortened by 4mm to match 2012 specs. Lowering the front shocks in the clamps will raise the front end to try to help as well. Compression on the forks may be added and will help.

 

[db511]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the advice. DoeSnt help to be a "big" boy. Lol I can't wait to make the changes I've been needing!!

 

[oregonsage]

On to Washougal at the Dick Jagow Memorial GP, Sept 23, 2012. As mentioned above this course uses the largely natural terrain MX track (that natural terrain includes a couple of steep hills), grass track and a few forays into the woods and pastures. www.washougalmx.com

Unfortunately Ive been laid up with severe flu and did not make it to the track, however Mark was there to ride and Tom Watson our suspension guy http://www.watsonperformance.com/ also showed up and rode 50 Ex (until he overdid the triple and took a soil sample) The 50 Ex class started from the last row of an 85 rider field with AA and all the 'younger' expert classes in the earlier waves. Mark took the Johnson Brothers/BMP 511 to first 50 Ex again and 40th overall out of the 85 rider field. This is a bigger feat than it appears because this event is notorious for having a large number of non-OMRA riders show up who ride the MX track regularly and 'misclassify' themselves. Or as one of our officials put it "It is amazing how many Beginner class riders can easily do that triple jump!"

Suspension setting were left as they were from the prior week, except that compression was set 1 click stiffer front and rear. Only change to the bike we made was removing the bar risers. Mark found it easier to ride this way since he is about 5' 10". He did avoid the temptations to do significant air time so the suspension setup was pretty good on the dry, hard course. Stiffer setting would have been in order if riding the course in MX (max airtime) mode. The stock rear spring is right on the edge of being a touch soft and at some point we may try going up to the next stiffer spring.

The 1R Johnson Brothers/BMP TXC511 now has a solid lead in the OMRA GP series with 3 of 11 events remaining. Next weeks course is back to the high speed hard pack of south central WA at Starvation Ridge; then on to Shedd a heavily treed, tight and twisty thing that most people would choose to ride a TXC310 on, but we dont have one of those :-)

Thanks again to Bill's Motorcycles Plus , Watson Performance and the Husqvarna Contingency program.

 

[Motosportz]

On to Washougal at the Dick Jagow Memorial GP, Sept 23, 2012. As mentioned above this course uses the largely natural terrain MX track (that natural terrain includes a couple of steep hills), grass track and a few forays into the woods and pastures. www.washougalmx.com

Unfortunately Ive been laid up with severe flu and did not make it to the track, however Mark was there to ride and Tom Watson our suspension guy http://www.watsonperformance.com/ also showed up and rode 50 Ex (until he overdid the triple and took a soil sample) The 50 Ex class started from the last row of an 85 rider field with AA and all the 'younger' expert classes in the earlier waves. Mark took the Johnson Brothers/BMP 511 to first 50 Ex again and 40th overall out of the 85 rider field. This is a bigger feat than it appears because this event is notorious for having a large number of non-OMRA riders show up who ride the MX track regularly and 'misclassify' themselves. Or as one of our officials put it "It is amazing how many Beginner class riders can easily do that triple jump!"

Suspension setting were left as they were from the prior week. Only change to the bike we made was removing the bar risers. Mark found it easier to ride this way since he is about 5' 10". He did avoid the temptations to do significant air time so the suspension setup was pretty good on the dry, hard course. Stiffer setting would have been in order if riding the course in MX (max airtime) mode. The stock rear spring is right on the edge of being a touch soft and at some point we may try going up to the next stiffer spring.

The 1R Johnson Brothers/BMP TXC511 now has a solid lead in the OMRA GP series with 3 of 11 events remaining. Next weeks course is a heavily treed, tight and twisty thing that most people would choose to ride a TXC310 on, but we dont have one of those :-)

Thanks again to Bill's Motorcycles Plus , Watson Performance and the Husqvarna Contingency program.

Good stuff.