TE/TC Going on record as a Hater

[robertaccio]

to say I love the TE300 its a brilliant bike.
I HATE yes HATE these 4CS, they do not work for me and my type of riding and skill level at all, they suck for me. They caused me at least 1 crash and more than one fails at stuff I was easily doing on my other bikes- absolutly no confidence with these pogo sticks.
If I jump onto any number of my ride buds XC XCF XCFW XC-W KTMs I feel much better with those closed as well as the open chamber WP forks.

We worked and reworked the forks but I am no where near pleased. I am having them stripped and reconfigured next week--- They are going to ZipTy for a full job. I even thought to buy an ebay set of older KTM forks for under 500 and get them set up. I guess ZipTy will make them into XC-W forks and for me thats a good thing
PS this is only me some others may love these things (MXA likes them----for MX!!)
They come nowhere close to my TXC450 LTR Zokes or either of my ZipTy tuned KYBs of the TE310 and TXC310R....not even on the same planet.

 

[dave lindsey]

Your going to be stoked...what ever they suggest just say yes.

 

[Tinken]

*Sigh* I'm beginning to wonder when you are going start listening to me early on... haha
The best fix is to install Shiver cartridges using our adapter, but I realize that not everyone has that kind of money. Eventually you should go that route though because of the ability to set the preload from outside the fork. This will allow you to change from various races without taking them apart for re-tunes.

 

[TROFFER88]

Send them to Kreft and be done with it .

 

[Norman Foley]

My '12 Husaberg TE250's closed cartridge forks (with a revalve), are the best forks I've ever had...

 

[TROFFER88]

A well set up pair of WP CC forks are tough to beat

 

[ajaxauto]

So you are saying my old school Husky with the Ohliens front forks that you raced at Rd 10 of the Nationals is still a good bike

Get that TE dialed in. Because I do need to get a new bike and you and Zip Ty get it dialed in for what we do. Then let me know so I can have him dial in my new TE

 

[LandofMotards]

Is the valving so harsh because its the same across the board (4 strokes and 2)? They mentioned that in a comparison of an older 250sx and 250sxf and how it feels a little less compliant with the 2 stroke. Either way Ty will fix it. Good luck, you'll love the bike soon enough. You coukd always do what i did and gain another 30 pounds, then everything is to plush

 

[Tinken]

haha

 

[huskynw]

So you are saying my old school Husky with the Ohliens front forks that you raced at Rd 10 of the Nationals is still a good bike

Get that TE dialed in. Because I do need to get a new bike and you and Zip Ty get it dialed in for what we do. Then let me know so I can have him dial in my new TE

Your old huskys could keep on running forever, you must WANT a new bike.

 

[ray_ray]

Too bad on those forks ... I guess the ktm thousands all ready know all this? ...(KR94 has an opinion on his old ride and he is a World Champion)

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The stock KYBs on one of my 010 TC250 work so well for me, I don't even wanna change the oil in them, even though they are slightly slightly too stiff ... The Marzocchis on my older, 08 bike are quite well also after re-stacking its' shims on the compression to a straight stack and dropping the oil volume down ... This is the kind of action I like and why I have purchased the Huskies models I have currently.

--

Good luck on your riding ROB and you gotta cut the crashes out or expect more down-time that I'd guess you are not interested in ..

 

[robertaccio]

my local S101 guy has been and is an excellent tech- basically the forks were run in oem set up on the dyno.
The forces that were seen/recorded with these forks were way above any of the other forks charted and used as control references. This of course is indicative of hydro lock and or lack of "bleed"/flow to get the forks to move through stroke smoothly.
He opened up the valves/shims as much as he could and even my adj were set to 19 and 19 to start, after the 1st ride I was wide open on COMP with .51 Kg/mm springs and we needed 10cc added in both legs-----I almost ruined my wrist again on a scary drop that my last bike ate like a pillow.
We went to .48 Kg/mm springs which is my standard front spring rate (last 2 bikes had .48s). Fork sag is way better on the numbers it was very short with heavier springs. Bike feels more smooth and controlled in the tight hacky stuff......but still not smooth/plush and had harsh metal to metal bottoming on hard hits, I kept bumping up Comp......then I tried some climbs that my last 2 bikes ate like a pillow as well........the thing just deflected stupidly off the rocks...and I failed the climb...pisssssed. Another zone of trials like stuff and the thing deflected and pitched me and I whiskey throttled the bike off into oblivion......have not done a FFFing dance like that in like forever. Im done -zero patience.
Like I said all my buds WP (on Katos) none older than 09 all feel fine to me. not these pogo sticks. Ebay had under 500 buck WPs but they are a little too old 06-07....oh and there is an A kit traxx shock and forks for 4.5K!!! To answer John yes your Ohlins are waaaay better than these 4CS things, but so are all my other firends WP non 4CS OEM forks even with lite for me spring rates.
ZipTy see you all on Cristofero Colombo day!! Mon I'm coming up to the shop. As for the other 4CS techs that are, by all accounts getting good results with their mods.....ZipTy is a drive away for me and none of the other guys have a test pilot as qualified as Ty to do the work then go out and test it, prior to delivery.

 

[ajaxauto]

rob Ty just did a set of 48mm off like a late model 449 that we made fit my old 2006 WR 250 OMG do they work This is a old bike that I have a love affair with It now has these forks and a ohlien shock and I ride it a lot I could race it because it now works that well Get that TE all dialed in because I see a new 125 in my future

 

[robertaccio]

Needs to be as cost effective as possible.......like Tinken said zoke cartridges or a set of Red 48 Marzocchi's ZipTy dialed in would be sweeeeeet.
or just a set of late model KTM 250/300XC-W forks would be fine.

 

[robertaccio]

*Sigh* I'm beginning to wonder when you are going start listening to me early on... haha
The best fix is to install Shiver cartridges using our adapter, but I realize that not everyone has that kind of money. Eventually you should go that route though because of the ability to set the preload from outside the fork. This will allow you to change from various races without taking them apart for re-tunes.

We can discuss all the $$ options on Monday...most likely I will have the LR mod (reconfigure) done that is the plan anyway.....out comes the visa card......hahahaha

 

[Tinken]

It's the Earl Shuler mod actually. I like ESR, except he uses a lot of Spectro which I really don't care for, he's paid a hefty price for it too.

I should be there on Monday most of the day, it will be good to see you again.

 

[robertaccio]

ESR,SPR,ESP, TSI QTB no matter as long as it works and is a quality mod (I know it is). Hmm interesting heard good things among the D37 folks about Earl Schuler and his set ups. Nice to credit him with the mod. I have to lower my float height and may task some stuff on the machine while its in the shop (stuff I usually do). C ya there.

 

[Huskyfatman]

So, I agree, so far these 4 chamber units suck! Had a local guy swap in .46's after I almost killed myself on the first ride ('14 Berg Te300). They are still totally unpredictable. Went down hard last weekend due to sketchy front end. Lots of bruises and road rash to heal. I'm thinkin of swapping on some old open chambers, which admittedly don't have the best bottoming resistance, but are plush and predictable.

BTW, I hated the older Zokes as well. Even after Pro-circuit and RG3 tried to fix 'em. The stock Zokes on the '08 610 aren't that bad, but it's not the kind of bike I push too hard. The late KYB's are great IMO.

 

[Kawagumby]

The first thing I did on my TE250 was back off the compression almost all the way out. Then I decided to back off the rear shock preload to get the ride load bias more to the rear and off the forks. For me that works pretty well...the bike still turns well, but now holds a line way better than with normal shock preload settings. Nose landings off jumps seem smooth now too. I wonder if the 250 setup is less harsh than the 300's, although the factory settings were as close to dangerous as any bike I've ridden; head shake, didn't hold a line, hopping-swapping rear, etc, and I weigh in a 160 lbs +/- presumably the target weight for this bike. It is strange that KTM has such a hard time getting these suspensions dialed.

So, I don't hate my forks, but they aren't up to what I'd expect for the price.

 

[Kawagumby]

. The late KYB's are great IMO.

I'm running open-cartridge 03 KYB's on my kdx (off of a YZ125), I revalved the compression stack myself and am running lighter 2.5 wt oil. They are fantastic! I can ride the front end like a unicycle with utmost confidence in the worst terrain. Sometimes progress is more about hype than reality.