Honda CRF450X 2009, Owner'S Manual & Competition Handbook

Page: 137 / 184

HONDA O/M CRF450X (Eu) 3RMEY620 00X3R-MEY-6200
Adjustments for Competition
131
Suspension Adjustment Guidelines
Follow the procedures described below to accurately adjust your CRF, using the methods described on pages 112 – 130. Remember to make all adjustments in
one-click or 1/12 turn increments. Test ride after each adjustment.
Front Suspension Adjustment
Adjustments for Type of Track
Adjustments for Too Soft/Stiff Damping
Hard-surfaced track
Sand track
Mud track
Begin with the standard setting. If the suspension is too stiff/soft, adjust according to the chart below.
Adjust to a stiffer position.
Example: – Turn the compression damping adjuster to a stiffer position.
– Install the optional stiff spring. (Adjust compression damping to a softer position and rebound damping to a stiffer position at
this time.)
Adjust to a stiffer position because mud build-up increases your CRF’s weight.
Example: – Turn the compression damping adjuster to a stiffer setting.
– Install the optional stiff spring.
Soft
suspension
Symptom
Initial travel too soft:
• Steering is too quick.
• Front end darts while cornering or riding in a straight line.
Middle travel too soft:
• Front end dives when cornering.
Final travel too soft:
• Bottoms on landings.
• Bottoms on large bumps, especially downhill bumps.
Entire travel too soft:
• Front end shakes.
• Fork bottoms over any type of terrain.
Action
– Test stiffer compression damping adjustments in one-click increments.
– Test stiffer rebound damping in one-click increments.
If suspension isn’t stiff in initial travel:
– Test stiffer compression damping adjustments in one-click increments.
If initial travel becomes stiff because of the above adjustment:
– Reduce the rebound damping in one-click increments.
– Test softer compression damping adjustments in one-click increments.
If that doesn’t solve the problem, install the optional stiff spring.
If initial and middle travel aren’t stiff:
– Test stiffer compression damping adjustments in one-click increments.
If initial and middle travel are stiff:
– Install the optional stiff spring.
If initial travel is stiff after installing the optional stiff spring:
– Test soft compression damping adjustments in one-click increments.
If initial travel is still soft after installing the optional stiff spring:
– Test stiffer compression damping adjustments in one-click increments.
If final travel is still soft after installing the optional stiff spring:
– Increase the fork oil capacity in increments of 5 cm
3 (0.2 US oz, 0.2 Imp oz).
– Install the optional stiff spring.
– Test stiffer compression damping adjustments in one-click increments.
– Increase rebound damping in one-click increments.