2014 YZ250F off-road revalve

[Vintage Not Pimpage]

I'm after some opinions on re valving this bike.

I have revalved it as per below and have a few rides on it.

Fork

Base valve

32 x .11 (18) removed 7

30 x .11 removed 3

28 x .11

26 x .11

24 x .11

22 x .11

20 x .11

18 x .15

16 x .15

14 x .11 added

12 x .2 added

20 x 1.6

22 x .11 (3) flipped bleed stack

20 x .11

18 x .11

15 x .2

Mid

20 x .11 (3) removed 1

17 x .11 (2)

14 x .11 added

10 x .2

11 x .25

12 x .3

15 x .3

17 x .3 float should be stock 0.25

Reb

20 x 0.11 (3)

18 x 0.11

11 x 0.11

18 x 0.11

16 x 0.11

14 x 0.11

12 x 0.11

11 x 0.30

16 x 1.60

Shock

Comp

44 x 0.20 (12)

37 x 0.15

44 x 0.20 (2)

42 x 0.20

40 x 0.20

38 x 0.20

36 x 0.20

34 x 0.20

32 x 0.20

30 x 0.20

28 x 0.20

26 x 0.20

24 x 0.20 added

22 x 0.20 added

20 x 0.30 added

Reb

40 x 0.20 (5)

25 x 0.11

40 x 0.30

38 x 0.30

36 x 0.30

34 x 0.30

32 x 0.30

30 x 0.30

28 x 0.30

27 x 0.30 (2)

25 x 0.30

Springs are stock

Forks 5 mm up

300 cc oil

Fork reb 12 out

Fork comp all out

Rear Sag approx 105-110

Static sag 35mm

Shock LS all out

Shock HS all out

Shock reb 11 out

Quick pace

My problem is the shock is very harsh under acceleration, especially up hill when hitting sharp edges and roots. Almost feels locked out, then kicks and deflects sideways.

I need to get some compliance here as it is slowing me down.

Any suggestions on a shock stack?

Did I go too soft ?

I have some shims from an old shock to use.

Also any suggestions on the fork?

The fork is working ok but any opinions appreciated.

I like firm controlled suspension.

My 2008 yz250f was almost perfect stock.

Edited December 29, 2015 by Vintage Not Pimpage

[Vintage Not Pimpage]

Stock stacks below

Forks

BV

32 x 0.11 (25)

30 x 0.11 (4)

28 x 0.11

26 x 0.11

24 x 0.11

22 x 0.11

20 x 0.11

18 x 0.15

16 x 0.15

15 x 0.20

20 x 1.60

12 x 0.20

14 x 0.11

18 x 0.11

20 x 0.11

22 x 0.11 (3)

MV

20 x 0.11 (4)

17 x 0.11 (2)

10 x 0.20

11 x 0.25

12 x 0.30

15 x 0.30

17 x 0.30

Collar = 5.30mm

Float = 0.25mm

Reb

20 x 0.11 (3)

18 x 0.11

11 x 0.11

18 x 0.11

16 x 0.11

14 x 0.11

12 x 0.11

11 x 0.30

16 x 1.60

Fork springs are 43.5 x 497mm long and measure 0.47kg/mm with 7mm of preload.

ICS measures 2.2kg/mm

Shock

Comp

44 x 0.20 (12)

37 x 0.15

44 x 0.20 (2)

42 x 0.20

40 x 0.20

38 x 0.20

36 x 0.20

34 x 0.20

32 x 0.20

30 x 0.20

28 x 0.20

26 x 0.20

24 x 0.30

Reb

40 x 0.20 (5)

25 x 0.11

40 x 0.30

38 x 0.30

36 x 0.30

34 x 0.30

32 x 0.30

30 x 0.30

28 x 0.30

27 x 0.30 (2)

25 x 0.30

[hrpufinstuff]

I'm not a professional tuner, but I have had the same two yz's and have been tweaking mine for some time.  Some questions:

 

Can you tell if the rear is packing up....(rebounding too slowly)?  

 

How does it handle big hits?  Is it bottoming easily?  

 

Looking at your shock comp, are most of those shims really .20 thickness?  or should they be .25?  

 

My notes show this on my Shock:

Comp.

44x.2 (11)

38x.15

42x.25

40x.25

38x.25

36x.25

34x.25

32x.25

30x.25

28x.25

26x.25

24x.25

22x.25  

20x.30 (2)  

 

Rebound

40x.2 (5)

25x.1

40x.3

38x.3

36x.3

34x.3

32x.3

30x.3

28x.3

26x.3

 

I'm 165 LBS in gear so I'm light.  This shock setting is very good for aggressive woods riding for an A-level rider.  It's a little soft and rebounds a little fast in high speed desert stuff, but it's a good setting if you need your bike to be versatile.    

Edited December 29, 2015 by hrpufinstuff

[mog]

I would go softer on face shims on the comp to prove how soft it needs to be

[Vintage Not Pimpage]

I'm not a professional tuner, but I have had the same two yz's and have been tweaking mine for some time. Some questions:

Can you tell if the rear is packing up....(rebounding too slowly)?

How does it handle big hits? Is it bottoming easily?

Looking at your shock comp, are most of those shims really .20 thickness? or should they be .25?

My notes show this on my Shock:

Comp.

44x.2 (11)

38x.15

42x.25

40x.25

38x.25

36x.25

34x.25

32x.25

30x.25

28x.25

26x.25

24x.25

22x.25

20x.30 (2)

Rebound

40x.2 (5)

25x.1

40x.3

38x.3

36x.3

34x.3

32x.3

30x.3

28x.3

26x.3

I'm 165 LBS in gear so I'm light. This shock setting is very good for aggressive woods riding for an A-level rider. It's a little soft and rebounds a little fast in high speed desert stuff, but it's a good setting if you need your bike to be versatile.

Hi hrpufinstuff,

Is this on a 2014 YZ250F?

I don't think the rear is packing, it will feel harsh and kick if I hit a downed log on smooth fire access trails.

Big jumps it feels ok, i havnt had it out on the mx track yet but some large erosion mounds to flat felt ok.

Shocks shims, to be honest I didn't measure the thickness and just went of what dwb79 posted. Did yours come with .25 shims stock? Mine is the Aus/eruo model so may be different.

How does .25 vs .2 shims effect the damping when they are in the HS part of the stack?

The FX runs all .25 shims so it's interesting the F doesn't.

What are you running for fork stacks ?

Cheers

Edited December 29, 2015 by Vintage Not Pimpage

[Vintage Not Pimpage]

I would go softer on face shims on the comp to prove how soft it needs to be

Hi mog,

You think I need to go softer ??

Or to prove that it's too soft already?

[mog]

Both

[GHILL28]

Clamp on the 24, and remove the 2 44.2's in the taper.

 

So

 

44.2(12)

37.15

42.2

40.2

...

24.3

 

 

That's very close to what I run now on a 2014 YZ450F and it works great for aggressive offroad stuff.  I think my crossover might be different diameter, but for sure .15 thick. Might be working with 11 face shims too, not 12.  It's basically the 2016 stock setup that's a bit softer than the 2014.  I tried a 20mm clamp on mine and it was just always harsh from blowing through.  The stock HS shims are definitely all .2mm thick, not .25.  I tried the stock 250FX valving with the smaller clamp and all .25's and I hated it.  Bouncy and harsh, for whatever reason, regardless of clicker setting.  Just looking at the stack from the side it has way different geometry with all those extra thick HS shims.

 

 

For the fork my BV is clamping on a 14mm and a tad stiffer HS,

 

30.11(15)

28.11

26.11

....

18.15

16.15

14.3

 

 

No 30mm in there.  Again, 2016 stock stack but one tweak in the HS section.

 

I'd also remove one more face shim from the fork rebound, and make the 12 and 14 .15 thickness.

 

I found a 1.7kg ICS to work great, and running 320cc oil.  Uses all the stroke well, no wallowing.  .2 float on the mid.  I found that .25mm would start to wallow.  Also make sure the fork preload is set correctly.  The stock spring seat may need to be machined down a few mm.

 

Set your shock L14 R14 HSC 1, Fork C14 R12.

 

 

Short version - find 2016 specs and make a couple small tweaks.  Nut'n fancy.

[Vintage Not Pimpage]

Thanks Ghill, lots of food for thought.

I just went out doing some testing on a local 7-8 min loop. Second to third gear single with loose surface and lots of roots.

Found the fork was way better with the comp wound all the way in. These bikes definitely need the bleed stack so I might have to put that back in.

Shock still worked best with all comp clickers out but I ended up at 8 out on rebound and wound some more spring preload on. Static is at about 30mm now.

Did you beef up the shock rebound at all Ghill?

[Vintage Not Pimpage]

Do you have the standard 2016 valve stacks Ghill?

[GHILL28]

I've gone back and forth on the bleed stack a few times and I think it's staying out. The comp range seems to be larger with it open. No proof to that, but just an observation.

[tmsuspension]

What's your weight, springs etc

[tmsuspension]

11x44.20

37.15

44.20

42

40

38

36

34

32

30

28

26

24

22.30

[Vintage Not Pimpage]

About 180lbs or 83kg without riding gear.

I don't carry many tools if any, just 3l of water.

Standard aus springs per the manual are;

Fork 4.6 N/mm

Shock 54 N/mm

[tmsuspension]

Ok then those valving specs I gave are too light I would go to 14 face shims and then play with you x over sizes

[tmsuspension]

.46 front springs are pretty stiff ide personally run .44 for you

[GHILL28]

If you have a big tank, .46 is spot on. .45 if you don't (1 ea).

[Vintage Not Pimpage]

Double post

Edited January 22, 2016 by Vintage Not Pimpage

[Vintage Not Pimpage]

So this is what I have done with the shock. Took ghills advice, it was way too soft before. Also added 2 face shims to reb so I could back the reb clicker out some.

First impressions are good, really soaks up the little stuff. Will need to ride more but so far so good.

Really enjoying the bike now as opposed to before when I still preferred my old 08.

Comp

44 x 0.20 (11) removed 1

37 x 0.15

removed 44(2)

42 x 0.20

40 x 0.20

38 x 0.20

36 x 0.20

34 x 0.20

32 x 0.20

30 x 0.20

28 x 0.20

26 x 0.20

24 x 0.30

Reb

40 x 0.20 (7) added 2

25 x 0.11

40 x 0.30

38 x 0.30

36 x 0.30

34 x 0.30

32 x 0.30

30 x 0.30

28 x 0.30

27 x 0.30 (2)

25 x 0.30

Edited January 22, 2016 by Vintage Not Pimpage