Can anyone in the 225-230lbs range suggest a good fork spring for the '09 KLX205S?

Racetech calc suggested .52 springs, I just wanted a first hand second opinion before ordering.

49yrs old, 230lbs without gear, novice to intermediate trail riding, lots of sand.

Search pulled up many folks running 44'ss and 46's, but most fell in the 190lbs range... I'm fluffier than that...

 

Watching this, same age range and weight. 2011 klx

 

At your weight without apparel/safety gear and maybe a hydration pack, the .52's sound in the ballpark. I'm one of the 190's riders who runs .44's, but I like it soft for most trail riding, and I have Race Tech Gold Valves for smoothing out the compression action to suit me. If you're going to seek a softer trail ride behavior, maybe something a little less than .52 would be better. Lots of preference involved here, along with where you'll ride.

 

I am as fluffy as you and I went with the Race Tech recommendation (I'm certain it was the same). Installed Gold Valve cartridges at the same time and the front end is very much better. Use it on rough single track and it is compliant without being too stiff. Used 5 weight oil I believe.

 

Sweet... I will have to hold off on the Gold Valves for now (drained my mad money buying the bike). I installed them on a KLR650 I had several years ago and liked them.

How about the rear spring.. RT says 7.5...lol Heaviest they list is 6.4?

TNC... plush works for my, I won't be getting much air..

 

I went with the 6.4 and it seems to be right for my pork - no shock mod, just the spring. I have a rack on the back but rarely carry anything on it other than the stock tool kit.

 

Yeah, I run a 6.0 spring on my '06 KLX at 190 pounds while wearing a decently large/heavy hydration pack and a rack pack with tools/survival stuff for my really long rides out west. I tried a 6.4, and even with all the additional weight, it was too harsh. The 6.0 is right at my sweet spot. I'll bet the 6.4 with work fine for the OP.

 

I decided to go with .46 fork springs for now and see how they do. I'll do gold valves later when cash flow allows. I'll ride the stock rear shock for awhile, and maybe go with a 6.2 and gold valve later as well.

 

I went with the .50 front and 6.4 in the back. I weigh 185 and the ride on rough trails and rollers is beautiful. I have the back set on minimum preload, enough to clear the intake tube

 

LOL...now you tell me


I have ambitions of getting back closer to 200lbs one day... so hopefully the .46s will be good to me.