Yes now that everyone is looking

I had both front and year too stiff. I was compensating for my porker 200 loaded body and had the front to like 2 turns and the rears about 5 give or take.

My body had been complaining on my commute so I tried to back them down. I only went to 3 on the front but tripled the year to about 15. Better.

I only say this since some of you may have done this in an attempt to stiffen the suspension and realizing like I did the bike was to stiff.

Carry on.

 

Stiffer FEELS faster, because there is less control and traction as the tire skitters around. I don't know how the compression spike is on the 2006 model, but, it was HORRIBLE on the 2009. I had it revalved, and it's like night and day better.

Correctly springed, PLUSH, quick-reacting suspensions are my goal...sometimes that requires thinner oils, which can require modified shim stacks, Intertia valves (not available on the KLX, darn-it), etc.

But, I'm NOT a suspension expert. I do pay attention when the experts give out advice, though.

 

Bad things happen when you compensate for improper springs with added compression damping. It helps with the nose dive on braking but creates a host of other issues. I learned the hard way - 1st thing you do to a suspension is spring it properly. Until that's done, you can't really tell what kind of valving/settings you need.

 

Yep. I did it to get rid of some of the dive and just went too far. I am commuting on the bike but even so it is much better now. It glides over pot holes as it should.

 

+1