2016 KTM 350 XCF setup

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axel99
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Re: 2016 KTM 350 XCF setup

Post by axel99 »

I don't have a detailed understaning of the 4CS valving but I would run the same weight in both forks. Interesting experiment just the same. I think adjusting the oil height +-10mm is quite safe and enough to notice. I have noticed changes to the shock settings do have a more significant impact on the feel up front with the 4CS. I don't know what I am doing so I play with sag and clickers till it feels better then go back to stock settings to do a reality check. I still like my CC forks better but I still really enjoy so many other charateristics the new 350 xcf

I never had re-valved suspesion, I may just be missing out on the good life. :thumbsup:
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Re: 2016 KTM 350 XCF setup

Post by dirtyboy »

Interesting discussion. On my 2016 I ended up raising the oil height on the forks to combat bottoming since the forks were really very compliant. This is in contrast to lower oil height on my 2015. Can't wait to get into the AER48 forks.

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Re: 2016 KTM 350 XCF setup

Post by Shibby! »

It's always interesting hearing people's reports of the 4CS.

I think it best be said we should be discussing the 2016. As noted, they vary between years.

I can't relate to some of the things you guys are saying about your forks oddly enough. Maybe I need to ride harder to get them to bottom hard, but I definitely do not have that issue.

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Re: 2016 KTM 350 XCF setup

Post by dirtyboy »

The Rekluse Core EXP 3.0 is a dynamite addition to the 350XCF :D

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Re: 2016 KTM 350 XCF setup

Post by thirtyseven »

350s suck in general. Even worse with stock 4CS and really really bad with a rekluse on them.

Ride a street bike boys. You're half way there already. :)
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Re: 2016 KTM 350 XCF setup

Post by 350scott »

thirtyseven wrote:350s suck in general.
Agreed, they're only slightly better than 250f's (other wise known as half a bike for half a man). Real men ride 500's, or at least a 450.
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Re: 2016 KTM 350 XCF setup

Post by axel99 »

350scott wrote:
thirtyseven wrote:350s suck in general.
Agreed, they're only slightly better than 250f's (other wise known as half a bike for half a man). Real men ride 500's, or at least a 450.
Real men ride nothing less than 1000cc's. So to correct 350scott, thitrseven is quarter man and Scott350 is 2 quarters man....wait that means I am only am just a nickle and dime man. :smirk:

Lets get back to the topic :thumbsup:
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Re: 2016 KTM 350 XCF setup

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I'm your icecream man, stop me when I'm passing by...
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Re: 2016 KTM 350 XCF setup

Post by cerealkiller »

Raced Vega on Saturday. Yikes! That was eye-opening. Guess I forgot how good my revalved 2012 350's suspension was. That beat the snot out of me.

That was my maiden ride on the 2016. Without any testing time, I guessed at some initial settings +3 on the rebound, -3 compression front and back plus a 1/2 turn out on the H/S. It was still way too stiff and bouncy. I was deflecting off of everything and it wore me out in a hurry. I kept playing with the clickers on smooth sections during the race - ended up all the way out on compression and another +3 on rebound. Guess I have some adjusting to do before the next race...

Ideas to soften it a bit?

I figure I'll drop the oil level 10ml, make similarly drastic adjustments to the rear. Maybe take out the spacers in the forks to reduce the pre-load? Again, I probably won't have any testing time before next weekend's double-header. I don't think the stock AT-81 tires were doing me any favours either. Might try them with a little less pressure.

Edit:

Actually maybe I'll start with 20ml less. It's easier to add oil without removing the forks vs. removing it. I could easily pump 10ml back in through the bleeder holes on race day if I went too far.
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Re: 2016 KTM 350 XCF setup

Post by Shibby! »

Sounds like you enjoy a very plush set-up. Without sounding negative, do you maybe think you purchased the wrong bike?

The 2017 EXE sounds like a better option.

The XC-F is aggressive. No beating around the bush there.

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Re: 2016 KTM 350 XCF setup

Post by cerealkiller »

I'm not so sure that my complaints about the suspension mean I got the wrong bike. Mostly I think it's just a consequence of the much stiffer springs not playing nice with the stock valving (and I think that could be an issue on either model). My last bike was also a 350XCF and it worked very, very well.

I can see your point though. The EXC probably would be better in some aspects with it's tighter gear box and softer suspension. But I also ride endurocross and moto. The XCF will undoubtedly perform better there.
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Re: 2016 KTM 350 XCF setup

Post by dirtyboy »

My CycleWorks 2016 350XCF with stock suspension was awesome at Vega. :D

I have lighter springs. KTM put 4.6 springs in my bike and it was supposed to come with 4.4 springs. Take out the preload spacers in the forks. Make sure that race sag is correct. I think the KTM settings went overboard this year with 110mm race sag (too low). Makes the forks deflect. I use about 100mm or slightly less race sag which I tune for how the front feels in corners. Go back to the stock clicker settings with maybe less HS damping in the shock than specified.

I tried to setup for Vega also but ended up back at my standard settings and it worked pretty good on the singletrack and I used the throttle to control the whoops.

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Re: 2016 KTM 350 XCF setup

Post by cerealkiller »

Good idea! I hadn't thought to play with my sag, but it makes sense.
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Re: 2016 KTM 350 XCF setup

Post by Dobi »

not a lot of EXE or XCW bikes on the podium last weekend....

The sag on this frame is a huge deal compared to older bikes. I run mine at 103mm and am particular about it....

it seems counterintuitive, but these forks don't move a lot of oil at all so going out on the clickers is worth a try vs going in. It helps them move faster and react instead of loading up and getting stuck in the mid stroke. And be careful with taking too much oil out as they bottom like jack hammers. The other side of that is if they get too much oil, then the midstroke becomes stiff and harsh. :thinking:

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Re: 2016 KTM 350 XCF setup

Post by cerealkiller »

I'll try that sag number and see how it goes. I removed the spacers and 15ml of oil last night (split the difference). Are you suggesting I back off the rebound too?

Any thoughts on where to run the forks in the triple clamps? I have them level with the second line at the moment.

I swapped to carbon front brake pads too. I like the power of my oversized rotor but combined with the stock Brembo pads it was super-grabby.
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