Redshift SM Suspension Settings

[HadesOmega]

Just wondering if anyone has settings they've tuned their stock Redshift SM suspension with? When I got my bike the compression setting was turned all the way up on both fork legs. I reset everything to factory setting according to the manual unfortunately they don't mention anything about the SM forks in the manual as the clickers are different. Each leg has it's own adjustments.

I've set everything to as close to the factory setting the manual says and I have add 2-3 clicks more rebound dampening in the rear to help keep the back wheel from hopping when it slides. I've also adjusted my rear sag with a Motool sag tool. I'm having a hard time steering this bike on the track and was hoping some suspension tuning might help.

Before I take my bike to a suspension specialist I was wondering if anyone has had theirs adjusted and what their settings are? I'm 180lbs and probably close to 200lbs with gear on.

 

[Philip]

You might want to ask KTM 450SMR owners.

Help identifying forks

Hey guys, I recently bought some WP forks that were listed as Redshift SM forks. These forks have the radial caliper mount but what is throwing me off is that they seem to be WP Xplor forks based on the cap as it is identical to the one on my 2018 KTM 350 EXC-F. I haven’t found anything showing...

electricdirtriders.com

 

[HadesOmega]

Hmm ok I'll check out what they're running. I think the 450SMR is lighter than the Redshift though, I just rode a Husky FS450 and man was it much lighter than my Redshift SM.

The forks on that post are different than mine, mine has the compression adjusters on top and rebound on the bottom on both legs.

 

[SubSonic]

Go to a Suzuki dealer and look at DRZ400SM -
work/ feel the suspension on this bike - -
that is what you want your suspension to feel like -
Suzuki spent a lot of money/time Valving / Springs on this bike -
Suzuki did a good job on it -

 

[SubSonic]

Looked on RaceTech shows 2018 DRZ400SM spring rates
front .44
rear 5.5

DRZSM weight 325 pound dry -

rider 185lbs including gear -

SM handles good - never did anything weird or scared me

 

[HadesOmega]

I'm not happy with my SM's handling. I just rode a FS450 and its handling blows the stock SM's handling away. I will take mine to a suspension tuner and have them adjust the suspension for me.

 

[HadesOmega]

Heya wanted to report back on this. This year I took the bike to Evolution Motorcycles and had the suspension settings tuned with the stock suspension and it helped a lot. In the end we were able to stiffen up the suspension as much as we could but it needs to be stiffer. So uprating the springs would likely be a future mod. The factory settings on the Redshift SM are awful. Hopefully this post helps those Redshift SM owners get their bike handling better. But yeah first thing you should do is have your suspension tuned. Thanks to Terrance at Evolution Motorcycles in Santa Clara for setting up my bike.

Finally got that suspension tuned, should have got it done sooner. The bike handles so much better after this. The stock suspension setting for the Redshift SM are awful and I think the previous owner already had it setup for me and I just made it worse.

Another Sierra Road Test Ride with the new suspension settings

Suspension settings (All settings start from full CW):
Rear Shock
Low Compression Screw = 1 Turn
Hi Compression Nut = 2 Full Turns
Rebound = 0
Preload = Maxed out (all the way stiff/down)

Front Fork
Compression = 0
Rebound = 7