Owner's Review Varg EX suspension. Did you go Hard or Mid?

[Dfhmotor]

Hey hey, I am going to pull the trigger here shortly! I intend to race B Senior (I am 45years old) in the local Missouri Hare Scrambles as I think the battery will last me at my pace/skill level. If I weigh 190lbs to 195lbs in my birthday suit (no gear), should you go with a Mid or Hard suspension set up? Per the Stark website, Mid caps at 200lbs where Hard starts at 215lbs. If I add gear, I am over 200lbs easy.

Should I care? Should I just expect to take the bike to suspension guy no matter what? Dirt Bike Magazine states: "I tried two different suspension set-ups. The first was the middle level, which was similar to the standard setting of something like a Honda CRF450RL. It was much softer than the Varg motocross bike we tried in the ‘States last year, but perfectly appropriate on tight Spanish trails. The stiffer setting was more like a Yamaha YZ450FX or a Honda CRF450RX. It was more of a racing set-up. In both cases it was well balanced. I knew from my previous experiences with Stark motorcycles that the factory comes up with good initial suspension settings. As usual, off-road guys will have to fine tune it for whatever use they have in mind."

What has been your experience? Did I answer my own questions by reading Dirt Bike Magazine? Is it easier to make Mid harder than to make Hard softer?

 

[markhamr]

Ive tried it all needs a revalve both ends and some magic
the problem is it is way to heavy so twiddling the knobs dosnt work but helps
spring weights crucial including your ability
i found it got sloppier the more i tried to soften the initial
and then it runs through the midstroke anyway
i run harder springs but im just like that usually anyway
I like hare scrambles but thrs no way in hell with the range my gen1 mx has
maybe a set of titanium forearms and just run the stock settings
it does fly like that

 

[Erwin P]

The only difference is the springs wich are not expensive and easy enough to replace.
Wouldn't bother too much.

And way to heavy... it is 12lbs heavier than a fuelled 300 Enduro, so no bike will do i guess.
Yes i weighed that myself.

How far/long are those hare scrambles, at what pace and what is the ground made up off?

 

[markhamr]

mines 45lb heavier than my 450 fc
i weighed it myself too
thats with fuel

 

[Erwin P]

Did you leave the subframe of the 450fc or did you weigh the Charger with the Stark?

The 450 is 104kg without fuel. The Stark 118kg (wich i know is true) 14kg gap - +-6kg fuel is 8kg gap or 17lbs gap...

 

[markhamr]

stop reading the brochure
if my stark was 118 kgs stock
i wouldnt be beating up on them
but it was 124.174 postal scales there acurate as
the FIM limit is 123kgs anyway so
they probably weighed one dont you think
i had a maxis tube in the back when i weighed it
the husky is 102 stock as no fuel
thats a lot to give up
if they have one that weighs 118 kgs they need to replace mine with it

 

[Marshall G]

I'm 209. All geared up - a lot more. I ordered the heavy springs. In whoops, sand, G outs and rolling trails, its awesome.
In jagged rocky terrain, it beat me up quite a bit. But I like my suspension really plush. I can tell, the springs are right, but I might have to get some valving done.
I just tried the trick to drain 10 CCs of oil out of each fork leg. Hoping that'll do the trick.
I'll report back after I get a chance to ride more rocks. I thought the KYBs were supposed to be the shit. With the right springs, we shouldn't have to do anything.

 

[Dfhmotor]

I'm 209. All geared up - a lot more. I ordered the heavy springs. In whoops, sand, G outs and rolling trails, its awesome.
In jagged rocky terrain, it beat me up quite a bit. But I like my suspension really plush. I can tell, the springs are right, but I might have to get some valving done.
I just tried the trick to drain 10 CCs of oil out of each fork leg. Hoping that'll do the trick.
I'll report back after I get a chance to ride more rocks. I thought the KYBs were supposed to be the shit. With the right springs, we shouldn't have to do anything.

Gotcha. I appreciate the info. After kicking the question around in head I have decided to purchase from a dealer and save on shipping. With those savings I can get to my suspension guy after getting a feel for the bike. I will go Mid suspension (that is what the dealer has) and determine what needs to be done (with the help of suspension guy). With your stated weight of 209lbs to my 190-195lbs, I am optimistic!

 

[Dfhmotor]

The only difference is the springs wich are not expensive and easy enough to replace.
Wouldn't bother too much.

And way to heavy... it is 12lbs heavier than a fuelled 300 Enduro, so no bike will do i guess.
Yes i weighed that myself.

How far/long are those hare scrambles, at what pace and what is the ground made up off?

Gotcha. I am not too concerned about the weight of the bike, mainly my weight. The hare scrambles are 1hour, 40 min in one race series and 2 hours in another. The 2 hour races would be pushing it but with my speed/skill level, I think I may squeak by. Rarely do we have sand, mainly the terrain is earth/clay mix.

I found this guy on YT and the terrain in this video is similar to my area. My advantage to the range here is that I would be slower than this racer. He would be in A class where I would fall in a slower 45+ B class: