Air fork solutions?

[SteepNdeep450]

Been lurking here a while now learning but since the air fork game is a bit new still haven't seen much info on here except just stay away from them. There's bound to be quite a few of you with the new CRF450Rs or KXs. I've noticed since I got my '13 honda earlier this year even at 30 degrees we were riding in a couple weeks ago the forks tended to sag a bit at the recommended 33psi, so I'm guessing for snowbiking adding too much air could make the seals even easier to blow out? So are you guys just staying away from these years of bikes? Making the air forks work? Or buying a set of spring forks for the use in winter assuming the clamps are the same? My thought is buying an extra set of forks for winter wouldn't be the worst idea.

 

[Rush44]

You are seeing mostly "stay away from them" posts because a lot of people are asking about what bikes to buy and which years are the best. It's a good reason early on if you have the opportunity to pick your bike and eliminate hassles before you even start. The air forks can and do work but they certainly are not maintenance free. If you have air forks you have a couple options:

- pick up a set of traditional forks for the winter only. On the KX anything 06 and newer will fit properly up to 14. I picked a set up on eBay for a friend who blew his out for $375. New seals and oil... good as new.
- convert your PSF forks to a SFF hybrid. The air no longer holds up the fork. I know of two people I steered into this direction and they have had no problems yet. Both of them use the bikes in the dirt and really liked the performance year round. More info here: http://www.mx-tech.com/articles/File/106_MXAi13.pdf
- ride with your pump and constantly check your pressure. If you don't want to spend the money on either of these options this is really your last resort.

Being in Bozeman where the days get VERY cold with wind chill you have got to check your pressure after coming out of the warm garage and also check them mid morning once the air pressure drops. You have to keep the pressure up or else the seal fails and your forks drop all the way to the clamps and it makes for a very tricky ride out. I've seen both forks destroyed and a spindle bent from a huge smack on the clamps. With the pressure up you'll have less chance of them failing.

 

[SLDHVN]

I havent had any issues with my airforks. Just check the pressure in the morning as part of the pre ride inspection. They work just fine.

 

[SteepNdeep450]

Good info Rush44.

So SLDHVN are you running like 35psi?

 

[SLDHVN]

more like 45 psi even tho its not recommended

 

[SteepNdeep450]

Wow you been though a set of seals yet? I'm thinking the thing with fork seals on air forks is going to be replacing them every year as a precaution. I used to just wait for my KYB spring forks to leak before replacing. But sounds like if you loose a seal you are screwed on air forks.

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

You can ride them out. Its horrible though. My buddy lost his seals on his 13 kawi last winter. slow misserable ride out.

 

[SLDHVN]

we have 2 bikes running high psi, no seal problems so far, knock on wood

 

[dieselwerx.com]

No problems with mine 13 14 and now 15. 1 run 32 on dirt and 55 on snow. The best part is add air for snow and you dont have to re spring to get the front up. The biggest thing is dont let ice build up ovre night on the tubes that will wast the seal. =)