Honda CRF450R 2020 Owner'S Manual & Competition Handbook Download

Page: 159 / 199

Suspension Adjustment Guidelines

154

Adjustments for Competition

Rear Suspension Adjustment
Adjustments for Type of Track

Hard-surfaced track

Begin with the standard settings. If the suspension is too stiff/soft, adjust according to the chart below.

Sand track

Lower the rear end (to improve front wheel stability) by increasing Race Sag (reduce spring pre-load).
Example: – Turn the compression damping adjuster and, especially, rebound damping adjuster to a stiffer setting.

– Increase standard Race Sag (+0.2 to 0.4 in/5 to 10 mm).

Mud track

Adjust to a stiffer position because mud build-up increases your CRF’s weight.
Example: – Adjust the compression and rebound damping adjusters to stiffer settings.

– Install an optional stiff spring.
– Reduce standard Race Sag (–0.2 to –0.4 in/–5 to –10 mm).

Symptoms and Adjustment

• Always begin with the standard settings.
• Turn the low speed compression and rebound adjusters in one-click increments, and the high speed compression adjuster in 1/12 turn increments at a time. Adjusting two or

more clicks or turns at a time may cause you to pass over the best adjustment. Test ride after each adjustment.

• If, after setting, the suspension feels unusual, find the corresponding symptom in the table and test stiffer or softer compression and/or rebound damping adjustments until the

correct settings are obtained as described.

Symptom

Action

Stiff suspension

Suspension feels stiff on small bumps

1. Test softer low speed compression adjustment.
2. If it still feels stiff, further test softer low and high speed compression adjustments simultaneously.

Suspension feels stiff on large bumps

1. Test softer high speed compression adjustment.
2. If it still feels stiff, further test softer low and high speed compression adjustments simultaneously.

Entire travel too stiff

1. Test softer high and low speed compression adjustments and rebound adjustment simultaneously.
2. If it still feels stiff, replace the spring with an optional soft spring and begin with the standard settings to softer

settings.

Soft suspension

Entire travel too soft

1. Test stiffer high and low speed compression adjustments simultaneously.
2. If it still feels soft, replace the spring with an optional stiff spring and begin with the standard settings to stiffer

setting.

Rear end sways

1. Test stiffer high and low speed compression adjustments and rebound adjustment to stiffer settings

simultaneously.

Suspension
bottoms

Suspension bottoms at landing after
jumping

1. Test stiffer high speed compression adjustment.
2. If it still bottoms, test stiffer high and low speed compression adjustments, and replace the spring with a stiff

spring (optional) if necessary.

Suspension bottoms after landing

1. Test stiffer low speed compression adjustment.
2. If it still bottoms, test stiffer high and low speed compression adjustments, and replace the spring with a stiff

spring (optional) if necessary.

Suspension bottoms after end of
continuous bumps

1. Test softer rebound damping adjustment.
2. If it still bottoms, test stiffer high and low speed compression adjustments and softer rebound damping

adjustment, and replace the spring with an optional stiff spring if necessary.