Honda CRF450R 2011 Owner's Manual page 146

Rear Suspension Adjustment
Adjustments for Type of Track
Hard-surfaced track
Sand track
Mud track
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.
Stiff suspension Suspension feels stiff on small bumps
Suspension feels stiff on large bumps
Entire travel too stiff
Soft suspension Entire travel too soft
Rear end sways
Suspension Suspension bottoms at landing after
bottoms jumping
Suspension bottoms after landing
Suspension bottoms after end of
continuous bumps
Begin with the standard settings. If the suspension is too stiff/soft, adjust according to the chart below.
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 (+5 to 10 mm/0.2 to 0.4 in).
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 (–5 to –10 mm/–0.2 to –0.4 in).
Symptom
1. Test softer low speed compression adjustment.
2. If it still feels stiff, further test softer low and high speed compression adjustments simultaneously.
1. Test softer high speed compression adjustment.
2. If it still feels stiff, further test softer low and high speed compression adjustments simultaneously.
1. Test softer high and low speed compression adjustments and rebound adjustment simultaneously.
2. If it still feels stiff, replace the spring with a softer spring (optional) and begin with the standard settings to softer
settings.
1. Test stiffer high and low speed compression adjustments simultaneously.
2. If it still feels soft, replace the spring with a stiffer spring (optional) and begin with the standard settings to stiffer
setting.
1. Test stiffer high and low speed compression adjustments and rebound adjustment to stiffer settings
simultaneously.
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 stiffer
spring (optional) if necessary.
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 stiffer
spring (optional) if necessary.
1. Test softer rebound dumping adjustment.
2. If it still bottoms, test stiffer high and low speed compression adjustments and softer rebound damping
adjustment, and replace the spring with a stiffer spring (optional) if necessary.
Suspension Adjustment Guidelines
Action
Adjustments for Competition
137