Yamaha TRX850 Enthusiasts Forum

Hi
im looking to upgrade the front suspension, I have found some ohlins spring online. Are these worth getting or can anyone suggest a good upgrade option

Cheers
Yesman

If you are "heavy" (much over 75kg or so) then a stiffer spring may help but in the end the forks will always be crude unless you significantly modify the internals, either by adding Racetech Cartridge Emulators or YSS PD Valves (these are from Australia and should be better priced), or having somewhere fit cartridge internals. Depends how much it bothers you and how much you want to spend!

The Ohlins springs (I guess you're looking at 08608?) are full length (no spacer required) so you can't use them with the emulators, though there is a good set of instructions on here for using the shorter 08604 version instead. YSS can also supply you with some of their exclusive Promax (not by Hyperpro!) springs which seem incredibly cheap but no one knows if they're any good. Racetech/Eibach springs are good but difficult to get hold of outside the US. There are many ways to go, really it comes down to what stickers you want

Contact ProMechA motorcycle suspension down there in Melbourne. I have just sold the forks I had rebuilt by them with emulators to Rod . First thing he noticed was how they handle through corners and under brakes socking up the bumps instead of bouncing through them. He also noticed how sad the rear end is now ou should be able to get springs n emulators fitted for around $500 and around $250 for a R6 set up on the rear which is a popular cheap option with as they have a heavier .98 rear spring.

Are the stock forks really that bad ? Even with new springs?

skull-candy18 wrote:Are the stock forks really that bad ? Even with new springs?

It depends what you're used to, but even in the mid nineties the forks were seen as crap. Personally I find they ruin the whole bike, making it difficult to handle on anything other than smooth road and crashing about at any opportunity. My Dad though, coming from a stock '78 Suzuki GS750 (with famously poor suspension and a frame that isn't quite up to the job) thinks it handles just lovely.

Ditto.. They work ok for just riding around when sprung to your weight. But ultimately they really don't compliment the well balanced handling nature of the design. They obviously had a lot of these in their parts bin when they put the Trx together. And for such a cheap bike now spending a couple of bob to sort suspension will transform the Trx to the glory it really deserves.. With the$800 odd dollars I spent to just do a couple of mods allowed me to really stick it to so many other later model bikes because of braking and corner speed capabilities of the Trx once these few mods where done.. A well worth investment as this ultimately gives you more confidence that the bike will respond in the manner you want it come whatever challenge may be thrown before you.

Thanks for the info, I know they need something doing as they are too soft at the moment, I'm just not sure if I should go with new springs, or Thunderace or even yzf usd.