Got a 2024 250 moto machine? Let us help you with a shortcut to a better suspension setting. We have a established some settings that we feel can help any rider from 140-180 pounds. Even if you find yourself a little heavier than 180 these settings should get you close enough to have a good time on your new motorcycle. As always, we are happy to help if we can, so our door is open at kris@keeferinctesting.com.
2024 Honda CRF250R:
In stock form the Showa suspension on the 2024 Honda CRF250R has more of a firm feel. The fork is a little firm feeling which is good for riders over 175 pounds, but lighter riders might want to take 5cc’s of oil out of the fork. This will help the fork move a little more and give the rider a little better feel when on the edges of your front tire. The shock is a little softer feeling than the fork so out of the crate it is a little unbalanced but doesn’t take as much to dial in as the older gen CRF250Rs! I figured out that this baseline suspension setting gave the 2024 Honda CRF250R the most “track toughness”. If you happen to feel like the fork is harsher (through the mid stroke) with this setting, simply open up the rebound (faster) back to the stock setting. This will help free up the fork slightly under front end load (off-gas). The shock needs just a little more hold up under acceleration so simply going stiffer/slower on low speed compression/rebound gives the rider more comfort and added traction out of corners. I tried experimenting with high speed compression, but the Honda is finicky with high speed comp. Going stiffer on high speed compression (shock) put too much weight on the front end (fork) creating a harsher feeling front fork.
Fork: (140-170 pounds)
Spring Rate: 4.8N/mm
Height: 3mm
Compression: 12 clicks out
Rebound: 11 clicks out
Oil Level: -5cc Oil Out (Stock is 380cc)
Shock:
Spring Rate: 50N/mm
Sag: 105mm
High Speed Compression: 2-1/6
Low Speed Compression: 6 clicks out
Rebound: 10 clicks out
2024 Kawasaki KX250:
The 2024 KX250 hasn’t changed and to me is similar to the Honda suspension as it is firm up front and a little softer out back. The KYB fork is built for a heavier rider and to me should be decent for riders between 170-185 pounds. If you’re over 185 pounds then going to a 5.0N/mm fork spring as well as a 56N/mm rear spring and softening up the compression a couple clicks on each end should increase the comfort for you heavier dudes.
Fork:
Spring Rate: 4.9 N/mm
Height: 3mm
Compression: 11 clicks out
Rebound: 10 clicks out
Shock:
Spring Rate: 54 N/mm
Sag: 105mm
High Speed Compression: 1.25 turns out
Low Speed Compression: 8 clicks out
Rebound: 10 clicks out
2024 Yamaha YZ250F:
The 2024 valving is a little beefier but the spring rates remain the same. With the stiffer chassis for 2024, it’s tougher to dial in the KYB suspension but after a long time spent on the new YZ250F we think we have found a comfortable spot for you all to start from. KYB/Yamaha did a better job in 2024 with getting the fork to stay up higher in the stroke, but to us it’s still a little too quick when loading the front end through corners. We found ourselves washing the front end out because the fork would come up too quickly as we started to settle into the corner (transitioning the throttle on), which made the front feel high in area 2 of corners. Slowing the rebound down in fork as well as the shock made the chassis feel calmer. The rear of the Yamaha still feels high in the rear if you’re on the lighter side (less than 160 pounds), so softening the HSC helps allow the rear to squat a little more on exits of corners. This also helps the fork settle on braking bumps as well.
Fork:
Spring Rate: 4.7 N/mm
Height: 3mm
Compression: 8 clicks out
Rebound: 5-6 clicks out
Shock:
Spring Rate: 56 N/mm
Sag: 105mm
High Speed Compression: 1.5 turns out
Low Speed Compression: 12-14 clicks out
Rebound: 9 clicks out
2024 KTM 250 SX-F:
With the new frame that KTM introduced for 2023 the settings have changed a little from 2022, but the 2024 version is the exact same as the 2023. Did you get all of that? Always remember that a WP AER fork needs more time to break in than any other fork on the market. Your AER fork will need at least 6-7 engine hours to fully break in. If you feel like your fork is stiff/harsh before that, don’t fret yet, as this is a common feel among these forks (not as bad as two-three years ago but still not as plush as a spring fork). These KTM/Husqvarna/Gas Gas settings are for riders anywhere from 150-180 pounds. Lighter riders under 150 pounds will need a slightly softer air setting (around 10.3 bar), but can use the same clicker adjustment readings.
Fork:
Spring Rate: 10.6 bar (Break in should use 10.5 bar)
Height: 5mm
Compression: 12 clicks out (with 10.6 bar) 15 clicks out (with 10.7 bar)
Rebound: 10 clicks out
Shock:
Spring Rate: 42 N/mm
Sag: 102mm
High Speed Compression: 1.75 out
Low Speed Compression: 10 clicks out
Rebound: 11 clicks out
2024 Gas Gas MC250:
Fork:
Spring Rate: 10.6 bar (Break in should use 10.5 bar)
Height: 5mm
Compression: 12 clicks out (with 10.6 bar) 15 clicks out (with 10.7 bar)
Rebound: 10 clicks out
Shock:
Spring Rate: 42 N/mm
Sag: 103-104mm
High Speed Compression: 1.75-2 turns out
Low Speed Compression: 11 clicks out
Rebound: 11 clicks out
2024 Husqvarna FC250:
Due to the lower nature of the Husqvarna setting, we preferred to go a little stiffer with this set up (compared to the KTM and GG) to get more comfort on the Husqvarna suspension. The Husqvarna is slightly better on side to side movements (feels lighter) so going a little stiffer doesn’t hurt this feel. If you like to front end steer more and would want some better front tire contact on lean angle try going to a high speed shock setting of 1.75 out.
Fork:
Spring Rate: 10.7 bar
Height: 5mm
Compression: 14 clicks out
Rebound: 9 clicks out
Shock:
Spring Rate: 42 N/mm
Sag: 102mm
High Speed Compression: 1.5-1.75
Low Speed Compression: 10 clicks out
Rebound: 11 clicks out
2024 Suzuki RM-Z 250:
We have a setting! We have spent more time on the 2023 and 2024 RM-Z 250 and although the springs are just too damn stiff for MOST riders, here is what we came up with. Do yourself a favor and drop. the spring rate ASAP!
Fork: (140-170 pounds)
Spring Rate: 4.7 N/mm
Height: 3mm
Compression: 11 clicks out
Rebound: 11 clicks out
Shock:
Spring Rate: 50 N/mm
Sag: 105mm
Hi-Comp: 12 clicks out
Lo Comp: 15 clicks out
Hi Reb: 14 clicks out
Lo Reb: 13 clicks out
