How-To/Tech Tips: Air Fork Setup - Vital MX

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Since the Motocross industry has been moving towards air forks, there's been a bit a of a learning curve for the general public in regards of how to adjust and take care of these new damping units. In particular, Showa's SFF TAC fork take a bit more attention when it comes to adjustments, due to the three air chambers they feature. To help take a bit of the confusion out of the TAC fork, we've got a few Tech Tips to make your life a bit easier.
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[@DRZSuzook]

This is the first video to do a good job at explaining the sff air forks. Thanks vitalmx!

[@brian1157]

My dad made and raced with his own air shocks similar to these back in the late 70's and early 80's with his RM250.

[@zPrideful]

This literally saved my life I've been looking everywhere for something to explain how these things work. I just bought a 2016 rmz450f its first bike I've owned with air forks and it was giving me a head ache 😂

[@sevaanstojcevski5666]

SlowReactions same here can u help me out with the psi u set on yours and what other tools I can use because I don’t have that Suzuki pump only a compressor and a bike pump

[@frontlinemedia4270]

Did you ever have these collasp?

[@zPrideful]

@@frontlinemedia4270 nah I sold the bike shortly after I put spring forks from an older rm 450 on it. They are super stiff I couldn’t stand it.

[@frontlinemedia4270]

@@zPrideful well, mine did and I am trying to figure out what goes bad to cause this

[@zPrideful]

@@frontlinemedia4270 seals usually main cause for leaking forks on any type.

[@davidcarvolth7685]

Are you talking lbs pressure, help to be clearer

[@toadamine]

how to adjust air forks, remove air fork, install spring fork. done. "these forks can perform well, but..."

[@tonewall1]

WINNER^^^^^^^^^

[@zPrideful]

I like that kawasaki went back to spring forks this year this is just to much of a nuisance for a casual rider. It's nice you ca set it to what ever you want, but its stupidly hard to find a setting.

[@oo0Spyder0oo]

I guess this is why there's a lot of dislike for the air shocks, fair bit of mucking around, especially as Honda's one you need to remove the disc brake guard. However they are supposed to be the bee's knee's when setup so whether or not it's worth the trouble is anyone's guess. Only problem I see is that seals with those pressures won't last nearly as long as spring/oil shocks. As Honda's 2018 model went back to springs it makes you wonder if the whole thing isn't as good as they claim.

[@niftyram9367]

i have a 2015 crf250r and the my don’t have the outer chamber valve on top. there’s 1 valve on top and then 1 valve on the bottom.

[@Stinky_sack]

Hopefully you see this comment. What about the left fork with the 2 flat head screws? Do we just leave that fork alone? Why is there are hard and soft options on the clicker? Do we need to open the top screw to let off excess pressure? I'm new to air forks

[@tooquiik1052]

I just got a 2015 kx450 and have been doing research on the forms as well. So the left fork is compression or at least the clicker. These bikes are meant for riders weighing in at 185 so if you’re lighter you might wanna go softer if you’re heavier like myself I’ll have to go harder. And as for the screw I’ve seen videos where they set up the pressure on the right fork then after they release pressure with that screw in left to adjust to elevation or even weather conditions for the day. But I don’t think the order matters since it’s right fork pressurization and left fork compression and rebound plus that pressure release screw.

[@abmivo6070]

What would be good street riding pressure ? I got súper moto kx450f 2015 an the front forks are low real low

[@Fandestdh]

0:50 Completely wrong explanation, understanding how this fork actually works would help you with setting it up immensely, and it's not really complicated at all. Without negative pressure the fork would have a hard time starting to compress That's it, the whole point of this chamber is to adjust how plush you want your fork to be. The progression of the fork is actually regulated by two upper chambers, them being outside and inside have nothing to do with their function btw, its all about their size, the bigger one is same as your regular spring in a normal fork, and the smaller one is an additional tiny spring, pumping it up increases progression, which means the less bumpy your ride is going to be and the harder you going to send the more pressure you want to be in it. Summary 1 inner chamber: main chamber to set fork for your weight 2 negative chamber: to set how plush you want your fork to feel. 3 outer chamber: to set how easily the fork would bottom out basically.

[@jalisco872]

Does this work for the 2016 showa forks on a crf 250?

[@Exuberator]

good video thanks, if outer is not holding air pressure is that a bad fork seal? could oil just be added through the valve if stems re-moved to get the oil in each chamber? Do you ever plan to show how to do fork seals and fork oil change on sff tac forks?

[@patrickcleary9578]

If the order is important, is it necessary to zero out all air pressures before starting?

[@BryanJames831]

Thanks for this video. Turns out the dealer reversed the inner and outter pressures on my kawi!

[@SunShine-pn1gl]

Can u use a Bicycle pump to fill them up?

[@dimitriyalousi7279]

Yes I bought one

[@ej2493]

What would be the best set up for trail riding?

[@tonewall1]

PUT A SPRING IN.

[@arisbelmatias8242]

@@tonewall1 can i put a spring on both sides and call it a day i dont jump it barely go past 3rd gear in the trails?

[@peteputkonen6612]

Thanks a lot!!

[@jimmysmyth7510]

thanks

[@leee2235]

Anyone got the ideal settings for an intermediate that weights 62KG

[@ricardojouris3405]

very good the video but could put subtitles in portuguese "Brazil" because we have many bikes that are these models and we don't have much information and with the subtitles in portuguese it helps a lot

[@francorizza3570]

Do you have any videos on 2017 ktm 65 air forks think they AER 32?

[@markostarr4062]

this guys face looks like hes struggling about describing something very simple... LOL

[@victorstoddard8287]

any one know a good pressure to start off with for 210 pound person , Just got the bike and i know the previous owner is a lot heaver guy, Thanks

[@emrepolat6416]

Following this question

[@liftedcj7on44s]

These things are a pain in the ass, I have a 2018 KX450f and am using the WP air pump and that thing is a POS. If you screw it all the way on it leaks and you cannot get the required 130-150psi in the inner/balance chamber. If you back it off a little it just leaks. Also on my 2018 the inner and outer chamber are opposite of the one you show here.

[@OGPokey151]

All the boost there is a no leak adapter from works connection. It's works perfect for my forks. Before I try and get 178psi but I'd lose 8 psi taking it off. Since I got that no leak. It's exactly that. It's about $30

[@liftedcj7on44s]

I bought one last week, Still having issues. Going to take the pump back as I feel there is something wrong with it.

[@OGPokey151]

All the boost yeah something has to be wrong, my combo does not leak at all

[@jimchristie855]

All very informative but all these videos never explain how to stop the air coming out when unscrewing the fitting or maybe how much extra you put in to compensate for the inevitable loss 🤬

[@gabrielmortz5413]

Because you dont need to. The air that comes out is the air from the hose of the pump.

[@bmore4634]

will this air pump work for a 2015 crf250r?

[@darrylforget4938]

It will work but you may have trouble getting the pump on the balance chamber. I just got mine from the dealer and it came with an extension that makes it easy. it was about the same price too.

[@josephmv1437]

Darryl Forget where???