WP 6500 kit Install and Re-valve | 2023 KTM 300XC | TBT Racing | Highland Cycles

[@BaylenLamkin]

Can you do a rebuild/maintenance video on the 6500 kit? This video either missed steps or didn't show them on camera.

[@highlandcycles]

Yeah, I need to do that.

[@mikeb4708]

Best comprehensive video on the 6500 kit out there! I would suggest that anyone who is thinking about purchasing this kit watch this video so that they understand how it works.

[@highlandcycles]

Wow, thanks!

[@Mostviews111]

Springs are the way to go!

[@highlandcycles]

Yup

[@TeamStruggleBunny]

Found this after asking for this very video in one of your other vids!! Perfect and thank you!

[@highlandcycles]

🤘🏻

[@scottphillips445]

Suspension tuning is an art. I prefer to have my Suspension done by a professional like you. I am a top level tester. It is my job to tell you what the bike is doing and what I want it to do. The 48mm showa forks on my 13 crf250r were some of the best.

[@jeffmurphy7600]

That's is one of the biggest reasons I like you're videos. You go hands on and give a good overview of how stuff is done. I was thinking the 6500 kit was a drop in deal. After watching this video the labor cost to have you do it is well wort the money!!

[@LocalGarage]

Thanks for walking through that. I was wondering what they were all about inside the shiny tubes

[@hachtenduro7824]

Once more better explained than what ever I have seen before! Thumbs up! As always some remarks: ICS springs do change the spring rate. A 4.4 main spring + 12 ICS will be close to 4.7 to 4.8main spring in an open chamber fork. The 18N/mm would result in an 4.9 to 5.0 effectively. The firmer feel of closed cartidge vs. open cartridge is certainly caused by this fact. I like the shim style with less shims as it is reducing friction inbetween shims, making the valve operation more precise. The freeloaded style basevalve is not my taste (and also not Paul Thedes from Race Tech as he states in his "bible"). It is the same as very open clickers or a bleed here. Clickers will become pretty ineffective with this bypass. (exept maybe your freeload shim is very thin). The low speed compression is then very much less than low speed rebound, resulting in packing. You loose probably grip in bumpy flat corners. And cavitation is also likely, but is less severe in ICS CC(closed chamber) fork than in OC (open chamber). My changes would be to tune 1 leg (right one). This is less consuming precious time by far ;-). Tuning would be as follows: 4.0 Spring, and remove the freeload shim. This is cure for packing, but the reduced spring will keep the proper height of the now no more packing front. The right clicker is then very effective for tuning low speed balance of comp/reb. Again thanks for showing whats behind a 6500! Best regards, Erhard

[@lukekelly5115]

There is no ics in an open chamber fork lol

[@philsheridan6759]

Great informaton for xplor people who want final upgrade. Got k-tech kit now setup by checkpoint. Be nice upgrade some day

[@kylerholleman5723]

Great video. Love seeing how these 6500 cartridges work!

[@bruce3725]

Do you have the part number for the shaft block holder for the cartridge? Also, for the husky with shorter forks, the plastic spacer goes under the top out spring???

[@bruce3725]

How do you remove the mid valve post to put the different spacer on the top out spring to set them upbfor shorter husky forks??

[@mattw7954]

I'd love to see a video explaining the basics of shim stacks. Read the race tech book and it helps understand what everything does but I cant find any real information on how to even begin learning to create my own stacks or even modify my current stuff, ex: how many shims should a stack even have, whats the difference between 1 shim of a thickness vs two shims equaling that thickness. Great vids by the way!

[@cowboyenduromotorworks]

Same.

[@marktigges9453]

Morgan how thick was the bleed shim on face? Ty

[@highlandcycles]

Shoot, I don't remember.

[@enduro-parts-aus]

Awesome video , i love suspension work i find it so interesting !

[@jaytrolan1602]

Good vid. I use what I call "bleed" shims all the time against the face of the pistons for off road (the small shim against the piston that you showed). Helps the small bump compliance a LOT. It would be interesting to see you compare the Air fork with the same type of valving vs the 6500 kit.... Also I'd be interested in the air fork with that cone valve conversion you mentioned. Good to see a comparison of all three options as the two air fork options certainly would be cheaper then the 6500 fork. Also, a 44 spring is - in my opinion - stiff for the rocks you are riding in. I suggest a 41... I run 41's pretty much in all the KYB SSS forks for my personal off road bikes.

[@highlandcycles]

How much do you weigh? I agree if I had unlimited time and money I would do lots more comparisons. I can say that after some time on these and back onto a buddy’s bike with the cone valve conversion that these are better but the other setups are very good.

[@jaytrolan1602]

@@highlandcycles 185 lbs... I think you're about to be able to find a set of mods to air forks that will get your customers 90% of the way to a spring fork for a few hundred dollars vs the 6500 conversion. Its' nuts KTM can produce some great products but ...the suspension by and large out of the box is not great...and buyers have to reach in their pocket for another $1500-2K after buying the most expensive dirt bike on the market. WTH? Can you try the same type of valving setup on a air fork? Meaning using the bleed shims on the face of the piston - Especially the mid valve. I'll bet if you go that route you can get the air fork to be really good off road. There is a certain amount of I'd call it "film tension" that is present when the face shim "sticks" to the piston. You can actually see an impression on the face shim after time of piston due to this. That bleed shim takes that away.. that small fraction of a second where the bump force has to break that film tension. I've found in my testing it really helps get that compliance in the rocks...It also helps the shock respond to small acceleration bumps. and you have the added benefit of adjusting air pressure for faster less rocky conditions with the forks. Also the "cone valve" from what I've seen is really a check valve that's tunable. Tunable via the cone shape/ Shims and especially the spring putting tension on the cone. I think you can get to a great setting you can sell your customer base by using some of the valving ideas you and TBT shops are using on the 6500 fork... but on the stock air fork.

[@highlandcycles]

@@jaytrolan1602 we do have great setups with the stock gear. We have done a ton of them. I’m really only trying this so I can speak about it with experience. Our cone valve conversion is very good and WAY cheaper. Honestly the biggest thing I like about the 6500 is that I don’t have to check pressure before a ride. I hate checking air pressure. It’s most of the reason I run mousses. I agree 100% that most people don’t need to spend all the money. If I hadn’t gotten this setup for free I would have been more than happy with our valving on the stock Fork. And as far as a 41. I like riding the fast stuff way too much to go that soft. This hard enduro thing is a one time deal. I’d rather race NHHA

[@d.brayman3165]

Very informative. I learned a lot.

[@highlandcycles]

Awesome

[@lancefrazier4748]

It looks like it handles better in the video on the shorts just watching the front finder

[@highlandcycles]

It does. First impression vid hits tomorrow

[@ChookChasersMX]

Hi Morgan, can you please do a video explaining spring rates, especially front? Harder vs softer, harder with less preload and softer with more? And then oil height? It’s hard to understand what determines best fork spring rate (or choosing a spring rate) other than rider weight as many variables can be changed. Thank you, any help would be greatly appreciated.

[@hpenduro000]

Awesome awesome awesome video man 👌😎

[@jordanbiggs6228]

Are the inner chambers pre filled when you unbox them from wp?

[@highlandcycles]

Yes

[@greygoose9577]

Did you add a hydrostop on the tuned damping side (from the aer fork) by yourself? Is it stock, is it available somewhere or is it selfmade??

[@highlandcycles]

It’s stock on the 23 forks

[@matt2437]

Did you put preload spacers on both ends of the spring?

[@highlandcycles]

No. I just put them on one side. You want the length to be 488mm.

[@timothykeller8599]

Do the kits need fluid in the ics chamber out of the box or are they red to drop in out of the box, also when compressing down to get the rebound nut and adjuster on did you just use the inner edge of the lug to keep it locked down ?

[@highlandcycles]

They have oil in them. And not sure what you’re talking about. I have a holder for the rod yo keep it up where I can put a wrench on it.

[@timothykeller8599]

Towards the end of the video. Right before you put the rebound rod back in and screw on the rebound clicker

[@highlandcycles]

@@timothykeller8599 yeah. That is just hooked on the lug

[@grantmotox123]

unscrew the nut at the bottom and the rod & mid valve assembly comes out just like KYBs. trust me i have done alot of 6500s

[@highlandcycles]

I did and it wouldn't come out.

[@highlandcycles]

Don't know if it is different on the ones for AER or not but I took the nut off and it would not come through.

[@grantmotox123]

@@highlandcycles maybe. not played with AER ones

[@colinbond-vc7or]

When I pulled mine apart one side the mid valve came out but the other side wouldn't 🤷‍♂️

[@j-moto1215]

Hey man thanks for all the content you create. Love your work, when you were talking about buying whatever kit is available is the XACT and the XPLOR kit specific to each fork or can they be interchanged between forks? I ask because I have a set of Xplors and like them, picked up a new to me 2023 XC but don’t want the XACT stiff valving. Also good call on that internal spring …. Didn’t even know it existed

[@highlandcycles]

You need different bottom adapters

[@ChrisBurns1119]

Awesome video! I really like in the detail vids. Super curious on how much you will like this 6500 kit. I like my air shocks in my 22 xc

[@scottphillips445]

How happy are you with the bladder kit?

[@highlandcycles]

Very.

[@Dat_Sun]

I was suprised that I no longer enjoyed my plush valved 250fx's suspension as much as I did last year after adjusting to the stock ktm air forks. Has me on the fence, as to if I want to mess with it. I would keep both if I could. My plush fx feels like it's in a high gravity environment in comparison to the 23xc air forks. Plush is nice sometimes though..

[@tedking9793]

Just in general when you're using the blue wrench what kind of temperatures do we need to be aware of nuts damage things?

[@highlandcycles]

I don’t know the actual temperature but I just try to be careful and inspect the rubber parts after they come apart. If they look bad I replace them

[@tedking9793]

So kind of like the warning about forcing things. If you have to force it, just get a bigger hammer!!@@highlandcycles

[@highlandcycles]

@@tedking9793 exactly

[@mikemaupin8364]

Between this and the kyb what would you recommend? I'm not very educated on suspension but have heard kyb has a subvalve in addition to the base and mid. If that's the case I would assume they can be more fine tuned?

[@highlandcycles]

No. They are basically the same setup. They are different but in my opinion (and I’ve had a ton of YZ’s with kyb) I think the 6500 is the way to go.

[@mikemaupin8364]

@@highlandcycles awesome thanks for the quick response.

[@robertbradley1133]

Hay Morgan, really like the videos, we have the Ktech coil conversion for 125SX it specifies 8 rotations =8mm pre load does the WP6500 kit specify any preload? I think we will go WP6500 kit on the new bike Cheers Rob

[@highlandcycles]

No specific amount. Just get the sag correct

[@robertbradley1133]

@@highlandcycles that’s probably what I meant did it give a front static & race sags ?

[@highlandcycles]

@@robertbradley1133 same as rear. The rider sag should always be 1/3rd of the total travel and the static is around 1/10th

[@robertbradley1133]

@@highlandcycles thanks for confirming 👍

[@tubeme4vr]

Is this xplor pro or xact pro?

[@highlandcycles]

Xact

[@brianjones7681]

Shock valving remains the same as it was with the TBT air forks?

[@highlandcycles]

Yes. After our first run we re valved the shock and now that recent setting is great with these forks. The first impression video is coming out tomorrow

[@taylorguistwite8860]

Hey Morgan - Do you see any real benefit to swapping to a 6500 setup over a properly valved/sprung CC fork? My older bike came factory with CC forks, but I have not changed the valving or spring rate of them Are these 6500 kits mainly aimed at air forks, or are people also swapping them in OC or CC forks?

[@highlandcycles]

They are mainly aimed at air forks or for folks who want to upgrade their XPlor If you already have CC I would valve that and let er rip

[@ridingwithbaz2736]

would these fit in the 2011 xc-w shocks? i really want to make my bike ride better in the extreme enduro stuff we do here

[@highlandcycles]

These would not but I think they make a setup that does. But honestly I think we can make those forks work really well for hard enduro without buying expensive parts. Our Re Valve really makes those work well.

[@ridingwithbaz2736]

@@highlandcycles man i wish i lived near you guys, i live in south africa, will definitely have to get a valve job here

[@highlandcycles]

@@ridingwithbaz2736 I’m sure there are good tuners there

[@ridingwithbaz2736]

@@highlandcycles there definitely are. Thanks for the great video 📹

[@JeremyKing388]

What is the part number for the 12nm ICS spring? I am having a hard time finding them.

[@highlandcycles]

Not sure. I just order them from Solid Performance

[@JeremyKing388]

@Highland Cycles Thanks. I'll check them out. Great video by the way. I am valving my set now.

[@highlandcycles]

@@JeremyKing388 so good

[@ianh3007]

Where can I find the rod clamps?

[@highlandcycles]

Race tech

[@scottphillips445]

For 1500 bucks it should be revalved showa/kyaba quality. Watching your race footage you hit some knar chatter bumps

[@scottphillips445]

How much is installation for the kit?

[@highlandcycles]

To install and valve it’s about $500

[@tedking9793]

To not damage things

[@jangoreo]

You talk like they didnt change fork lugs in 2021. Older forks need the lug converted to the newer one, for 6500 kit.

[@highlandcycles]

Sorry, I was just talking about the new bike.