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2025 Honda CRF250R:
In stock form the Showa suspension on the 2025 Honda CRF250R has more of an active feel. The fork has a little more comfort which is welcome feeling for SHOWA riders. 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/m
Height: 3mm
Compression: 12 clicks out
Rebound: 11 clicks out
Oil Level: Stock
Shock:
Spring Rate: 50N/m
Sag: 105mm
High Speed Compression: 1-1/3
Low Speed Compression: 8 clicks out
Rebound: 8 clicks out
2025 Kawasaki KX250:
The 2025 KX250 is all new and even though the frame is a little stiffer this year the suspension isn’t as harsh as it was last year. You would think having a stiff fork spring would make the bike feel harsh. It actually can get a little soft after break in so going a tad stiffer helps with comfort on this model. Showa graces the green machine now and just like the Honda, has more comfort than in year’s past. We wanted to get a little more contact feel/hold up with the KX250 so we came up with this baseline for you team green riders..
Fork:
Spring Rate: 5.0 N/m
Height: 3mm
Compression: 7 clicks out
Rebound: 8 clicks out
Shock:
Spring Rate: 54 N/m
Sag: 105mm
High Speed Compression: 2.5 turns out
Low Speed Compression: 10 clicks out
Rebound: 9 clicks out
2025 Yamaha YZ250F:
The 2025 valving is a little beefier as well as a different linkage so the rear spring went from 56N/m to 54Nm 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 2025 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/m
Height: 3mm
Compression: 8 clicks out
Rebound: 5-6 clicks out
Shock:
Spring Rate: 54 N/m
Sag: 105mm
High Speed Compression: 1.25 turns out
Low Speed Compression: 9 clicks out
Rebound: 8 clicks out
2025 KTM 250SX-F:
Your WP 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/m
Sag: 102mm
High Speed Compression: 1.75 out
Low Speed Compression: 10 clicks out
Rebound: 11 clicks out
2025 Gas Gas MC250:
(Break in should use 10.5 bar)
Fork:
Spring Rate: 10.6 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/m
Sag: 102-103mm
High Speed Compression: 1.75-2 turns out
Low Speed Compression: 11 clicks out
Rebound: 11 clicks out
2025 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/m
Sag: 102mm
High Speed Compression: 1.5-1.75
Low Speed Compression: 10 clicks out
Rebound: 11 clicks out
Triumph TF 250-X:
The Triumph machine is a well balanced bike out of the box so dialing it in doesn’t take nearly as much work as other models in its class but we do want a little more hold up from the front and the rear when loading so we decided on this happy medium hold up/comfort setting.
Fork:
Spring Rate: 4.7 N/m
Height: 3mm
Compression: 8 clicks out
Rebound: 8 clicks out
Shock:
Spring Rate: 56 N/m
Sag: 103mm
High Speed Compression: 1 turn out
Low Speed Compression: 7 clicks out
Rebound: 10 clicks out
