How to Install and Align Forks on your Dirt Bike

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Some of us have done this before, but did you know how high up to install them, or did you align the forks properly? This video should give you some ideas on how to make certain that your fork legs are properly installed and thing are in alignment after you are done. You should purchase a torque wrench to do this. There aren’t many place on a dirt bike that you really HAVE to use a torque wrench, but your triple clamps are one of those areas. Just use one. I have a link to the one I use right in this description.

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[stickmarshmike]

Great job, fun and easy to understand without extra uneeded stuff. I'm an old dog learning new tricks. My dirt bikes were old ones from the pre-historic 60's and 70's. Great bikes. These new fangled bikes are great too but much too learn for an old dog. My last bike was a 1974 TS-400 Suzuki...Get my drift!!! I'm diggin' it man!!!

[sinistervulcan]

Recently rebuilt the forks and rear shock on my 99' Yz125 and it was a lot easier than I imagined. Very intimidating for me but was not bad!

[mattinthehat]

Lower triple tree is a hair looser than the top in case you go down hard. That triple tree will move & get out of alignment slightly before you bend a fork - much the same way Kyle recommends not over-tightening your levers (in case you go down they’ll move a little instead of breaking off). Trust me on this. I high-sided about a year ago and thought I bent a fork. My bike was visibly CROOKED. Loosened the bottom triple tree fork clamps and the top nut just under the handle bars. Bugger went right back to straight.
There’s a lot of great info on this channel. I don’t sub anymore bc not eligible for drawings in FL. Thanks, Kyle!

[jfritzinger]

holy crap; been doing it wrong for a long time! thanks for the tip for the "right fork leg"

[dnickens]

Thank you for the info there was another video on how to do this but yours is much better please don't delete I may have to use this again👍👍

[AJourneyOfYourSoul]

You still have to make sure the wheel and handlebars are lined up right, so the forks aren't twisted, i.e. top and bottom triple clamps are lined up in same plane. Maybe the KTM is different, but most bikes will need this done.

[Buzzer-htvq]

Was told by a local AA rider mechanic to grease all bolts that require torqueing, but don't require Loctite (e.g., pinch bolts on the triple clamps, down on the axle etc.). A "dry" bolt will give you a false torque reading and most likely resulting in overtightening, which is not good, especially on the fork tubes. Just some grease (e.g., axle, waterproof etc. will do) on the first 1/4" of the end of the thread.

[FinMagotti]

is it safe to rotate the top tubes of the fork when the forks are installed? just wondering

[James-ohxd]

Great video.
A few points:
1 - I believe you should leave the pinch bolts on both sides free as both sides float. (Ie, don't tighten the brake side pinch bolts until after you've loaded/unloaded the suspension)
2 - I normally remove the bike from the stand, grab the front brake and bounce the front suspension several times to get everything aligned correctly


This lines up with the procedure in the Yamaha WR450 factory service manual.

[wanlessadventures]

Thanks for making this video. It really helped me today as I was putting my forks and front wheel back on. 👍🏻

[markwindell]

Good video! The floating wheel trick was something new I learned

[JamesStevens]

If you have an off and twist your forks in the clamps, what your procedure for that?

[jeffm]

Do you have a video about calibrating your arm to manual spec?? Thanks for doing these types of videos. They are extremely helpful to those of us new to dirt bikes!

[jasondesrosiers]

Thanks for the vid! I set my forks at the same height but the axle does NOT go through smoothly? I then aligned my forks so that the axle goes through smoothly but the fork heights are about 1mm off from each other? What's more important? Fork height the same or axle smoothness?

[NightwishArena]

Great tips, but if you tighten your front axle when it's not moving freely, and you then loose those clamps, wouldn't that change the torque of the axle, and can even leave it loose?

[SpartanX]

Thanks for the upload, I need to do this.

[kycklingpajen]

The height of the fork i would say its independent. I have it as high as possebal all the way to the cap. Iam 192 cm and it feels better. Its fast to experement with it on the track i mean its only 1 min job.

[gncbloomingdale]

awesome video. Still not seeing any hats, shirts for sale on site just graphics.

[hermansariff]

If the shaft is float what actually holding the wheel to be a fix position

[ryanbrennan]

Great video Kyle! What kind of stand is that beautiful bike jacked up on?