u/JohnHancock1969

2025 KTM 350 EXCF - WP XACT closed cartridge forks.

I bought the tools I think are needed and new springs from race tech to respring my forks and rear suspension.

The bike has maybe 4 hours on it, so I don't think I need to change the oil which is pretty intimidating process tbh. I just want to swap the springs themselves and that's it.

My question is, can I just keep the forks upright the whole time, pop off the fork cap and then pull out the inner cartridge and swap the springs/adjust preload spacers and put it back together? I do not need to remove the bolt on the opposite end of the fork (the bottom) to access the springs?

Chat gpt says the springs are at the top of the fork not the bottom, but I think that is incorrect and it's instead like shown in the picture above from this video.

https://youtu.be/o\_6S22Q32PI?si=icSztvvjpAliQDW0

I'm working on some drills from dan dan the fireman and the beginner drills have you ride around the cones entirely in the friction zone without letting out the clutch ever. Like a significant amount of riding around with the clutch only partially pulled out.

I've driven manual transmission cars for 20 years and the idea of driving around a parking lot with the clutch partially engaged the entire time is appalling. That's how you burn out a clutch in a car. You can use it to hold on a hill (though you really shouldn't) but the clutch is always either in or out.

Are bikes different? Before I start doing circles on my bike while riding the clutch I wanted to check if this is a legit thing or is it a fast way to burn your clutch out like on a car? I've been exclusively using the throttle to control speed on slow drills up to this point and treating the clutch like on my car, in or out.

I should probably specify I have a 2025 KTM 350 EXCF if that matters

Changing fork springs yourself?