DIRTY DEEDS: MR. KNOW-IT-ALL

DIRTY DEEDS DONE DIRT DEEP
Dear Mr. Know-It-All,
I just bought a 2021 KTM 300XC-W and rode it stock on day one. I thought the Xplor suspension was surprisingly good. The next day I swapped the OEM tires and tubes (Dunlop Geomax AT-81) for my Nitro Platinum in front and soft mousses in the rear with tires that matched (Michelin Starcross medium 5 and IRC VE-33s Gekkota ). I went riding the next day at the same OHV park, and the suspension felt much harsher/less compliant. I did not adjust the clickers. What’s going on here? Weight? The March equinox? Too many concussions? Thanks in advance,.
Steve Baum
Via [email protected]

Editor’s note: This e-mail came to us several days after receiving the first missive.

Follow-up: I was played by my friend. He had turned my shock damping setting to extra firm. He gets out of the hospital on Monday.
This is a valuable lesson for all riders who have friends who lean towards the fun yet quite perverse world of trickery. In my time, I have heard nightmarish recollections of dirty deeds done dirt deep. Most revolve around resetting the suspension clickers, although pumping up the air in the tires to 40 psi, pushing in the rear brake caliper to take the pressure off the pads, and watching your buddy take off and panic when he goes to stop and has no brakes is a favorite of the most wicked. While I love a good practical joke, stick to the ones that don’t cause pain. And remember, some of us don’t have a sense of humor and will spend a lifetime to get even.