Maintenance & Technical > KX500 Original

KX 500 Turning......

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Polar-Bus:

--- Quote from: jbehunin on February 15, 2012, 07:15:33 AM ---I am pretty new to the KX 500.
I was a CR 500 owner for many years, then I decided to change things up a bit and got a KX 500. I am extremely happy with the bike. It is big, roomy and powerful. But I have a problem getting comfortable turning. My old CR 500 would turn at any time. The KX 500 likes to go straight.
Are there any secrets how to make this bike turn better?
Thanks!!!

--- End quote ---

I've commented many times before, the issue with the infamous "KX500 push" is directly related to the steep, fat fuel tank.   This dis-allows the rider to be able to get forward on top of the tank and give the front end some bite.Remember Kawi engineered the 500 to be a high speed desert chassis, not a MX track carving tool. You can fiddle with fork ride height you can fiddle with optional offset clamps, but the bottom line is lack of weight transfer. Keep in mind every suspension adjustment "action" has "reaction" as well. Sometimes good, and sometimes not so good. Be careful about raising the fork tubes to lower the front end ride height, as the "reaction" will be a shaky front end at higher speeds. The KX500's have so much violent snap and torque right off the bottom, you are forever unloading front end bite when traveling through the apex's of corners. My personal "compromise" to get my KX500 to corner was slightly firmer fork springs, CR "high" bars, CEET tall seat, a Scott's steering stabilizer, and a very aggressively low front end ride height. (and a cup to protect my junk when sitting on the tank  :-D  )  . My KX corners pretty darn consistent now. 

ELRUKO:
Unfortunately, the KX will never turn like a Honda...  But, I have raised the forks 2-lines in the clamps.  The steering stops have been trimed (Team Green) for a sharper radius.  The fork on the right side almost touches the rad cap.  I have a Scotts stabilizer and have never encountered headshake.  A good traction intermediate front tire is important. I have ridden k-5s since 93.  The dunlop 755 was great, gone now.  I have used the dunlop 773, not for hard pack, good for desert and loam.  Now, only recently I have tried the dunlop mx 51, works pretty good.  If your fork springs and fork dampning is too harsh its not going to turn, like my KX 450...   Going to have to work on that.

81cr450:
Reading this tonight , buzzed of course , the best answer really is 2 bikes. My honda ,1986, for hard hitting track type action & massive bottom end. While the K5 is is power from bottom to top & all day long thats stable over 100mph. A cr that  will hit a 100mph is so pipey & nasty it makes a cr80 look like its tuned to perfection . Having it all ??? Let me know if you figure it out

kwakman:
kx5 lump in cr chassis?

ThrottleJunky:
A month ago some friends informed me they was going riding for the weekend.   I was not going to be working but my KX450 was down for maintenance.   No problem, I moved the KX500 from deep in the corner of the garage to get it ready.  Third kick and she fired up.  She probably would have started sooner but my first two attempts was four stroke style,"no throttle"!

Got to the riding area, suited up and off we went.   Only thing, I just couldn't get the 500 to turn.  Never had this problem before.  Not until the 450 got into the mix. 

It took me half of the day to figure out what I wasn't doing right. 

For me, I have to put my weight on the pegs.  If I sit, like I do on the 450, it won't turn!

Just my two cents!

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