Maintenance & Technical > KX500 Original
springs and valving for 240lb rider
1980mcneil:
So I've turned my 500 into a trail/fireroads bike. I'm also 240lbs and the previous owners were under 200lbs. The bike definitely seems a little squishy but with really know comparison and not riding other peoples bike much I have gotten by. But the bike does seem more jarring that what others talk about. I've been getting some leaking fork seals so I would like to rebuild and spring for myself.
I've heard plenty of people on the forum say the 500 suspension isn't bad at all if setup properly. I'm having tons of fun now and seem to keep up with other riders just fine, but might as well tune it to myself. I'm not gonna buy all new forks and rear spring so I just want to make this setup as good as it can be.
I've read a bunch of threads and was on racetech's sight I've found some .48kg/mm front springs, and 6.0kg/mm rear.
I hear a lot of talk about valving the bike as well. But racetechs site only has there "Gold valve" as an option. And only the "compression" one.
Does our bike not have a rebound valve? Or is it just set by the clickers only?
Is the gold valve a pretty much standard and almost necessary upgrade for my trail riding needs or just stock valving setup of my weight?
Where can I buy stock style higher weight valving?
Pretty much those same questions for the rear as well.
I like the way racetech has you enter some figures and it pops a setup out. But its bias for there products obviously.
Would a stock component website give me some "range" of the valves I can purchase? Or does anybody know good ranges for trail riding? Do I buy "valving" based on the spring rate and then just dial it in with the "click adjustments" on the forks?
Edit:looking online for stock springs it looks like the range is very limited and doesn't get anywhere near what my fata$$ needs. So it doesn't look like I will get what I need using stock parts? I saw several parts break downs labeled "ring-O Fork Valve". If those are the components that do the "valving" are they limited to the small range the springs are? Is that similar throughout all the factory parts available? So I will be going aftermarket for sure? Do aftermarket parts makers make "stock like" valving for people my size or do I have to go the expensive Gold Valve path?
Thanks guys.
KXDINO:
Start off by getting springs as close as possible for your weight , you can revalve the standard fork and shock with out going to after market stuff to save some coin.I found gold valve on rear shocks work well especially on rebound adjustment.
1980mcneil:
thanks for the reply. Do you know where I could pick some up? websites I could research and possibly call. Any writeups on valving for weight ranges and riding style?
KXDINO:
Race tech site say they have a 4.8 fork springs avaliable and a 6.4 shock spring which is the heaviest they do as for valving work you need to have the tools and the shims which there are hundreds of different sizes and you need to know what does what and were , you might be better off to get a pro to revalve it, In the suspension business nobody will tell you about valving specs it all secret ?
cwtoyota:
--- Quote from: 1980mcneil on June 16, 2020, 11:45:55 AM ---thanks for the reply. Do you know where I could pick some up? websites I could research and possibly call. Any writeups on valving for weight ranges and riding style?
--- End quote ---
KXDINO's suggestion to use RaceTech for spring rate suggestions is good in my opinion.
The stock spring rates in the KX500 fork are especially soft. My 1990 had 0.39 kg/mm fork springs stock.
If you want to explore different valving yourself, go check out the suspension forum on ThumperTalk...
There are some sharp guys over there who may be able to help you learn and give you some valving suggestions.
https://thumpertalk.com/forums/forum/31-motorcycle-suspension/
If you want to spend your time riding, rather than working on your suspension, you'll have the best luck sending it to a reputable suspension tuner.
Right in the middle of those two options is the Race Tech Gold Valve... They sell you a piston, a bunch of shims and a setting for your weight, speed and riding style. You install it yourself.
Be aware that to do a fork you need a few special tools.
To do a shock correctly, you need access to pressurized nitrogen and a few special tools.
Race Tech sells tools, springs, shims, valving kits, etc.
Suspension Direct sells tools, shims, genuine KYB, Showa and WP parts.
You can some of that stuff from places like Rocky Mountain or Motosport as well.
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