Maintenance & Technical > KX500 Original

more steering questions...

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ShanMan:
OK, I know that because my bike is a dinosaur and has the old telescoping forks, that those of you with the newer inverted forks might not be able to help. That said, I am going to ask anyway...how much (if any) have you guys dropped the front end to quicken the steering? Also, if you have, did you install a steering dampner to compensate for the reduced stability at speed? (Note: I have no desire to install a $500 steering dampner on an '87) TIA.  :)

kxtaz:
i lowered my forks before and all it did was to make it easier to bottom the front tire on the fender. also it actually made the front act like a cr with all the headshake it got. who wants to ride a cr when you have kx. my bike is a oldy 89 kx500 but a goody.

ShanMan:
hmmmm...first, thanks for the reply.  :D  Second: I think I will leave well enough alone based on that info. I guess I am going to have to learn to steer the bike with the rear wheel, much like we did on road racers. Luckily, KX5 power makes that pretty darn easy I would think.  :lol:  Thanks again!

gwcrim:
Well I lowered my front end about 7/8".  I had to shim the handlebar mounts about 3/8" to do it.  I also lowered the rear about 1".  When you lower the front and rear similar amounts there should be no handling problems as the head angle remains the same.

My Sportster race bike was lowered front and rear about 3-4".  At 180 MPH it was rock solid.  

YMMV, of course.

woodsy:
HI Shanman:
I was the one asking questions about this same principle not long ago.  I took another writers advice and lowered my forks.  My bike was feeling very lathargic (like a school bus in the woods) on cornering/problem with oversteering!  I found out by trial and error that about 1/2" of rise above the top clamp with my forks produced very nice results!  I now have well over 750 miles on this setup and I can say it has shown NO want to wobble (headshake) at top speed over rough terrain with NO damper!!  I am running 29 1/2" bars, 10 pounds of air in the front tire (Dunlop 752), fork comp at 10 clicks and rebound at 12.  I weigh 224 geared up.
My nephew has a KDX200 with telescoping forks and we have found out that the SAME rules apply with it as did my KX!  
If I were you, I would follow the same advice that "Rick" gave me.  Do the changes in small increments and ride the same "test" area after you make the changes.  I did and I was amazed at the difference raising the forks made - I AM HAVING A BLAST ON MY BIKE NOW!!!!  This thing is so much fun!!!
Hope this all helps!
Woodsy

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