Maintenance & Technical > KX500 Original

kx500 having trouble with front tire washing out in sand

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98kaw5oo:
on my 1998 kx500 the suspension and everything is good and there are no issues with the bike or really anything i need to do to it but sometimes the front tire will wash sideways in sand (medium deep sand)and a few times almost spilled me but i kept the bike up,i have never experienced this sudden sideways action on any 250 2 stroke which i have rode for the past 20 years. and all i was riding in was sand and not really going into a turn either but i would say at lower speeds ,i have the same front tire when i bought the bike which looks to have real decent tread but dryrot cracks only on one side and it is a dunlop 80/100/21 i am a fairly experienced and agressive trail rider and know how to ride but this has me wondering whats going on and if its the bike or if its the tire.i know a front tire will act squirrely on sand and im used to that but this was a little different and it happened a few times,i will be changing the front tire out before i go riding in 2 weeks again.i did a search earlier and i think i need a michelin s-12 90/100/21 for my sand/soft dirt riding which is here in northern michigan.any ideas or suggestions are greatly appreciated/

Johnniespeed:
My 2004 KX500 when new, had a front tire problem in sand also. What I did was slide both fork tubes upwards in the triple trees about 1/4 inch. Then I removed the brand new Dunlop tire and installed a Dunlop D733 tire. My front tire is a 80/90 21 and I run it with about 14 psi pressure. It has been on most Northern Michigan trails and works great for me. The sand of Bull Gap is no problem, even though it isnt a rock tire, the rocks of Evart give it no problem and the tree roots of the Kalkaska loop dont seem to bother it. I am sure there are other tires and setups that I should try, but this one works for me.
  PS I also use a GPR steering stabilizer that helps considerably in sand, it helps reduce any headshake and makes the bike track straighter.
  John

KXT500:
if you do go for the s-12 tire check out my post here. I have that tire on an excell rim for a good price.

http://www.kxriders.com/forums/index.php/topic,4583.0.html

sorry i am not more help but i have no clue on the answer to your problem.

Arigato:
I've been testing the Dunlob 755 front, and I must say it work really well.  Two turns in and I'm convinced. :mrgreen:

98kaw5oo:
thanks for the replies,i think ill try a new tire before i do any fork lowering or anything like that,the bike has the tires on it from when i bought it,both are dunlop 752 i havent had it up to bullgap yet(was supposed to hit bull gap last weekend on the way back from tomahawk but we were too tired from a 70 mile run)are these tires i have not good for the sand? and the front tire looks skinny on the bike,should i go to a wider front to a 90/100/21 instead of the skinnier 80/90/21? also when i get some extra cash i do want to try a steering stabilizer but i have been riding in sand for over 20 years and i know sand will make the bike unstable but my problem feels like once in a while only in the medium depth sand while i am riding someone comes up and kicks my tire to the side(thats what it feels like)i probably should have posted this after i tried a new tire but also wanted suggestions on a good sand tire,i have heard all good about the michelin s-12 so will most likely go with that,ill check that link from kxt500.,also i am running about a half tread approximately 752 dunlop 110/90/19 in the rear but it gets good traction still.

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