Maintenance & Technical > KX500 Original

suspension ? for my kx 500

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ajt:
Hello and thanx in advance for your help!:) I have a '97 KX 500 (which I have had for only a few months), I weigh 215lbs and race desert in the open expert class. On my old bikes (ktm's) I followed a set-up that went like this: buy the right spring rates for my weight and set the static sag to 37mm +-5 on both the front and rear and if you have the right springs your race sag will be within the recommend range. I have talked to several mechanics and the theory goes like this if the spring rates are even (balanced front to rear), race sag does not matter as it is important to have the bike be balanced. i.e. if both ends are equally to soft for your weight, setting the race sag on the shock to the recomended range will unbalance the bike as the extra pre-load to the shock spring over powers the fork-springs, while if you set the static sag equal in this scenario the bike will be soft but still balanced. This brings about my Questions
1) should I go by this same method of using static sag (front and rear) on the 500, if so what are the ranges you recommend
2) what springs do I need for my weight
3)currently I do not know what springs are in my bike, except that one of the shocks says 5.6 but with .75inch static sag I get 4.5inch race sag, while the front has 1.5inch static sag and 4.5inch race sag
4)It has race-tech gold valves set for my ability/weight what valving do you recommend?
I know this bike is one of the baddest bikes around, but it handles poorly compared to my old 520. It seems like this should be the right place to go for help and I hope that you guys can help me make it handle better than the KTM :evil: !!!

mikesmith:
If you go to the  Race Tech site you can type in your bike,rider weight, riding ability, and it'll give you most of the information you need,at least as a start.

ajt:
thanx answer to number 2) is .46 for forks and 5.4 for the rear,  I look forward to any info on the other questions. I used a search for suspension and there has not been much discussion about setting the sag (static or race), I would hope this is the beginnig of one. :)

ajt:
Does anyone out there have an opinion, suggestion or idea they can add. Suspension in my opinion is the absolutley, positively most important part of a bike to set up correctly. After-all new tires or an awesome motor do not mean diddle squat if a bikes suspension is working poorly.

Paul:
ajt, I also raced desert but weight in at 200'. I run .46 in the forks, 5.4 in the rear with 7WT fork oil and light shock fluid. my sag came in at exactly 100mm. After motoworks got done with my valving I was in heaven and handing ass whippin' to joung bucks on 250's at the local tracks :lol:

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