18 inch vs 19 inch rear wheel

[bigborecharlie]

just bought a 2004 kx 500 and was wondering why some have 18 inch rear rims and mine has a 19?

[Rd]

Some guys lace up a 18" rear for better tire selection (wider) and it also has more sidewall to make it less prone to  flats and or wheel damage on the trails. You may give up some cornering feel. Most MX bikes have a 19 rear and general offroad bikes have a 18 rear. I wish I had a 18 rear for my KX. Congrats on your new ride, post a pic.

[bigborecharlie]

thanks rd' i live in las vegas and do a lot of desert riding' maybe i should consider getting a 18 inch wheel if i can get one at a decent price.

[alward25]

Warp 9 has about the best deal out there. $399 for a complete rear wheel laced with bearings, sprocket, rotor and a variety of colors to choose from.
Welcome to the K5 club! Next small purchase is a new toothbrush to clean out the bugs from your teeth from smiling while hauling ass !

[Polar-Bus]

just bought a 2004 kx 500 and was wondering why some have 18 inch rear rims and mine has a 19?

Many riders also prefer the way an 18" combo "reacts" to rocky technical terrain. 18's have a larger aspect ratio than a 19" so they "flow" over rocks and blunt objects better.

[Rd]

That is a sweet ride

[kxpegger]

thanks rd' i live in las vegas and do a lot of desert riding' maybe i should consider getting a 18 inch wheel if i can get one at a decent price.

Very Clean! Welcome to KXriders. I've seen a lot of your posts and videos over at 702 and posted one of your latest "Rock Garden" rides at Apex around here somewhere.

[Friar-Tuck]

 Welcome Big Charlie,
 Great Bike
If there is any advice I think I could give you, it would be to meet up with KXPegger if you want to know about rims, and lacing.  If memory serves he got a  KX500AF last year, promptly went out  Rode it through what looked on the videos like the devils rock garden.  (There's no way I think that stabilizer has any life left either) 
   I think He's on his third set of rims and is looking to have some solid Stainless Steel Harley rims built to fit his KX, run tubliss tire inserts and go back out there! 
Well...i may have used a little literary license on the harley thing...
  Glad to have you here.
    Tuck\o/

[bigborecharlie]

thanks for all the input guys' sounds like the 18 is the way to go' still trying to get the 500 dialed in' put a fmf gnarley desert pipe on it' and it has a bobble on top' took the 168 out and put in a 170 and it helped a little' ive been riding ktm 550 smokers for a few years now and they are quite a bit faster than the kx' i changed my gearing 15/47 and it helped a little' i will go back through the jetting thread again but it is kinda overwheming kx pegger i think ive seen ya around but havent met up with ya yet' we will have to get together for a ride sometime
thanks again guys.
charlie~~

[serafin]

Hi there Bigborecharlie

Maybe I could help you out a little bit with your jetting.  I'm currently running a 165 main, 55 pilot and clip 2 down from the top on the needle.  Make sure that your float height is set between 16-17mm.  Running a stock pipe and fuel mixed at 40 to 1.  This should get you close with a minor adjustment for your FMF pipe.  I made the change to a 18" rear wheel last year and have really enjoyed it especially out here in the Vegas desert (I'm in Henderson).  You'll have fewer flats and will have what I feel is a better tire selection.  I'm currently running a 120/100-18.  I have a picture up in the gallery of the rear wheel. The Moose rim was $100, excel spokes $90, lace and true for $80 or free if you can do it yourself.  Just add your favorite tire.  Hope that helps you.

Serafin     

[kxpegger]

Welcome Big Charlie,
 Great Bike
If there is any advice I think I could give you, it would be to meet up with KXPegger if you want to know about rims, and lacing.  If memory serves he got a  KX500AF last year, promptly went out  Rode it through what looked on the videos like the devils rock garden.  (There's no way I think that stabilizer has any life left either) 
   I think He's on his third set of rims and is looking to have some solid Stainless Steel Harley rims built to fit his KX, run tubliss tire inserts and go back out there! 
Well...i may have used a little literary license on the harley thing...
  Glad to have you here.
    Tuck\o/

Thinking about trying the new Excel A60's next time I mangle a rim. They're supposed to be 15% stronger. They cost twice as much though and only come in black for now which is fine for the 500AF.

On a side note I was born in Columbus. My Aunt and Uncle built and owned two Dairy Queens in Sandusky. We used to drive up there to visit and play around in Lake Erie. That was a long time ago!

[kxpegger]

thanks for all the input guys' sounds like the 18 is the way to go' still trying to get the 500 dialed in' put a fmf gnarley desert pipe on it' and it has a bobble on top' took the 168 out and put in a 170 and it helped a little' ive been riding ktm 550 smokers for a few years now and they are quite a bit faster than the kx' i changed my gearing 15/47 and it helped a little' i will go back through the jetting thread again but it is kinda overwheming kx pegger i think ive seen ya around but havent met up with ya yet' we will have to get together for a ride sometime
thanks again guys.
charlie~~

I'm running a 170 right now which is a just little rich. I run just a little rich as insurance for the Vegas summer temps! I'm also running 14/47 which seems about right for my riding style.

I rode with a few guys a couple of weeks ago at Searchlight that I think you probably know. Nick-KX500, Doug-KX500, Woody-Husky 300, Pete-CRF450R. It was a very good pace and we rode for almost 5 hours with just few 2 minute breaks a quick gas stop at the Chevron and a 1/2 hour lunch break at Cal-Nev-Ari. Found out after the ride that Nick is a retired MRAN racer who won the Alamo/Caliente race seven years in a row! I was so tired when we got back to the truck I was ready to put a for sale sign on the bike and go into retirement! Nick is the same age as me 54. Friggin animals! 

[bigborecharlie]

kx pegger what pipe do you have on your bike?

[meangreen500]

I got 18" on mine.  I changed it when I bought it, like it lots but ate s**t out at ute with big bore charlie sunday. 18 is the way to go 

[kxpegger]

kx pegger what pipe do you have on your bike?

My KX is a Service Honda AF so it uses a modified CR500 FMF Gnarly. It's mainly a Honda pipe with the KX500 head portion welded on and a couple of other mods for water hose clearance.