Maintenance & Technical > KX500 Original

Shimming KX500 fork springs

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ShanMan:
I was wondering if anyone here had ever installed spacers into the fork tubes to preload the front springs? I intend to get the suspension reworked to accomodate my weight (240 vs. 185 for the previous owner), but there is no time between now and this weekend. Anything I can do to raise the spring rate would help. Thanks in advance.  :)

moburki:
i think you can space them some. i don't know if the stock springs collapse all the way, if so, there would be a problem. i would be weary to do more than an inch of spacer.
mo

Rick:
Yup, I have preload spacers in right now, but nothing near an inch.  I have a total of about 1/4 inch preload in the front, and this is with .43 springs.  Not sure I would be comfortable with much more than this.  Since you are going to have the suspension reworked shortly, you might try and drop for the forks into the tripple clamps about 1/4 inch.  This will push the front end higher while riding, and my be just enough to keep you from feeling like the front is lower than the back.  It will, however, change your steering characteristics, so there is certainly a tradeoff.  The combination of small preload spacers, and dropping the forks my just get you from now until the suspension is tuned.

Rick

ShanMan:
While I am asking about suspension do's and don'ts...what is the recommended air pressure for the fork tubes? Perhaps more importantly, what do you guys run? Thanks in advance.

moburki:
my forks have bleed holes only. that is for releasing any pressure that may develope from temperature, and air pressure (altitude). i have ten millimeter spacers in my forks now, and its not uncommon to use up to an inch or so in road bike forks. ten millimeters is just below half an inch, and that was reccomended by race-tech.
.02
mo

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