KX Riders

Maintenance & Technical => KX500 Original => Topic started by: sandblaster on July 30, 2013, 01:41:58 PM

Title: Sand tires
Post by: sandblaster on July 30, 2013, 01:41:58 PM
My Dad and I have discussed this for a while,
He went ahead a did it..
It's a 19 x 2.15 on the front.
He hasn't tried it yet.
Should be interesting.
(http://www.oem-cycle.com/forum/download/file.php?id=1103)

I was thinking about doing this with a set of SM wheels...
Title: Re: Sand tires
Post by: Motorrad on July 30, 2013, 03:38:35 PM
Hmm   do like a 19 front and a 17 rear.       Hmmm
Title: Re: Sand tires
Post by: sandblaster on July 30, 2013, 03:46:49 PM
I'll let you know what I think... After I get the Yamagoo off my pants  :lol:
Title: Re: Sand tires
Post by: sandblaster on August 02, 2013, 07:22:53 AM
Here is the review for the 19 x 2.15 front wheel from my Dad:
We had a good ride yesterday once we got to the right place, or some real fun stuff at horse falls in Coos Bay.
The wheels worked out good, not as good as expected, maybe it will take some getting used to.
It does turn easier, but in the twisty's in loose sand, it still hairy.
Lost control once fell off the bike into the bushes no strain.
I probably was not going fast enough.
I don't know at this point if I would buy them again for the difference they make.
I'm saying save your money at this point.
Title: Re: Sand tires
Post by: kkvslayer on August 03, 2013, 02:54:10 AM
What's those 6 black thingamajiggy's wrapped around the front tire/rim :?
Title: Re: Sand tires
Post by: sandblaster on August 03, 2013, 03:14:44 AM
They are suppose to help with the entire tire dynamics in the sand.
I'm not convinced..... But I won't know till I ride one.
Title: Re: Sand tires
Post by: Ims Roll on August 05, 2013, 12:58:29 AM
A less aggressive tire in the front may help? not a big sand guy but it seems lots of nobs would puncture the sand and give you a loss front end VS a used up tire or smooth tire with more surface area, as in trying to stay atop the sand instead of sinking
Title: Re: Sand tires
Post by: Motorrad on August 05, 2013, 01:26:16 AM
A less aggressive tire in the front may help? not a big sand guy but it seems lots of nobs would puncture the sand and give you a loss front end VS a used up tire or smooth tire with more surface area, as in trying to stay atop the sand instead of sinking


smooth tires on a motorcycle int he sand suck. (all the "sand" tires that are smooth with the rib down the middle)
Title: Re: Sand tires
Post by: Ims Roll on August 05, 2013, 01:31:29 AM
been to the dunes once on a bike and nothing felt right so i have no clue haha.
Title: Re: Sand tires
Post by: sandblaster on August 12, 2013, 04:02:53 AM
I was riding with my Dad at Winchester Bay last weekend.
After riding a couple of hours out on the dunes on my KX500, I took his bike out so I could try this wheel set up..
He was saying that it was a little better then a stock wheel and tire set up but not that much better.
His view was to save your money.
Before I rode it, I asked him what tire pressure he was running.
He thought it was about 4 lb.
I felt the tire and with stiffer side walls it still felt like it had too much air in it so I asked him if he had a rim lock in it.
He said yes.
So I said let all the air out  :shock:
He did, then I rode it.
Over the years I have rode many different wheel and tire set ups on different motorcycles.
I have never found anything that I like better then my KX500 with the rib tire at just a few lb pressure.
Well, after riding this set up, I have found something that I like better  :o
Comparing it to my KX500 set up it floated better, turned better at both high and low speeds, started out quicker, and braking was smoother and more controlled.
I didn't notice any difference in the weight of the wheel but my Dad says that it is harder to pull the front end up into a wheelie then it is with the stock wheel.
If your a wheelie rider this may be a issue.
So the question is will I run out and build this set up?
Well, that's a solid may be...
Yes, it is better then my current set up but it is not twice as good.
Perhaps it is 15-20 percent better... How can you subjectively measure the difference other then the feel?
But I like it well enough to consider going one step further...
I'm thinking about a Super Moto set up for the sand...
More on that later...
In the mean time, my Dad likes the zero tire pressure set up and now thinks it may be worth the expense.
If you ride a lot in the loose sand my honest opinion is that this is a significant improvement and worth the expense.
Title: Re: Sand tires
Post by: Motorrad on August 12, 2013, 08:06:10 AM
I was riding with my Dad at Winchester Bay last weekend.
After riding a couple of hours out on the dunes on my KX500, I took his bike out so I could try this wheel set up..
He was saying that it was a little better then a stock wheel and tire set up but not that much better.
His view was to save your money.
Before I rode it, I asked him what tire pressure he was running.
He thought it was about 4 lb.
I felt the tire and with stiffer side walls it still felt like it had too much air in it so I asked him if he had a rim lock in it.
He said yes.
So I said let all the air out  :shock:
He did, then I rode it.
Over the years I have rode many different wheel and tire set ups on different motorcycles.
I have never found anything that I like better then my KX500 with the rib tire at just a few lb pressure.
Well, after riding this set up, I have found something that I like better  :o
Comparing it to my KX500 set up it floated better, turned better at both high and low speeds, started out quicker, and braking was smoother and more controlled.
I didn't notice any difference in the weight of the wheel but my Dad says that it is harder to pull the front end up into a wheelie then it is with the stock wheel.
If your a wheelie rider this may be a issue.
So the question is will I run out and build this set up?
Well, that's a solid may be...
Yes, it is better then my current set up but it is not twice as good.
Perhaps it is 15-20 percent better... How can you subjectively measure the difference other then the feel?
But I like it well enough to consider going one step further...
I'm thinking about a Super Moto set up for the sand...
More on that later...
In the mean time, my Dad likes the zero tire pressure set up and now thinks it may be worth the expense.
If you ride a lot in the loose sand my honest opinion is that this is a significant improvement and worth the expense.


SWAP your b ike to "tubliss" and run ZERO pressure in yours with a GOOD BIG... HUGE front knobby.   like the ones I run.    bet you will like it better.     
Title: Re: Sand tires
Post by: sandblaster on August 12, 2013, 09:40:23 AM
Hmmm.
I'll look into it.
Thanks!
Title: Re: Sand tires
Post by: 5hunrooster on August 13, 2013, 11:15:07 AM
Has anyone ever tried an AMS sand snake front tire?
Title: Re: Sand tires
Post by: Motorrad on August 13, 2013, 11:29:14 AM
Has anyone ever tried an AMS sand snake front tire?

Worse front sand tires I have ever ran were all forms of front ribs (sand tire)
Title: Re: Sand tires
Post by: sandblaster on August 13, 2013, 12:36:58 PM
Worse front sand tires I have ever ran were all forms of front ribs (sand tire)

I love mine  :-D
When it gets squirly just go faster