KX Riders

Maintenance & Technical => KX500 Original => Topic started by: hughes on April 10, 2006, 06:52:17 AM

Title: Rear Shock
Post by: hughes on April 10, 2006, 06:52:17 AM: Hey Guy's,

A few questions about my rear shock. First is their any reason why a 89 rear spring would not work on my 87? Race tech offers the correct spring for my weight for an 89. Second after riding in some real rough stuff my rear shock seems to get softer feeling on compression is this what is called fading? The oil was changed last year.
Title: Re: Rear Shock
Post by: KXcam22 on April 10, 2006, 04:30:13 PM: Hughes,
It's possible there is still a bit of air inside leftoover from your rebuild. That will make the oil aerate and loose dampening. It is tough as heck to get it all out. Been there! As long as the 89 spring is roughly the same length it should work fine. Ir doesn't have to be exact as the preload rings have a fair bit of adjustment. Cam.
Title: Re: Rear Shock
Post by: hughes on April 11, 2006, 12:44:11 AM: Thanks, The rear shocks on this bikes have not changed much. They changed internal more than any thing I think. The shock worked great until the last couple of rides. The fluid may be shot.

kxcam22,

I am going to order the correct springs for my weight front and rear. I have .46 up front. .46 was the heaviest spring race tech made for an 87 but 89 500 goes up .50. Same goes for the rear shock. My question is what should I see for results from my bike's ride or performance? Race Tech's web site has auto spring rate guide just put in your weight and riding style and tells you what spring you need. Should I follow that info regarding spring rates?

Race Tech says I should use a 6.18kg and they offer a 6.0kg and 6.4kg rear spring and they say I should use a .51kg front fork and they offer a .50kg. What do ya'll think.
Title: Re: Rear Shock/Help with springs
Post by: hughes on April 12, 2006, 01:37:38 AM: Anybody upgraded the springs in their bike? Just want to know if there was a differance in the bikes performance. What can I expect to see in the way my bikes suspension perfrom. Thanks
Title: Re: Rear Shock
Post by: Paul on April 12, 2006, 02:09:27 AM: I changed my '01 to .46 front and 5.4 rear. Fronts were for my weight, rear was slightly softer than required. The little handling oddities disappeared and the bike hooked harder and turned better than I could have hoped. It was a night and day difference.
Title: Re: Rear Shock
Post by: 5dracing on April 12, 2006, 11:53:47 PM: I went to .48 in the front for the same reasons as Paul did (my weight) and the rear I went to a 5.6 and allow 4" of sag. The bike sags about 1.5" on its own.

Also went to 10wt oil.

I ride alot of MX track with my son.
Title: Re: Rear Shock
Post by: hughes on April 13, 2006, 01:45:16 AM: I just ordered .50 for up front and 6.4 for the rear. I ordered them through the monkeybutt. The monkey was the cheapest. I hope these springs will help my old bike. :|
Title: Re: Rear Shock
Post by: Paul on April 13, 2006, 02:06:17 AM: Quote from: hughes on April 13, 2006, 01:45:16 AM
I just ordered .50 for up front and 6.4 for the rear. I ordered them through the monkeybutt. The monkey was the cheapest. I hope these springs will help my old bike. :|

Jeff is also partnered up with Palo Verde suspensions here in Phoenix so he's a resource for suspension tips / tricks as well. Don't sweat it hughes, the old girl is gonna be much better to ride after that change ;) I noticed once my suspension was setup for my weight and riding style I could ride faster and longer with less fatigue.
Title: Re: Rear Shock
Post by: hughes on April 13, 2006, 03:04:10 AM: Thanks. I may look into gold valves for this thing later this year. I am spending way to much money on this bike but I like the old bike and just can't turn loose the 2500.00 or more to get a newer 500. I hope after the house is done and next years income tax rolls around it's new bike time.
Title: Re: Rear Shock
Post by: hughes on April 19, 2006, 04:40:27 AM: New springs showed up today. Hope to install them this weekend. I going to change the rear shock fluid while am at it. Doctor said I need one more weekend without riding to let my tumb heal. I hope after this week end I can try out the new springs and report back.
Title: Re: Rear Shock
Post by: hughes on April 22, 2006, 10:08:08 AM: Got the rear shock off the bike today and the 89 spring is the exact same size as my 87. I drain the fluid and was not burned up and still had a good light brown color to it(It's only been in there for about a year). I will replace the fluid next week at work.
Title: Re: Rear Shock
Post by: Spider on April 22, 2006, 01:09:27 PM: Did the doc say you could pull wrenches with that thumb of yours. :roll:

Dale
Title: Re: Rear Shock
Post by: hughes on April 22, 2006, 01:13:57 PM: What he doesn't know want hurt him :-D But I did hit my tumb on the pipe today. I was lossing the spring collars with the spaner wrench and it slipped :cry:.
Title: Re: Rear Shock
Post by: hughes on May 11, 2006, 12:43:07 AM: Got the fluid changed and new spring installed and got it back on the bike. Hope to get some more feed back about the perfromance after next week. I have some vacation days coming and hope to ride.
Title: Re: Rear Shock
Post by: Rick on May 25, 2006, 04:56:14 AM: yes, you will notice a HUGE difference in handling once you get the right springs under you.

Rick
Title: Re: Rear Shock
Post by: hughes on May 25, 2006, 06:29:16 AM: Hey Rick glade to see you back. Yes the springs made a huge differance. My bike handled great. The thing I noticed was it tracked better across rough areas at speed and the bike seems more glued to the ground(rear tire). It doesn't feel like an 87 500. Thanks guy for the info.
Title: Re: Rear Shock
Post by: gowen on May 25, 2006, 07:18:02 AM: Rick, how is it going? I have not heard from you or seen you here in ages. Are you still in the eastern area?