KX Riders
Maintenance & Technical => KX500 Original => Topic started by: Polar-Bus on June 04, 2006, 12:22:43 PM
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It was misty, and WET, but a ride is a ride. After spending the last week going through the bike, and fixing all the lack of maintenence issues (specifically all the rear spokes, they were all WAY loose, and siezed), I was ready for a ride. I spent Sun afternoon with my new KX5, and man am I impressed. After some much preferance suspension adjustments (the P/O was 250ish, and I am 155). I started to feel comfortable. The brakes are typicall KX.....adequate, but by no means perfect. I am pleasantly surprised, as far as mass, I figured the KX5 to be a tank, but it feels only a tad heavier than my old '97 KX250. I am guessing 240? The jetting is rich. I plan on stepping down one on the main, and one on the pilot. Gearing is a little high, I am thinking swapping from the 47 to a 49 (I am more of a MX'er and woods rider.) I also noticed a good amount of headshake, forks slid down flush into the triple tree should minimise this situation. As for the power, a violent hit off the bottom, and brutal midrange pull!! I plan on a port job to smooth out the initial hit. After that my 5 should be a fun, and versatile play bike. I CAN'T wait to get this beast out on the ice and really "feed it a snack" to feel some top end! Heres a few pics:
(http://img460.imageshack.us/img460/3741/nitro0199iq.th.jpg) (http://img460.imageshack.us/my.php?image=nitro0199iq.jpg)
(http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/5702/nitro0214qy.th.jpg) (http://img208.imageshack.us/my.php?image=nitro0214qy.jpg)
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Why gear down if the you find the lower end violent? I run standard gearing and have never had any worries with having a too higher 1st. The thing just mountain goats up the side of rock face. Yet still has the top end rush of a rocket. Bike is looking good.
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Why gear down if the you find the lower end violent?
Power is what you make of it. The power is only "violent" when I have the throttle whacked wide open for a power shift run. Currently my 5 requires too much low speed clutching in the woods. I have a 15 min technical trail ride to my favorite MX track/sand pit. Gearing up 2 teeth should ease up on my clutching. But yes, your comments are correct, gearing up will make for a more violent hit when aggressive throttle is "smacked"
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I run a 14/49 and love it. No more clutching it in the woods. Still has great top speed. Bike looks good. :-D
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Maybe I'm just spoiled with the hydraulic clutch? :-D
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Maybe I'm just spoiled with the hydraulic clutch? :-D
You drive one of those ORANGE bikes? I didn't know they made a 2 stroke 500 ?? :)
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Just as well I'm not offended easily :-D I dont have a lot of time for the orange bikes. Good parts just chucked together. I have a Magura hydraulic clutch which makes life aboard the kx500 a dream. 1 finger application. Totally recomended! Pricey tho.
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I dont have a lot of time for the orange bikes. Good parts just chucked together.
Yea, they START at $6,500 and go UP, AND here in New England they put you on a "list", and make you wait for one?????? I spent a day with a 400EXC with a hydraulic clutch, definately a way different feel until I got used to it. I like a lot of free play in my clutch cable, so moving to hydraulic took some mental clutch fingering timing adjustment, but like you commented, wow, I thought I was clutching an old XR80 !!
Rich