KX Riders
Maintenance & Technical => KX500 Original => Topic started by: KX Newfie on February 10, 2008, 09:25:55 AM
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I am new to the site, but am not new to the KX 500. I had a 2001 500 a few years back.
I sold it & bought a 05 CRF 450 R.
I ride MX alot at my private track. I only started MX seriously about 5 years ago, & am addicted....BAD !!!
I just added another KX 500 to my stable. What will it take to ride this thing at my track ???
We have some moderate (50-80 feet} & some large hits at the track {90-120}.
Is it possible ???
I've searched for pics or vids of the K-5 hitting big jumps, but cannot find anything that encourages me.
I really want to ride this thing at my track.
What can i do aside from doing an Aluminum frame conversion ???
Thanks ............. also feel free to add any jumping pics or vids 8-)
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I ride MX all the time on my K5.
No problems with the big jumps at all, I think the K5 has much better manners in the air than alot of new bikes.
Check out www.monstermx.com they have plenty of 75-130 ft jumps. I've been jumping those 1-2 days/wk for over a year now with zero problems (except rider malfuctions,lol)
Let me know if you need help with gearing, jetting or engine set up for MX.
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Thanks alot Red_Line :-D Man, i'm gettin wicked excited :-D
We are in the dead of winter here in the great white north :-(
I a few months i'll get to find out what the beast is like on the track.
I don't expect it to be anywhere near my CRF 450, but would love to be able to throw down some decent laps on the K5.
The headturn factor alone is worth it .... one thing is fo sho.....i'll practice alot on it :-D Hopefully win a few motos 8-)
Any pics or vids of the K-5 & big air out there ??? :-o 8-) :-o
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You want to use good throttle controle off the lip if you are on the throttle to hard off the lip the KX500 likes to stand up and hanna on you. I like to role out of the throttle as I leave the face and the bike jumps real nice I have jumped my old Kx 500 as far as 126' before and the bike was right at home doing it.
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One of the great things I like about jumping my 500 is how forgiving a 2 stroke is compered to a 4 stroke with respect to blipping the throttle off the face of the jump. I always approach the jump steady throttle, and "blip" the throttle off the face. It's not the way everyone does it, but it just works consistant at keeping the front tire slightly higher that the rear for me.
If I make a "blip" at the wrong time (Ie.. too early) on my YZ450, hang on because you are going on a front wheel only ride when you land......
2 strokes are far more forgiving off the face of a jump if you make a mistake.
One time my 500 did get the front wheel way too high, and it was because I was riding extra laps fatigued and just got limp armed off the face of the jump....
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In the '90s Terry Cable offered a set of triple clamps with a tighter steering angle. I ride with two guys who have a set on each of their KX's. It brings the jolly green giant to nearly the CR's level or cornering. Which is to say not excellent, but much better than stock. One man is actually a machinist by trade and has made two similar sets himself for other KX500 riders. If you're interested I could find his contact info.
It's funny...it's not that the KX500 isn't any worse off on a MX track now as it was 20 years ago. It's just that the tracks the 500 was built for have been phased out. If you can find a GP style track near you today, your KX would feel right at home.
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I am determined to make this a decent MX weapon.
So i guess alot of research for upgrades is in order.
Few bucks to i bet...LOL !!! :-(
Thanks for the input.
Again, any pics or vids of the K5 jumpin ???
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For me front tire choice was by far the most iportant factor in getting the KX to corner nicely. I went through 3 different front tires before I found one that worked for me and gave me what I wanted. The stock K490 was the worst. I also run my forks up in the clamps 10mm. Cam.
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Mick,
I'm interested in a set of those triple clamps if you still have contact info.
Curious how many degrees different than stock angle you end up with.
Thanks,
Walter
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not to be a dink but with 10+ years on a dirt bike and 5+ racing if youre riding at your own "private track" and are already hitting jumps that big why are you asking how and if a 500 will do it??? id hope by now youd just have the feel for jumps and be able to do them on any displacement bike with just a difference in the twist of the wrist and a few other minor details
just my .02
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I am determined to make this a decent MX weapon.
So i guess alot of research for upgrades is in order.
Few bucks to i bet...LOL !!! :-(
Thanks for the input.
Again, any pics or vids of the K5 jumpin ???
Add the optional tall seat foam pad, it makes a gentler transition when sliding foreward on the KX500 for agressive cornering.
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KX Newfie, are you on the local NL forums? What screen name? Who's KX500 did you buy? Hybrids Gorr ported 2001?
James
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Mick,
I'm interested in a set of those triple clamps if you still have contact info.
Curious how many degrees different than stock angle you end up with.
Thanks,
Walter
Walter,do you mean trail and steamoffset and not steering angle,OR do you want to modifie frame
to sharpen up the steering angle(27*)? :|
I?m just planing to reduce trail for more turning action for my K5 supermotard. :wink:
Stock steam offset are 20mm and I will reduce it to 18mm to see what?s happen... :-D
You can raise forklegs in tripleclamp,change to KX250(1989)gastank and taller seat! :wink:
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Walter,do you mean trail and steamoffset and not steering angle,OR do you want to modifie frame
to sharpen up the steering angle(27*)? :|
Better have one STIFF steering stabilizer...... :-o I could barely hang on to a stock KX500's handlebars, let alone one that has been offset for more agressive cornering !!
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Best way to jump with a K5 is to approach the jump as hard as you can. And gentle roll of the throttle on the face of the jump.
Then you can fly with a nice arc to land on the rear of the jump without airbraking(on tabletops).
And not "blip" the throttle off the face
This makes those nasty asskicks!!!!
Highspeed befor the jump: more jumping distance.
"Blipping" the throttle on the face of the jump: more altitude.
Dutchie
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Want to see some big jumps done with a K5, look at this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN7D4phDKV0
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not to be a dink but with 10+ years on a dirt bike and 5+ racing if youre riding at your own "private track" and are already hitting jumps that big why are you asking how and if a 500 will do it??? id hope by now youd just have the feel for jumps and be able to do them on any displacement bike with just a difference in the twist of the wrist and a few other minor details
just my .02
LOL !!! My man i can guarantee you i'm no stranger to goin big on a dirt bike. Displacement means very little to me,,,,now ergos, suspension etc does. I'd say the K5 is somewhat primitive in that department comaped to my 05 CRF 450 R.
You can best believe i will find out gradually, post up a few pics.
Thanks for the replies fellas.
Wicked site on da go :-D
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeG8rHuCIDQ
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LOL !!! That was a vid of a giant squid :-o
Interesting just the same :-D
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Displacement means very little to me,,,,now ergos, suspension etc does. I'd say the K5 is somewhat primitive in that department comaped to my 05 CRF 450 R.
You take a open class monster man bike to a little supercross style track and ask how it will fair?
Not to well for you when you "blip" your throttle on the face of a table. Not advised.......
Take the 500 out where it can run and see how the baby 450 will handle it. Riding a Five o on a small track is like racing a big block in a parking lot.
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I have had 2 Brand New K5's in the past 10 years. Then i got into MX. I know they are powerful straight line bikes, & not bad for moderate terrain.
I'd just like to have a go at my track that's all.....& it isn't a supercross track....it is a MX track.
I'll find out soon enough.....soon as the snow goes :x
I can also tell you that a modern 450 MX bike is nothing to sneeze at either :-o
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Nothing to sneeze at, certainly.... but a modern 450 MX bike can still be easily taught a lesson in humility by your standard run-of-the-mill 250cc 2-stroke production MX machine.
Against a K5... it'd be a total spankin! (As long as the K5 rider knows how to keep traction)
The only difference that would turn the tables would be that a very tight supercross style track would give an advantage in handling to the 450. But that could be easily overcome by a savvy rider making line choices that favor a K5 powerband.
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Nothing to sneeze at, certainly.... but a modern 450 MX bike can still be easily taught a lesson in humility by your standard run-of-the-mill 250cc 2-stroke production MX machine.
Against a K5... it'd be a total spankin! (As long as the K5 rider knows how to keep traction)
The only difference that would turn the tables would be that a very tight supercross style track would give an advantage in handling to the 450. But that could be easily overcome by a savvy rider making line choices that favor a K5 powerband.
g dog i agree that a savy 250 rider can spank a 450. i believe 10% bike 90% rider. i remember when i bought my brand new 1999 kx 125 and took it to this guys private member track. well i let him take a spin a couple times and i was in awe of how fast he could make my bike go compared to my newbie self. forget about suspension and braking. i believe its all about throttle. if ur willing to give it more longer u will win on almost any ride. everyone talks of the hookup of the fourstroke verses the two stroke thats were the clutch control and throttle control of a well versed rider can play a big role in the outcome. just because you go to the track with a shiney new bike and new riding gear doesn't make you an expert rider.
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I believe a k5 is an extremly fast bike but I dont feel with and equal rider on a modern 450 and a kx500 the k5 would have a chance in hell on a mx track. A modern 450 has 20 years of innovation in them i mean a modern 450 will break better, its lighter, far mor nimble, go thru woops better, jump better/farthur/faster i mean the whole susspenion is lightyears ahead, and on a track might even accelerate better...its not all about how much hp a 500 makes.....the new 450s power goes straight to the ground and not with wheelspin the power dilivery is phenominal and very easy to control and put to use.
you must be smoking something because a 450 is anything but light. and most have very peaky power curve and don't like to be chugged. + they stall easily in corners
long live the 2 stroke
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my race partner in saison 06 rode crf 450
he could keep traction due to the softer powerband on 450,
but like someone said if you can keep traction with the holy K5
no one i say no one would keep up with that bomb,
and kx500 design is timeless
crf,s come and go :-D
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i bet if they came out with an eight stroke many people would jump on that bandwagon too. i am not falling for this. the rider makes the bike plain and simple.
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i bet if they came out with an eight stroke many people would jump on that bandwagon too. i am not falling for this. the rider makes the bike plain and simple.
man i bet that would get killer traction. :-D :roll:
here is the equation
less power for x cc's = more traction
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when i get my kx 250 together here shortly first thing i'm going to do is go to the track and whoop some 450 a@#!! maybe even shoot some video for the site as proof of my hypothesis!!! lol
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A four will never equal the power to weight of a two plane and simple. Thats why it takes 450cc four to run with a 250 two. Thats just the way it is.
I would like to see the AMA allow 450cc for the two strokes. What do you think would happen then?
Well its obvious. The four stroke will get killed every thing else equal.
Its true that the new bikes offer great brakes and suspension out of the box. However be realistic and realize that the rider is 90% and that a pro will whip your 450s tail on a bitty 125 if so desired.
The two stroke offers greater reliability, ease of maintenance and ultimately lower operational cost as well.
Don't be fooled by all the hype of the four strokes.
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kayx250 do you really think the 450 is light?
Have you ever riden a new 450? I rode a 2008 kx450 when I first got my kx 250 bored, ported and all that stuff which supposedily netted me over 50rwhp and let me tell you that kx450 scared me.
The power came on easy and just keep going on FOREVER without fail
you better rethink that 250/500 if your scared of a 450.
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Why does everybody keep bringing up the 90% rider 10% bike stuff we r talking equal riders on two diff bikes not how good a rider can be. were talking stewart riding a 1988 kx 500 then riding a 2008 kx450 on the same track.
Also I never said anything about maitanence or reliabilty Do you really think full blown racers care if they can run the same piston for 10 years??? hell no! if it gets them thru the race and blows up 15 mm's past the finish line they can care less. The kx125 that I just sold was 6 years old with a completly untouched engine, not even a new set of rings and still ran like a champ but that dosent help me in a race that last 15-20 mins....if making the bike 1 second faster on a track by cutting the engines life in half so be it...if you race you race to win not last long enough for your grandkids to learn to ride
thats some good thinking. i dont need a peace a to go 1 sec faster on a track.
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i,m thinkin smpkx500 has the point .
and racing bikes 2smoker or 4popper always cost big bucks
thats why i ride for fun
2 smokers rule
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thats some good thinking. i dont need a peace a to go 1 sec faster on a track.
??? what does this mean?
Also my bike had well over 50 hp @the crank at the time and was for sure faster in a straight line than the kx450 i rode. it was the way the 450 made its power it was insane and it wasnt like it scared me not to ride it......I've hit 175 mph on my R6 bouncing the limiter in 6th gear still wanting more so it abviously wasnt the speed that scared me it was the power dilivery.
that means i would rather have a bike make it to more than 1 race over it being 1 sec faster.
im having a hard time understanding if the power delivery is so smooth why is it scary
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this post is becoming halarious. i like all bikes but a four stroke and two stroke debate is just wierd to me. heck if we where on a unicycle forum we'd still have posts such as this. oh by the way thumper talk could use another 2 vs. 4 stroke debate rediculious comments are much appreciated there haha.
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There are trying to change the 2 and 4stroke rules in mxgp. The cost of a fourstroke is so high at GPlevel. Pitt Beier is pro 2stroke, his comments: "if you want the sport to be affordable. 2 Strokes are the future. At pro level the 450 4stokes are becomming to fast!!!!
The new MX1 bikes wil be 350cc, 2- and 4stroke.
Rider + bike combo is what makes some one or some thing go fast!!
Dutchie
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kay don't be all sensitive. maybe you shouldn't try to push the four stokes so much. yes this site, from my point of view is primarily a 2 stroke, kx 500 site. awhile back i got all butt hurt and deleted most of my stuff on here, well i was being stupid. so now i realize that i have deleted some important info someone else could of used. dude take a chill pill and relax, your input is valuable.
jimmy v.
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??? what does this mean?
Also my bike had well over 50 hp @the crank at the time and was for sure faster in a straight line than the kx450 i rode. it was the way the 450 made its power it was insane and it wasnt like it scared me not to ride it......I've hit 175 mph on my R6 bouncing the limiter in 6th gear still wanting more so it abviously wasnt the speed that scared me it was the power dilivery.
Intresting. You are spraying your R6 (to reach those #s or your speedo is waaaay off, which I would recommend a speedo healer) and you were afraid of a 450?
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Intresting. You are spraying your R6 (to reach those #s or your speedo is waaaay off, which I would recommend a speedo healer) and you were afraid of a 450?
you guys are straight haters on here. According to my speedo it read 175mph and yes I bet it is off....ALL sportbike speedos are off second even if i posted a video guaranteed you guys would call it a fake........that is unless I had a kx500 engine swapped into my r6 frame then im sure it would break the 200mph mark in 2nd gear on a wheelie with the gas turned off while producing clean air as its exhaust. :roll:
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175 mph seems a little high to me!!!
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Any ways about the vid I dont have one right now but I can get one soon and I'll make sure to post it for all to see a stock(it does have a measily yoshi slip on) r6 doing 175 which like I said before isnt fast compared to liter+ bikes Ill post it up just to clear up some calling out :-P
better delete ur last post too :x
u dont harras with cancer cured by 2 stroke
u know what ur saying?
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maybe the moderator should delete this whole post. it is very stupid. if Kay wants to argue about bikes maybe he should find another forum to harras
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maybe the moderator should delete this whole post. it is very stupid. if Kay wants to argue about bikes maybe he should find another forum to harras
right jim
someone who uses words such as cancer in this manor...
i lost one of my buddy,s on cancer ,i cried a week on his lost
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maybe the moderator should delete this whole post. it is very stupid. if Kay wants to argue about bikes maybe he should find another forum to harras
right jim
someone who uses words such as cancer in this manor...
i lost one of my buddy,s on cancer ,i cried a week on his lost
your acting like your the only one who has been affected by cancer...my mom died of breast cancer, my dad has prostate cancer, and my best friend died of leukemia just a hair over a year ago who I took the last two weeks off of work of his life to stay in his hospital room by his feet with him and I had to watch my best friend wither into an unrecognizable person who looked different, acted different, and even talked different until the night before he died I had to watch him go into some sort of confulsions over and over again while I was standing there watching my best friend die right in front of me knowing I couldnt do anyting to save him
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@kayx250
first of all ,
i,m shocked of your story
very very sad for you .
and the story of ur buddy is very simular like mine ,
all though my buddy just died few weeks ago
that,s why my anger is so fresh still
but why do u use that word then if it,s sucha painfull matter
any way glad you explained it
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This has gone way off topic. I recall this posted in the KX500 thread asking about airing out a KX500. This was not meant to be a KXF450 vs. KX500 thread.
If you want to talk about 450F's, please do so in the 450F forum.
As for the haters comment, don't expect to blow your horn about KXF this and KX500 that and people not get upset. We don't want to hear about the 450 in the 500 thread and same in the 450 thread.
Kay, some people don't take cancer lightly. Most people have had a love one die of cancer. Just cause you have had experiences with it does not give you an excuse to joke about it. This will not be tolerated.