KX Riders
Maintenance & Technical => KX500 Original => Topic started by: stock500 on April 14, 2008, 02:57:00 AM
-
I was riding my brothers 4-stroke this weekend, and really like the way they hook up. I know the 500 is just going to spin more, but other than choosing the right tire is there anything that will help the 500 get better traction without hurting the power output.
-
Practice slipping your clutch. This can be VERY effective for traction coming out of corners to short runways for jumps, etc.
-
Run the bike in a gear one higher then you think you should be in. If you ride the bike like a 250 you are going to burn up tires and go slower, you will never get it to hook up. The rpms will be alot lower and the bike will hook up alot like a thumper. Try to keep the bike in a gear that keeps the engine loaded but not bogged down, role the throttle on smooth, with a little practice you will find yourself haulin ass with alot less effort. 8-)
-
Run the bike in a gear one higher then you think you should be in. If you ride the bike like a 250 you are going to burn up tires and go slower, you will never get it to hook up. The rpms will be alot lower and the bike will hook up alot like a thumper. Try to keep the bike in a gear that keeps the engine loaded but not bogged down, role the throttle on smooth, with a little practice you will find yourself haulin ass with alot less effort. 8-)
Great points, once you get this down you can gear up or low for the speeds you need for the operating ranges.
I ride on the pipe a lot, and just deal with it unless I'm forced to slip clutch or torque out of something.
-
Thanks for the response. I will admit that I can't ride the 500 like a 250 because I would get bucked off sooner or later.
-
Flywheel weight?? How fast of section do you have on your local MX tracks? Where I live you might get lucky to get into 4th gear for a short time and that's about it. Reason I ask is the FMF gnarly pipe adds some nice low to mid range torque to this bike which helps with riding in a gear higher. Learning to ride the 500 like a 4-stroke will help. Like BDI said keep the engine loaded but not bogging it down and then just apply throttle. I agree their is no way in hell I can ride the 500 like I ride my 250 smoker.
-
My technique was to always short-shift, using the midrange power. Not many tires will keep a wide open KX500 in full traction unless you are at high speed. Use throttle control rather than wacking on the throttle suddenly. There are lots of mods you can do to pump up and smooth out the midrange to make it more tractible. Cam.
-
I don`t know what year bike you have but mine came with a 19" rear wheel. I put an 18" rim and tire on the bike and it made a huge difference, especially in the loose stuff. It works for me since I ride dez all the time. Climbing hills, sliding, hitting the washes all work better now. Mo fun!
-
Going to an 18" back wheel really helps and is probably one of the best mods you can do to a k5 that gets ridden offroad its right there with a skid plate.
-
What size tire are you using with 18in rim?
And what tire are you happy with?
-
Got a Dunlop D739 120/100X18. Went on a tire guys recommendation since I don`t know $hit about all the different tires out there. He said it will last on the 500. It`s the only one I`ve had but whatever it`s a bunch better than the old 19. Coming out of a turn hard on the gas is 10 times more controllable too. The 19 felt like it was hopping around a bit. All around more better now.
-
Why is an 18" rim better? Is it better for track and trails?
-
I'm impressed with the Dunlop D756. It works well for the different terrain I ride in, except for sand. It suxorz in sand. That's why they make paddles though right? :wink:
-
Going to an 18" back wheel really helps and is probably one of the best mods you can do to a k5 that gets ridden offroad its right there with a skid plate.
I not trying to argue but is the 18 lighter or lower the gearing I don't see why a 19 with the same tire wouldn't be just as good please explain. :-D
-
Going to an 18" back wheel really helps and is probably one of the best mods you can do to a k5 that gets ridden offroad its right there with a skid plate.
I not trying to argue but is the 18 lighter or lower the gearing I don't see why a 19 with the same tire wouldn't be just as good please explain. :-D
The tire for a 19" wheel has the same overall size as a tire for an 18" wheel It does nothing to gearing. Do to the tires being the same size but the rim being smaller you have more sidewall. Having more side wall means a tire can absorb impacts better this gives you a better ride and alot less of a chance of getting a flat. Having more sidewall also means a tire can conform to the ground better and give you more traction thats why rock crawlers use big fat tires with little wheels.
-
tires play a big part in getting hooked up but it really comes down to the rider. if you had 2 bikes exactly the same and 2 riders of the same weight one rider will be faster. its all about getting that feel and good throttle control. the bike can only accelerate as fast as traction will let it. not enough throttle and you accelerate slower, to much throttle = wheel spin and you will accelerate slower. you can do a lot to the bike but in the end its the guy sitting on it that makes the difference. there is not a tire sold that will hold the full power of a 500 in the dirt.
-
Why do bikes come with a 19" if the 18" gets better traction?
-
Why do bikes come with a 19" if the 18" gets better traction?
19" is better for motocross 18" is better for offroad, maybe it has something to do with what the factory thinks the bike will most likely be used for. It could be something as simple as the bike looks better with a 19 then an 18. Street bikes have had a brace welded to the swing arm just because the general consumer thinks that a swing arm with a brace on it is cool when in all actuality a monocock swing arm is stiffer and lighter and is probably cheaper to produce but they are more worried about what people will buy. A crf450r comes stock with a 19" wheel because the bike is intended for motocross a crf450x comes with an 18" wheel because that bike is intended for off road use. But that is Honda for you, love them or hate them, they don't usally get caught with their head up their ass.
-
The 19inch wheel/tire has a very stiff side wall with very little flex and that makes for better turning/handling. The 18inch wheel/tire has a lot more flex in the side walls which effects corner/handling. The 18inch tire is great for off-road use due to the flex and the extra side wall area. One thing I noticed with an 18 wheel/tire is softer impacts to the rear of the bike while riding off road.