KX Riders
Maintenance & Technical => KX500 Original => Topic started by: KXcam22 on November 19, 2003, 03:56:21 PM
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I started this thread to find out what eveyone is using for tires:
I live in an intermediate terain type area. My latest pair, dunlop 955F front and Kenda Unadilla (now Millville) 120/90-19 has transformed my KX unbelievably. Fantastic cornering, great hookup and full power cornering wihout losing the back end. Nice in sand.
I was debating trading the faithful KX for something a bit more nibler in corners (I know - slap me). After wrenching on these tires before some back to back testing against some new CR250's and 450's I came away with with a new appreciation for the KX's turning ability. I was stoked being able to easily match the CR's in the tight and dust them on the straights!! What a difference a pair of tires make....KX forever!!
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For the Arizona desert, the Maxxis I/T has been working very well for me. :grin:
I tossed that 19 though, the 18 offers a much better selection of tires and a better "feel" and stability in the baby head rocks ;)
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Dunlop 756 is what I like,but it wears to fast.I'm also running Maxxis IT's,but I'm trying IRC's nekt.
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If I run a 120 rear tire, it's the Bridgestone M78 (I think the new number is a 606 or something) rear and Michelin M12 front. If I run a 110 rear, I put on an M12 just like the front. It really depends upon the terrain and style of racing to determine which tire to run. I also like the IRC tires as noted in other posts, but they have to be ordered, so have not switched back to these?yet.
Rick
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This is starting out to be a great thread. I have a question. Can someone give so guidelines as to what soft, intermediate and hard terrains are. I do understand the concepts of mud, sand and rock but what about the intermediates?
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Kawdude,
Excellent question. I tried to describe my own "intermediate" type dirt and was at a bit of a loss. To me "hard" is blue groove type clay and rock surfaces where your tires friction grip the surface, no bite. For "intermediate" I would call it loose dirt that you can shovel fairly easily. It may pack and seem fairly hard but tires digs in OK. Builds decent berms. For "Soft" I would call it wet, soft, loamy garden type dirt all the way to powdery beach sand. I agree that "intermediate" is hard to classify but really is everything in between hard and soft. All I know is my intermediate tires are pretty good on hard, and just get better the softer it is.
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Dont just go by that rating system,756's are supposed to be soft terrain tires,but work great on rocks and hard terrain.Any one try or know anything about the Dunlop D742 front tire?
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I'm running IRC's M5B in the 140x18 size. BIG fat tire with 18mm tall nobs that just dig and dig and dig!! Works great in this indiana dirt!
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I am just getting used to my wide wheels but so far quite like my cheapo remoulds :shock:
Yep you did read it right I have Konkord remoulds on the bike.
Front is 120/70 by 17" and rear is 150/70 by 17"
A stack of the blokes from a supermoto board I "visit" really rated em and I got a hell of a deal on em, ?90 for two fronts and two rears and that price included the tenner for postage and packing :D
Seem sticky enough for me so far, and as opposed to sportsbike riders I use inner tubes so if they let go I shouldnt suffer like they could.
They are ZR rated (to 180 MPH no less) and have been used during racing on the IOM TT race so I don't think my 50 odd horsepower is gonna rip em to bit's
After these run out I have heard that Metzler rensports are sticky too
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I really like the dunlop 695 for the rear. I really haven't experimented with the front all that much. The 695 really is an all terrien tire. We ride tight mountain trails, sand dunes, hard pack hills, soft hills and occasionly rocky rocky areas. They do wear out rather quickly but will perform decent even when there ain't much tread left. Keep in mind I don't race MX so I can't comment on this tire in that situation. My KX is dual sported but most of the time I don't run it with the dual sport equipment.
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I just found a couple IRC M5B's collecting dust at the local yamaha dealer.Got 'em for $79Cdn.Man those knobs are tall.I've used them before and they work very well and last a long time.
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I know everyone's of the opinion that 18's are the solution to a lot of things; However, I'm down to 2-sets of wheels and they've both got 19" rears. I'm finding that there are a lot of tires avail. and that I'm only in need of an 18" for Desert "Races" only.
I'll be building an 18" rear for that purpose only (Virtually mandated by the Team-Green folks). I'm not having any "Flat-tire" issues with my 19's and these new Kendas (120/100-19) actually put more knobby "to the ground" than my 18" race set-up. And they're cheap! $50 with tax and shipping to my door! That's kinda convenient when you're traveling as much as I do! I've ordered them while on travel! ULTRA-Convenient!
Just my .02!
Manny
p.s....Ty's about got me convinced that a 20" front is the best for the Desert races... :roll:
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Ride faster :lol:
I'm just messing with ya about that one, I like the 18, that sidewall is used for rim protection ;)
I'm not having any "Flat-tire" issues with my 19's
Heck no, thats a motocrosser rim BUT... I wonder how it feels on the rocky AZ singletrack :?
p.s....Ty's about got me convinced that a 20" front is the best for the Desert races... :roll:
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Who's Ty....does he know about desert racing?
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I may try this tire on front instead of the s-12 I was going to get in a few months after reading your review.Sound like the same type of rideing I do.Thanks!
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Im kind of scared of the cheap tires after trying a Maxxis IT on the front (before word got out just how bad a front tire it is) but Ill have to see.
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Cam,I thought you used the millville.The Unadilla is their hard terrain tire,is it not?
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Unadilla or Millville?Let me know which ever it is how it is for flat protection in the rocks,I noticed the Maxxis on a lot of bikes and heard they improved the front tire but Im not taking a chance on another one.I ride hard pack,decomposed granite,rocks,roots,mud,snow,you name it.
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I bought a 3.5''x 18'' SunWheel and mounted a IRC 140/18 and it has been a great combo. The extra width rim makes the M5B wider instead of rounder. I run hillclimbs and dirtdrags in soft and intermediate. With a change in air pressure, I think it's the best. With no rear bead lock on the rim you'll need to screw through the rim into the tire to keep it from moving. I used 6 screws per side.
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Itll be awhile,but I plan on getting some.
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can anyone tell me what a good "all around" rear tire is..i know anything is better then mine right now..hell it looks like its off a 125 lol if you look in the Members gallery..im always having problems with traction with all the torque..but i mostly ride in fields and dirt, sometimes woods, but is there a good all around tire out there for me? Thanks
-Kayne
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Well the Kenda Millville mentioned above or a Maxxis IT (is a little heavy and stiff side wall), but great for the price.IRC MB5 will give you a lot of traction in soft dirt or mud and a decent all around tire.
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I have pretty much tried all tires, the M5B was ok, but the corner and grab on hard surgaces suck. Which is mostly North Carolina. I had it mounted on my CR250 and wiped out many times in the hard stuff, but would grip awesome in mud/sand and decent in grass. Good tire.
The Dunlop series are horrible on the rear. I have not found a tire that will last me a few months at least. The tire I have found the BEST luck with all, hard surfaces and soft, that lasts for at least 6 months on the 500 and a year at the least on any other bike, is the Kenda Trak-Master II. It is cheap, lasts forever, grips hard and is just my tire preference. I currently have it mounted on four bikes and as soon as it is time for tires on the others, I will mount it too. Great tire. That is my A+. The only downside is to the person behind you.
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Hey guys,
any reason that i would want to run a 120 rear tire over the 110. My bike came from the factory with a 110 back in 87. The old tire was a 120 but it was badly worn so I could not see any performance. I am running a new set of maxxis cross it and love them. Just wondering if I should go with the 120 rear when I wear this 110 out. Thanks
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KXcam22,
So traction is the key with the 120 and not terrain.
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The Maxxis IT is a heavy tire and you feel it when you jump.Cam,my old 390OR auto (sitting in the shed) still has a 17" Terraflex on it!
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without a doubt, Pirelli Slicks (SC1's) they prolly stick the best in the dirt section too :wink: he he he he .......
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For the Arizona desert, the Maxxis I/T has been working very well for me. :grin:
I tossed that 19 though, the 18 offers a much better selection of tires and a better "feel" and stability in the baby head rocks ;)
I feel kinda stupid but where do you get 18 inch rims for a KX500? Do you simply convert your 19" with a 18 Excel and the proper spokes? If so can someone tell me which spokes work and which Excel rim? :oops:
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quincyman, contact Jeff @ Monkeybutt Parts I got my rim and spokes from him
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As soon as I finish the conversion from a 19" to an 18" I am going to run trials tires on my KX. They are my tire of choice on all my other bikes. There won't be much wheel spin just all out traction.
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The Maxxis IT is a heavy tire and you feel it when you jump.Cam,my old 390OR auto (sitting in the shed) still has a 17" Terraflex on it!
Geez! I haven't heard Terraflex in years... The last one I had on my 450 Maico I had to CUT off the rim - they were a bugger to remove!
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There still made (terraflex) to this day,not sure how they stand up to the old ones.
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I just put on a set of Millville's.
I felt like when riding on flat ground, the front would almost hop at high speeds.
Then I just used the pressure washer on it.
I had the bike on a stand and was spraying the tires.
There was not mud or built up dirt on them.
When the wheel begain to spen, I noticed that the bike was rocking.
As the wheel turned faster the wheel/tire was so out of balance that the bike almost fell of the stand.
I tried the same with the back tire, but it was fine.
I will be replacing it ASAP!!!
That sucks A$$!!!!!!
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Tire or Rim problem :?:
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Cam,
Thanks for the long term review on these tires. I am going to have to replace both the tires on my new-to-me K5 and I am going to get a set of the Kenda's since you have had such good luck with them. :D
machine,
This advice is from 18 wheelers but I thought I would pass it on. Spin the tire 180 then have it ballenced.
Robert
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Hughes; It's a tire prob. It did not do it with the stock tires.
Torch654; I thought of that, But I've got 3/4 rides on them now and I think I'm just going to replace them with some Maxxis!
It's not a 18/19 inch rear wheel thing, as my rear wheel is not out of balance, just the front, and I think we all have the same fornt size rim?
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I would tire to contact Kenda through their web-site about the defective tire. I got a new pair of boots out of o-neal becasue mine got a tear in the leather after two rides.
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Great idea Hughes!
I'll do that first!!!!!!
Thanks!!!!
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That's funny about the tire iron. But it happens to all of us.
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Just put on a new set of Maxxis Front and Rear (Intermediate terrain) and went to Loretta Lynn's with them and I can say I am most happy with them... There were a couple of times I had to make a new trail up several hills that were a mixture of brush, sand and rocks and do not believe I would have reached the top if not for the LARGE knobs on the rear... So far, I'm pretty happy...
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The new 756 that's on the KX450F is gonna be a great K5 tire!
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Hughes; I did what you said and emailed Kenda, this is what I gat back.
You shouldn't be having that problem with the Millville tire. Please provide us with the information below, and we should be able to send you a replacement front tire. Your front tire should be an 80/100-21 K771 Millville correct?
1. Shipping Address
2. Phone Number
3. Date Code from your front tire. The date code is a 4 digit number imprinted in the rubber on the sidewall of the tire.
Also, once I have that information, we will send a UPS call tag to pick up your old front tire. Once we have the old tire back, we will send it to our factory for quality inspection.
Have a good day,
Laura
So you were right!
I'll keep you posted!!!
Thanks again!!!!!!!!!
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Update;
Thanks Kevin,
I put the order in today for your new tire. You should be receiving the replacement tire early next week. I'll wait till next week to send out a call tag to be sure you've received your new tire and have had a chance to unmount the old one.
Have a good day,
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If only we could have service like that down here. Most times things like that happen to me, no-one wants to know ya. Good to see you have a win.