- Jun 15, 2001
- 2,551
- 0
Okay guys, don't laugh. I'm getting back into this scene after around 15 years off (the length of my education after highschool :scream: ). When I got out of it, the YZ "monoshock" was NEW, and I was lucky if I could survive hitting a small pothole at speed on my old twin-shocked "house on wheels" RM370.:eek:
I bought a new KX500, and for obvious reasons, found the suspension UNREAL as compared to old. Unfortunately, I ride on a relatively hard surface, oftentimes with a 2 or so inch layer of large-rock type sand. Kind of analogous to a sand parking lot. The remainder of it thus far is spent on loose-dirt trails. I have very little material that I think the bike is set up for: grass/hard surface/desert, etc. I am 5'8" 165-170# (goes up to 190 with a few weeks off work:confused: ) Compounding this issue is the fact that the thing comes set up with a K695 rear, and a 490 front??? I think these are both hard terrain tires.
I can't tell you the first thing about compression/rebound and how to adjust a damn thing, but it "feels" like the low-speed compression is too high and/or rebound setting too high as well. Even with slow-speed turns, my front end tries to "push". Also--when riding across the "lot-like" area at say 60-80 mph wfo, my front end wobbles around almost uncontrollably. It's NOT headshake--it's more like the front tire is searching, which is very unnerving to say the least. I have no trouble on buffalo grass and the like--it's mostly in the loose dirt/sand. Even when I fly through a high-banked berm with a firm surface, the front end tries to push--even when I'm peg-dragging!:scream:
With jumps--suspension seems great. I have bottomed it out a few times, but didn't notice. Feels like I'm falling on a cushion of air. Of course, I have limited time on other newer bikes to compare.
Is this situation hopeless--"just" the KX500? "Get used to it"
I know there must be something to do with the susp.--maybe decrease both compression/rebound on the front??
I don't want to screw with this thing without asking for your opinions first. Thanks.
I bought a new KX500, and for obvious reasons, found the suspension UNREAL as compared to old. Unfortunately, I ride on a relatively hard surface, oftentimes with a 2 or so inch layer of large-rock type sand. Kind of analogous to a sand parking lot. The remainder of it thus far is spent on loose-dirt trails. I have very little material that I think the bike is set up for: grass/hard surface/desert, etc. I am 5'8" 165-170# (goes up to 190 with a few weeks off work:confused: ) Compounding this issue is the fact that the thing comes set up with a K695 rear, and a 490 front??? I think these are both hard terrain tires.
I can't tell you the first thing about compression/rebound and how to adjust a damn thing, but it "feels" like the low-speed compression is too high and/or rebound setting too high as well. Even with slow-speed turns, my front end tries to "push". Also--when riding across the "lot-like" area at say 60-80 mph wfo, my front end wobbles around almost uncontrollably. It's NOT headshake--it's more like the front tire is searching, which is very unnerving to say the least. I have no trouble on buffalo grass and the like--it's mostly in the loose dirt/sand. Even when I fly through a high-banked berm with a firm surface, the front end tries to push--even when I'm peg-dragging!:scream:
With jumps--suspension seems great. I have bottomed it out a few times, but didn't notice. Feels like I'm falling on a cushion of air. Of course, I have limited time on other newer bikes to compare.
Is this situation hopeless--"just" the KX500? "Get used to it"
I know there must be something to do with the susp.--maybe decrease both compression/rebound on the front??
I don't want to screw with this thing without asking for your opinions first. Thanks.