Learning to ride (well) on a KX500...can you?

[ShanMan]

Hi gang. I got into a conversation with a friend last night. It got me to thinking, so I thought I would post it here in hopes of getting your perspectives. So here goes:

As I have mentioned in the past, I am back on a dirt bike after a 20 year absence. During those 20 years, I rode streetbikes/roadrace bikes exclusively. I am not a tall man at 5'10", but I am a solid 240 lbs. (I was more like 200 lbs the last time I road raced BTW...don't ask!)

I bought my bike ('87 KX500) because 1) I knew I needed a powerful bike to drag my current weight around...and 2) I got a great deal on a superbly maintained bike.

So far, the only riding I have done on the bike has been dune riding at the Glamis sand dunes. Having said that, I have seen dramatic improvements in my riding ability so far. However, as many of you who ride dunes know, it is a whole different kind of riding style from dirt, desert or MX. To be honest, I feel as though I accel as a technical rider (based on my success as a road racer), but having not yet riden the KX5 on dirt, I do not know how this will translate. I do know that for me, riding in sand has been a difficult thing to become comfortable with as it is more like waterskiing than street riding (as a point of reference).

In an earlier post here on PItBull, KX500 replied to me the following:

" we were jamming in the big bowls 5th gear tapped a couple weeks ago. What a blast.  

We were easily clearing the Olds double. Next time we head out I'll send you a PM and maybe we can meet up there." (You can bet that if given the chance, I will meet up with those guys to try and learn how it is really done!)

Upon reading that, I shook my head, because I know the terrain he is refering to, and I know how quick my bike is in third and fourth gear. My gut instinct is that 5th gear tapped on my bike will be easily 80mph +! I wondered aloud if I would ever have the skill or huevos to go that quick.

My riding partner then suggested that I would become a better rider more quickly if I was on a 250. He said he thought I would spend more time thinking about riding and technique, and less time trying to keep the bike underneith me.

I countered that while I saw his point, I did not feel like the power of the bike was a problem so much as that I just need as much time in the saddle as possible an all kinds of terrain. I offered to him that I felt that if I could become a solid off-road rider on the older KX, I would truly be able to put the power to good use, and would be able to take advantage of the improved suspension of a newer KX500 in the future.

So, what are your opinions? Is it possible for a 35 year old novice rider to become a very good off-road rider on a bike as macho as a KX500 in the same kind of time frame as if I was riding a 250 or even a four stroke bike?

For what it's worth, I would very much like to become a good enough rider to do some desert racing and be able to "easily clear the Olds double". Thanks for your imputs.

Shannon

[Paul]

Here are my thoughts, the 500 is a much more forgiving machine - powerwise - than a 250, gotta love bottom end grunt . You can ease into the power of the 500 and take only as much as you need OR you can wring the crap outta that 250 and realize that the power comes on with no manners whatso ever compared to the big 5'er.

He is a "secret" that I learned from Destry Abbot - "You ride the 500 just like a four stroke, high in the gear and low in the rpm, cuz if you ride it like a 250 it very well may kill you"

I rode it that way the next time out and I was more relaxed, less tired, and faster than I was previously.

Those are my 2 cents, spend them as you like

[EZ-Rider]

I pretty much only ride woods and my opinion is that a smaller bike can inspire confidence and get you riding aggressively much quicker. BUT having a bike that you either a) dont respect the power of, or b) have to ride balls out to enjoy will get you hurt in short order in the woods. A big bore bike will teach you to be a smoother rider because you MUST respect the power and learn how to have throttle control. I personally prefer big bore "torquey" bikes because you shift and use the clutch less. In tight situations power means very little because you just can't open it up, but having an abundance of power makes all the difference on straightaways .  I don't think just switching to smaller bike will make you a better rider, unless you lack confidence or are nervous on your 500. The rider makes the bike not the other way around no matter what bike your on, in order to ride at your peak takes lots and lots of seat time. I am an OK rider in the woods but I am so far out of my element on a track it doesn't matter what kind of bike I'm on I still suck , and nothing will help that but practice and seat time.

With that said a ported 250 will have all the power you need but maybe not all that you want.

.02

[sdkx500]

Since I have ridden Glamis I know what you are referring to.  If you are a big or heavy guy the 500 is great.  I do find a 250 easier to ride but with a few mods the 500 is my preference.  I would say if you rode the dunes with a paddle and didnt loop out than you are almost there.  Personally i think the dunes are way harder to ride than hardpack.  It hurts less but I crash way more in the dunescents

just my 2cents

[Hogwylde]

Shannon,
I'm in the same boat you are.  I got back into dirtbikes after a 20+ year absence.  I rode on the street that whole 20+ time, but I felt that itch after taking a new job and having dirtbike mags all over the place.  While considering my choices of bikes, I knew I wanted something more powerful than the KDX 400 I had in high school 20+ years ago.  Since I'm a believer in the Tim Taylor "bigger is better" philosophy, I figured the KX 500 was the way to go since the KDX'x don't go any bigger than 220 cc's.

I started riding my 500 and figured out how it feels and how it handles and LEARNED to ride the bike I had.  I didn't have anything else to compare it to, so I didn't have any pre-conceived notions of how the bike SHOULD handle or how the power would hit.  LEARN to ride what you have, respect the power that you have at your control and appreciate your abilities on YOUR machine.

Don't worry if someone tells you a 250 is easier to ride.  How would HE know if he's never been on a 500 anyway??  What's the weight difference?  20 or so pounds?  I think having more power than you need is better than wishing you had more and pouring a wad of cash into something smaller to make more power.

I used my 500 last year in D-15 C class harescrambles.  As a first year racer, I finished 11th in the state with only 4 points races run and I ran two GNCC's and managed to finish 21st and 19th in Open C class.  Don't let anyone tell you you can't run woods with a 500.  With all that low end grunt, it's like having a 4 stroke without that "cement block tied to your tank" feeling they have.

Listen to those 125's and 250's and you hear them winding the piss outta them to make power.  Then listen to the big bores.  They just get on and off the gas.....no winding them up and slipping the clutch.  Have fun with what you have.  LEARN to ride it and respect the power you have and don't let ANYONE tell you they make too much power.  Anyone that says that has either never rode one, or if they have, doesn't have any throttle control.

[Zombie]

I went straight to a 500 after around a year and a half on a 125, and other than getting used to a little extra weight, I was soon riding the 500 like my 125!  One thing I have noticed though, is the smaller the engine, the harder the power hits, so while I was spinning and sliding on my RM, I was hooking up and hauling on the KX, with the same throttle openings! True, the RM was a little easier to throw around, but since Im fairly tall (6' 4") it as easy to adjust to the weight and learn to throw it around. Id say after a week af adjusting (riding every day for at least an hour or two) I was doing jumps, wheelies, stoppies and in general, having a blast! So I guess my advice is practice as much as possible, and keep pushing as far as you feel comfortable with, then go just a hair further. Once you do something properly, youll be able to repeat it over and over, and youll get faster.

-Z

[ShanMan]

Just wanted to thank all of you who replied. I think all the responses were right on the mark, and just make me feel that much surer that my butt belongs on the seat of a KX500. I have a 10 paddle on my bike, which I am told is ultimate traction for a 500 at Glamis. Despite a few bigginer type get-offs here and there, have not yet looped it or thrown it away do to a lack of throttle control. That isn't to say i haven't scared myself a few times. I do know this however, when we ride in areas where the sand is not as deep, or there is more dirt than sand, I immediately feel more comfortable. I can't wait to get this bike on some hardpack so I can feel how it will hook up and how it will commit to the line I have chosen.

I also think you're all absolutely right about learning to ride the 500 on it's own merits. I am learning to dirt ride on THIS bike, I do not have another to compare it against. Because of that, I will only continue to become a better rider based on the characteristics of the 500. I suspect that in time I will not even have much curiousity about other, slower bikes, or one's with less grunt that require more work to ride at a similar pace.

Obviously, the most important thing I can do now is to sort out the suspension for my build, and then just ride, ride, ride!

One question though...how DO you clear the Olds double again???

[Paul]

I have to admit it is the strangest looking thing, all these duners and mx'ers and here come the full-on desert sled

One question though...how DO you clear the Olds double again???

From the top of the dune, I head down the right side - north face I believe, don't qoute me though - and swing it into the bowl, by the time I'm at the bottom of the bowl and start making my climb I've just pulled it into 4th and moving at a good clip. From there it's just smooth sailing.

Watching other people clear the double will help you gage your speed. My nephew cleared it by counting the seconds between one rider leaving and take off and then just made sure he was that fast or faster.

[ShanMan]

Well, we intended to get out to Glamis again this past weekend, but the forecast was for wind, wind and more wind. If you have ever been to any dunes while its windy, you know how much that sucks! Instead, we went up to Pismo Beach. Its a much smaller place, but with dunes, bowls, hills and a drag course, it was fun just the same. Riding right up on the water line of the ocean didn't stink either. The weather was post card perfect and the place was hoppin'!

Anyway, with another weekend of riding and learning, I thought I might give you guys a report on my progress aboard the mighty K-reX! I learned how to rail through the woops. leanning back and letting the front skip front tip to tip of each woop allowed me to really hammer. I took several passes through the section, eventually I got to to where I could go through in thirg gear tapped. It seemed as though the fester i dared go, the smoother things got. Sound right?

I also dabbled in some drag racing! I think I may have found one area where even my 16 year old bike is nearly unbeatable. I went up against new 450's (Hondas and Yamahas) as well as a YZ490, a CR500 and a whole slew of tricked out 250's. It took me a while to dial the starts, but as my starts got better, I started seeing fewer and fewer bikes in my periferial vision. By the end of the weekend, the only thing I couldn't catch or beat was the alcohol burning Banshees. I was getting to fourth gear tapped before I shut down, and that was about 65-70 mph I was told. Those guys are getting like 125 hp and on this track (read: short) they could still get 90 mph! (Those speeds were verified with a guy who had a Juggs radar detector)

So, after an agressive weekend of riding with no spills, I think I am becoming very comfortable with the speed and handling of my bike. We will be riding Goreman in two weeks. That will be my first time with this bike on a surface other than sand. It should be interesting to feel the differences. Any suggestions from those of you personally have ridden both sand and hardpack? Thanks.