A Note:
My bike's set up a bit "Firm Feelin'"; YET, it soaks up every thing and never rides "Harsh". Also, my bike rides rather "Hi" in the "stroke" of both the front and rear. It, also, turns so good that my friends (On KX250, 125 and KXF) are asking Pro-Circuit to make their bikes handle and "Turn" the same way!
Check that out: My "Big Fat Pig" of a "Ain't been changed since '89(!!!!!)" and "Ain't no Slim feelin Perimeter Framed Freestyler" "Gee, aint that for Old Guys?" "Same as it Ever Was KX500" feels light enough and "Tight" enough that guys with "New Style-Gen Y&Z" scooters are askin' Bones and the guys to set their "Sticker-Mobiles" up like my "Big Bike"!
The POINT: I realized, as I read Rick's comments A LOT of the Crap that gets said about the K5 is due to the Mushy feeling they often have. Also, as Rick has pointed out on SEVERAL OCASSIONS, firmer springs can make ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
SAG, both STATIC and Dynamic are Critical to the "Feel" of your bike AND IT's ABILITY to T-U-R-N and "Handle". I can not stress ENOUGH how much "Lighter" a KX500 feels with proper set-up!
Spring Rate...Too soft for most...especially "Intermediate" or faster. Too soft to handle correctly for ANYONE fast over 150#. PERIOD!
Dampening...I believe you can get a pretty good set-up stock; However, the AVERAGE guy should rebuild/revalve(If required) AT-LEAST ONCE a YEAR if they ride much. An Oil Change and R&R of seals/worn parts will usually do it.
Service Linkage and R&R worn linkage and Steering-Head parts AT-LEAST once a year (For Mr. Average...more often if you ride a lot!) I just found that I had a MISSING NEEDLE BEARING on a bike prepared by one of the best mechanics out there, trust me, I'm not talking about myself and I'm not B.S.ing! One of the "Needles" was missing on my Pivot/Counter-shaft side. It just wasn't there. Cage was fine...-1- needle missing. That's why we check this stiff.
Adjust/Compare/Test.
If you think that you aren't any good with "Set-Up", try this. Go riding at a Track or Trail that you're REAL FAMILIAR with. Now, try this:
Put your Fork Compression Dampening at FULL HARD. Go ride the bumps carefully(!) and get a feel for how the front works at this setting . BE CAREFUL...IT's going to fell pretty harsh and "Stiff".
Now....set the Fork Compression at full SOFT and try it again. Pretty different? Be CAREFUL and DON'T go Skyin' it over any JUMPS! Your forks are gonna feel pretty "Mushy" and "Springy" (We haven't talked about "Rebound" and in some of the Older forks the "Rebound" is kinda Scary when you are doin' this).
Now, start takin' a guess at where you think you'd like it set at and start TESTING!
Do the Same thing for Rebound.
TAKE NOTES! Compare your comments. If you spend some time learning this stuff, you'll find yourself changing the settings for different Tracks and Trails.
Good Luck,
Manny