Getting the 500 to hook up

[bigbellybob]

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.

[Uzi9mm]

Why do bikes come with a 19" if the 18" gets better traction?

[BDI]

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. 

[hughes]

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.