Trail riding an MX bike?

[oldguy]

Trail riding an MX bike, O'k guys, is there anything one should do to the bike to make it more trail friendly, Took the RMZ out to the farm for a blast, what I did find is its a shit load of fun powering it around the paddocks and up and down the hills, practicing my feeble wheelies.
But there are a couple of steep tracks we have up through the bush, which are tight in places with lots of tree roots which you can't avoid, they act like little kickers which kept launching the front wheel.
It just seam to be geared too high, I was having trouble trying to keep the front down as I needed the momentum, button off I would stall, leaning forward would take the weight of the rear wheel so end up wheel spinning. The DR, I could fly up that track, a lot had to do with the power, it wasn't anywhere as aggressive in its delivery, I managed to stall it on the way up and twice on the way down trying to rear wheel steer it around the tight turns that I struggled with on the way up.

Or should I just harden up, I know for me fitness is a major factor as well.

[noobi]

You could put on a smaller front sprocket and a larger rear one
like 1 or 2 teeth off the front and 2 or 3 teeth onto the back

[Starky307]

Start by getting the suspension tuned for your weight and the ridding you will be doing, next look for some power by installing an "athena" 290cc kit, I put one in my kxf and it rocks, heaps more power down low when you need it.

At the end of the day it will always be a motocross bike but these are a few things I would recommend.

Put a bloody side stand on it as well they are worth their weight in gold.

[oldguy]

You could put on a smaller front sprocket and a larger rear one
like 1 or 2 teeth off the front and 2 or 3 teeth onto the back

Yeah did that on the DR I could bloody near idol up the hill, was not sure you could do that to an MX bike

[ArcherWC]

In order I would do

1, tune the suspension
2, install a flywheel weight (you will be AMAZED at the difference this will make)
3, stearing dampner
4, barkbusters or similar to protect your levers

then HTFU and ride it harder

[Rupe]

In order I would do


2, install a flywheel weight (you will be AMAZED at the difference this will make)
then HTFU and ride it harder

On a 4stroke?????

[oldguy]

Start by getting the suspension tuned for your weight and the ridding you will be doing, next look for some power by installing an "athena" 290cc kit, I put one in my kxf and it rocks, heaps more power down low when you need it.

At the end of the day it will always be a motocross bike but these are a few things I would recommend.

Put a bloody side stand on it as well they are worth their weight in gold.

I will get suspension setup, its got enough power for me, just on steep climbs just getting that throttle right or you end up flipping it.

I know what you mean about a stand, the main problem for me is I'm a short ass, and struggle to get going if I stall on any sort of slope

[NordieBoy]

On a 4stroke?????
Yes. Just the same effect as on a smoker.

I'd gear the bike down and soften the suspension off. Let it absorb the lower speed hits without launching.

[Buddy L]

Change the rear spring to suit your weight. and soften up the front.
I wouldn't go changing the gearing at the moment unless its different to stock. I ended up going too teeth smaller on the rear on mine as i was always hitting top speed on the trails.
And install some devo of other raditor braces, well worth their weight in gold.
Your get used to the clutching and the power of the bike soon enough, and start flying up all thoughs hills.
Your spend more time weighting for blackbuell to catch up it won't be funny.

[B0000M]

yep, the flywheel weight should stop your stalling issue

[secondfield]

Not sure if you can fit a flywheel weight to an RMZ. Theres not enough room underneath the case cover ... couldn't get one for my old 450..

[barty5]

Just had a look around the net dosent seam to be any for my yz either other than geunie flywheel which there are 2 option but how dose one know how much weight to added or is needed ????

[oldguy]

Change the rear spring to suit your weight. and soften up the front.
I wouldn't go changing the gearing at the moment unless its different to stock. I ended up going too teeth smaller on the rear on mine as i was always hitting top speed on the trails.
And install some devo of other raditor braces, well worth their weight in gold.
Your get used to the clutching and the power of the bike soon enough, and start flying up all thoughs hills.
Your spend more time weighting for blackbuell to catch up it won't be funny.
Hey Buddy L, what do you mean by radiator braces are they some sort of guard.
Blackbuell will find that comment funny:lol:at the moment he wont make the start line,

[FlangMasterJ]

Sorry a bit of a hijack.

I've kept my SXF the same way as when I purchased it (second hand). The shock spring is an 80-250. I weigh 94kg. Am I making things difficult for myself by not getting a spring for my weight?

Also how much does a KTM spring cost?

[oldguy]

sorry guys what i didn't mention was that on the steep down hill, i would be hard on the rear brake just enough front brake as to keep it stable, Id have to pull the clutch in but the engine would still stall.

[kezzafish]

sorry guys what i didn't mention was that on the steep down hill, i would be hard on the rear brake just enough front brake as to keep it stable, Id have to pull the clutch in but the engine would still stall.

yeah mine does that. real tight clutches aye... ya just gotta give it some revs at the same time (which is difficult while your holding the front brake i know) if you can find a heavier flywheel for it it'll fix the problem. At the end of the day faster is better. soften up the suspension if you don't wanna pay someone else to tune it. Can Danger or someone please correct me if i'm wrong but for tech type trail riding i make my suspension as soft as it will go without bottoming (on clickers not changing springs) unfortunately on my bike (stupid SX weapon) this means i'm at full soft on the front and therefore have run out of adjustment. Poo... time to buy an EXC

[CRF119]

I hope when you are talking down hill you mean near vertical? I am trail riding my CRF450 on std gearing no real problems you just need clutch control.

[t3mp0r4ry nzr]

the rmz250 is geared to LOW for most trail riding. on the fire breaks you run out of gears way to fast. needs to be geared UP.

[kezzafish]

I hope when you are talking down hill you mean near vertical? I am trail riding my CRF450 on std gearing no real problems you just need clutch control.

the steepness of the hill doesn't really matter. he's saying that if he wants to lock up the back brake the bike stalls whether he has the clutch in or not

[kezzafish]

the rmz250 is geared to LOW for most trail riding. on the fire breaks you run out of gears way to fast. needs to be geared UP.

yeah that's the prob with a lot of MXers when your trying to trail ride em aye. 1st too tall and 4th to low (4th in my case)

[oldguy]

cheers guys I think I may need to adjust the clutch. if I blip the throttle even with the clutch in, the bike still lurches forward like the clutch hasn't fully engaged, I have to blip the throttle when putting it into gear otherwise it will stall.

[B0000M]

cheers guys I think I may need to adjust the clutch. if I blip the throttle even with the clutch in, the bike still lurches forward like the clutch hasn't fully engaged, I have to blip the throttle when putting it into gear otherwise it will stall.

sounds like a sticky clutch issue to me

[noobi]

Is there any more adjustment on the clutch lever?

[mattwood]

cheers guys I think I may need to adjust the clutch. if I blip the throttle even with the clutch in, the bike still lurches forward like the clutch hasn't fully engaged, I have to blip the throttle when putting it into gear otherwise it will stall.

I used to hav the same problem with my KX. what oil are you using?? I just asked at the shop what would be the best oil to use, bought some of that and it solved the problem..

[green machine]

the rmz250 is geared to LOW for most trail riding. on the fire breaks you run out of gears way to fast. needs to be geared UP.
Spot on....just been through all this with my mates RMZ250,it had a 12/47 combo......changed to a 13 on the front.....better but he reckons it's still a bit high............i have 13/48 on my bike and it's sweet as,so he's gonna try that.
As for flywheel weights(it's actually a replacement flywheel) on 4 strokes,i had one on my 08 KXF250 and it was awesome was like a tractor through the bush,power delivery is a bit different on my new bike so didn't bother

[takitimu]

As for flywheel weights(it's actually a replacement flywheel) on 4 strokes,i had one on my 08 KXF250 and it was awesome was like a tractor through the bush,power delivery is a bit different on my new bike so didn't bother
How do you find the 09 KXF 250 in the tight stuff & even more important restarting it after a fall, that electric start button is one helluva handy thing.

[green machine]

How do you find the 09 KXF 250 in the tight stuff & even more important restarting it after a fall, that electric start button is one helluva handy thing.
To be honest i'm just a bit of a cruiser but so far so good......have'nt had any probs starting it so far(touch wood)she's pretty light and the suspension is real plush.Put it this way,i put in a heavy flywheel and got my suspenion re-valved on my 08 to suit my riding ability..done nothing to my 09 and love it

[FROSTY]

My suggestion mate. Do NOTHING to the bike.
Get yaself out to a trail park and do a day on the bike.
Then go home,have a beer and think about it again.
Im no friggin expert but steppin from the kdx220 to the KX just took some adjusting. First ride had me a lil nervous but once ya adjust you might find you dont actually have an issue.
SLIGHTLY hijacking--is it possible to get a side stand of some sort for the KX?
its a pain in the arse trying to find a tree to lean on when you are on kid recovery duty

[B0000M]

My suggestion mate. Do NOTHING to the bike.
Get yaself out to a trail park and do a day on the bike.
Then go home,have a beer and think about it again.
Im no friggin expert but steppin from the kdx220 to the KX just took some adjusting. First ride had me a lil nervous but once ya adjust you might find you dont actually have an issue.
SLIGHTLY hijacking--is it possible to get a side stand of some sort for the KX?
its a pain in the arse trying to find a tree to lean on when you are on kid recovery duty

just lie it on its side, 2 strokes dont mind being layed down. just turn the fuel off when you do so it doesnt all go out the overflow.

[Buddy L]

Sounds like clutch to me as well.
I just pulled mine all apart and cleaned all the fibre plates with CRC Break-alean. Perfect for fibre plates and break pads.
You could try speeding up the idle as well. that helped me untill i got used to the bike, as i would always stall as well.

[clmintie]

My suggestion mate. Do NOTHING to the bike.
Get yaself out to a trail park and do a day on the bike.
Then go home,have a beer and think about it again.
Im no friggin expert but steppin from the kdx220 to the KX just took some adjusting. First ride had me a lil nervous but once ya adjust you might find you dont actually have an issue.
SLIGHTLY hijacking--is it possible to get a side stand of some sort for the KX?
its a pain in the arse trying to find a tree to lean on when you are on kid recovery duty

Pretty sure Scott can get stands for KXs