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 funnyat 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.