KX500 RACE TECH SUSPENSION BUILD
- Sandblaster
- Posts: 6313
- Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2012 3:50 pm
- Location: Eugene, OR
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KX500 RACE TECH SUSPENSION BUILD
I have tried other suspension companies with varied results.
But I finally decided that I was going to do it myself.
After all, what's the big deal, piston, seals, some shims, oil, nitrogen, and your good to go right?
So, I ordered new bushings, seals, springs, and some Race Tech Gold Valve kits.
Since I don't race Supercross I bought the Type 1 Fork Gold Valve Kit.
Here is Race Tech's explanation of the Type 1 kit.
Race Tech's original bolt-on fork valving system for cartridge forks. Gold Valves commonly triple the flow area over stock pistons, putting valving control on the shim stack instead of the piston. This results in outstanding tuneability, improved control, traction, plushness and bottoming resistance.
Includes complete instructions, Gold Valve Pistons, Valving Charts, and Valving Shims. Most models also include the "Technical Edge Fork Maintenance and Gold Valve Installation Video".
Note: Standard Gold Valve Kits are Compression Kits. Kits that end in "C" include both Compression and Rebound Gold Valves.
We will start with the shock...
Here is the parts:
But I finally decided that I was going to do it myself.
After all, what's the big deal, piston, seals, some shims, oil, nitrogen, and your good to go right?
So, I ordered new bushings, seals, springs, and some Race Tech Gold Valve kits.
Since I don't race Supercross I bought the Type 1 Fork Gold Valve Kit.
Here is Race Tech's explanation of the Type 1 kit.
Race Tech's original bolt-on fork valving system for cartridge forks. Gold Valves commonly triple the flow area over stock pistons, putting valving control on the shim stack instead of the piston. This results in outstanding tuneability, improved control, traction, plushness and bottoming resistance.
Includes complete instructions, Gold Valve Pistons, Valving Charts, and Valving Shims. Most models also include the "Technical Edge Fork Maintenance and Gold Valve Installation Video".
Note: Standard Gold Valve Kits are Compression Kits. Kits that end in "C" include both Compression and Rebound Gold Valves.
We will start with the shock...
Here is the parts:
If bikes are for kids I'll never grow up.
- Sandblaster
- Posts: 6313
- Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2012 3:50 pm
- Location: Eugene, OR
- Contact:
Re: KX500 RACE TECH SUSPENSION BUILD
Before I opened the directions I started taking my shock apart.
I'm committed now so no going back
Now, before you get started opening up all your packages, do yourself a huge favor and clean your work area.
The cleaner the better...
You don't want to contaminate your new parts with dirty old parts.
I disassembled everything and cleaned everything up really good.
Ready?
Get out your directions and read them...
As it turns out I consider these to be generic directions.
They try to cover a lot of different scenarios with the same directions.
While this is great for saving Race Tech time writing specific directions for each shock, it does cause some questions to be asked.
Yes, I called Race Tech a few times during the installation.
Now that I have done it and know what I'm looking for I shouldn't have to call them for the front forks unless something is missing from the directions.
Here is a few pics of another older kx500 shock mostly disassembled.
The left side is the piston which will be replaced with the gold valve and shim stack.
The right side is replaced with a entirely new seal head.
No, I didn't use the Race Tech seal head.
I probably should have but I had this in stock and didn't want to have it go to waste
Bladder pic.
I'm committed now so no going back
Now, before you get started opening up all your packages, do yourself a huge favor and clean your work area.
The cleaner the better...
You don't want to contaminate your new parts with dirty old parts.
I disassembled everything and cleaned everything up really good.
Ready?
Get out your directions and read them...
As it turns out I consider these to be generic directions.
They try to cover a lot of different scenarios with the same directions.
While this is great for saving Race Tech time writing specific directions for each shock, it does cause some questions to be asked.
Yes, I called Race Tech a few times during the installation.
Now that I have done it and know what I'm looking for I shouldn't have to call them for the front forks unless something is missing from the directions.
Here is a few pics of another older kx500 shock mostly disassembled.
The left side is the piston which will be replaced with the gold valve and shim stack.
The right side is replaced with a entirely new seal head.
No, I didn't use the Race Tech seal head.
I probably should have but I had this in stock and didn't want to have it go to waste
Bladder pic.
If bikes are for kids I'll never grow up.
- Sandblaster
- Posts: 6313
- Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2012 3:50 pm
- Location: Eugene, OR
- Contact:
Re: KX500 RACE TECH SUSPENSION BUILD
As you can see, this shock was really dirty from sitting around in a box disassembled.
If it was going to be rebuilt it would have to be thoroughly cleaned.
So back to the goods...
Here is the first page of the directions..
I have highlighted two key pieces of information.
The first is your internet access code.
This code allows you to go online and download your shim stack charts.
These shim stack specs are extremely important and are based on the info you provide to Race Tech.
So please,,, please...please, be honest with yourself.
Make sure the info you provide is accurate.
If your not a Pro Supercross rider, don't say you are.
You will be way happier building your suspension based on your REAL riding level.
I'm setting mine up for desert racing so plush, smooth suspension action is what I want.
I want to pass guys over miles of whoops sitting on the seat and sipping some tea
This is the part I found funny...
So here I am, out a few hundred bucks in suspension parts, I've got my forks and shock off, my shock is disassembled, am I gonna stop now?
NO!
If it was going to be rebuilt it would have to be thoroughly cleaned.
So back to the goods...
Here is the first page of the directions..
I have highlighted two key pieces of information.
The first is your internet access code.
This code allows you to go online and download your shim stack charts.
These shim stack specs are extremely important and are based on the info you provide to Race Tech.
So please,,, please...please, be honest with yourself.
Make sure the info you provide is accurate.
If your not a Pro Supercross rider, don't say you are.
You will be way happier building your suspension based on your REAL riding level.
I'm setting mine up for desert racing so plush, smooth suspension action is what I want.
I want to pass guys over miles of whoops sitting on the seat and sipping some tea
This is the part I found funny...
So here I am, out a few hundred bucks in suspension parts, I've got my forks and shock off, my shock is disassembled, am I gonna stop now?
NO!
If bikes are for kids I'll never grow up.
- Sandblaster
- Posts: 6313
- Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2012 3:50 pm
- Location: Eugene, OR
- Contact:
Re: KX500 RACE TECH SUSPENSION BUILD
Trying to figure out which of all these charts I'm suppose to use for the shim stacks..
If bikes are for kids I'll never grow up.
- Sandblaster
- Posts: 6313
- Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2012 3:50 pm
- Location: Eugene, OR
- Contact:
Re: KX500 RACE TECH SUSPENSION BUILD
I read all the directions, I looked at all the spec sheets I downloaded from Race Tech with my Internet Access code.... nothing..
So, not wanting to admit defeat I called Race Tech.
They were busy and I had to leave a message.
So I figured that I might as well watch some Race Tech how to video's on You Tube.
There were a few surprises in the video's, nothing major.
About the time I finished watching the last video I received a return call from Race Tech.
After a little head scratching we figured out that all the shim stack info was not on my paperwork.
There must have been a computer glitch because when I downloaded the specs for the forks today, all the shim stack info was there.
So the Race Tech rep gave me the specs on the phone...
Finally, it all makes sense now
With the shim stack numbers and the aid of this diagram you simply stack the shims in the order they are shown on the chart.
So, not wanting to admit defeat I called Race Tech.
They were busy and I had to leave a message.
So I figured that I might as well watch some Race Tech how to video's on You Tube.
There were a few surprises in the video's, nothing major.
About the time I finished watching the last video I received a return call from Race Tech.
After a little head scratching we figured out that all the shim stack info was not on my paperwork.
There must have been a computer glitch because when I downloaded the specs for the forks today, all the shim stack info was there.
So the Race Tech rep gave me the specs on the phone...
Finally, it all makes sense now
With the shim stack numbers and the aid of this diagram you simply stack the shims in the order they are shown on the chart.
If bikes are for kids I'll never grow up.
- Sandblaster
- Posts: 6313
- Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2012 3:50 pm
- Location: Eugene, OR
- Contact:
Re: KX500 RACE TECH SUSPENSION BUILD
I'll post some more info on this after I go on a coast run.
There are some mile long whoop sections I want to go destroy...
There are some mile long whoop sections I want to go destroy...
If bikes are for kids I'll never grow up.
- Sandblaster
- Posts: 6313
- Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2012 3:50 pm
- Location: Eugene, OR
- Contact:
Re: KX500 RACE TECH SUSPENSION BUILD
Here is another KX500 rear shock being built by Master Mechanic JT..
If bikes are for kids I'll never grow up.
- Sandblaster
- Posts: 6313
- Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2012 3:50 pm
- Location: Eugene, OR
- Contact:
Re: KX500 RACE TECH SUSPENSION BUILD
And JT stacking a valve on a 08 KX450F fork..
If bikes are for kids I'll never grow up.
- Sandblaster
- Posts: 6313
- Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2012 3:50 pm
- Location: Eugene, OR
- Contact:
Re: KX500 RACE TECH SUSPENSION BUILD
They look so nice and purdy when they are fresh..
If bikes are for kids I'll never grow up.
- Sandblaster
- Posts: 6313
- Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2012 3:50 pm
- Location: Eugene, OR
- Contact:
Re: KX500 RACE TECH SUSPENSION BUILD
Being very picky....
JT has applied to be a hand model but so far no takers
JT has applied to be a hand model but so far no takers
If bikes are for kids I'll never grow up.
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