what paddles for KXT 500?

[danimal95]

trying to get ready for the dune ride and i am in need of some new rear paddles for the 500.....and thoughts?obviously looking for maximum traction....thanks

[TheBlueWale]

Are you considering to use paddles for the stock tecate rims or would you consider getting some klf 185 or 220 hubs so you can run the honda bolt pattern and be able to use some 8" wheels?

Although I never tried them, I think that pro wedges/4snows would do pretty good in the sand and they can be used in the snow as well.

[cr480r]

Swingarm length is a big factor

[danimal95]

just stretched my stock swinger to a +4...and i have a set of 10" douglas wheels with paddles on them already

[Bretmd94]

Swingarm length is a big factor

I concur, are you concerned about dragging? Or do you want to be able to slide some?

Haulers or (extremes) are light weight with great traction, but they slide the least.

If your doing some light dragging and want a retro tire I personally love the Pro-Wedge II's if you can find a pair. (4 snows are the same but new). Again sliding is not really an option.

For good all around the Skat Track Wedge, Sand Tires Unlimited Sand Skate 1 or 2, I haven't tried the ITP v paddles yet but I assume they are decent.

Weight is your biggest factor with paddles. Some of the brands have stupidly heavy paddle tires that to more harm than good IMO.

[cr480r]

What kind are the paddles you have now?

[dcreel]

All I have ever used on my Tecate are Skat Trak 8 paddle haulers and I've never had any trouble sliding in the dunes.. (look at my avatar)

[cr480r]

It's hard to beat a 8 paddle hauler. I definately wouldn't go any more with just a 4". That's in Oregon though, I don't know about other areas. My bikes always turned decent with haulers, but I have ridden some that would not.

[danimal95]

thanks guys,i really only do light dragging,more power slides,small jumps and flat out top speed runs.i have skat tracks onthere now and compared to the sand starts on my banshee they suck for traction,i can literally bury it just tring to get moving,mabey they are just wore out the swing arm stretch was really to keep this thing from trying to kill me every time i get on the gas,as opposed to a better ride over the dunes

[cr480r]

Yeah they must be worn if the sand stars have more hook. My 8 haulers will pull the front up in any gear with a 4". But maybe your sand is different. Are your skats edge or hualer? Big difference.

[danimal95]

i believe they are haulers...not 100% sure tho

[jeddy]

For a 500, I'd recommend some Skat Trak Xtreme's. #of paddles and height would be up to you. I had a set on my 600X and they were great, and I have a set that I'm excited to try out on the Ban-Z. The 600X tires were kind of tall, and you had to work them to slide it but it was still doable (sometimes just required growing a pair and twisting the trottle), the Ban-Z tires are a little shorter so I'm hoping they slide better. I also think that having a taller rim makes it easier to slide as the tires sidewall won't give as much, but that's just my opinion. I think the 600X paddles were 10 or maybe even 11, and the Ban-Z's are 9 paddle. I don't do a lot of drag racing, so I look for a better all around tire that I can trail ride, but I do prefer the straight paddle so when I do need the traction it is there. If I were you, I'd be getting a 9 or 10 paddle Xtreme with as tall of a rim and short of a tire as I could find. I would say the V-style paddles are easier to ride, but if you were just looking for something that was easy you wouldn't be riding a nasty, built three wheeler...

[Bretmd94]

All I have ever used on my Tecate are Skat Trak 8 paddle haulers and I've never had any trouble sliding in the dunes.. (look at my avatar)

You running a 10" rim? I have slid my 8 paddle haulers on 8" rim in the soft stuff (like on a tight turn on a hill as your doing in your av). They really don't want to slide though, and with a +4 good luck. I'm not saying you can't its just hard and doesn't always work.

In my 250 video in my sig, Easymoney has a +4 swinger and is using the STU sand skate 1's. He wasn't have any trouble with some big long drifts on wet sand.

Haulers on wet sand just want to go straight. Every time I am using them wet or dry sand I am always fighting to turn quickly. It doesn't need to be that hard.

They are the best for hole shots, climbing, and casual dragging though.

Keep in mind all my experience is on an 8x8 rim size for the extra traction. I have rode a 10" Hauler on friends bikes. A 10" rim delivers much more slide ability but loses traction because of the contact area of the tire on the sand.

[dcreel]

I will agree my 8 paddle haulers were on a 10" wheel with a +2 Westcoast on my Tecate. It wasn't a u turn though, it was a long slide across the top of a dune. I actually have pictures taken at the same place doing the same thing one handed. Ahh youth. I have only used sand skates on a 200x so can't really say much about their abilities vs the 8 paddle haulers. I will say that the 10" 8 paddle haulers would do anything I wanted them to do.

Here is a better pic. It was taken 20 years ago.. (the pic sucks it's a blown up pic that is framed in my garage)

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/dcreel/Riding%20pics/tecate001.jpg

[bigbadktm]

how about the padla brats from STU? I had a buddy that had some on his built 250r and they were pretty sweet. comes in 6 or 9 cups