Maintenance & Technical > KX500 Original
Top End Longevity with good oil!
KXcam22:
I just took off the top end on my '92 for the first time. Last ride I was able to bump start it down a steep hill which means (to me) compression is down a touch. Barely noticable at the kickstart. After 12 seasons of riding the lack of top end wear is amazing. Cylinder is great, piston is still servicable and the power valve operates fine, no carbon to speak of. I'm an ex-pro MXer and although I don't ride as hard as I used to, the bike still gets ridden reasonably hard. The bike has only been raced 8 times but I still figure I must have 500 to 700 trail hours on it. The secrets: Run good 2-stroke oil and clean the filter lots. The bike has spent it's whole life on a diet of 60:1 Belray MC-1 with 4 or 5 seasons at 70:1. Kudos for good oil.
In the past I had a similar experiece with my 1979 Maico 400 race bike. In those days I ran 85:1 MC-1 (was the recommended ratio) and got over 50 MX races (plus 3 days/week practise) on a top end. Since that experience I have always run it in everything I own, outboard, snowmobile, chainsaw, weedwacker etc, same 60:1 ratio. I know there are lots of good oils out there, but the Belray MC-1 has been my long-term choice and it has proven itself once again. Cam.
hughes:
Good Info. I think a lot of guys forget about the importance of a clean air filter. Went to the local track this weekend and you would not believe how many bikes showed up at the track looking like they have never been washed I'm talking about mud not just some dust that could be easy to wash off. What I getting at is that if the bike looks like that first thing showing up at the track maintainance might be lacking. Today's dirt bikes are race machines that need coutinous maintainance. For oil I use Yamalube 2-R at 32:1 with Yamaha'a ring free. I have not tried to use a lighter ratio due to the fact my manual say's my 500 should run on 32:1. What do ya'll think?
machine:
I run a "light" 40:1 of Maxima 927 ONLY!
Arigato:
Yamalube 40:1.
machine:
U guys might hate me 4 this!
But Yamalube in a Kawi hurts me!!!
Blue, won't mix with green!!!! :lol:
No, I know it's a good oil!!!! :wink:
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