AZdirtRiDeR - first KX500

[AZdirtRiDeR]

My kid's got the KX125 and that's nice.  I didn't like the KLR650 and got rid of that. 

I'm not much of a "stock" guy.  I've built my street bike Bandit 1200 into a 1216 ported, cammed, monster and really didn't want to go through that again with a XR400, yeah the 440 kit looked okay, but I wanted more, so I just sold the XR and decided on the KX500.

So, today I'm going to look at a KX500.  I know to look for swingarm, and wheel bearings, but other than the simple leaks and stuff what else should I look for to ensure this is the right bike???

Any help is greatly appreciated...I'll be back.

Thanks,

[Danger4u2]

Man got rid of the KLR??, your killing me here.  I have an '07 KLR and yes it's not the KX500 but it's still a fun bike and great bike to buzz up to the store for milk and bread.  I'm just giving you a hard time.  I got rid of a VTX 1800 Honda and the KLR is not the VTX.  As far as the KX your going to look at.  The first thing I do when looking at a dirt bike is look from behind the bike and see if the rear fender is in line with the back wheel.  If it's not it might have been flipped.  I flipped mine and worked and worked on getting it straight.  It's still off just a little.  If the the bike has alot of after market stuff on it the owner usually is someone that takes care of his stuff.  Most people that spend big bucks on a bike take care of it.  Look for boot wear.  Look where the chain chews on the sub frame.  The K5 has horse power and that puts wear on all the components.  Good luck on finding your K5, I know you'll have as much fun as us when you do.
Danger

[kx666]

Hello AZ,
Welcome!!
somthing to keep in mind is that just because a bike has factory plastic does not mean anything. i always remove all of the factory parts before they have 1 ride on them.

one thing i do when looking at a new bike is take the spark plug out and with a mirror and a small flashlight (i use an LED pen light) and look for scoreing on the cil walls and look to see what condition the powervalves are in.

i have had a few issues with the fork seals on my 2001 and also my pipe cracks a lot (stock pipe), but they hold up better than most bikes, the k5 is the 2nd most relaiable 2 stroke i have owned. (1st beeing my banshee but not by far)

good luck on your search
steve

[AZdirtRiDeR]

I saw it today and fell in love...

It's a '93.  It's ridden not stored.  I'll have to do the fork seals - I'll ask later on those.  And it has a slow leak from behind the front sprocket, but it oils the chain nicely

Nothing else leaks.  The exhaust has been welded from falls in a couple places, but what totally sold me was the throttle.  There was no peak sweetspot, no weird non-linear powerband.  The thing ROCKED. 

The dude showed off for me.  He's a 320lb huge guy.  He leaned forward over the tank and power wheelied in first and second roosting the whole way.  I was sold at that point and heard nothing else

I brought a buddy with me that's a bit of a Bike Tech and he agreed that the money the owner was asking was certainly within reason.

I'll be picking it up on Sunday.

[MadKaw]

congradulations on the new baby. sounds like a winner. get some shots of it up when you can.

[AZdirtRiDeR]

Good thing I love my kids.

I bought a KX125 for my oldest son 12.

It would have been his second bike as he outgrew his first one... BUT NO, it's just too big for him.  I took out the seat foam and everything, but it's just too big.

So, today when I'm SUPPOSED to be picking up MY KX500 NO, I'M PICKING UP A TTR125 FOR HIM!!!!!!!!!!

Now, I'm stuck with the KX125 until I can afford to buy  the KX500.

Good thing I love my kids more than my bikes

I'm so $(#)(^)#$)*(@&

[steve1965]

AZ were do you ride at? I live in Buckeye and ride on the weekends west of here and behind the White Tanks. Hope you can get the K5 I have had mine for about 2 months and love it.

                 Steve