Maintenance & Technical > KX500 Original

Is a kx500 the right bike for me. Opinions please. Woods ridding. Should I sell.

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chrisorbics:
Hi I have a 1986 Kawasaki kx500 works replica that is mint and completely stock. It is all stock and has barely any time on it since new. I ride in the woods and as soon as I got the bike I wanted to get a lighting coil and put a kdx200 headlight on it. Then I wanted to get a steahly flywheel weight and a moose reed spacer.

Now I have taken the bike out twice and I have still not done anything to the bike. I am at the point where I can either modify the bike to make it better for what I want to do with it or I can sell it and get something that would be better for me.

The reason I am look for opinions I because I feel like I have something that is meant to go fast all of the time and where I ride it is just not possible to go fast all of the time and that I could have a different bike and go the same speed. I always felt like I should get a suzuki rmx 250, kawasaki kdx250, or a yamaha wr250r.

Am I waisting the speed and power potential if I do not have this bike all out blasting past everybody else all of the time? Should I modify this bike to make a little better torque for offroad ridding or should I sell it and get something that has a headlight, softer suspension, and is already set up for torque. Does anybody have or have ridden any of these 250 two stroke enduros. There is also the kdx200 but that seems a little small. I do not know what to do. Give me your opinion and suggestions.

Chris

The Flyin Hawaiian:
Ive raced/ridden all of the bikes mentioned. They all worked well when setup properly. I raced an 88 KX 500 in enduros in 88-89. The only mods that i did to it were a flywheel weight, 2 base gaskets and had the head modified for a little less compression. It was very smooth and rideable. Still a little too big for our type of terrain. (extremely tight woods, Southern New Jersey has some of the tightest woods in the US) I switched to a KDX 200, which I left mostly stock except for a pipe and silencer. This bike worked very well. It got me into the A class. The early 90s KDX 250 had a great motor but wierd handling. It had a big tank that wouldnt let you get up forward to aid in turning. They werent very popular out here. The RMXs were great bikes and worked well especially when uncorked. One of my favorite bikes was the 94-97 Yamaha WR 250 2t. This bike had all kinds of motor but it also had the big tank, wierd handling issue of the KDX 250. Since the WR was basically a YZ 250, this was easily taken care of with a new tank and YZ seat. The KDX chassis was not based on the KX of that time and there was no easy fix. I had a custom carbon fibre tank made for it, but it was pricey at $400. The WR was bullet proof also. Ive also owned a bunch of converted CRs, YZs, and am currently back on KXs. All 250s. Keep in mind that I primarily raced most of these bikes, but all should work well for the casual trail rider and occasional racer. Do you have any pics of the 500?

The Flyin Hawaiian:
The carbon fibre tank was for the WR not the KDX.

Mick:
The flyin hawaiian has a good answer, but I've got to be the devil's advocate for a minute.
Apparently for the type of riding you do, and the skill that you're at.  Maybe any of those bikes would do you just fine...I don't know?
But if I was your riding buddy, I'd be at your knees begging you not to get any of them.  For the love of god!!
Let me just say size can be deceiving.  You think the 200's would be too small?  I'd beg to differ.  On a dino the 200 will crank out a sliver less hp then those 250's, but they weigh 20 lbs less if I remember right and handle soo much better.  Keep in mind I'm talking about late '90s 200's.  The perimeter frame KDX's.  I suppose as the hawaiian stated if those 250's are set up properly they might be ok.  But IMO the 200's come plenty equipped for play and race applications from the factory.  And you have more choices then just the KDX.  My Dad's Gas Gas 200 is one of the finest off road bikes I've ever ridden.  I've also very much enjoyed my friends KTM's as well.  You can lug them when traction is hard to find and scream them like a 125 when traction is good if you'd like.
I just have to say that if you feel you need to go fast, a bigger motor isn't going to help you.  The 200's are so well made anyone can get on them and haul ass through the sticks with the best of them.  The don't have any weird quirks or handling traights.  And it's not that difficult to build a 200 motor that will run with most "current" 250's.
My personnal bike is a '03 Service Honda (uh oh I said it).  And I was hands down faster in the woods years ago aboard my '93 200 than I am now on my Honda.
If you're a guy who really needs more oomph than the 200 has got, I'd strongly suggest getting any 250 MXer and doing your flywheel weight, hand guard and 18" wheel conversion.
I wouldn't take a truck load of those 90's 250 woods bikes if they were given to me!

The Flyin Hawaiian:
I agree, todays 200s run great. I tried out a KTM 200 not long ago and was surprised at how strong it felt! I myself still prefer the power of a 250. I can lug them down lower with out as much clutch abuse and be a little more lazy with them when I start to get tired. I also tried out a 06 KTM 300 last summer, which I liked alot. I just cant get myself on a KTM, I had a 250 EXC and had nothing but bad luck with it. Next years KTM 250 and 300EXCs are coming with E Start!

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