Maintenance & Technical > KX500 Original

Gas Guzzler

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c-152:
Okay, I have had my k5 for over 2 yrs now and love the thing.  I run in tight trail and areas were we are making new trails threw nasty stuff all the time (all with landowners permision).  The low end power alows me to slog threw anything.  The poblem I am having is running out of fuel very quickly.  Most of my buddies run 125s or 250s and seem to run all day on one tank, were as I keep having to make everyone turn around about an hour and a half in to go back for fuel.  It seems like the thing runs about 2hrs on one tank.  In fact, had I not broke my bars on a hill climb during my last harescramble, I would have not had enough fuel with me to finish and I took 4 gallons.  This does not seem right to me as I dont remember this being as much of an issue last year.  I do not want to put a big tank on it unless I absolutelly have to.  My question is, does this sound about right for fuel use to you guys or should I be looking for a leak? I haven't noticed anything.

Danger4u2:
My '04 K5 sucks the fuel.  I think it has something to do with the twisty thing of the right side handle bar.  My bike has low hours but I have been buying parts just to keep in stock.  I want to be ready when I need them.  I got a new piston and man I did not realize just how big they are until I had it in my hand.  My lean on the fuel issue is this...  Twice the displacement of the 250 but about the same weight.  I would guess the K5 would use 1/4 to 1/3 more fuel.  Could it be your racing ahead and idling waiting for the pack to catch up?  Most of my riding buds have quads and that's what I do run ahead and wait.  I did buy a IMS tank, I think it adds 1.2 gal. of extra fuel.  I'm going to make the bike street legal and need the extra fuel.  Not to ride on the street all the time.  I want it legal for the dual sport rides I go on.  We have to ride on the State Highway between trail heads.  It can be 5 to 20 miles of Highway sometimes.  The last 2 years I have stayed between legal bikes and hope for the best.  No tickets so far.  As you get older you will get tired before you get low on fuel.  Getting hurt real bad back in Dec. of '04 took allot of stamina from my body plus the muscle lost to atrophy, not being able to do anything for 8 months.  I think the fuel issue is part of owning a KX500,  we'll just have to deal with it.  I'll let you know how the bigger tank feels when it's full.
Danger4u2

maddoggy:
if you are pushing your kx5 very hard at all then 2 hours on a stock sized tank of fuel is about right. i recently rode a couple days in sand and could only ride a hard 1 1/2 - 2 hours and had to return to base for fuel and that was with rest breaks figured in. I rode my k5 with a ktm 550 , and a cr250. one ride we(the two big bore bikes) had to sacrifice fuel to the cr250 after he ran out so he could make it back to base. thank god for the empty h2o bottle in my pack. i've never tried the desert tanks but i think they would feel odd with that extra weight up that high :|, but if you need the extra fuel what other choice do you have. i've seriously considered buying a desert tank. if i keep riding in the dunes i may have to. MADDOGGY  :-P :-D

c-152:
Thanks guys, I new this would be an issue and I think I am just now getting to realize it because I am more comfortable on the bike know, riding a lot more (thus riding better) and using the go stick more liberally. I think I might have to invest in a long range tank but really don?t want to if I don?t have to because I am weight conscious (about the bike not me) and really to want a bulky tank.  Danger I would love to hear your opinion on how you like the larger tank.

moreccsthanlbs:
i put on a clarke 3.9 gal desert tank and love it. i had an ims b4, but after 5 years, it started to get surface cracks on the side. i'm 300lbs, so i can still man-handle the beast even with the extra weight. i added an acerbis 1.3 gal aux tank to the forks, and took it off after one ride.the weight on the front end made me work too hard, but just a desert tank wasn't a problem. i can probably get 70 miles out of a tank(and that's riding pretty hard). if you stick with a stock tank, short rides are something you'll just have to deal with.

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