Maintenance & Technical > KX500 Original
86 overhaul
sandblaster:
That's the way it should be.
It's like my Grand pappy use to say, "I don't care if you play the trumpet through your nose as long as it sounds good".
So, it does not matter how it looks as long as it performs good for you.
Good job.
byron909:
more or less finished the bike today. need to bolt on the skidplate, brake snake, and mount some old decals i had reproduced.
i had a spare shift shaft for my 94, turns out 94 up have bigger spline. was able to bolt up my nice shifter afterwards.
re sealed the airboot, cut out a pc racing pro seal to help seal the filter
put a fresh twin air on, cover and it was done
right side
front, need to mount handguard sheilds
motor left side
front wheel, front caliper/ master/ hose from honda, you can see lower mount bracket i had to make, 260mm rotor
controls, i need a new kill switch. i went to tighten the strap, housing broke. throttle from late model kx
motor right side
oe louvers were black, but used 88 up radiators, so went green
best part
i always liked those decals. behind shroud you can see beefed up pipe mount
byron909:
for the longest time i have been looking for a backwards keihin for my 85 125 and this 86. i knew that tuning this with normal carb would be tedious. i managed to find a right side adjust 35mm pwk for my 125, but never anything for this 500. so now to adjust air screw and idle the airbox needs to be off. but with no airbox it is not the same. i think i will buy like a uni sock filter to help. but i did get it in the ball park. the needle feels lean, but overall ok.
i rode it for about 30 min total today, it is a pretty smooth motor. sitting on stand when you rev it things vibrate, but not much. once your'e on the bike and riding it feels fine. the crank work definatly is worth the $$.
i haven't been on a kx in a long time, used to all my hondas now. but this bike feels fine for me. the tall seat, lowered pegs, rc high bars, tall mounts make everything fit perfect. it seems to shift fine, but the clutch is dragging a little. i had a nos ebc clutch kit i used. will ride some more before taking back apart.
the bike feels light, seems pretty stable. broke the brake pads in, everything works well. head hasn't leaked again yet. the powervlaves are nice and quiet. the weather around here has been all over the place, may be a day or so before i can ride it again. hoping i can make the jetting right without too much more fuss.
i would have liked to put the oem 500 decals on, but the maier sidepanels i bought had louvers like a 88 up right where decal goes. i have since found a company that makes exact replica sidepanels. might one day invest in those.
i have another old bike race in a few weeks. hope to have all the bugs worked out for it.
it's nice to be on a green bike again. i grew up riding 80's kxs, must have had 10-12 or so though the years, this bike brings back lots of memories. i'll admit it took me about 30 minutes to shut the door on it today, was just sitting there looking at it.
1989kawasaki:
AMAZING!!! that bike was scrap metal before the resto.
iamsofaking:
I can't believe how gorgeous that thing is.
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