Maintenance & Technical > KX500 Original
newer 500 vs. older 500
kwakman:
thats a good point tuck. i have so much more than (a lot) of money tied up in mine.its kind of a physical testament to beating a certain addiction, only to replace it with a greener, faster addiction.jobs a fish :wink:
bleeding green:
thanks for the replies guys! I actually love the bike and its in good condition. For the first time a couple weeks back i was riding with a large group and when we passed some riders stopped for a break they all pointed at my bike and nodded as i went by. It made me feel great. The main reason for my question is because i want to tear the bike down this winter and really make it look nice and wasnt sure if i would better off doing that to a newer model 500. But if the 87 is that rare i may just hang on to it. I am attached to it but thought it might be easier to part with if i replaced it with another kx 500.
Polar-Bus:
--- Quote from: bleeding green on June 08, 2011, 02:21:45 PM ---thanks for the replies guys! I actually love the bike and its in good condition. For the first time a couple weeks back i was riding with a large group and when we passed some riders stopped for a break they all pointed at my bike and nodded as i went by. It made me feel great. The main reason for my question is because i want to tear the bike down this winter and really make it look nice and wasnt sure if i would better off doing that to a newer model 500. But if the 87 is that rare i may just hang on to it. I am attached to it but thought it might be easier to part with if i replaced it with another kx 500.
--- End quote ---
Funny story when I first got m6 KX500 about 5 years ago was the first time I took it to my local MX practice track. The is NO equivilant sound than one of a crisp jetted 500cc two stroke. I always fire up my 500 while it's still strapped in the bed of my truck (it's so much easier to get on top of the kick lever standing on the pegs). As soon as I started my 5 everyones head snapped around as everyone was looking at me. There simply isn't many open class bikes around. I highly doubt if anyone younger than 20 years old has even heard a 500cc 2 stroke. So I get all geared up and head through the pits. I see a group of older 40+ vet riders pointing at me , so of course I roll a nice short power wheelie, they all give me the doube thumbs up and one guy runs over to me and yells in a funny voice "GO GET EM' WARDY" . OMG too funny, I was chuckling all the way around the track.... if you are over 40 and you remember the 80's open class you will understand.. :-D
don46:
--- Quote from: bleeding green on June 08, 2011, 02:21:45 PM ---thanks for the replies guys! I actually love the bike and its in good condition. For the first time a couple weeks back i was riding with a large group and when we passed some riders stopped for a break they all pointed at my bike and nodded as i went by. It made me feel great. The main reason for my question is because i want to tear the bike down this winter and really make it look nice and wasnt sure if i would better off doing that to a newer model 500. But if the 87 is that rare i may just hang on to it. I am attached to it but thought it might be easier to part with if i replaced it with another kx 500.
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The 87 is not rare, in my area there are alot of them ( lot of hillclimbers) 87 was not as good as the 86 or the 88, both were more powerful. The topic is older versus newer, there may not be significant compelling reasons to update, 88 frame was basically the same as 89, motor was old style cylinder. if there would be one it would be as stated before parts are getting difficult to get. You may think the motor internals are the same, they aren't. 89 and up are pretty much the same or could be retrofitted with newer parts. The cylinder and head from an 88 are very desireable, but, they have to have good powervalves otherwise they are useless. So at the end of the day, if it were me, I would go for the newer unit, but then thats me.
bleeding green:
thanks for the reply don. i certainly see both sides of the issue and it is definitely going to have to be a clean unit for me to even think about updating. I guess it comes down to having something that not alot of other people have. I have always marched to an old school more power is better drummer. In my neck of the woods i have not even seen another kx500 or cr500 but i spend most of my time trail riding with my family or friends that look at my bike and just shake their head until we see a small straightaway or they get caught in my roost. Its funny how that old bike still has my buddies new 450's running for cover! :-D
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