KX Riders

General => In General... => Topic started by: Billman on April 05, 2005, 08:44:28 AM

Title: Parts Availability
Post by: Billman on April 05, 2005, 08:44:28 AM
:?: I have 2001 Kx 500 and just curious about how much longer Kawasaki will support parts for it.  Anyone have any thoughts on this?
Title: Parts Availability
Post by: gowen on April 05, 2005, 10:41:27 AM
as long as there is a demand
Title: Parts Availability
Post by: alan on April 05, 2005, 10:44:33 AM
I have a 01 KX5 and I sold my 1987 YZ490 a year ago and you still can get parts for it!

So I think parts will be around for a least 10 years with after market taking up the slack on plastic and other wear parts! There are a bunch of interchangeable parts from the KX125 & KX250. The motor parts could get scarce first, but that will be years. I would bet that they will make motor parts for at least 7 years.

Alan :roll:
Title: Parts Availability
Post by: Billman on April 05, 2005, 01:27:35 PM
Thanks for the input , I love my KX5 and plan to hold onto it as long as parts can be found .
Title: Parts Availability
Post by: ebers17 on April 05, 2005, 02:21:03 PM
alan, this is off topic, but man would i love to ride one of those 490's in the woods!  How did that compare to the 500?  My dad had one a few years back set up for the flat-track, that thing was a rocket ship!!!! he had to let go of it after being off of it for a while due to injury, but looking back i wish he would've hung on to it!  Seth
Title: Parts Availability
Post by: Ramski on April 05, 2005, 02:24:23 PM
I think plastic will be the hardest to get first.  I know my brother has a '94 YZ250 and Acerbis and UFO no longer make the plastic for it as of 2005.  Talk to anyone that has a vintage bike and they'll tell you that on most bikes, it's the plastic that's hardest to get.
Title: Parts Availability
Post by: GDubb on April 06, 2005, 01:33:19 AM
I think that one thing us KX500 owners have going for us is that alot of the parts are interchangeable  over a broad range of years.  That equals less tooling, molds, etc. that have to be kept on hand to manufacture parts for this model. So hopefully that, and if there continues to be a steady  demand for parts, it will keep them coming for years to come.
Title: Parts Availability
Post by: alan on April 06, 2005, 03:31:37 AM
Quote from: ebers17
alan, this is off topic, but man would i love to ride one of those 490's in the woods!  How did that compare to the 500?  My dad had one a few years back set up for the flat-track, that thing was a rocket ship!!!! he had to let go of it after being off of it for a while due to injury, but looking back i wish he would've hung on to it!  Seth
The power was comparable, however the 490 was very explosive and while predictable it was a real handful if you had traction. I only road it in the dunes and desert! The KX with reed spacer and a good pipe is a dream by comparison! When it comes to suspension there is no comparison the KX has it hands down! I would much prefer one of the new 250 4 strokes for the trail or mountain riding!

Alan

Ps I do have a couple of drag races on my site! KX vs YZ, in my video section!
Title: Parts Availability
Post by: hughes on April 10, 2005, 12:40:28 PM
Billman,  I have a 87 500 that I am restoring I have not had a problem getting kaw. parts. I found a UFO Plast dealer that can get plactic's for 500's striaght from UFO themself. Contact tufracing.com(get their phone number off site and call) ask for dave in parts. He had side panels,shrouds and fenders in stock for my 87. With your year bike I would not be worried about anything.