KX Riders

Maintenance & Technical => KX500 Original => Topic started by: aroulette on March 02, 2006, 09:36:39 AM

Title: I need to know what year KX 500 I have
Post by: aroulette on March 02, 2006, 09:36:39 AM

Well, I bought a KX 500 with the understanding that it was a 92 model.  Went to have a top end rebuild and mechanic said its not a 92.  How can I tell.  It has a blue seat with KX on it.  Any other way to tell?  He said it could be 85-88 model

Title: Re: I need to know what year KX 500 I have
Post by: Timbowe on March 02, 2006, 10:06:49 AM

Blue seat blue forks Pink "KX" on the tank decals and pink "500" on the swing arm.

Title: Re: I need to know what year KX 500 I have
Post by: KXcam22 on March 02, 2006, 01:17:50 PM

Also if it has upside down forks it has to be newer than the 89. They started in 1990. Cam.

Title: Re: I need to know what year KX 500 I have
Post by: aroulette on March 02, 2006, 01:47:14 PM

what do you mean upside down fork?  How can I find out the year?

Title: Re: I need to know what year KX 500 I have
Post by: hughes on March 02, 2006, 02:12:54 PM

I think you can enter your bikes s/n on the kawasaki web site. On their site click on motorcycles and then click on owners info and then click on parts diagrams after that you can enter your s/n

Title: Re: I need to know what year KX 500 I have
Post by: YUNGGUNNAZ on March 03, 2006, 12:35:31 AM

0r post your frame and engine numbers here and one of the members can look it up in the manual.

Title: Re: I need to know what year KX 500 I have
Post by: Danger4u2 on March 03, 2006, 01:48:20 AM

This might be helpful.
http://www.kawasakinorthside.com.au/category132_1.htm
Keep in mind plastic can be changed to make a bike look newer or older.
Danger

Title: Re: I need to know what year KX 500 I have
Post by: hughes on March 03, 2006, 03:44:48 AM

Can you post a picture here?

Title: Re: I need to know what year KX 500 I have
Post by: demographic on March 03, 2006, 02:13:49 PM

What diameter are your forks?, thats usually a bit of a giveaway.

Also are they conventional or upside down?

Conventional have the chrome bit at the top (clamped in the triple clamp) and upside down the chrome bit is at the bottom.

The ones since 90 are upside down by the way.

Title: Re: I need to know what year KX 500 I have
Post by: demographic on March 04, 2006, 08:56:45 PM

You might find this....
http://www.bikepics.com/kawasaki/kx500/ (http://www.bikepics.com/kawasaki/kx500/) usefull as there are a few KX500 pics on there sorted by year.

Be aware that the pics on that site are not 100% reliable cos I am fairly sure that I have spotted a couple that are in the wrong year, you should get the general idea though.

Also since there have been no KX500s built since 2004 the ones that are on there later than that are 04 models and theres a 90model on there claiming to be a 91, and also there is what looks like a 91 to 93 model claiming to be a 97.

Oh, you will work it out anyway.

Regards Scott.

Title: Re: I need to know what year KX 500 I have
Post by: Timbowe on March 05, 2006, 10:23:18 AM

This a good example of the 92 kx500.

Title: Re: I need to know what year KX 500 I have
Post by: aroulette on March 07, 2006, 08:45:05 AM

Come to find out, its an 87! WHERE DO I GET PARTS?

Title: Re: I need to know what year KX 500 I have
Post by: hughes on March 07, 2006, 08:53:18 AM

Dude,

I can help with parts. I have spent the last two years restoring my 87 500. Just post what you are looking for.

Title: Re: I need to know what year KX 500 I have
Post by: aroulette on March 10, 2006, 08:23:31 AM

I am looking for a top end rebuild kit.  What do you have?

Title: Re: I need to know what year KX 500 I have
Post by: hughes on March 12, 2006, 12:10:28 PM

I just installed a piston kit for an 88 model in mine. The head gaskets have changed. I just keep a couple of 87 model head gaskets on hand.