KX Riders

Maintenance & Technical => KX500 Original => Topic started by: bingowings on June 22, 2007, 07:59:10 AM

Title: KX420
Post by: bingowings on June 22, 2007, 07:59:10 AM

 I know it's not a 500 but do any of you guys have information, comments etc. of the KX420 ? :-D

Title: Re: KX420
Post by: stewart on June 22, 2007, 08:10:06 AM

i had one that was about a 1981  model   and rode it  for 2 years  traded it off then traded back for it rode it another 2 years  never had to work on it  great bike  i

Title: Re: KX420
Post by: Platypus on June 22, 2007, 08:13:18 AM

http://www.kxriders.com/forums/index.php?topic=2889.0 


Stewart posted right before me so you can see he has had one, as well as one other person on this board.  It's a 420 and it's GREEN!

Title: Re: KX420
Post by: hughes on June 22, 2007, 08:14:41 AM

I would like to see some more vintage bikes on here. That kx420 would be nice for vintage racing.

Title: Re: KX420
Post by: hughes on June 22, 2007, 08:57:39 AM

http://www.kxriders.com/coppermine/thumbnails.php?album=112

This guy has some sick old school bikes.

Title: Re: KX420
Post by: hangtime on June 22, 2007, 02:05:17 PM

I think a complete collection of KX big bore bikes would be worth some good money one day.

Title: Re: KX420
Post by: kxs in oz on June 22, 2007, 03:35:19 PM

Hi Bingowings i have a couple of kx 420 and 500 the kx 420 only came out in 1980 and 81 they had a option engine kit they used in GP racing made it a 443cc engine buy strocking the crank shaft 2mm and changing the pipe aswell. The biggest problem is the rear uni trak rocker arm failing the center bush and braking the frame and they cracked the frame around the head stem from big jumps the forks were not strong enought being 38mm they also needed twin leading shoes on the front do stop to good cheers kxs in oz

Title: Re: KX420
Post by: bingowings on June 23, 2007, 06:57:56 AM

 Thanks Guys. :-D

Title: Re: KX420
Post by: KXcam22 on June 24, 2007, 04:48:00 PM

I don't share the same rosy opinion of the KX420.   I got sponsored on a pair in 1980 when I first went pro.  I was so stoked, 2 free bikes and parts.  The bike was very fast and the rear uni-trac worked great.  However, between the 2 bikes I could barely finish a race, DNF's everywhere.  I broke the frame downtubes, tripple clamps and even the shift drum once(if you can believe it - how do you break a shift drum).  I guess I should have taken it as an omen when I was prepping the bike and tightening the top tripple clamp and it snapped in half -before I had even ridden the bike.  Kawasaki screwed up that year and many of the parts didn't get listed or stocked in Canada so they had to fly many of the parts in. The others I had to repair myself or wait forever. At the end before I gave the bikes back, I was going through a set of shift forks a race.  Turns out the replacement OEM parts were not factory heat treated so would bend with any abuse.  Got to be a pro a heat treating to get them to last longer.  Returned both bikes NFG in boxes. Was Canadian Champ the previous year and nobody that year. Sorry was I venting. Cam.