KX Riders
Maintenance & Technical => KX500 Original => Topic started by: SweetTea on November 07, 2010, 12:06:10 PM
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Are the Ebay radiators any good? I see they are a decent price for a pair, compared to an outrageous price for one from OEM. It appears they are made by private buisnesses, and are brand new. My right radiator is fine, but the left is bent somewhat. I'm also debating on sending it to Mylers radiator repair here in Utah, but haven't decided yet. I want it to be like brand new.
Also, are the Tusk radiators any good?
Any experience?
Thanks again!
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if your in utah, go talk to the guy at mylers, he can make you a custom set of rads. they look sweet, and are reasonable. he does great work. check him out.
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Look at the sellers location.
If he is in Taiwan I can tell you my experience.
I bought a pair and they were shipped very quickly.
They look great!
When I tried to mount them the holes were too small and not perfectly aligned.
A few minutes on the drill press fixed them up.
I mounted them and once again they looked great!
The next problem I ran into was the radiator screens.
The screens did not snap into the radiators very well because the thickness of the mount area was greater than the stock radiators.
The fix was a little black RTV silicone.
Now they stay in place just fine after several rides.
Even while slow desert riding my bike does not over heat.
Although, the stock radiators only gave me trouble one time after several slow speed, high RPM attempts at one really nasty sand hill climb that I was told couldn't be done on a bike.
I had to prove that it could be done :-)
Any way, the guy who sold them to me gave a partial refund.
This was over a year ago so I would think they would have that problem solved by now.
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Look at the sellers location.
If he is in Taiwan I can tell you my experience.
I bought a pair and they were shipped very quickly.
They look great!
When I tried to mount them the holes were too small and not perfectly aligned.
A few minutes on the drill press fixed them up.
I mounted them and once again they looked great!
The next problem I ran into was the radiator screens.
The screens did not snap into the radiators very well because the thickness of the mount area was greater than the stock radiators.
The fix was a little black RTV silicone.
Now they stay in place just fine after several rides.
Even while slow desert riding my bike does not over heat.
Although, the stock radiators only gave me trouble one time after several slow speed, high RPM attempts at one really nasty sand hill climb that I was told couldn't be done on a bike.
I had to prove that it could be done :-)
Any way, the guy who sold them to me gave a partial refund.
This was over a year ago so I would think they would have that problem solved by now.
So would you say these radiators are a good buy? :?
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K, I just ordered a set off ebay for $190. Hopefully they will do good. Mylers wanted $310 for a pair, and they look just like the ones on Ebay.
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Look at the sellers location.
If he is in Taiwan I can tell you my experience.
I bought a pair and they were shipped very quickly.
They look great!
When I tried to mount them the holes were too small and not perfectly aligned.
A few minutes on the drill press fixed them up.
I mounted them and once again they looked great!
The next problem I ran into was the radiator screens.
The screens did not snap into the radiators very well because the thickness of the mount area was greater than the stock radiators.
The fix was a little black RTV silicone.
Now they stay in place just fine after several rides.
Even while slow desert riding my bike does not over heat.
Although, the stock radiators only gave me trouble one time after several slow speed, high RPM attempts at one really nasty sand hill climb that I was told couldn't be done on a bike.
I had to prove that it could be done :-)
Any way, the guy who sold them to me gave a partial refund.
This was over a year ago so I would think they would have that problem solved by now.
So would you say these radiators are a good buy? :?
Yes, I liked them very much.
Let me know if they solved the mounting hole problems they were having.
Thanks!
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Will do! Would you say the thickness and length of the radiators are about the same as stock or a little more? I was just wondering if they would look a little funky or get in the way of anything?
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They are thicker but that has not created any problems.
Nothing looks funky.
When everything is mounted you would have to look hard to find anything out of place.
If I think about it I'll try to get some pics up.
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ok, i just got a set of chinese rads, took about 10 days to england and cost ?100. the finishing is poor. the set i bought is for a 99 - 02 kx 250 with 30% more capacity, as it is for 250/500 project i thought the bigger capacity would be good for the 500 engine. so i fitted them to the frame and they bolted to frame nicely but when i came to puting the tank on to check the fit of the rad plastics the tank fouled the top of the rads because they are thicker than stock. i can work with these rads but i will have to do some finishing with a file and emery paper, also i will have to mod the tank very slightly with a heat gun. all in all i am reasonably happy with the price i payed but bare in mind i am doing a project and a couple more small mods means nothing. there are several manufacturers or these in china and im sure there are better and worse out there. these were from a company on ebay called racing sport. heres some pics i have included a pic with a stock rad to show the difference in thickness. my opinion is; i would buy again as this is a cheap option but would expect to do so mods or finishing.
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I would be interested in getting a set of rads this winter. Since there is a few import sources, it would be great to choose the best one. I was wondering if those who had purchased could list the specific manufacturer, source and pro/con. Sandblaster, do you remember the vendor?
Fitz
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http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/KX500-KX-500-MXPUK-Performance-Radiators-MX012-/150483155958?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item23097ebbf6
take a look at these flyingfitz, this is a uk company. i dont know if they are importing them from china or not but i spoke to them about these a while ago when they had them priced at ?200. they said they are of good quality. i have no reason to disbelieve them as they are a reputable uk company that i have dealt with in the past. also i would think returns to them would be more straight forward as they speak english. i would have no problem in buying a set from them they just dont do the rads i needed
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I would be interested in getting a set of rads this winter. Since there is a few import sources, it would be great to choose the best one. I was wondering if those who had purchased could list the specific manufacturer, source and pro/con. Sandblaster, do you remember the vendor?
Fitz
Hi Fitz.
I had to dig deep for my receipt :-) asi_performance
http://stores.ebay.com/Asi-Factory-Direct?_rdc=1 (http://stores.ebay.com/Asi-Factory-Direct?_rdc=1)
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http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/KX500-KX-500-MXPUK-Performance-Radiators-MX012-/150483155958?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item23097ebbf6
take a look at these flyingfitz, this is a uk company. i dont know if they are importing them from china or not but i spoke to them about these a while ago when they had them priced at ?200. they said they are of good quality. i have no reason to disbelieve them as they are a reputable uk company that i have dealt with in the past. also i would think returns to them would be more straight forward as they speak english. i would have no problem in buying a set from them they just dont do the rads i needed
I checked out that UK link.
Those radiators appear to be identical to mine.
I suspect that they are getting them from Taiwan.
If they have a good reputation why worry? :-o
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These are the one's I got, they all appear to be indentical to me.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190463285324&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT
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Thanks for the posts. I looked on the asi ebay site and they are not showing any kx500 models now. Based on pics and description they all do appear the same. If currency rate and shipping cost yield similar price, I think I will go with the reputable english speaking source.
If anyone else has nuances between models please post. I bet they could sell a ton of these off of this site alone if the quality and compatability prove to be good.
Fitz
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the one posted are not a exopy core witch is a good thing.
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I received my Ebay Radiators today. They look pretty good actually, nice polished aluminum, although I'd rather have the dull stock looking aluminum, but hey, I'm not going to complain. The left looks like it will mount right up no problems. However the middle mount on the right radiator is way off. I will have to drill a new hole. It's not bad however cause there is plenty of metal on the mount tab to drill another hole. Hopefully it won't interfere with the upper exhaust pipe mount, if so, I'll have to trim the mount tab.
Sandblaster, It appears the plastic screens should snap in O-K, i didn't snap them in fully, but I don't think the thickness of the metal tabs will be a problem. I'll let ya know when I get everything together.
I'm still waiting on lots of goodies to return, inlcluding my entire top end, so it will be a bit before I fully test these rads. Once I get everything I will take pics and create a new post for my build. I think I made a good purchase with these radiators considering how much stock radiators are. If they dont' leak and last a long time, I'll be a happy camper.
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Dragging this one back to the top..
As this seems to be the same radiator that your "china" ones are... but it actually lists specs.
But, Anything made in China scares me...
core thickness is 40mm ,2 row.
Full polished for the radiators.
This radiator is heavy duty designed, cooling capacity is increased about 40% than standard radiator ,really well packed,exceeds OEM spec.
The core of the radiator is welded in vacuum brazing furnace, no epoxy. The tanks are 100% welded by TIG.
100% Brand New.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Kawasaki-KX500-500-radiator-1988-2003-04-Full-aluminum-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem4158f2befeQQitemZ280665177854QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
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Since were talking radiators.
http://www.warp9racing.com/accessories_radiators.html
Serafin
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Since were talking radiators.
http://www.warp9racing.com/accessories_radiators.html
Serafin
Hmm very interesting...
wonder who is making them for Warp 9....
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I will find out Monday.
Alex
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i would love to point a thermal camera at those radiator on a running bike. :?
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i had to enlarge middle mounting hole and use a few washers between the gas tank and the mounting tabs to clear the rads but i am using a clarke dez 4 gal tank.i have those thermal stickers on bottom of rad reads 205deg all day long.i use "waterless" coolant 2stroke2cool
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forgot to mention i had to trim right side lower rad elbow that goes to top of cyl.head on my 92 kx5. other then that rads work sweet.
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i had to enlarge middle mounting hole and use a few washers between the gas tank and the mounting tabs to clear the rads but i am using a clarke dez 4 gal tank.i have those thermal stickers on bottom of rad reads 205deg all day long.i use "waterless" coolant 2stroke2cool
Thats still too hot.