KX Riders
Maintenance & Technical => KX500 Original => Topic started by: Bandit on May 31, 2011, 07:58:55 AM
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I bought my 1995 KX 500 new in 95 as a replacement to my 91 and 93 KX 500's. I knew this bike was a keeper and really took care of it throughout it's life. I have had other dirt bikes come and go, but the 500 was my baby. I got hurt 5 years ago and it's taken until this year to get back to where I can ride, and obviously my riding style and aggressiveness have changed dramatically. I bought my first brand new dirt bike (a 2010 Husqvarna TXC 510) since the KX as a treat to myself and absolutely love it. Well, I decided to take my KX 500 out with me this weekend (first ride on it in 5 years) for one last ride before selling it and guess what happens? d**n, I love this bike. It's not better than the Husky, which quite frankly really suits me right now. But it isn't as far off as I thought it would be either. The motor on the 500 is absolutely to die for. I rode a KTM 530 xcw and my Husky back to back with the 500 over a 40 mile ride twice and as far as I am concerned the KX motor is still way better (and a lot more powerful) than either of the 4 strokes. The suspension needs a little work and I really like the ergos of the new age bikes, so I would have to change the bars (I still have the stock bars on the KX) but I am positive that with just a few minor tweeks I could have the 500 really close to the new bikes in the chassis department. Here's my dilema, my wife, who never asks for anything and doesn't say a word about my bike obsession (and has actually bought me 2 bikes as presents) asked me to sell the 500 when I bought the Husky and I said I would. Part of me thinks I should just sell the 500 and move on, the other part of me says how often do you find a bike you truly love? Other than the zipty gas tank and FMF low boy pipe my 500 is stock, in awesome condition and dead reliable. I think I have had the same spark plug in it for about 13 years. After 5 years of sitting the beast started on the 3rd kick. How do you get rid of that?
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Did you say wife or ex-wife? :-D
Its sounds like you have a good wife. I wish mine would buy me atleast one. Just talk to her., She may understand.
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Hey Bandit,
Your Preachin' to the Choir about wanting to keep the KX. That's why so many guys build AF's or newer Steelie's on 250 or 125 chassis. Of course if you sold the '93 KX you could always scoop up a service Honda KX500 AF...
http://www.servicehonda.com/kx500af.html 8-)
You may have to sell two bikes to cover most of the cost...
Unless you found a used one ... :-D
Tuck\o/
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Wifes come and go.... Bikes last a life time... :wink:
Keep the bike... You will regret selling it...
And UNFORTUNATLY... K5's arnt worth much.. unless alot is done to them...
So you will regret it even more, when you realize you pisssed away the $1300 you got for the bike on cheeseburgers, movies, socks, and other crap...
My K5 will hang with the new stuff no problem now (lots of suspension work).... Was actually passing alot of guys in the rough last trip :evil: :evil:.
And I love the OLD ergos better than the new bikes... reason I have mine..
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motorrad's right about the wifes coming and going and bikes lasting a lifetime... and all the other stuff too :cry: :cry: :cry:
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i hope that motorad is kidding with the wife comment. i know my wife is irreplacable and is absolutely the best. i think most of us are in the same situation with our wives, they have different likes than we have, that's just the way it is. take the initiative to find some side work or work overtime to make the extra money and keep the bike. maybe she will see that it means alot to you.
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I have a passion for motorcycles (I own 6 of them currently) since I was 11 . I have a good wife in the respect of my motorcycle passion. I outlined this passion crystal clear to my wife BEFORE I asked fo marriage. So me and my wife have a clear understanding for ever after...
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My wife totally gets it when it comes to me and bikes. I have 9 in the garage right now, not including her bike and that of my 4 kids. I think it is more of an issue that is was this bike that I was riding when I got hurt. The bike had nothing to do with it, as it wasn't an issue of speed or power that got me hurt. But it was 4 months of not being able to walk while she was pregnant; not walking right for the next year; having to go back in for surgery later that year; rehabbing again for the next 6 months; and 3 years later finally arriving at some form of normalcy. Now that we are riding dirt bikes (never stopped riding street bikes) again she is just looking for the 500 to be gone.
The flip side, I really needed the 500 to be a pig compared to the new models so it would be easier to get rid of and frankly, it wasn't. For my wife it isn't about money, unfortunately, it isn't about money for me either. I just need to work on her some more.
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"I'm sorry honey, I'm trying to sell the bike."
For Sale - 1995 KX500. It's never needed any maintenance, EVER! Needs suspension work. Have upgraded to a newer bike, and the ergos on this are terrible. $7000 Firm. No lowballers. No test pilots. Don't waste my time.
You get the idea :wink:
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Snoopjonnyjon - that was exactly what I needed! lmao!!!
Well, my wife, who I said totally gets it, sent me an email this morning saying she thinks I should keep the KX. She then proceeded to give me her top 10 reasons why I should keep it, almost suggesting that I was the one that wanted to get rid of it. lol's Anyhow, she said she knew I was going to want to keep it the minute she saw me loading it up on Friday to take it out with us. She then said everytime I came back from a ride I was smiling and talking about what an awesome bike it still is. Her #1 justification for keeping it? Our 5 year old told her she really likes the green one.
Her closing statement - can Pro Circuit freshen the motor up for you so you don't have to worry about it? RG3 did such a great job on the suspension for your street bike, weren't they mainly a dirt bike suspension company? You should get the suspension rebuilt too.
I'm sitting here, scratching my head, trying to figure out how I got this one so right. Looks like I may be looking at a rebuild over the summer.
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holy cow! spend the money and run!!!! do it while you have full on permission and backing.
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I know! I don't get it and don't even want to try and understand it. I need to wrap my head around how I want to go about freshening it up and what all I want to do with it. To be honest, it really only needs the suspension rebuilt/revalved and sprung and maybe the top end.
Either way, it's almost like it's my birthday right now.
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At that age, regardless of use, I would split the bottom end to change the crank seals. You'll probably find the electrofusion coating on the cylinder worn/peeled too, so count on a nikasil job.
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Bandit
She must be one sweet lady, you got real lucky.
If things get tight here it won't be the 9 year old kx 250 for sale it will be the 5 year old hardly rode 450 4S that hits the block.
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DONT SELL! REBUILD! And then, Go blow the doors off something! WWWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :evil:
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I haven't decided how far the rebuild will go, but just to make sure my wife couldn't change her mind I took all of the bodywork off as well as the sub fram. I will be taking the suspension to RG3 for a full rebuild/revalve with new springs first. Once that is done I will have the motor completely rebuilt but will more than likely keep it as close to stock as possible. I'll check all bearings/bushings and take care of them while the bike is apart. I still haven't decided though if I will strip it all the way down and do a complete resto on the bike. With everything I have going on I just don't see myself having that kind of time and I am afraid if it gets too involved I won't get it up and running by the next riding season.
Either way, I'm stoked that it will be staying with me.
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Snoopjonnyjon - that was exactly what I needed! lmao!!!
Well, my wife, who I said totally gets it, sent me an email this morning saying she thinks I should keep the KX. She then proceeded to give me her top 10 reasons why I should keep it, almost suggesting that I was the one that wanted to get rid of it. lol's Anyhow, she said she knew I was going to want to keep it the minute she saw me loading it up on Friday to take it out with us. She then said everytime I came back from a ride I was smiling and talking about what an awesome bike it still is. Her #1 justification for keeping it? Our 5 year old told her she really likes the green one.
Her closing statement - can Pro Circuit freshen the motor up for you so you don't have to worry about it? RG3 did such a great job on the suspension for your street bike, weren't they mainly a dirt bike suspension company? You should get the suspension rebuilt too.
I'm sitting here, scratching my head, trying to figure out how I got this one so right. Looks like I may be looking at a rebuild over the summer.
:-o That's a keeper right there and I don't mean the bike.
Does she have a sister? :evil:
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i hope that motorad is kidding with the wife comment. i know my wife is irreplacable and is absolutely the best. i think most of us are in the same situation with our wives, they have different likes than we have, that's just the way it is. take the initiative to find some side work or work overtime to make the extra money and keep the bike. maybe she will see that it means alot to you.
Yes I was kidding...
Mine is a keeper also..
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the closest i come to letting it go is when excessive cartwheeling wrenches the bars from my hands....
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Yep, but her sister doesn't like dirt bikes and is a bit of a loony tune. She is good looking though. :-D
Update: Forks and shock are now off the bike. I'll be dropping them off at RG3 sometime next week.
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....And I love the OLD ergos better than the new bikes... reason I have mine..
I agree!
I keep thinking of building a 500SF, but I keep reminding myself that the big, roomy, (somewhat dated :roll:) ergos of the original KX 500 suit me and my style of riding. A little suspension work and they are truly, still a great bike!
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Happy Birthday
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Yep, but her sister doesn't like dirt bikes and is a bit of a loony tune. She is good looking though. :-D
Beggers can't be choosers! Send her my way.