KX Riders

Maintenance & Technical => KX500 Original => Topic started by: Fireypoop on August 21, 2011, 07:09:20 PM

Title: More questions?
Post by: Fireypoop on August 21, 2011, 07:09:20 PM
So I finally took my kx500 for a 5 hour ride, I have not been on a bike for about 10 years. This machine has a flywheel weight, gnarly pipe, fmf spark arrestor and v3 reeds and had a snap I could not imagine. Let's just say I feel like someone beat me with a pipe. It is not a gental machine but since it's the first ride I have realized....

1: 3rd gear does not grab (well it will for a second and then any throttle it kicks out). I'm going to have to split the case and was wondering what else I should replace while I was in there?

2: On that ride I dumped it throttle side down and the front cylinder for the brakes was leaking. Found the leak and repaired it but would not firm up the front brakes any way I bleed them, have you encountered this?

3: The kick starter must have vibrated while riding and when I was riding I do remember my right food having to leave the peg to stabilize and the back of my knee took the impact that left me with a huge bruise, how can I stiffen up the kick starter to stop it from vibrating out so my leg can heal?

4: Tires? I had ALOT of tread left but after my ride in the mountains it's pretty much bald. Should I get a hard rubber for the mountains?

Thank you fellow KX500 riders, this bike is not for the faint of heart. And I LOVE it.
Title: Re: More questions?
Post by: Polar-Bus on August 22, 2011, 04:09:47 AM
So I finally took my kx500 for a 5 hour ride, I have not been on a bike for about 10 years. This machine has a flywheel weight, gnarly pipe, fmf spark arrestor and v3 reeds and had a snap I could not imagine. Let's just say I feel like someone beat me with a pipe. It is not a gental machine but since it's the first ride I have realized....

1: 3rd gear does not grab (well it will for a second and then any throttle it kicks out). I'm going to have to split the case and was wondering what else I should replace while I was in there?

2: On that ride I dumped it throttle side down and the front cylinder for the brakes was leaking. Found the leak and repaired it but would not firm up the front brakes any way I bleed them, have you encountered this?

3: The kick starter must have vibrated while riding and when I was riding I do remember my right food having to leave the peg to stabilize and the back of my knee took the impact that left me with a huge bruise, how can I stiffen up the kick starter to stop it from vibrating out so my leg can heal?

4: Tires? I had ALOT of tread left but after my ride in the mountains it's pretty much bald. Should I get a hard rubber for the mountains?

Thank you fellow KX500 riders, this bike is not for the faint of heart. And I LOVE it.

1) you have a trashed shift fork. The cases need to be split.

2) Just keep bleeding, you will eventually get a firm lever. Stubborn air is sometimes very hard to dislodge in KX front brakes.

3) The K/S pivot is worn out. Replace the kick lever before you snap your ankle !!

4)  Many of us have excellent results with the Maxxis desert IT  AWESOME tough tire over a wide range  of terrain.
Title: Re: More questions?
Post by: RoostDaddy on August 22, 2011, 09:03:59 AM
#3  Have you tightened the allen head bolt on the inside of lever.  sometimes they vibrate out and cause it to be loose. or the spring behind it could be shot.
 
Title: Re: More questions?
Post by: littlewing78 on August 22, 2011, 01:21:18 PM
On the brakes I found that squeezing the calipers open with a clamp helps a ton when bleeding them.
Title: Re: More questions?
Post by: Goat on August 31, 2011, 03:39:51 PM
3: The kick starter must have vibrated while riding and when I was riding I do remember my right food having to leave the peg to stabilize and the back of my knee took the impact that left me with a huge bruise, how can I stiffen up the kick starter to stop it from vibrating out so my leg can heal?

Mine did this same thing. I bought new o-rings, spring, and ball. Haven't had an issue since. I almost bought a whole new kick assembly. Glad I looked into it first as it was hella cheaper to just get a couple small parts. Here is the link to the kick assembly on bike bandit. http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmotorcycles/1998-kawasaki-kx500-kx500e10-us/o/m3863#sch67828

(Quantity) - Description Part #
(1)             600
(1)             92081
(2)             92055
(1)             92022
(1)             400

Hope this helps.