What year inverted forks do I have?

[Goat]

I got some random parts from a guy last week. Some are for a 87 KX500(swingarm, plastics, and tank) and the rest is off a 87 KX250 (frame, shock, seat, and rear fenders) Unknown year KYB (gold color upper tubes) inverted forks. My question is how do I tell what year the forks are from. I want to put them on my 87 250 but need to get the brake caliper, wheel, and axle. I looked under the tripple clamps for numbers and it says kx250 in one spot, 9NG in another, 04C in another, and 1-7 in another. Not sure if any of these would tell me anything. Any info would help.

[DoldGuy]

Goat,
I can't tell by those #s but if you measure the chrome sliders (43mm ?) I can give a range of years they could be.
Hope this will help

DoldGuy

[Goat]

Measurement I came up with is 45.86mm. I'm guessing they round up to the nearest number? Thanks for your help.

[Goat]

Did some measuring and some googleing and believe I found the answer I'm looking for but would like confirmation. They are from a 97-03 KX250 according to my calculations.

[poynedexter]

hi there, gold upper tubes came on the 1990 bikes here in europe. blue was 91 92 93. hope this helps

[Goat]

90's also have smaller diameter tubes I believe 43mm. Mine are 46mm. Thanks though. Just need to know what year they switched to 46mm.

[demographic]

90's also have smaller diameter tubes I believe 43mm. Mine are 46mm. Thanks though. Just need to know what year they switched to 46mm.

90s were 41mm USDs. Are on both of my 90s anyway.
Although they were both actually manufactured in 1989 they are still 1990 model year bikes.
91 went up to 43mm.

Just thought, both my bikes are 500s so might be slightly different.

[Goat]

The Kawasaki dealers in my are are about worthless. They didn't even want to try to help me figure out the years. I had one guy look through a couple parts catalogs to see if it gave any dimensions and none of his books did. I will try to get some pics if that will help.

[Goat]

Emailed a guy on ebay that took some measurements of his 98 for me. Looks like I have 96-98 forks. I want to thank everyone for their help. Should have all the parts within the next few weeks. 

[Hillclimb#42]

96 and 98 are not the same Goat. 98's are bigger than 96. 94-96 is the same, I think, but i bought a 98 top clamp that is too big my 96 250 and also bigger than than the forks on my 97 500. Better double check that.

[Goat]

I've still been digging around. I did just find that 97 and 98 had the 46mm with 4 studs to hold the wheel on. 99 had the same forks with different clamp assembly only using 1 or 2 studs. I do believe 94 on used the same caliper though or at least the same mount. 4 inches center to center on the bolt holes to mount the caliper.