General > Introductions
New KX250 Owner from Cape Town, South Africa
ecdeyzel:
Hey Foxx4Beaver! I got my bike last night. I am going to have my hands full fixing her up. I checked the VIN number on the steering tube and it's a very strange number, nothing from what I can recognize anybody else on the forums saying.
It's JKAKX250LLA001301
The second L makes no sense. Can you help identifying the year of the bike?
Ed
Foxx4Beaver:
I had a feeling of that being outside the U.S.
write down the numbers from the engine, what carb is on there, and write down any #'s from the carb....and look for any number(s) on the cylinder.
did you get a manual with the bike?
If I remember correctly the ignition system was different on the '99 compared to the '00-'02...no capacitor on the '99 I think.
give it some time...there's a few members on here that are really good at I.D-ing these L models.
worst case, you could call your local Kawie and see what kind of info they can provide.
Foxx4Beaver:
Ed....I sent an e-mail to KMSA Distributors in South Africa yesterday...which is where your bike was apparently imported by as well from what the person said in the e-mail that I received back from this morning.
It's a '99 according to the e-mail that was sent back to me this morning.
I then replied to that e-mail, asking how they distinguish the specific year...and that here in the U.S. we go by the 10th digit, and that method does not work on bikes outside the U.S.
Here is the address that I sent the e-mail too...enjoy your '99!
http://www.kawasakisa.co.za/
ecdeyzel:
--- Quote from: Foxx4Beaver on March 09, 2015, 10:41:47 PM ---Ed....I sent an e-mail to KMSA Distributors in South Africa yesterday...which is where your bike was apparently imported by as well from what the person said in the e-mail that I received back from this morning.
It's a '99 according to the e-mail that was sent back to me this morning.
I then replied to that e-mail, asking how they distinguish the specific year...and that here in the U.S. we go by the 10th digit, and that method does not work on bikes outside the U.S.
Here is the address that I sent the e-mail too...enjoy your '99!
http://www.kawasakisa.co.za/
--- End quote ---
What a legend! Thanksoxx4Beaver!
Last night when I got home I tried to start the bike. When I eventually got it to start, i.t would idle at, what sounds like, 10 000rpm. I tried to warm it up to go take it for a ride to see what I am dealing with, but no luck, after pulling away it stalled and I couldn't get it going again. After hitting my toe on the foot peg to a pulp, I called it quits. The kickstart is so worn, when you kick it down it moves to a downward angle and my foot slips off.
So after deciding to call it quits, I started stripping the bike to find a horror story. The bike was is in a WAAAY worse condition than I thought and the owner reaaaaally downplayed the damage the bike had, and they have made. The radiators are shot, the airbox has been cut up to pieces, the air hose going to the carb doesn't even have a clamp on it...it's a mess.
See for yourself...
Besides that, the whole bike needs new bearing kits, chain, sprockets, front tyre, fork seals...the works.
I am now trying to figure out if I should fix it up to rideable condition and sell it, or take the plunge and completely rebuild the bike and replace what is necessary from the ground up over time.
Ed
Foxx4Beaver:
that's a bummer!...I can't stand it when sellers are dishonest about something's true condition.
As far as what to do with it...I really can't make that decision for you....I don't know how much you initially paid for it, as that can make or break you. If it were me, and I planned on keeping it, I would just start by pulling the head off the motor...you should get some kind of an idea by the condition of the cylinder walls and the plating just how bad it is. The carb obviously has some issues as well, which will need to be taken apart and thoroughly cleaned.
If you were to do a complete rebuild of the motor(which is what I would do if I planned on keeping it)...meaning all new bearings, seals, circlips, replate cylinder, piston kit, gaskets...you'll be looking at about $1500 U.S. dollars...give or take a little providing you won't need to replace any transmission parts.
Some of the body and cosmetic stuff you could get used on e-bay, or maybe our member Sandblaster might be able to help some...although shipping costs might hurt a bit, he'll get you good quality used parts.
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