Maintenance & Technical > KX500 Aluminum Frame Conversion (AFC)
Service Honda built....
kxpegger:
Depends on what gear I'm in and how much throttle. It's either a tractor that can do a full pull or riding a bolt of lightning.
I don't know for sure but I ran across a post somewhere that said the aluminum frame was actually heavier by 4 to 6 pounds. The advantage was design capabilty where as you can only bend steel tubing in so many directions at once vs a cast piece of aluminum. I only have one steel frame bike which is an RM250. It does seem to be a little more forgiving as far as road feel goes. Manufacturers are now making the newer AF's with more flex in the frames and swingarms as they are finding out it helps handling.
I think the main advantage to my AF is that the suspension alone is better than the older steel frames. The other reason I bought the AF was I wanted something new in a big bore 2 stroke and they're only a couple grand more than a new $Dollar$ stroke!
azracer19:
I am also in a delima....the KX 500 with good suspension mods , i feel cant be beat in the wide open desert races of he west. I owned a KX 450 until it was stolen a couple months ago. Im worried the AF will not have the stability at very high speeds (the 450 never hit wide open speeds of the 500).. Therefore why do the conversion? Kawasaki frames have been known to crack either steel or aluminum so thats not an issue. Vibration is bad on a KX 500 and if anyone has raced one for 3 or 4 hours knows this becomes tiresoeme, causing forearm pump. Myself I seldom use the clutch 2 hours into a wooped out high speed desert race. The reason is I cant pull the lever in after hanging on the beast for that long. For motorcross the 500 is just way to fast especialy for the tracks of today. The 450 for a non pro will be easier to ride anyday of the week on a motocross track. The problem with the KX 500 and the riding/racing I do is its hard to find parts for them. Plastic/ graphics are a pain in the can to find. I had to replace the rear sprocket as i run 1 44 tooth in the rear it took me 10 days to get it off ebay. So ya parts are hard to come by and will get even worse. So whats a guy to do? KX500 AF with high speed wobbles no thanks. owning a bike you cant get parts for? that sucks....maybe time to go orange and buy a KTM 300?
ktmdude:
I have a 09 300xc. Love it. Lots of parts for it. But its ktm so the #^%& is costly. It has plenty of getty up but its no k5, af or no. I have a buddy with a 92 cr 5 that can't ride it anymore. (bad back and shoulder) My uncle has a 91 k5, he rips on it, but it hearts his knee to start. (old skiing accents and age) He is thinking about a newer bike with better suppention and a button and maybe a plate. (ktm 530?) With these two possibilitys I have some wheels turning. I love my 300 (with a button) its a beast, but its no monster. It would be cool to have a big bro for the big bore lites bike. If I can score one of the bikes for cheep, I would like to start my own af project. After joining this site I am really inspired. Thanks guys.
PowerFiend:
--- Quote from: ktmdude on May 22, 2010, 05:43:08 AM ---I have a 09 300xc. Love it. Lots of parts for it. But its ktm so the #^%& is costly. It has plenty of getty up but its no k5, af or no. I have a buddy with a 92 cr 5 that can't ride it anymore. (bad back and shoulder) My uncle has a 91 k5, he rips on it, but it hearts his knee to start. (old skiing accents and age) He is thinking about a newer bike with better suppention and a button and maybe a plate. (ktm 530?) With these two possibilitys I have some wheels turning. I love my 300 (with a button) its a beast, but its no monster. It would be cool to have a big bro for the big bore lites bike. If I can score one of the bikes for cheep, I would like to start my own af project. After joining this site I am really inspired. Thanks guys.
--- End quote ---
Your uncle should spring for the decompression mod. Check out the vendor section.
Dutch-K5 Fan:
--- Quote from: ktmdude on May 22, 2010, 05:43:08 AM ---I have a 09 300xc. Love it. Lots of parts for it. But its ktm so the #^%& is costly. It has plenty of getty up but its no k5, af or no. I have a buddy with a 92 cr 5 that can't ride it anymore. (bad back and shoulder) My uncle has a 91 k5, he rips on it, but it hearts his knee to start. (old skiing accents and age) He is thinking about a newer bike with better suppention and a button and maybe a plate. (ktm 530?) With these two possibilitys I have some wheels turning. I love my 300 (with a button) its a beast, but its no monster. It would be cool to have a big bro for the big bore lites bike. If I can score one of the bikes for cheep, I would like to start my own af project. After joining this site I am really inspired. Thanks guys.
--- End quote ---
Have you already checked if a 380 cylinder and maybe a crank would fit???
My collega has a SX380 and it rips! Just like a 500.
I know we are a KX site and fan( me included).
Dutchie
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