Maintenance & Technical > KX500 Aluminum Frame Conversion (AFC)

I am thinking about buying a KX 500 motor and building another bike,which one?

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Extranasty:
yaa orange is great especially around holloween.   :mrgreen: I think I will dress up as a 70's blackman  :-o

The Flyin Hawaiian:
I finished my conversion a few months back. Its a 02 500 engine in a 04 KX250 chassis. I too am not fond of the harsh feeling that I get from the al frames, had a 00 CR250 and have ridden a few al framed 450s/250s. My bike is mainly a east coast tight woods bike. It handles much better than it did with the 500 chassis. Its stable but still turns very well, maybe not quite as quick as a RM or CR but better than a YZ. It was suprisingly easy to build w/o any major frame mods. Suspension is 04 KX250 that was revalved by WER (Works Enduro Rider). I may try a set of revalved, late model DRZ400 forks to get it to eat up the rocks better.(when riding in those conditions) I run the lower 03 seat, 04 and up had a taller seat. Here in Southern NJ we have alot of sugar sand and tight woods and so far it has worked better than I expected.

Extranasty:
I always wanted to do a KX 250 but thhe reason I did not and I do not want to be negative was I found the KX frames to be made out of inferior metal compared to a Honda. I always loved Kawies but they wore out to quick so I only bought one.

          Actually it pissed me off because the KX 500 and 250 were superior to Honda's offerings but quality and support were inferior to Honda. I always loved the Kx 250 handling wise.

        I am glad your bike works so well! I have never ridden a aluminum bike I thought was not rough riding so how good are the new ones?

The Flyin Hawaiian:
I jumped ship from Kawasaki in 93 because of the saggy foot pegs and a bunch of other things. I came back by accident in 04 when I blew up my 02 YZ250 and needed a bike to start the race season on. My wife went to the ISDE in 03 and she rode a 03 KX250 (she also worked at a Kawi dealer). I bought her a second one so she had a practice bike to ride while her race bike was crated and shipped off to Brazil, it was gone for 7 months! When hers came back I started riding her other one and found it to be on par build wise to my CRs and YZs. Better in many ways. The myth about Honda being built better and lasting longer no longer holds true. The later model KXs, 03 and up, hold up just as well. My wife is still riding her old 03, she has a 07 but likes the 03 better. A RM build would be interesting though!

Extranasty:
Thanks I appreciate the info because I like chromoly and the extra support a perimeter frame has to offer for the torque of a 500. How big are you and how good is the bike in the rough at speed. and does it ride smoother than the aluminum bikes withh less fatique, thanks.
    Honda is not what they used to be at all.

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