KX Riders
Maintenance & Technical => KX250 / KX125 => Topic started by: Charlie500 on March 11, 2013, 04:56:19 PM
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Just picked the bike up today for 2 grand. I've been looking for something good for single track Oregon trail ridding. I sold my 500 to shlepy a while back to help out with the down payment on our house up here and ever since I've felt naked without a bike. I just couldn't pull the trigger on a new ktm. I spotted this thing on Craigslist and couldn't pass it up.
I purchased it from the original owner who rarely rode it. The gentleman was in his early 50s and obsiously took good care of the bike.
When I got it home I changed the oil, gas, and cleaned the air filter. I noticed it still has the stock air filter. (One thing I'll order) I was pleased to notice none of the fasteners for the plastics or drain plug were stripped.
I fired the bike up, started 4th or 5th kick. Let it warm up and took it for a rip around the 2.5 acres we have. Boy does this bike rip! I was completely surprised with the amount of power this bike has.
I've got a few plans for it... Factory Connection suspension, ims tank, new plastics, graphics, tires and hand guards etc.
I'm just amazed at the amount of power these 250's have got.
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Is there a good lighting coil any body could recommend for these bikes?
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http://www.steahlyoffroad.com/lighting/kawasaki-kx-250-98-08-lighting-stator-1.html
thats who i would call..good luck
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oh and congrats on the 04.. it looks clean
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Yeah buddy! That thing looks sweet!!!
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Do these bikes benifet from the reed spacer like the 500 does? Also, what's the best gearing for trail riding?
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looks like a nice clean bike, for some reason it looks more 03ish than 04, maybe the ripples in the frame down by the footpegs, for some reason I was thinking the 04 was smooth and the 03 was rippled, but then my memory isn't as good as it used to be.
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Don46 memory is spot on.
The 03 had the ripples and 04 didn't...
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looks like a nice clean bike, for some reason it looks more 03ish than 04, maybe the ripples in the frame down by the footpegs, for some reason I was thinking the 04 was smooth and the 03 was rippled, but then my memory isn't as good as it used to be.
I don't know, the pink slip says 2004
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ok, so now i'm not sure of my memory, I looked at some pictures of 250's I had and looking at what I remember as an 04 it had the ripples, but heck it could be the 03. forget everything I said because i'm second guessing myself
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I had an 04..but I cannot remember if it had ripples either....but this site shows the 04 does NOT,and the 03 DOES.
http://motodacross.com/kawasaki/kx250.htm
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I had an 04..but I cannot remember if it had ripples either....but this site shows the 04 does NOT,and the 03 DOES.
http://motodacross.com/kawasaki/kx250.htm
I see that, but also have a look at the swing arms
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looks like a nice clean bike, for some reason it looks more 03ish than 04, maybe the ripples in the frame down by the footpegs, for some reason I was thinking the 04 was smooth and the 03 was rippled, but then my memory isn't as good as it used to be.
I don't know, the pink slip says 2004
Take a look at the VIN stamped on the head tube.
If the 10th digit is 4 then it is an 04.
If it is a 3 then it's an 03.
I have only parted out a few 03 and 04.
The 03s I've parted had the ripples and the 04s didn't, but hey, that is only a very small sampling of what Kawasaki has made :-)
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03 and 04 has dimples..05 on doesn't have them..04 has the hole to mount the linkage to the sqingarm..the03 ARM doesn't
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unbelievably I found a pic of my 04 the day I bought it brand new...had'nt even pulled it outa the truck yet to fire it up.
(http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x393/foxx4afoxx/mxz-x/0312131201b_zps221b4438.jpg)
(http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x393/foxx4afoxx/mxz-x/0312131201a_zps7ce0e1f3.jpg)
...not the best pics...I had to take a pic of a pic.
Consider this a "done deal".
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looks like a nice clean bike, for some reason it looks more 03ish than 04, maybe the ripples in the frame down by the footpegs, for some reason I was thinking the 04 was smooth and the 03 was rippled, but then my memory isn't as good as it used to be.
I don't know, the pink slip says 2004
Take a look at the VIN stamped on the head tube.
If the 10th digit is 4 then it is an 04.
If it is a 3 then it's an 03.
I have only parted out a few 03 and 04.
The 03s I've parted had the ripples and the 04s didn't, but hey, that is only a very small sampling of what Kawasaki has made :-)
Checked the vin, the 10th digit is 4.... They must have made some 2004 models with and some without ripples on the frame....? :oops:
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That's my guess :?
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Does any body know off hand what spark plug I'm supposed to have in this bike? It had a B8ES.... Just fouled it I think from the old gas he had in it when I first bought it. I've got a new BR8EG here in my garage. Will this one work?
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The "R" is for resistor, the "G" is for electrode size? :?, not sure, but it should be the same basic plug.
Clean out ALL the old gas from the tank and carb. Start there, then a fresh plug.
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Thanks eticket. I just don't have the service manual for the bike yet.... Wasn't sure about what spark plug Kawasaki recomends for this bike...
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br8eg is better than the es plug..make sure you have fresh gas mix,oiled air filter,,check silencer packing,engine condition..if all these check out fine..its time to jet your bike
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es is the basic plug/electrode..eg has a smaller electrode considered their racing plug..they also sell an eix it has an irridium electrode $12ea ,which foul just as easily $3 es or $6 eg if jetting or another issue is present
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All kinds of plug charts and graphs
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Ngk+Spark+Plug+Chart&FORM=HDRSC2
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Thanks guys, the bike will get a thorough work over once my garage is done... I just need to to stay runnin in the mean time to rip around the property and piss off the neighbors...
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Nice post Friar-Tuck!! :-D
I snaged that pic for the shop!
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Charlie ive had that IRIDIUM plug you put in the 500 since I bought it from you it finaly got changed on the ride at Gorman and I put some long hours on that bike and a replate 2 pistons and many many hours on that same plug.....just sayin.
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Charlie ive had that IRIDIUM plug you put in the 500 since I bought it from you it finaly got changed on the ride at Gorman and I put some long hours on that bike and a replate 2 pistons and many many hours on that same plug.....just sayin.
Yeah that thing never fouled spark plugs. Tim will you do me a favor and look to see what bend handle bars are on that bike? I'd like to get the same set for this 250...
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Windham bend.
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You home now? :-D
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Thanks Tim, yeah I'm home! :-D
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Cool enjoy your time home bro love you guys .
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'03 and '04 both had the ripples on the frame. The easiest way to tell the two apart is to look at the linkage. The '03 has the same style linkage as the older bikes (anchored to the frame) and the '04 has a new-style linkage that's anchored to the swingarm.
The '04 also has a CR-style front brake line routing, while the '03's front brake line loops under the end of the fork leg.
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Its a 04, I have both the 03 and 04 and also a 07. You can power lights off of the powerjet circuit. They actualy work ok in tight woods and can get you home in a pinch. I run 2 LED MR16 bulbs on mine and a Acerbis LED taillight. For higher speed riding a Eline coil works very well. My wife has one on her 03.
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Btw I fouled my iridium plug in less than a week, now i have been using br8es for more than a month (on my kx 250) and from the pictures it looks like your right fork seal is leaking
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i have found a '02 for $1200 and think I can get it for less... is it in the same family as the 04 or was there a model change in there? anything about a 02 that I need to know? I want to make a woods weapon out of it with an Eric Gorr 295cc kit... thanks in advance...
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I finally found some time to start working on the 250 single track killer. I wanted to check everything out before taking it out to the woods. I regreased all the bearings. All were still good and it sure looks like I'm the first person to take this thing apart! I'm happy to see I don't need to buy any bearings. My wife and I are still paying off all the stuff we bought for the new house... I'm hoping to beable to dump some cash into this thing soon though. Suspension needs to be done + handlebars, plastics, fmf narly, flywheel weight etc etc.... piston and cylinder looks brand new still...
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Excellent.
The more pics the better :-D
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Got fresh tires on her. All greased up, new air filter, packed silencer cleaned carb... Going to pick up my suspension from NV2 in Medford today... Ims gas tank should be here this afternoon. Pro tapers will be here Monday. Headed to Hat cr Northern California Wednesday. Can't wait to ride this thing.