what Year forks...

[conbread]

what Yr did the forks change on the kx500? my bike is coming and has the Blue legs on it, but has the small lower fork guards on it.. i have noticed that the newer bikes have alot bigger fork guards on them.. can i switch to the newer forks and they work with my tripple clamps, brakes and, front wheel??

thanks for the help guys..

[conbread]

so looks like i need to find 97-2004 forks 46mm now i just need to know if they will fit in my tripple clamps.... stock 91 clamps..

[Motorrad]

so looks like i need to find 97-2004 forks 46mm now i just need to know if they will fit in my tripple clamps.... stock 91 clamps..

my re-valved 91 blue leg forks worked VERY well actually.


try it and ride it first, before you decide to make any changes

[Goat]

IIRC Blue forks were 43mm so the newer 94+ forks wont fit your triple trees. I believe the axle diameter was different as well. Also brake mounting was slightly off but could be made to work.

Blue forks work great if you have them rebuilt by a good company. Not so good stock though. Probably cheaper to rebuild/re-valve the ones you have than convert to a newer style and probably still have to rebuild the new forks.

[motopunk]

the blue 43mm forks are stock from 91 to 95 in kx125/250 and in kx500 91 to 96 . the 46mm-forks came in 96 to kx125/250 and in 97 to kx500. the 46-fork legs are bigger diameter and you need the right triple trees. the older of the blue fork won´t fit in any way.
 in performance, the 46 is not much different than the 43.  real big upgrade was the 48- forks in the kx-f models...

front axle diameter on the blue forks was changed in 93 . and in 94 came the newer brake caliper which also don´t fit to the older forks in 91- 93

so I agree with  "motorrad" : try it and ride it first, before you decide to make any changes!


...

[sandblaster]

Here is some K5 info I have collected on the forks:
USD – KYB – X125-R X125-L - CHROME OD 43MM - C/L 37.25" - BLUE - UPPER 51.9MM - LOWER 56.6MM - BRAKE MOUNT C/L 61MM – AXLE CLAMP ID 22MM FORK SEAL 43MM X 55MM X 9.5/10.5/11 1991 KX500
USD - CHROME OD 43MM - C/L 37.25" - BLUE - UPPER 51.9MM - LOWER 56.6MM - BRAKE MOUNT C/L 61MM FORK SEAL 43MM X 55MM X 9.5/10.5/11 1992 KX500
USD - CHROME OD 43MM - C/L 37.25" - BLUE - UPPER 51.9MM - LOWER 56.6MM - BRAKE MOUNT C/L 61MM FORK SEAL 43MM X 55MM X 9.5/10.5/11 1993 KX500
KYB KX94L KX94R - CHROME OD 43MM - C/L 37.25" - UPPER 51.9MM - LOWER 56.6MM - BRAKE CALIPER C/L 102MM FORK SEAL 43MM X 55MM X 9.5/10.5/11 1994 KX500
KYB KX94L KX94R - CHROME OD 43MM - C/L 37.25" - UPPER 51.9MM - LOWER 56.6MM - BRAKE CALIPER C/L 102MM FORK SEAL 43MM X 55MM X 9.5/10.5/11 1995 KX500
CHROME OD 43MM C/L 37.25" - FITS 96 KX500     FORK SEAL 43MM X 55MM X 9.5/10.5/11 1996 KX500
USD - KYB - KX94-L KX94-R - CHROME OD 46MM - C/L 37.25" - UPPER 53.8MM - LOWER 58.9MM - BRAKE CALIPER C/L 102MM - FITS 97-02 KX500 FORK SEALS 46MM X 58MM X 10.5
CHROME OD 46MM C/L 37.25" - UPPER 53.8MM - LOWER 58.9MM - BRAKE CALIPER C/L 102MM - FITS 03-04 KX500    FORK SEALS 46MM X 58MM X 10.5
You can find it here:
http://www.oem-cycle.com/KAWASAKIKX500BIKEID.shtml

[motopunk]

@sandblaster: perfect lecture presented.. A++ ... 

[Goat]

Geez Sandblaster could you put some more dashes and spaces in there I'm confused.
Very nice list.

I thought the forks were gold colored in 94-96 when they changed the brake caliper mount?

[sandblaster]

I tried my best to confuse you.
Glad it worked out. 
It's actually easier to read on my site.
Yes, in 94 the forks were switched to gold.