Down Under Frame ID

[Timbowe]

Hi guys. Been wanting to road legal my 500 for a while now and just found a tidy frame that is hopefully registerable. I imported the bike from Aussie and it cant be made legal here because its an import. So need to confirm what it is. Its # reads "KX500E-011642" Nothing like the other frame which has alot more didgits on there. It has "MADE IN JAPAN" stamped into the other side of the head stock.  Been searching the net but the info is not particularly obvious to me.

 The KX500E part is pretty self explainitory, does the "01" stand for 2001 and 1642 number 1642 off the production line for the southern market ?   Thats the way I see it.

 Kawaskai New Zealand looks like it will be of no use at all. They are only interested in selling new bikes and not much else. Is there any facorty contact that could tell me about this particular frame? 

  Cheers, Tim.                         

[wierdo]

I am currently trying to do the same but in OZ,
you will find all of the motorcycle dealers in OZ and probably the same in NZ wont be of any help at all, even the wreckers are less than helpful. this is all thanks to the assholes who rebirth written off vehicles. dealers and wreckers will not sell a rolling chassis, they will only sell individual parts to make a rolling chassis. The easiest way for me to do it legally is to purchase a currently registered rolling chassis of the same maker, directly from the registered owner, transfer registration to my name and then transplant my motor.
sorry cant help you with the vin #....   

[ylwgtr]

very simple.....email peterstevens in melbourne asking them to run a vin check on it for you....they will do it no worries

[Timbowe]

Cool, but mine is not a VIN number. Its frame number. Is it still traceable ?

[wierdo]

if you go to Partzilla.com look up the kx500 it will show all parts numbers and the models and years interchangability. I couldn't find the part number you have, the number doesn't match frame part numbers listed for E model kx500's, not even close. sorry..

[Timbowe]

 I did notice today the letters  "MADE IN JAPANKHI" stamped on the other side to the frame number. I did not notice the KHI bit after Japan before. I'm now worering if Kawasaki hade some frames / parts made in a different factory? KHI = Kawaski Heavy Industries ? Surely someone must know where and when this frame was made and which market it was destined for?

[sandblaster]

Can't help you with non US frame numbers but...
I have several carb numbers that should help you narrow down the year range:
http://www.oem-cycle.com/KAWASAKIKX500BIKEID.shtml

Also, compare your fork info to that of the chart (Scroll way to the right).
You may be able to further narrow down the year.
If you are wondering why salvage companies are little help in identifying bikes it's because they are not authorized factory dealers and have no access to factory information.
As a salvage company the only way you can get that information is to pay very close attention and record everything which takes a lot of additional time per bike and takes years to develop.
When I started to develop my information I did it because I was tired of selling the wrong parts and having to pay for return shipping and I didn't want to have upset customers.
Once I had a large amount of data recorded I decided to make it available.
Very few salvage companies have the time, money, or patience to put it all together.

Because the engine ID's are not listed after 1989 here is a list of numbers based on bikes we have parted out as well as other member's numbers.

1983 is KX500AE000001 - KX500AE001500
1984 is KX500AE001501 - KX500AE002400
1985 is KX500BE000001 - KX500BE001800
1986 is KX500BE001801 - KX500BE004100
1987 is KX500BE004101 - KX500BE006600
1988 is KX500BE006601 - KX500BE008500
1989 is KX500BE008501 - KX500BE010700
1990 is KX500BE010701 - KX500BE013000
1991 is KX500BE013001 - KX500BE0134xx
1992 is KX500BE0148xx
1993 is KX500BE0164xx
1994 is KX500BE0175xx - I think this one is wrong...
1995 is KX500BE0172xx - KX500BE0180xx
1998 is kx500BE0195xx - kx500BE0197xx
2000 is KX500BE0219xx
2001 is KX500BE0223xx

[Timbowe]

 Thanks for the help you guys.  After a bit of investigating I have found out the frame is a 96. Found the same guy selling the swingarm and luckily still had the orange and purple 500 font on it which I'm sure is from that era. Step closer... maybe...