first k5 very well used. need some advice

[younGun]

i just got my first k5 as a birthday present mostly cuz my dad was tired of hearing about the valves in my crf250.
the 500 is a 99 and it is well used. I've gone thru and attempted to tune it: new filter, jetted for what the chart
on here says(don't know how to do the needle clip tho), new carbon reeds(took the brass stops out now they are
making funny noises?concerned?), and new o rings high temp silicone and springs for the pipe(no washer just saw
that it needed one on here today). the exhaust port is very grooved, small leak from the base gasket, piston is
very rough looking on top, its leaking from the counter shaft, got a very concerning clack from the engine, and i
have very little top end. plug is dark and lots of compression(feels like). bike wont idle but it starts fairly easy.
also shouldn't this bike be intimidating as i weigh 150 lbs?? i rode a cr500 once and jeez but now my crf250 is
very equal to my k5? obviously something isn't right. now you know the whole story please help where do i even
start? i just want reliability and good 500 power

[bens87braap]

Wait for the Gurus to see this post the k5 should s**t all over any 250 

[Candyman]

Air leaks.... bad...
noises.... bad.
new top end and a full bottom end rebuild... good..
good running K5.... fast.
funny red bikes.... bad

[younGun]

i heard the powervalve could be noisy is that bs or true? I'm trying too steer clear of the bottom end thing (little nervous and lacking special tools) gonna get a manual and gasket kit so i can pull the top end and check the crank. any way to fix the base gasket leak if there's damage?

[sandblaster]

Your really not gonna know what you have till you get the top end off and give it a good inspection.
Take lots of pics and post them.
Yes, kips valves can make a lot of noise.
Be sure to get Cometic gaskets.

[KXDINO]

I think this k5 needs a big birthday, do a full rebuild on it ,check every piece ,make sure it adjusted right ,none of this half do it stuff, it better in the long run , and you never have to worry about slow crf 250 keeping up to you as you give them a soil sandwich.

[cmotodad]

I attest the Cometic gaskets are working great.

[Foxx4Beaver]

i just want reliability and good 500 power

if you can get a decent discount rate at your local Kawie dealer, you can replace everything in the motor, minus the engine cases, for about $6000...then you'll have the reliability, providing you're good with the general maintenance...this was the path I chose because I plan on keeping mine for many a year to come.

[younGun]

i don't really have that kind of cash sadly. do i want to use the thicker head gasket heard that helps with pump gas. also how the fuzz do you get pictures on here?

[Foxx4Beaver]

i don't really have that kind of cash sadly. do i want to use the thicker head gasket heard that helps with pump gas. also how the fuzz do you get pictures on here?

to some extent it'll make a difference, you'd be better off having the head re-shaped for the best improvement.

here's a link for posting pics....

http://www.kxriders.com/forums/index.php/topic,10040.0.html

you don't "have" to use PhotoBucket specifically...there's other photo hosts you can use too.

[younGun]

its got a cool head on it. don't know much about that. but i will definitely break out the camera this evening. sadly for story telling and interesting rebuild stuff I'm pretty sure the mean green 1/2 liter machine is getting sent off too get a full work over. i have little time to work on it for about the next month and my dad is willing to foot the bill because he wants me to bring it out to dumont or glamis with us over halloween. I'm hoping to give his 700hp LS2 powered car a run for its money   

[Foxx4Beaver]

I wish I could still get my dad to foot my dirt bike bills!! .....it's been decades since that's happened for me.

[reklessj]

I wish I could still get my dad to foot my dirt bike bills!! .....it's been decades since that's happened for me.

+1 now I am footin jrs builds
But he's only 15 and will bust his ass for me when i ask

[Foxx4Beaver]

haha, yup...there was always a "catch" that came along with my dad paying for my parts too....yard work mostly.

[reklessj]

The yard work for him is maintaining the 6500 + vines and forty acres of vineyard I manage