Hey guys I figured I'd take some time and post of the start of project 2001 KX 500.
The bike over all is in very solid condition..........no jinggly or rattly parts which is the case with most used bikes, s**t wears over time. But this one is solid. I knew when buying it that it needs a nice bit of money put into it, but my offer/purchase price was totally based on that and I'm content with it ($1850 Canadian). I knew at the end of the day I would be pay the going rate for a bike such as this once its all done, but it will be about 99% brand new. Rather than purchasing one for 4k and having to do the typical chain, sprockets, tires, cables, bars, grips and graphics etc etc on top of that price. I figure that at or less than 4k I will have an almost new bike that needs nothing but yet runs stronger than a stock 500 (like thats even nessessary lol).
As you can see the piston is f**ked and there is a significant cracking in the cylinder exh ports. The bike was def. abused the last going off and there are some road rash scars in various areas to prove that. Its hard to tell what caused it due to the cracking in the exhaust port bridges. It likely ran lean for a long time or was hydrolocked. There is also a nice crack in the exhaust pipe, looks like it could of been from a nice wipe out though. But for a 2001 there is not a freaking ding in the pipe, literally mint besides for the crack which I'm having welded the weekend and is not a big deal.
Currently my complete top end with exhaust valves and all has been sent to Eric Gorrs shop Forward Motion (
www.eric-gorr.com) in IL USA. For those of you who know nothing of Eric Gorr I suggest you do some reading, he is very well respected and known in the industry
Anyway the plan is to weld the cylinder, bore to 520cc, have it replated by US Chrome, have a "mo better every where" porting done along with all the additional service Eric does at no charge (parts cleaning, piston prep, exhaust valve timing, cyl head resurfacing) and a complete top end kit with gaskets and all. My porting is being done for sea level with pump gas (oh why can't we get race fuel easier
). If my cylinder can't be repaired Eric will provide me a new oem cylinder at his cost because I'm buying the other parts and his porting services ( if I get a new cylinder I will not have it over bored until it needs to be replated again).
The bottom end is at Brian Hoods shop for a bottom end tear down and inspection so when I bolt on my fresh top end I know I have no other issues.
I'll post up updates as I go along, but right now the frame is dissassembled to get a new pipe mount welded on, sanded and painted. I have lots of parts to buy, but I want to get the motor looked after first and put back in the bike and then I'll start buying every thing else.
