KX500 vs every thing else?

[2001KX5]

So in waiting to get my first KX500 peiced back together I'm just curious about a few things.

How does the 500 stand up against the new 450 4-strokes? Not in a moto, just general trail, hill and open back road riding?

Same question but against big bore XR's, i.e. 500+.

[gowen]

Depending on how good of a rider you are. 4t's can't touch me on my 500, not even in a long shot. Traction is a basic issue at first, but I hook and they are eating roost. The XR500's are dogs compared to either 450 4 or 500 2. I hope this clarifies anything.

Just think about it, 500cc of two stroke power making power every stroke, and a 4t 450 making power every 4 rounds and weighing the same as the 500. Yes, it will kill it in about ALL aspects.

[hughes]

Gowen, Said it. It depends on how good off a rider you are. Most people can't ride these bikes at pro level. I can't . Traction is going to be the key thing you will need to get from your bike. That would be the first thing I would tackle. Flywheel weight, a good pipe FMF gnarly or Pro circuit plamtium 2, reed block spacer, reeds, 120 rear tire. Reeds made a nice change in bikes performance. If you leave the bike in stock trim try a flywheel weight to slow the hit. I don't run one on mike bike and sometimes it shows while we're tril riding.

[Timbowe]

You'll realise when you throw you're leg over for the first burst! 

[Arigato]

You'll realise when you throw you're leg over for the first burst! 

When the slide is all the way up, new ergo's and fancy bling mean nothing.  A well tuned KX500 is still competitive to this day.

[KXcam22]

I live in the single track trail world.  There is not a 4-stroke around that can touch my KX500 on the hills, the fast stuff, or the tight stuff.  But, you have to know how to ride it.  I can even outstart most of the e-start bikes (with some pre-priming that they never notice).  It would be a different story on a moto-x track but in the mountains the KX500 is truly the king of the mountain.  I can also go longer between rebuilds. When I ride with a group my bike is the one no one wants to give back.  Everyone talks about power but it is the suspension of the new bikes (over my 92) that I value the most.  Nothing some revalving won't fix. Sorry to rant.  Cam.

[Timbowe]

And they just make ya feel good!! Like crf450 just does'nt roll off the tonque like     KX  500....  Every ones heard of a KX  500....  KX  500  LEGEND...!   The real Mans machine    KX   500...  65 plus horses 99 kilograms KX  500. 

[2001KX5]

I hear what you guys are saying.  The reason why I purchased this KX500 rather than a newer or new 2 stroke 250 is because of the legend and the brute power of the beast.  I'm 6ft, 235 pounds and like to man handle things so I'm real excited about the 500.

I'm hoping it will be a little nicer than stock with an Eric Gorr mo-better ported top end and once I get my jetting nailed down.  I have purchased some pilot jets to have on hand and ready to go once I get the bike up and running.  I'm about 200m absl with any where from 10-25 deg C temps.  I have the base jetting to start with, a 168 main, 58 pilot and stock needle in stock position.  but I also have a 55 pilot and a 52 pilot and 172 main on hand. I nailed down the jetting on my KX250 pretty good but idling was never what one would call perfect but you could deal with it.  The main thing is that the bike DO NOT run lean any where, don't bog or sputter off idle or any where else in the throttle range. Once I get those base setting figured out I will wory about fine tuning it from there.

I'll also be running a 14 tooth front sprocket and a 51 tooth rear sprocket.  I ride alot of trails, some hills, woods roads etc with basically no moto tracks. What gearing are you guys running for what applications? 

Is it too cocky to say I want this thing to rip my arms off even though I have never rode one before? lol

Oh yeah I have a gallery up now so go take a look.

[alan]

I guess I would be considered a Big Bore Addict!

I all started back in the early 70's with  a Yamaha SC500 then a 501 Maico and back to another SC500 and later 2 different YZ490's an then my 2001 KX500 and now with another KX500 to build for my project bike. Once you learn how to us the awesome power you just can't go back! I do admit I would like to have a KX450F and I would love to ride one of the Maico powered ATK 620 and 700 2 stokers, but there is just something about the KX5 that just really works. May be it is that I ride where there is basically no traction in the desert and dunes. The KX jumps up on top and stays there like no other big bore I have owned or ridden!

Yep, I am addicted!

[hughes]

I'am running 14/49 and like it. I ride fire roads,single woods track and hills. I can stay in 2nd or 3rd most of the time and just lug around.

[steeldust]

Recently my buddy and I were talking about the fatsest dirt bikes.  Well after proving to him that my kx 500 (tricked out everything minus a big bore kit and pvl ignition) was faster than his brand new KTM 250(tricked out). Which he will still deny and says he lets off the throttle (YEA RIGHT) so he doesnt blow his motor.  He still says that the new big 4 stroke KTM's will own the kx 500.  He kept talking about the KTM 525 and thae 625.  I still said the KX 500 is the fastest.  So Just wanted to see what you guys think?  Also just curious about the 4 stokes versus the 2 strokes in a long distance race like baja 500 or 1,000?

[gowen]

steeldust, I merged the topic with a recent topic on the same subject.

To answere your question, google Destry Abbott. He ran his KX500 and won most of the time. 4ts are heavy. Point blank.

When people talk smack about my KX or try to say this or that about a faster bike, I just smile/laugh and pat them on the back, say ok, and then walk away. I had a friend who had a KTM 520 and it would not hold to my KX in any reguard except looks. Also, I beat him on my two-stroke 250. A good strong running KX will lay waste to any bike made on the market pretty much. But, remember the rider. I can lay waste to my buddies on my 250, even if they are riding my KX500. It's 95% rider, 5% bike.

[Paul]

Kawasaki pulled out of the Baja 1000 when Danny Hamil was killed. The KX500 won 9 straight Baja 1000's before withdrawing. The XR650 never won a Baja while the KX500 was in competition. Neither did any other thumper

When I had, and raced mine, I would reel in big thumpers all the time, the ONLY one thats hard to catch is the XR650 with tricked out Honda stuff. It's hard to catch and pass with a bolt-on KX500 but once you put a little time and effort into it the KX walks even the might 650 with ease.

[doordie]

This garden tool H...da were the only one I have loose in a dragrace.

[alan]

Doordie, we call those BRP'S or "Big Red Pigs"
I would love to see a dyno chart on that one!

Alan