1983 KX500 for $400-should I buy????

[Sam Simons]

Hi All,

Found this bike locally. It's complete,runs well,doesn't make any 'expensive noises'.
The  rear shock is dead,rear fender replaced. It has a longer(aftermarket?) swingarm.
I don't have any plans for it, just like the larger two strokers(recently sold my '99
CR500-mistake).

So, my questions are:

Are there parts (particularly internals) still available for the older a/c's ?

Power charastics- abrupt/harsh like the early CR5's & YZ 490's ?

 Any input/suggestions from present & previous KX5 owners will be very helpful.

Thank you,

Sam in IN

[Hillclimb#42]

Must be an old hill climber or drag bike or somethin'. I know someone will hammer me for it, but its goiing to be hard to find parts. I guess its the same with an old muscle car. Its priced right, if it runs long enough to get $400 worth of fun.

[gwcrim]

Worst case is you part it out on Ebay and make a few bucks.

[83kx500]

hey all im new to the forum, i have recently bought a 83kx500 and wonderd if anyone could help me find or let me know what factory jetting should be on the bike, it acts like its lean. no throttle after about 1/4 just bogs, no smoke. all stock exept uni filter. any help would be great im having trouble finding info on the old bike. i think its a 40mm mikuni

[KXDINO]

This might help

The Aussie model

KX500 A11983
Carby Mikuni VM 38ss
had Gold swingarm and rims
solid disc on front

 This info from from the pamphet

don't know what jets are from standard

hope this helps

[ibpassngas]

i have a 1983 KX500 and it does the same thing.  Starts and idles fine.  After 1/4 throttle it just bogs and will not rev.  I'm guessing the carb is messed up.  My carb is not the stock 1983 round slide Mikuni.  Mine has the flat slide VM38 (like the 1984 KX500) but this carb has some adjuster mechanism on the top that runs down the length of the slide.  Probably off a different brand/model or snowmobile.

If anyone can let me know if they think it's carb related I'd appreciate it.

However, I do have the 1983 manual and the stock carb settings and corrected ones are posted here:  http://vmx.livewire.gen.nz/magazine/83KX500/83KX500.htm

thanks

[73G5100]

i have a 1983 KX500 and it does the same thing.  Starts and idles fine.  After 1/4 throttle it just bogs and will not rev.  I'm guessing the carb is messed up.  My carb is not the stock 1983 round slide Mikuni.  Mine has the flat slide VM38 (like the 1984 KX500) but this carb has some adjuster mechanism on the top that runs down the length of the slide.  Probably off a different brand/model or snowmobile.

If anyone can let me know if they think it's carb related I'd appreciate it.

However, I do have the 1983 manual and the stock carb settings and corrected ones are posted here:  http://vmx.livewire.gen.nz/magazine/83KX500/83KX500.htm

thanks

It sounds like your carbs dirty. Check your main jet for blockage.  Also check floats.
I have a 1984 KX500. It has a flat slide Mikuni VM38SS carb on it.  The carb has a 320 main jet and a 70 pilot jet.  The bike runs good but slightly rich.  From the time I bought it new from the dealer it has never idled. This carb has no way to adjust the slide opening for idleing. It just has an air screw that starts at 1 1/2 turns out. It almost idles best at that setting.  I changed the pilot jet a few times when it was new, but always end up putting the 70 back in. I'm not messing with the jets cause it ran good enough to smoke the old 84 CRs and it never seized.

[ibpassngas]

Thanks 73G5100 for the jet specs.  I think you're right -- carb.  I checked all electrical items and they passed.  I will work on it.  The main is a wimpy 155.

I added some pictures of the bike to my gallery (ibpassngas).  Hope this link works.

http://www.kxriders.com/coppermine/index.php?cat=11633