My new 99' KX500

[HammeredFlat4]

Hey guys I just picked up a clean 99' KX500, this will be my first 500.  It hasnt been riden in a few years so I plan on going through everything and greasing the bearings and make sure all the bolts are tight but my question was is there any specific thing I should look for while going through the bike?

[alward25]

Yes, there is one very important thing that could be catastrophic if overlooked.......... How bad ass it looks and how you will look while doing 80+mph wheelies.
Sweet ride!!!

[HammeredFlat4]

Yes, there is one very important thing that could be catastrophic if overlooked.......... How bad ass it looks and how you will look while doing 80+mph wheelies.
Sweet ride!!!

lol Thanks man.  Another question I have is what oil ratio do most of you guys run?  The PO told me he ran 50:1 but that seems a little lean to me, I was thinking 44:1 or 40:1?

[alward25]

It varies with the oil. I run Amsoil Dominator @ 50:1 and sometimes Royal Purple at the same ratio. Stewart runs Bel-Ray and I think he told me 50:1 too.
Good Luck!!!!

[smithy]

33-1 thats wot it says in the manual

[dubious01]

Beautiful bike! Nice find!

[sandman540]

Lucky Bastard!! That is one kick ass ride!!!! Im Jealous..Make sure the headpipe is tight to the cylinder, o rings are sealing. You dont want it sucking in dirt. Clean the air filter and case oils, check swingarm bushings, grease susp. Thats a NICE ride..Have a good one..Sandman

[ToomanyKaws]

That is a bitchin bike.   Wouldn't want to ride and get it dirty.   The desert out here is so hard on a bike.  Trashes them out pretty quickly.   

[snoopjonnyjon]

Check the upper pipe mount on the frame, and keep an eye on the chain rubbing into the swingarm. If it's the original kickstart lever, it will probably break soon and need to be replaced by a later-model kicker. I had all these problems with a near-virgin (under 10hrs) 1998 KX500 I bought last year.

I originally was stubborn and ran 32:1 like the book says. I was fouling plugs all the time, and had a bad bog unless I could hold it wide open for extended periods. Since switching to 50:1 Belray MC1, I haven't had a single fouled plug, and it runs much better.

[HammeredFlat4]

Wow thanks for all the advice and comments guys, this site is great tons of useful info and helpful people!  I checked out a couple of the things you guys mentioned, the pipe mounts are brand new the PO had just replaced them.  I checked the sub frame also and there is a little wear from the chain but not bad at all, the PO also told me that is an aftermarket steel sub frame that is supposed to be much stronger than stock, it there anything I can do to prevent the wear from the chain?  Thanks again.

[barryadam]

the pipe mounts are brand new the PO had just replaced them.
I checked the sub frame also and there is a little wear from the chain but not bad at all, the PO also told me that is an aftermarket steel sub frame that is supposed to be much stronger than stock, it there anything I can do to prevent the wear from the chain?

The pipe mounts we are talking about are the welded attachment points on the frame, not the rubber sandwich thingies.
Look in some Galleries.  Use SEARCH.

Ref: subframe wear - SEARCH is your friend here, friend.

[snoopjonnyjon]

I keep the chain just a little tighter than most people, and always keep a very good chain in place. The chain has not touched the subframe since then. Run a worn out chain, and let it get loose and it eats into the subframe in a hurry. Some people pop rivet stainless steel over the area. I haven't needed to yet. I had the area beefed up with a few TIG weld beads.

Here is a picture of the pipe mount that broke off. I've broken a few of the replaceable rubber mounts as well, but this one broke off the frame.

[HammeredFlat4]

Ahh I see now, thanks for the pic to clarify!  The PO also had the frame gusseted and welded before it was powder coated and I belive that was one of the weak issues he had addressed.  I will be sure to keep an eye on it!

[blueoval]

Front pipe mount broke recently and I repaired it....still holding after ONE RIDE!   

[blueoval]

ugly but functional