New Member & KX500 Owner

[dmazz71]

Hi All,

I'm new to the site and just wanted to say hi.  I'm up in the cold snow covered northeast and can't wait for the warm weather to come back.  I recently purchased a 2003 KX 500 and have found a ton of useful information on this site.  Everyone seems really cool and willing to share their knowledge to help out a fellow KX rider.

I started riding about 17 years ago and have had 2 dirt bikes (86 RM 125 & 03 CR250) before I bought the monster.  I really can't believe how fast this thing is.  I bought the bike really late in the season and was only able to putt around in my backyard before putting it away. 

I plan to head up to the fairly new MX track that was carved out at New England Dragway (in NH).  They also sell VP racing fuels (C12) which I plan on running.

The spring can't come fast enough! 

[meangreen]

Welcome - great to have another member!  This place is a wealth of knowledge, especially for the KX5 owner. 

Sounds like you are chomping at the bit to get that new monster out, on a track no less.  Just click her into third and hold on tight, you may need some new undies when you get to the pits!

MG

[dmazz71]

I was actually considering getting an old snowmobile or ATV, just so I would have a winter toy. ha ha

She's almost done as I only have a few little things left to do.  So far, I've done the following:

Welded the upper mount exhaust bracket back on
Exhaust o rings
Carb o rings
Air filter
Renthal front (14T) sprocket
Renthal rear (47T) sprockets
A stock chain because I got it brand new really cheap
New grips
New radiator hoses (they were all cracked from sitting)

Just have a few more odds and ends and the riding gear I have to buy.   

Thanks
DM


 

[meangreen]

That is a beauty! 

Word to the wise about stock chains - they put just enough chain on there to get by.  The 500 is very hard on chains and you will be playing with your adjusters constantly to try and keep up with chain stretch.  That is fine, but when your chain wears, it in turn wears your sprockets - it all wears as a set and should be replaced as a set.  Enter the thought of a good chain saving your having to buy the whole setup again as soon.

Back when I worked for the dealership, we had a stack of stock chains that we would take off of the 500's in favor of quality, hi-tensile strength rated chains.  We usually ran O-ring/Xring because most of our customers were desert racers and trail riders.  The occasional motocrosser would want a good standard chain to keep rotational weight and rolling resistance down on their 125/250.  On a 500, you have so much power that those are hardly a problem.

MG

[dmazz71]

Thanks

I originally wanted to run an o-ring chain, but I was afraid that it would rub against the case and sub-frame. 

Are all o-ring chains the same width or do they vary?  Which one is the best to run on the 500?

[D0N]

welcome!  nice looking bike.

 

[Friar-Tuck]

 Welcome to the forum Dmazz.
    (That just doesn't sound right... if it's short hand for Dumb A_ _ )
Anyways,  Glad you found us!  there should be plenty of reading to keep you psyched about spring riding/ training.
  I don't ride MX but the guys here who do can probably give you a few pointers on the fastest way to pilot the KX around the track.  As I understand them, it's takes a bit of change in riding style to get the big KX around an MX track efficiently.
  Hang in there, spring will be here before you know it!
   Tuck\o/ 

[1989kawasaki]

nice bike! one day ill hope to get a 500, but not in the foreseeable future.
preferably i would want an 89 model 500 thats in good as shape as my 89 250 

[dmazz71]

I better start posting more questions and answers, so I can edit my user name.

Just as I thought I was putting the final touches on my bike for the spring, I noticed that most of the treads on where the fork protector mounts to (the bottom of the fork) are gone.  On a positive note, it gives me something else to fix instead of just sitting on the bike making engine sounds. ha ha 

[meangreen]

As far as chain width, the straight up O-ring (style) chain will be the widest.  The X-ring (style) chain is a bit narrower.

I run mostly RK with no failures yet.  Regina, Tsubaki and DID are also very good brands.  If you stick to the quality manufacturers, you will be fine.  Expect to find them running 70-100 bucks.

When you run an o-ring, the chain will be wider than the standard chain.  Therefore, you will need to occasionally check your master link clip to see how its doing.  It rubs the inside of the chain guide and wears the clip.  Make sure to install clip in right direction - closed end going forward.

MG

[dmazz71]

Thanks for the chain info MG