So I finally took my kx500 for a 5 hour ride, I have not been on a bike for about 10 years. This machine has a flywheel weight, gnarly pipe, fmf spark arrestor and v3 reeds and had a snap I could not imagine. Let's just say I feel like someone beat me with a pipe. It is not a gental machine but since it's the first ride I have realized....
1: 3rd gear does not grab (well it will for a second and then any throttle it kicks out). I'm going to have to split the case and was wondering what else I should replace while I was in there?
2: On that ride I dumped it throttle side down and the front cylinder for the brakes was leaking. Found the leak and repaired it but would not firm up the front brakes any way I bleed them, have you encountered this?
3: The kick starter must have vibrated while riding and when I was riding I do remember my right food having to leave the peg to stabilize and the back of my knee took the impact that left me with a huge bruise, how can I stiffen up the kick starter to stop it from vibrating out so my leg can heal?
4: Tires? I had ALOT of tread left but after my ride in the mountains it's pretty much bald. Should I get a hard rubber for the mountains?
Thank you fellow KX500 riders, this bike is not for the faint of heart. And I LOVE it.