Just got my 1999 kx 500

[*King*Kong*K*X*]

So ive had my 99 kx 5 now for about a week. i have ridden her 3 times so far. She is such a beast to start after ive been riding and stopped for a few minutes. i had to walk her back 2 miles to the truck this weekend. Love the power, but on the trails, it can almost be boring... since there is so much torque i really dont have to shift. 


heres some pics of her

[Motorrad]

welcome to the site..

she should fire first kick... every time... after she is warm...     


good looking bike..   (adjust your kickstart lever...) 

[Friar-Tuck]

Welcome to the forum and K-5 Brotherhood.

  You might consider this during winter break
http://www.kxriders.com/forums/index.php/topic,6445.75.html

It's next on my list for Larry, and re-cut the squish angle while he has the head .  My bike runs well but I need something a bit softer to kick.     I'm Hooked on the 5oo, so as long as I can still pilot the thing I'm gonna keep ridin' it..
            Most guys say the comp. release mod will bring the effort needed down to about a healthy 250.
   Any way, welcome and thanks for signing up!
  Tuck\o/

[*King*Kong*K*X*]

Thanks for the suggestions guys....

by adjusting my kickstart, do you mean just rotating the lever?

[Friar-Tuck]

  Not wanting to put words in Mo's post,
however I'm Pretty sure you got it,
  By rotating the kick lever forward you should get more spin of the crank for your kick. 
  There is some travel engaing the gears so you will be engaging the system sooner.
  I would venture to guess your foot is at almost 90degrees before the kicker engages the gears and starts to turnover your engine.  You don't want the kick lever rattling against the pipe, but it looks like you can get some more out of her.  Tuck\o/

[Motorrad]

Correct... undo the retaining bolt (6mm alen If I remember correctly??) Pull the lever of (its on splines)..    and relocate to look like this..

You will get much more CYCLE out of one kick...

[*King*Kong*K*X*]

You would be correct in your assumption that the lever is almost 90 degrees before engaging. i was wondering if there was a solution to that problem.

Thanks again for your help guys. I'll adjust the lever this weekend and see if that helps. Hopefully I'll get some sunshine and be able to ride. Living in a rainforest can put a damper on riding at times.

[1989kawasaki]

yeah , putting the lever forward will make it much easier to start up.

with my old kicker i knew that it HAD to be set back 1 spline than normal cause the severe wear on the pivot made the lever lean forward rubbing the case  but one time i had to take off the kicker but i accidentally put it 2 splines back and it made it really difficult to start . now with a brand new kicker set to where its supposed to, the bike starts up 1st kick every time

[*King*Kong*K*X*]

The kicker is new, i guess the previous one had broken. So it makes sense that it may have been set back too far. I thought it was weird that it had such a short travel for actually starting the motor. I am 99 percent sure moving the lever forward will help immensely.

[weymouth399]

Allways start from top of the stroke on the kick lever too. Kawi's are finicky that way.
Try to put in neutral most are hard to start in gear also.
Every KX I have owned didn't like to start in gear after I stalled it or fell, hot or cold.

Bob W

[Foxx4Beaver]

I can't believe the kicker being positioned where it is did'nt aggravate the hell outa ya while riding.

[*King*Kong*K*X*]

Foxx,Yeah the kicker kept grabbing on my pants, but i was more focused on throttle control while i was getting used to the power of the beast.

Bob, by starting at the "top of the stroke" are you meaning to kick it till it gets to top dead center and then not do the extra little "click" to release some compression before starting?

Thanks for all the help guys. I'm really enjoying poking around the topics during my free time.



King Kong

[Foxx4Beaver]

hey Kong,I'm not trying to answer this for Bob,cause he may know something I don't....but you want to slowly kick it until you find the "top of the stroke"...meaning that the kickstarter will/should be straight UP and DOWN,...then kick it hard,and repeat the same process until it fires up.Being a 99 it should start pretty easily,I have a 95 K5 with a new lower and top end and I start it all the time in sneakers.I would'nt try that on an 85,86,or an 87 K5,those years sucked to start,unless you knew a good procedure.
Good luck,and let us know how you make out!....Foxx
   

[weymouth399]

Yes all those things that everyone has said.
Also make sure that the kick start ratchet is engaged at the top most part of the stroke, or you will short yourself a little kicker action.(get the kicker engaged as high as you can)
When I can, I use a wooden block/bike stand to stand on gives me better leverage.
Every kx I have ever owned has been that way from 88 to current. (man I'm old)

Bob W

[*King*Kong*K*X*]

Leverage isnt a problem... im 6'3" 280lbs lol....

im just a noob when it comes to dirt bikes and kick starts.

i got spoiled with my street bikes and their electric starts. The K5 is the most fun I've had on a bike so far. Gotta love a bike that lifts the front tire in every gear with 1/4 throttle.