Can I swap my Forks on my 1993 KX 500?

[Hawkeye58]

Hi all,

I have a 1993 KX500 with the stock blue forks. I am wanting to swap to 1996 triple clamp and fork set.
can this be done? I have access to the 1996 setup and would like to upgrade.
Thanks,

Hawkeye   

[sandblaster]

Hello Hawkeye58.
Welcome to the forum.
You will find a lot more info here then you ever would at that other site 
The 92 - 93 KX500, KX250, and  KX125 all used the same Blue forks with the same external measurements and shared the front brake, front wheel, triple clamp, ect.
The problem is, when you go to the newer forks, the increased in diameter as well as they changed the front brake mounting holes.
Also, the bearings were a different size for the triple clamps.
I know some guys on this site have done it but I believe they had to have a different stem pressed in the the triple clamps.
You can reuse your front wheel but everything else needs to be changed out.
You might want to start with the search button on this site as I'm sure there is some info.
And, hopefully some people will chime in who have done it.

[sandblaster]

You can compare some fork information I have collected on the 500 here:
http://www.oem-cycle.com/KAWASAKIKX500BIKEID.shtml
250 here:
http://www.oem-cycle.com/KAWASAKIKX250BIKEID.shtml
125 Here:
http://www.oem-cycle.com/KX125KAWASAKIBIKEID.shtml

[Hawkeye58]

Awesome. Thanks for the reply Sandblaster. I had hoped I could do a full swap without mods.
Hawkeye 

[cyclepsych0]

500's never changed the bearing sizes. It was the 125/250's that changed bearings in '92. If you have clamps and forks from a '96 500 they will bolt right on.. 

[sandblaster]

500's never changed the bearing sizes. It was the 125/250's that changed bearings in '92. If you have clamps and forks from a '96 500 they will bolt right on.. 

Yep, your right.
The bearings on the 500's were the same.
But, he has a set up from a 250 he wants to swap with.
The info was on another forum 

[motopunk]

500's never changed the bearing sizes. It was the 125/250's that changed bearings in '92. If you have clamps and forks from a '96 500 they will bolt right on.. 

Yep, your right.
The bearings on the 500's were the same.
But, he has a set up from a 250 he wants to swap with.
The info was on another forum 

the fork-clamps were ever the same on kx125-250-500 ... only thing is to bring the right size bearings to it for the bike you will build it in... so easy it could be...