Cylinder question

[dezracer]

I'm in the process of totally rebuilding my KX500.  I bought the bike used and the neglected top-end needs maintenance.  Got to ride it one time.     So basically the cylinder is very worn.  Some mild scaring, nikasil flaking off around the exhaust ports and just overall way overdue for a fresh top-end.  So my question is......what is the best type of cylinder to have?  Should I get it replated with Nikasil or just have it resleeved with a boreable cylinder.  

In my mind the Nikasil is the right thing to do.  I've heard that it's way cheaper to do it the other way so that I can just have it bored out every time I need to clean up the cylinder.  

What do you guys think?

Thanks,
CW

[doordie]

dezrazer,
Resleeve,just mine 2 cent!
You can change many pistons before a new resleeve.

// doordie

[mikesmith]

Rick puts the most miles of all of us I would say and he replates his.Cant remember who he uses,theres a thread here somewhere on it.

[DanH1]

Replate!!

[dezracer]

How much for a new cylinder and where could I get one a a descent price?  

[Rick]

Replate, replate, replate!!!  If you are very fast, you will HATE a sleeve.  There is only one company that I allow to do this work, as they do the replate work for most of the factory teams.  Here is the link (check out the testimonials):

http://www.rpmsbigbore.com/

I actually have two cylinders so I have not down time.  However, I know that RPM also has a replacment program that works pretty well.

As for miles, yup, I ride a lot, as I'm trying to get all the riding in possible before I die.  This summer, I even spent 9 days in the mountains camping over the 4th of July, and rode just under 700 miles, but then again, I was trying to get back in shape after my broken collarbone.  Oh yea, it worked...

Also, today I picked up enough oil to mix 50 gallons of gas, so think I am set through the rirst part of November...I hope.

Good luck.

Rick

[gowen]

Also check out Forword Motion http://www.eric-gorr.com many people happy and stupidly low prices. Used him for years and have never had any trouble, he replated almost every bike I've had. It's now $450 for a total top-end rebuild, including porting (to your choice), piston and gaskets, cleaning the complete cylinder and PV, this also includes a bore to 520cc and NICOM plating by US Chrome, which I believe RPM uses for their replating too.

[Paul]

Kelly's $325 for a new cylinder, atleast the one and only time I had to purchase one

[Folke]

Replate !! replated cylinder are better than a new one (thicker Nicasil)

[doordie]

Opsopsops!!!1        
I`m so sorry, naturally should you replate NOT resleeve I mixed the words.
 
I got a resleeved cylinder and have many problem about the heat
don`t even expand from aluminium to steel,causes siezing spots.
So if you don?t want any problem,replate it.

Sorry again for mixed words!

//doordie

[dezracer]

Thanks guys.  I'm going with my original plan and will have the cylinder replated.  I'm going to use Rick Peterson Motorsports.  They are close to me so I should get my cylinder back within 3 weeks.  I checked on buying a new cylinder and Kelly's said it would be like $560.  Maybe in the future that would be an option.  I'm a little poor right now since I just got done doing the motor on my 380 and the 500 is getting the works.  I'm totally redoing the whole bike.  The checking account is running a little low. Hopefully when I'm done, the 500 will rip again.

[Rick]

I just love a fresh 500...

[dezracer]

It's better than new car smell.

[dezracer]

Thanks for the tip on Rick Petersons Motorsports.  They hooked me up.  I decided to go through the whole motor.  New top-end, bearings, seals and repainted the frame and cleaned everything.  It does not look like the same bike that I started with.  Sweet.

[rradar]

That's the way to do it. Just replace everything at once. Early summer I did the same thing including the bottom end as well. I opted to powder coat my frame in black and replaced every fastener, nut and bolt while I was at it. I wanted a newer K5 but my boss gave me a $2K budget to rebuild. I just had the suspension rebuilt by Race Tech last summer. Ha! I still have $300 left over to put something else into it! How does the V-Force perform compared to the Rad Valve?