2001 KX500 Kawasaki Supermoto

[sandblaster]

The weather got above 50 degrees and it wasn't raining today.
So after about 2 months of not starting the SM I kicked it about 20 times before it finally started 
I let it warm up jumped on and rode it for about 10 minutes to get it warmed up.
I brought it back to the house and let my 70 year old Dad take it for a spin.
After about 20 minutes he shows up at the house and parks the bike.
No comments, no nothing.
I was a little disappointed.
Anyway... I had some buddies over and we had BBQ carne asada tacos, Corona, and Knob Creek Whiskey (Thanks for the suggestion Motorrad) for dinner.
Sitting around a nice warm fire my Dad asks, how fast will it go in 4th gear pinned.
I said a little over 90.
And then I asked, Did you go that fast?
He said yes.
I asked "where?"
Then  he told me.... It is in a 45 mph zone 
I hope when I hit 70 years old I will still hit 90mph in a 45mph residential zone.
But like my Dad said, "it peaks in 4th so fast that it only took a block to go that fast" 

[Pmcg]

The weather got above 50 degrees and it wasn't raining today.
So after about 2 months of not starting the SM I kicked it about 20 times before it finally started 
I let it warm up jumped on and rode it for about 10 minutes to get it warmed up.
I brought it back to the house and let my 70 year old Dad take it for a spin.
After about 20 minutes he shows up at the house and parks the bike.
No comments, no nothing.
I was a little disappointed.
Anyway... I had some buddies over and we had BBQ carne asada tacos, Corona, and Knob Creek Whiskey (Thanks for the suggestion Motorrad) for dinner.
Sitting around a nice warm fire my Dad asks, how fast will it go in 4th gear pinned.
I said a little over 90.
And then I asked, Did you go that fast?
He said yes.
I asked "where?"
Then  he told me.... It is in a 45 mph zone 
I hope when I hit 70 years old I will still hit 90mph in a 45mph residential zone.
But like my Dad said, "it peaks in 4th so fast that it only took a block to go that fast" 

Thats awesome.  I hope I still have the balls to throw a leg over at 70

[Brute]

Good for him! My Dad did a similar thing with a built 433 (427 + .030) in a '69 El Camino I stored with the folks in Montana. Only he scared the crap out of himself. I take it your Dad rode or rides quite a bit?

[sandblaster]

Good for him! My Dad did a similar thing with a built 433 (427 + .030) in a '69 El Camino I stored with the folks in Montana. Only he scared the crap out of himself. I take it your Dad rode or rides quite a bit?

Yeah we get together and ride about every 2-3 months in the desert or dunes.
Of course he does ride in between but he is 4.5 hours away from me so we don't get to ride together as much as we would like.
Funny thing is he can still out wheelie me on his wr450 by a long shot 
It seems that I have a phobia of breaking rear fenders 

[Motorrad]

My 63yr old pops still passes all my 20-30 something friends in the sandwashes. On a 1974 bike.  Really pisses them off when they a are on their modern bikes

15-39 gearing and an overdrive 5th makes for a really good time on a sumo bike

[sandblaster]

15-39 gearing and an overdrive 5th makes for a really good time on a sumo bike

I'm waiting to find out...

[Brute]

Did you pick up the OD? Does it come with installation? 

[sandblaster]

Not yet, just waiting for Motorrad to stop fiddling around and buy a Maico  
He won't sell the OD gears to me until he buys one...  

[sandblaster]

Next...

[Goat]

My dad wont ride any of my bikes except the 250 ninja Lol He says everything else is too d**n fast and way too powerful especially the trencher (KX500) and CBR1000F I wish my dad would go riding with me.

[sandblaster]

My Dad has always been like that, Bicycles, skateboards, surfing, wind surfing,cliff diving, motorcycles.... What ever we were into, Dad got into or drug us into 
At 70 we'll have to wait and see how much longer it lasts..

[Pmcg]

My dad wont ride any of my bikes except the 250 ninja Lol He says everything else is too d**n fast and way too powerful especially the trencher (KX500) and CBR1000F I wish my dad would go riding with me.

I have a 1987 cbr1000f that I restored. I love those bikes.

[Goat]

My dad wont ride any of my bikes except the 250 ninja Lol He says everything else is too d**n fast and way too powerful especially the trencher (KX500) and CBR1000F I wish my dad would go riding with me.

I have a 1987 cbr1000f that I restored. I love those bikes.

I would love to see some pics. Only thing I don't like about mine is the front end is so heavy feeling.

[Pmcg]

I would love to see some pics. Only thing I don't like about mine is the front end is so heavy feeling.
[/quote]

I put in new springs and am pretty happy with the handling.  Here's the bike when I got it.  Was left outside for a few years


Taking it apart


Reassembly


And the way it sits now

[Goat]

That looks great! Lots of changes between your 87 and my 95 but I still see the resemblance.



Sorry for cluttering your thread with big Hondas SB. Gotta have something posted in here