What year is my bike:( @%&#@! ??????

[wreck-n-roll rik]

 What year is my KX500 - the guy I got it from said it was a 2000 when I picked it, when I got it home and started reading threads ran a search on Kaw's site and it was a 1996, I ran the # a 2nd time and still a 1996, tonight I went back and ran it it said 1994, so I went and got my note from last week ant the VINs match.  So here is the vin# jkakxve14ra010678 and the motor# is KX500be017566.  The decals say 2000 N-style.  I already order parts for a 1996 will they fit.  Great site and I did try  the search option but couldn't fing what I needed, nor the Jetting Chart that I keep reading about.  Great site

[stewart]

the 10 th vin number is the year 

[cyclepsych0]

^^^Correct. R = 1994

[KX500freak]

What year is my KX500 - the guy I got it from said it was a 2000 when I picked it, when I got it home and started reading threads ran a search on Kaw's site and it was a 1996, I ran the # a 2nd time and still a 1996, tonight I went back and ran it it said 1994, so I went and got my note from last week ant the VINs match.  So here is the vin# jkakxve14ra010678 and the motor# is KX500be017566.  The decals say 2000 N-style.  I already order parts for a 1996 will they fit.  Great site and I did try  the search option but couldn't fing what I needed, nor the Jetting Chart that I keep reading about.  Great site

i know that the m.y. is pressed in the rim shoulder ,it should be.
and for the use of the chart just look on the kx500 homepage and on your right side is a section that says...

HOWTO :

plugchart
engine
fuel
gearing / tyres
suspension

there you are 

jetting chart is in the section : tech disc.kx500 and then the thread called jetting ..jetting ..and again 

[Hillclimb#42]

94. I hate that. happens all the time. That and..." the bike just had the top-end rebuilt and has maybe one ride on it" People will say anything to sell a bike. Motoverse website has a vin# decoder.

[Platypus]

I already order parts for a 1996 will they fit.

Yes they will fit.  The forks did change at some point in the 90's to larger diameter.  I want to say 94?  Someone correct me here if I'm wrong.   

[wreck-n-roll rik]

Thanks - I have it all apart (top-end) on my bench, waiting to be re-assembled tomorrow when the rest of the parts come in.  It has taken a week for dealer to get the rings, seems slower than I expect and with two dealer within 25 miles you would think someone would have jets around but not alot of these bike up here either. 

[cyclepsych0]

I already order parts for a 1996 will they fit.

Yes they will fit.  The forks did change at some point in the 90's to larger diameter.  I want to say 94?  Someone correct me here if I'm wrong.   

Forks went up to 46mm (from 43mm) in 1996 on the 125/250's and 1997 on the 500's