Time For A New Bike

[azracer19]

Its summer in AZ, bikes have been cleaned and put away for the summer....110 to 120 deg is to much. So here I am after reading articles, pricing new bikes ect. I am in a major deilima. I hate 4 strokes. Sorry its just my prefference. I owned a KTM 400 EXC and couldnt stand it. So I own a 2001 KX 500 in great shape also a KX 125 ( was my sons but he is in afganastan ) So I think I have decided between building a Bike. I have norrowed my options to two choices. A serive kawasaki 500 or a kawada Cr 250 with my 500 shoehorned into it. Any opinions on any of this is appreciated. I think I have gone over the costs everything is listed below.

1999-2002 Honda CR 250 2000.00
EXcel Wheels with hubs     1000.00
Custom Pipe and Silencer  500.00
David bailey replica Plastic 229.00
New rear brake rotor          70.00
Steel brake Lines               100.00
Scotts Steering stabalizer    550
Bars and Clamps /grips                100.00
ASV Levers                          75.00
Oversize front brake w pads   150.00
Suspension revalve                500.00
O ring Chain                           80.00
New Sprokets                          100.00
Oversize tank                          210.00
New bearing thru ouT                150.00
 pIPE/SILENCER                         500.00               
TOTAL                                     6500.00  and brand new Bike
minus selling CR 250 Motor MAYBE 800.........TOWARDS kx 500 MOTOR
SO 6500.00 NEW BIKE AND GREAT CONDITION 500
SH KX 500                               10,999
SUSPENSION REVALVE                 500.00
SCOTTS STABALIZER                    500.00
EXCEL WHEELS AND HUBS             1000.00
oVERSIZE TANK                            230.00      1530.00 PLUS kx 500 WITH NO ENGINE
ANY THOUGHTS?

[hughes]

That's a interresting project you have outlined. I would perfer to spend the money on the 2001 kx500 you already have. A few grand and that 01 500 could be just as good or not better than what your wanting to build. Take that 500 down to the frame and built it back up. Complete restore.

[mr.5thou sand]

i would definetly stick with the kx 500

[don46]

Go with the perimeter aluminum framed 500, I think I would go with the Service Honda KX500af or if you want to build your own buy a roller and stick your motor in. The other option would be to buy parts off ebay and build it your self, it's a pain in the ass but if you take your time it can be done rather inexpensively and you buy the parts cheap enough so you can rebuild everything, of course you can also get some real crap, I've found my opinion of excellent and somebody elses is much different. for example I bought some linkage for a 250f, supposedly in excellent condition and ready to install, every bearing was rusted solid but I didn't pay alot so big deal, I left feedback that was positive and said not quite as advertised, the seller wanted to know what wasn't as advertised.

If a person has never ridden one, they just don't understand how much better they feel. You can't stick enough money into your 01 to get the same feel and then there's the bling factor, thats gotta be worth something

[jfabmotorsports.com]

don46 has the best idea both for quality an economics. You can buy an 06-08 KX450, sell the engine,carb and electronic and have enough to buy a frame from JFABMOTORSPORTS ...yours truly. Then you can take your time putting it together the way that you want it. If you are worried about quality/fit and finish, references can be provided as well as side by side comparisons. You make the choice. I would build an AF given your opening statement. If all I was going to do was play ride and I was on a budget then I would resto the K5.

JFAB

[stewart]

i got an chance to look at jfabs conversion bike next to the service kawi bike of danger for u2 ,, both would certainly work...i did like the way jfab did his cradle  he used 1 inch square .125 wall tubing and its completly replaces stock cradle,,,,nice work

[PowerFiend]

The CR with a KX motor won't have much resale value. Besides the 99 CR's chassis wasn't that good. The 00-01 was okay. The 02+ does have a good chassis, but would be better donor for a CR500 to keep it in the family (One of my Projects). 

I personally would go with a JFab, or an 03+ KX conversion(Second project ).

[PowerFiend]

P.S. Since you only listed through 2002, do you need a CA green sticker? If so, try and find a KLX450 chassis... for a KLX500AF. 

[AJ]

we have KLX500AFs in stock

As far as pricing.. i'm confused on your Service kawasaki KX500AF..price "list" -
 when you mention $1500 for an 500 engine?

the bike at 10,999 comes complete.. ready to ride .
it has a brand new KX500 engine in it?
its a brand new bike.


if you want to use your engine,
and do it more as a *kit* style,
then obviously the rolling chassis converted is certainly less expensive (than 10,999)

currently we use the 09 KX250F chassis.
(but i do have some 08 KX450 chassis to use as well if that is prefered)


if you are looking at various options,,
resale may not be in mind..
but it is a factor?

the CR/KX conversion done as a home project
would have very little..

so i would stick to kaw chassis kaw engine hybrids..
as the ywould hav edecent value.


the other thing is we have used KX500AFs that are in  very good shape
that customer traded in for newer models
and the prices might fit into your many options..
and be another very  reasonable one..

[PowerFiend]

the other thing is we have used KX500AFs that are in  very good shape
that customer traded in for newer models
and the prices might fit into your many options..
and be another very  reasonable one..

Do you have them posted up somewhere? I only see pre-owned CR5AF's on the website.