Kawa KX 500

[klotshi]

Hi everybody!!

I'm thinking about restoring a KX 500 for a friend.
Problem is, i've never done that before, and the bike has been sitting in her garage for 5-6 years.
He hasn't been stored propperly (no fluid draining, no extra grease, ...), so i've read that it might be hard/ expensive to get him going again...

Anybody willing to tell what i have to look out for, any good tips?
I'm not a total newbie, i'm quite handy, i know what the standard procedure is to restart a bike that has been standing for a while... But english is not my first language (what? now way, you speak english very good sir! ) so i don't know some technical terms and names for parts and, maybe evenmore embarrasing, i'm not 100 % sure its a KX 500 .
I haven't seen the bike for a while, she said it's a 500, i know it's a kawa, and he looks like the pictures of a KX 500...

just wanted to ask for some tips before i got started..

thanks y'all!
BYE

[Saleenguy]

Originally Posted by klotshi

Hi everybody!!

I'm thinking about restoring a KX 500 for a friend.
Problem is, i've never done that before, and the bike has been sitting in her garage for 5-6 years.
He hasn't been stored propperly (no fluid draining, no extra grease, ...), so i've read that it might be hard/ expensive to get him going again...

Anybody willing to tell what i have to look out for, any good tips?
I'm not a total newbie, i'm quite handy, i know what the standard procedure is to restart a bike that has been standing for a while... But english is not my first language (what? now way, you speak english very good sir! ) so i don't know some technical terms and names for parts and, maybe evenmore embarrasing, i'm not 100 % sure its a KX 500 .
I haven't seen the bike for a while, she said it's a 500, i know it's a kawa, and he looks like the pictures of a KX 500...

just wanted to ask for some tips before i got started..

thanks y'all!
BYE

If all you want to do is get it started, drain the gas tank and wash it out....refill with gas / oil mix at 40:1
New spark plug.
Take the carb off, clean and overhaul it.
Clean and reoil the airfilter.
Drain, and refill gearbox with Type F ATF ( automatic transmission fluid)

If it has compression and spark it should start......its far from done as an overhaul, but that is 5 pages of posts to tell you how to rebuild the whole thing.

[klotshi]

Allright, i'll do that, thanks for the speedy reply, i'll be back if i have more questions

[Saleenguy]

Originally Posted by klotshi

Allright, i'll do that, thanks for the speedy reply, i'll be back if i have more questions

Sure if you have anythinf specific, just ask.
Maybe it will need reeds, or who knows what.

I love KX500's so am glad to help, if i can.

[klotshi]

ok, i have a maybe silly question.
The bike is from a woman friend, her boyfriend was a bit worried about my plans, so: is it a rideable bike, or is it an absolutly crazy beast?

(i hope the first one)
Thanks! bye

[terranno]

Hi,of course its a rideable bike,lol,its only gonna go as fast as you twist that throttle round the handlebar!!!!,and by the way,if you can reach forward and grab the throttle cable between your teeth,and twist your head sideways,it will go even faster!!!!
KX500's are great fun if you weigh more than 200kg,and have arms like tree trunks,and can maintain a constant heartbeat of 300-350 beats per minute.
I used to race 250 KX's years ago,then I was offered a ride on a 500.Totally different bike.pin the throttle right back in 2nd,3rd and 4th was like trying to steer a rabid pig by the ears into a trailer ready for slaughter.such fun,such excitement,SUCH FEAR.
there are plenty of people on this forum,who will be only too happy to help you out,me included.
good luck.

[stevied645]

yeah totally different from the 250s i nearly died on one that i bought sold it after 2 days but now trying to put the engine in my kx250 frame because the guy crashed the 500.

[Saleenguy]

Originally Posted by klotshi

ok, i have a maybe silly question.
The bike is from a woman friend, her boyfriend was a bit worried about my plans, so: is it a rideable bike, or is it an absolutly crazy beast?

(i hope the first one)
Thanks! bye

The sheer thrust of a 500 2 stroke becomes addicting once you learn to not be scared silly by it.

My first 500 motocross bike was a KX500, and the power was smooth, but damn it was almost overwhelming.....problem was this.
Once I had the bike for about 2 weeks, I wsa so spoiled by the ease to climb up, or go ovver anything because it was a beast, nothing else seemed fun to ride anymore.

I guess if i did drugs it might be a bit like that.....once you are used to this drug ( it being the 500) its hard to say no, and stop.

My KX250 has lots of go fast goodies on it, and will crush a slow 450 4 stroke motocrosser....but i still long for another 500 2 stroker, and to do it up so its got more than stock power even.