Heard of the 420. Never seen a living example. That's why the Kaplan's channel is so unique and cool. These guys take the time to show us beautiful bikes we'd never ever see. 2 thumbs up.
🤣🤣🤣😂.....I was just mentioning to Ken Sr that just the number, 420, might sell that bike to a stoner kid, that likes to ride, causing it to sell very quickly. 😂🤣...Hell, either way, that beautiful bike will sell quickly.
Sounds so much like my IT465! Engine looks like the same Engine! Yamaha fan through and through but thats a beautiful bike! Love this guy and what he does its like watching the history Channel and every episode is a good one! Long live the Dinosaurs!
I had one in 89 , it had 3 hrs use from new ! Big repair to the seat cover from it's first pilot and then hidden in a dark corner to think about it's behaviour until I got it . Original tyres and all shiny under dust. My mate had an 86 kx250 and his big bro raced an 88 kx250 . Well while he was out for the evening we would borrow it and take them along the old railway track (tracks removed) and he never knew !! Anyhoo this thing turns up and I remove carb pipe and head as IT was dry seized. A drop of oil and the gentlest tap with the handle of a hammer and job done 😁 we are going cruising ! F@@k that momma needed some serious mumbo to fire it up . First kick throttle wide open and tease it past tdc then leap as high as you can in the air and voila prepare to meet thy maker 👍😁 My good Buddy clocked out now used to work at Cradely Kawasaki and give good discounts !!! I fitted the largest front sprocket and smallest rear sprocket that would fit and a sandcross tyre ! We used to rip them up the canal towpaths from Stichley into Brum all cinder paths and long dark tunnels, sounded awesome 420 and 250 in dark 1/4 mile tunnel then back to Harborne on the road and to my Pals where we would pretty much collapse with exhaustion. !! Took them to Wales once and dropped cans of mix hidden on our route coz they like go go juice . Fire roads were fun . If a rebuilt kx250 is on full chat it must be doing 70mph well I used to pass him like he was in reverse and that was with a passenger gotta be a nundred smiles per hour ! Good bike they eat 3rd most used gear on track mine didn't but the piston was a bit purple when I changed the rings ! No blowby tho . More blipping when slowing on drum brakes 2 up from terminal velocity.. Rebuilt the whole bike , new stove enamelled everything not alloy or rubber vibrations broke top mount so I made a steel one . Painted motor , the thing was ready again so we found a nice big quarry , did a couple of heat cycles then more flying lessons my crew were impressed ,I was knackered . Then being a smart guy I thought it easier to lie the bike over in the pick-up bed than strap it all sensible ways up So I took it for a roost up to lose the last of the gas ready for hometime...... Well 4th gear pinned I check round to inspect my very impressive rooster tail that thing was a digger ! Next thing I'm being poked with a stick by some olds mumbling what a plonker I'd been out cold for 10 mins ! Slid off track and in to a water drain channel about 6ft wide and 6ft deep made from concrete sets ! Brick wall in front smashed bricks as well as ponting and bike in ditch about 15 feet behind me . I got up pulled the bike out (just a bit of adrenaline) thanked the old biddies for waking me up an rolled down the quarry road back to my Brother not understanding why it won't bumpstart. Well the forks had bent underneath the exhaust which had split along with the back rim and tank ! Good thing it flew off .seat and big hole in the airbox ,back mudguard and that nice bottom frame tube squashed against the motor with the hex indentations in it . Well after skin grafts coz I fell asleep with my bicep accross the fat bit of pipe till it was sizzling ... they called me rasher at work coz my arm looked like one and chee chee coz of my black eyes . Well I cut out the sick bit of frame and used Reynolds 531 tube with lugs and made that frame new again ! You couldn't tell plastic welding and a YZ 490 back wheel and off again 😁 Gone now but I'd have another right now .... I do know where there is an immaculate KDX420 and it doesn't come out of its lair !!!! Ride fast and Safe ! I took off my body armour and helmet to run that gas off ALWAYS KEEP YOUR GEAR ON my bones ache but that puppy and it's appetite for pro boost and silkoline was a life worth living. I was 17 and Stoopid but life was fast I'm 51 and trading my frame up rebuilt 1100f for a YZ250CC smoker dead is for a long time enjoy what you got !! BIG WHHOOOPDDEEEDOOO for anyone who read this 🤪👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🥉😎
Another bike from my days at Action Cycles . The owner let me take one to the track one time along with my 250 . So I raced both classes . That 420 was a dream , it would skim the tops of the woops , dive bomb the turns and rocket down the straights. Made my 250 seem kind of slow . Wish I had the money for both of them . PK
I have ridden 300s 400s and 500s and by far the bikes in the 400cc range where the sweetest motors. Have been waiting for years for someone to make a production 400 2 stroke, I guarantee if someone did it they could not make enough of them!
Great post! Found sobriety 7 years ago, bought first bike in 30. 6 years on, the collection grows. Trail riding, hare scrambles and life like I never imagined! Built a 1.1 mile track in back yard in Manchester NH to keep my mind busy while it cleared up. One drink and it's all gone. Grateful for all of it to keep me straight, one day at a time!
Nothings unbreakable on a diet bike big dog . The first tree the clutch lever hits it's coming off with more ping than your 5 hundy .. love you guys and all that you do to save these magnificent bikes 💯👌🏻💪🏻🔥🤘🏻👊🏻❤️🏴
Beautiful Kawasaki.........stunning.........I went to bed early last night........dreaming of Manic Mechanic Monday and Kaplan stable of classic motorcycles................. : )
Beautiful and fast, 2 stroke vintage MX bike. Hell, with some of the kids, these days, just because of the fact that it's a 420, they might buy it. 😂🤣.....I don't imagine that y'all will be holding on to that bike for too long. Love It!
I have the '80 250 version of this bike. Wherever I ride it becomes a 'celebrity' in of itself. I typically get surrounded and have to answer a litany of questions.
I STILL REMEMBER RACING A FRIEND HE HAD THE KX 420 AND I HAD MY MAICO 440 MAGNUM AND BOTH BIKES RAN NECK AND NECK IN MOST RACES THOSE ARE REALLY NICE BIKES THE WOODS RACES THAT WE RACED IN THEY WERE MUCH MORE CONTROLABLE THAN THE 500CC 2STROKES !!!
En 1986 estuve en una 250XR y corría con una IT420 era esa potencia y fue mi primera competencia era diferencia en 20 caballos , también dos años después estuve de competencia con una 250TDR , XR600 CR250 , mi 250XR salió sin rivales , unos 5 saltos en sexta marcha marcaron mi VICTORIA .
I had a kx 420 and the kdx 420 I liked the kdx best because of the lower end power. I would like to find another like it I bought it new from cox Kawasaki of paintsville ky. 👍
Right n tight, this is the generation of green blood that called me through the woods to the edge of the pits just to get a glimpse. 81 kx80 second dirt bike I took apart in 91 and never got back together, not much has changed.
I owned it. Gave me a hyper extended knee. If I had $ I would bid. I'm also happy with my 07 Aprilia Tuono every day ride. No truck no car for 7 years. I love it. Believe it or not I'm sixtyseven ! Gigety
what year is that I guess 1982 I had an original 83 500 the exhaust even was an all in one piece front and silencer together but it was buy far the loudest bike I've ever heard. the guy I bought it from had a farm and just rode around so never raced. it was stunning and some scumbag stole it I could hear them riding it but couldn't tell were thay were that's how loud it was.
Had you told me this mean green 420 that takes you on a wild ride, and is great for de-tressing on Sundays…I would not have thought you’d be talking about a dirtbike😆
Loved mine mostly TRAIL ROAD & enduro’s, but would have been best suited in Hare Scrambles, TT MOTO X Desert .. two ways i used to make it alittle more controlled was to add a extra base gasket or some would use a thicker head gasket use two of those, add a weight to the flywheel from STEAHLY OFF-ROAD !!!
That one looks like the carb has been swapped out, we had a customer with a Brad Lackey replica which came with a 40mm and was kinda hard to ride so we changed to a 36mm Mikuni which made things much better. That bike we also upgraded to a rising-rate linkage, the original Kawa pushrod system was actually falling rate for some wierd reason.
@@jimtitt3571 you know mine had a 38 mic and a tried a 40 but by the time I had where it worked best I just had to lean out the thirty carbs main. Some times it is the least amount of work that gets it done, But we still gotta try everything else out first
when i worked in a motorcycle shop after hours the guy had one of these in baskets.i traded some labor for it and i reassembled it in my kitchen in true redneck style. then, like a dummy i sold it after i got it running
Common sense I had to reach into my wallet and fine some common sense for a comment that I made on your 420 Kawasaki and I want to apologize for saying what I said and I just recently watched you talk about what has happened in your family that made me realize that we all have gone through the similar things in our lives we're not all perfect and I'll never claim that it's sort of like a playbook football making food whatever we learn as we go on but we do reflect in the past too so we can make it more comfortable for us to live a clear life in front of us I don't want to go on and talk like this but you made me realize one thing common sense think before you speak so I will let you know that I will not repeat will not mention anything like that again on your platform you are a respected person and I sincerely apologize for that gesture that I made on that Kawasaki 420 have a nice day peace out
The vintage blue and white graphics are my favorite. I wish Kawasaki would go back to this.
87 they were doing some CRAZY GRAFIX SOME AFTER MARKET GRAFIX WERE DOING HOT PINK, SO FACTORY WAS STILL BEST UNTIL THE EARLY 1990’S
Totally agree. Im tempted to change my 02 to that scheme
Heard of the 420. Never seen a living example. That's why the Kaplan's channel is so unique and cool. These guys take the time to show us beautiful bikes we'd never ever see. 2 thumbs up.
that's a strange engine displacement perhaps some people who indulge in Mother Nature might find that machine right up their alley
And it’s green!
We went through lots of sizes from the 70's to when they settled into common sizes..for open bike class...
Many manufacturers used it.
KTM Husky etc they all had a 420
🤣🤣🤣😂.....I was just mentioning to Ken Sr that just the number, 420, might sell that bike to a stoner kid, that likes to ride, causing it to sell very quickly. 😂🤣...Hell, either way, that beautiful bike will sell quickly.
I’d Fry it 😂
You guys are living the DREAM getting to try out all these AMAZING vintage bikes... I have owned over 160 bikes but will NEVER come close to you!!!
What a jem! Brings back memories of my first race bike 1980 kx80 and like you I used to sneak out and ride it round the yard when no one was about 👍
Sounds so much like my IT465! Engine looks like the same Engine! Yamaha fan through and through but thats a beautiful bike! Love this guy and what he does its like watching the history Channel and every episode is a good one! Long live the Dinosaurs!
I had one in 89 , it had 3 hrs use from new ! Big repair to the seat cover from it's first pilot and then hidden in a dark corner to think about it's behaviour until I got it . Original tyres and all shiny under dust. My mate had an 86 kx250 and his big bro raced an 88 kx250 . Well while he was out for the evening we would borrow it and take them along the old railway track (tracks removed) and he never knew !! Anyhoo this thing turns up and I remove carb pipe and head as IT was dry seized. A drop of oil and the gentlest tap with the handle of a hammer and job done 😁 we are going cruising ! F@@k that momma needed some serious mumbo to fire it up . First kick throttle wide open and tease it past tdc then leap as high as you can in the air and voila prepare to meet thy maker 👍😁 My good Buddy clocked out now used to work at Cradely Kawasaki and give good discounts !!! I fitted the largest front sprocket and smallest rear sprocket that would fit and a sandcross tyre ! We used to rip them up the canal towpaths from Stichley into Brum all cinder paths and long dark tunnels, sounded awesome 420 and 250 in dark 1/4 mile tunnel then back to Harborne on the road and to my Pals where we would pretty much collapse with exhaustion. !! Took them to Wales once and dropped cans of mix hidden on our route coz they like go go juice . Fire roads were fun . If a rebuilt kx250 is on full chat it must be doing 70mph well I used to pass him like he was in reverse and that was with a passenger gotta be a nundred smiles per hour ! Good bike they eat 3rd most used gear on track mine didn't but the piston was a bit purple when I changed the rings ! No blowby tho . More blipping when slowing on drum brakes 2 up from terminal velocity..
Rebuilt the whole bike , new stove enamelled everything not alloy or rubber vibrations broke top mount so I made a steel one . Painted motor , the thing was ready again so we found a nice big quarry , did a couple of heat cycles then more flying lessons my crew were impressed ,I was knackered . Then being a smart guy I thought it easier to lie the bike over in the pick-up bed than strap it all sensible ways up So I took it for a roost up to lose the last of the gas ready for hometime...... Well 4th gear pinned I check round to inspect my very impressive rooster tail that thing was a digger ! Next thing I'm being poked with a stick by some olds mumbling what a plonker I'd been out cold for 10 mins ! Slid off track and in to a water drain channel about 6ft wide and 6ft deep made from concrete sets ! Brick wall in front smashed bricks as well as ponting and bike in ditch about 15 feet behind me . I got up pulled the bike out (just a bit of adrenaline) thanked the old biddies for waking me up an rolled down the quarry road back to my Brother not understanding why it won't bumpstart. Well the forks had bent underneath the exhaust which had split along with the back rim and tank ! Good thing it flew off .seat and big hole in the airbox ,back mudguard and that nice bottom frame tube squashed against the motor with the hex indentations in it . Well after skin grafts coz I fell asleep with my bicep accross the fat bit of pipe till it was sizzling ... they called me rasher at work coz my arm looked like one and chee chee coz of my black eyes . Well I cut out the sick bit of frame and used Reynolds 531 tube with lugs and made that frame new again ! You couldn't tell plastic welding and a YZ 490 back wheel and off again 😁 Gone now but I'd have another right now .... I do know where there is an immaculate KDX420 and it doesn't come out of its lair !!!! Ride fast and Safe ! I took off my body armour and helmet to run that gas off ALWAYS KEEP YOUR GEAR ON my bones ache but that puppy and it's appetite for pro boost and silkoline was a life worth living. I was 17 and Stoopid but life was fast I'm 51 and trading my frame up rebuilt 1100f for a YZ250CC smoker dead is for a long time enjoy what you got !! BIG WHHOOOPDDEEEDOOO for anyone who read this 🤪👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🥉😎
Another bike from my days at Action Cycles . The owner let me take one to the track one time along with my 250 . So I raced both classes . That 420 was a dream , it would skim the tops of the woops , dive bomb the turns and rocket down the straights. Made my 250 seem kind of slow . Wish I had the money for both of them . PK
I have ridden 300s 400s and 500s and by far the bikes in the 400cc range where the sweetest motors. Have been waiting for years for someone to make a production 400 2 stroke, I guarantee if someone did it they could not make enough of them!
This video makes me miss my KDX400 even more!
I always loved the look of this bike!!!
I remember Brad Lackey was in a couple advertisements for this bike. 👍🏼
Wasn’t it Lackey that broke a frame during a race?
@@charlesprice7608 Yeah... "Bad" Brad
hey Ken Sr 2 years sober and bikes have saved my life
also your videos are straight sassy
Great post! Found sobriety 7 years ago, bought first bike in 30. 6 years on, the collection grows. Trail riding, hare scrambles and life like I never imagined! Built a 1.1 mile track in back yard in Manchester NH to keep my mind busy while it cleared up. One drink and it's all gone. Grateful for all of it to keep me straight, one day at a time!
@@joelabbe6185 Amen brother ,
some just don't know the hell we have been thru .
What a Mint Condition this kawi KX420 Is, And today is my Birthday too.
Nothings unbreakable on a diet bike big dog . The first tree the clutch lever hits it's coming off with more ping than your 5 hundy .. love you guys and all that you do to save these magnificent bikes 💯👌🏻💪🏻🔥🤘🏻👊🏻❤️🏴
Beautiful Kawasaki.........stunning.........I went to bed early last night........dreaming of Manic Mechanic Monday and Kaplan stable of classic motorcycles................. : )
Beautiful and fast, 2 stroke vintage MX bike. Hell, with some of the kids, these days, just because of the fact that it's a 420, they might buy it. 😂🤣.....I don't imagine that y'all will be holding on to that bike for too long. Love It!
I have the '80 250 version of this bike. Wherever I ride it becomes a 'celebrity' in of itself. I typically get surrounded and have to answer a litany of questions.
The ol' sod hurler. Looks / sounds amazing, as usual.
Sod hurler. That's good 😊
I saw one of these for sale the other day, and couldn't believe it.
This is a great investment, and a beautiful bike.
I had one of these many years back.Thing was lethal! Brilliant fun
I STILL REMEMBER RACING A FRIEND HE HAD THE KX 420 AND I HAD MY MAICO 440 MAGNUM AND BOTH BIKES RAN NECK AND NECK IN MOST RACES THOSE ARE REALLY NICE BIKES THE WOODS RACES THAT WE RACED IN THEY WERE MUCH MORE CONTROLABLE THAN THE 500CC 2STROKES !!!
Fox and hounds.
She's beautiful I'm a sucker for kawasaki would look awsome in my living room and it's a 420 my birthday lol keep up the good work guy's..
En 1986 estuve en una 250XR y corría con una IT420 era esa potencia y fue mi primera competencia era diferencia en 20 caballos , también dos años después estuve de competencia con una 250TDR , XR600 CR250 , mi 250XR salió sin rivales , unos 5 saltos en sexta marcha marcaron mi VICTORIA .
thats the best ive never seen one of them before what a rare quality bike these bikes need to preserved what a bike!!.
Man that thing runs great!
I love the deep voice on that old bike. Sounds mean!
Kapi, You know I'm a old school air hammer guy. I'm drool'n right now!
Very nice old school bike i just love them all !
Super kool Ken a buddy at the track in Byron Il. had one back in the day look at those engine fins love air cooled bikes what a pristine bike!
420 was a great number 💨🔥
That looks like it’s probably on some ones Bucket List. Nice find Ken,ride on brother.
I had a kx 420 and the kdx 420 I liked the kdx best because of the lower end power. I would like to find another like it I bought it new from cox Kawasaki of paintsville ky. 👍
great motorcycle looks like a fun time to be had in any weather
Right n tight, this is the generation of green blood that called me through the woods to the edge of the pits just to get a glimpse.
81 kx80 second dirt bike I took apart in 91 and never got back together, not much has changed.
A thing of beauty well done guys.
Sweet Old School Bike 🤜🤯🤛 & it Sounds Fantastic 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Pick up Sally with that on date night and she is puddin' in your hands.... Time after time you guys find these gems!
I owned it. Gave me a hyper extended knee. If I had $ I would bid. I'm also happy with my 07 Aprilia Tuono every day ride. No truck no car for 7 years. I love it. Believe it or not I'm sixtyseven ! Gigety
Oooooooh fun fun and more fun what a sweet little ride .. she has a character all her own she does !!
Ese motor con unos telescopios actuales en una KTM300 direct AFF SUPER GENIAL .
They had a kdx as well,they also had a 450,I passed on a 420 as it needed a full resto and I was unsure of parts availability
That is freaking awesome ken sounds lovely too top work keep it up
A beast of a machine, ya gonna be always on time with the big 420,how beautiful 😍, I'm dying here 😍, she is classy.
Badass ride!
All I could think of is those Cycle World KX ads as a kid
Nice bike Ken you are good at sourcing great motorcycles. "Ken Kaplan for President"
Kx 420 one my best bike. Love the bike.
That's bad ass. I have an old Polistl replica toy of this bike in my case.
im pretty sure Doug Demokos the wheelie king used that same bike for wheelies back in 1980
Had one of these
ON THE ROAD!
Fuck yes 💪🏻
Friend of mine, had these early kx bikes, alot of frame breaks..
Amazing place 😍 greetings from Poland ✌️
what year is that I guess 1982 I had an original 83 500 the exhaust even was an all in one piece front and silencer together but it was buy far the loudest bike I've ever heard. the guy I bought it from had a farm and just rode around so never raced. it was stunning and some scumbag stole it I could hear them riding it but couldn't tell were thay were that's how loud it was.
Awesome K《☆》Wow👍🔊I wish I had a place to ride one without hauling it somewhere🖖😎☮
Music I could listen to all day!!!!
Another sweet bike. Thanks for the videos.
Looks like a 1980/81 beauty there boys.
Rare bird for sure, those rear side plastics are crazy...
Had you told me this mean green 420 that takes you on a wild ride, and is great for de-tressing on Sundays…I would not have thought you’d be talking about a dirtbike😆
Beautiful bike, total unicorn!!
That KX is good enough for the girls I go with! 👌👌
Loved mine mostly TRAIL ROAD & enduro’s, but would have been best suited in Hare Scrambles, TT MOTO X Desert .. two ways i used to make it alittle more controlled was to add a extra base gasket or some would use a thicker head gasket use two of those, add a weight to the flywheel from STEAHLY OFF-ROAD !!!
That one looks like the carb has been swapped out, we had a customer with a Brad Lackey replica which came with a 40mm and was kinda hard to ride so we changed to a 36mm Mikuni which made things much better. That bike we also upgraded to a rising-rate linkage, the original Kawa pushrod system was actually falling rate for some wierd reason.
@@jimtitt3571 you know mine had a 38 mic and a tried a 40 but by the time I had where it worked best I just had to lean out the thirty carbs main. Some times it is the least amount of work that gets it done, But we still gotta try everything else out first
Love it. Would look great in my garage
that 420 a beauty ken
Ese motor es verdadero , está REAL .
Got to love air cooled machines.
i was 10 in 1980.....i loved all these bikes!!!
I was 24 and I loved every minute.
My dream bike kx420👍🌹🌹👍
I coud't do find on teligram
Beautiful bike man ❤💯
when i worked in a motorcycle shop after hours the guy had one of these in baskets.i traded some labor for it and i reassembled it in my kitchen in true redneck style. then, like a dummy i sold it after i got it running
I have 2 I'm restoring, a forgotten classic that wasn't as near as bad as people stated.
Hi Ken I have a challenge for you find a genuine front pipe for my 92 Kmx 200A3 cause there ain’t any in Europe. 👍🏻great bikes !
Gorgeous 420 🤘🏻
What is the price to those bikes now i got one kx 420 sitting in barn for like 20 years
Stunning - that’s pretty
I think it's beautiful love it it is so effin oh have a nice
How did he polish that fmf looks sick?
Rode one back in the day. Like trying to ride a bull
I really wish you had turned the bike off so we could hear what you were saying. But what a cool OK KX
Un mostro 😁🤑
I have a buddy that needs graphics for his 420
Can you share a link
Where I could get them for
Him. Please. And thanks 👍
Never even new there was a kx420 2 stroke learn something new everyday
Omg I'm feeling movement!
Ah the birth of the big bore two strokes where have all the good times gone
Does that have drum brakes?
Piiiinnng piiiing ka ding ding ❤❤❤❤❤
Had a Police Car turn left in front of me on one of those, didn't work for 13 months.
Common sense I had to reach into my wallet and fine some common sense for a comment that I made on your 420 Kawasaki and I want to apologize for saying what I said and I just recently watched you talk about what has happened in your family that made me realize that we all have gone through the similar things in our lives we're not all perfect and I'll never claim that it's sort of like a playbook football making food whatever we learn as we go on but we do reflect in the past too so we can make it more comfortable for us to live a clear life in front of us I don't want to go on and talk like this but you made me realize one thing common sense think before you speak so I will let you know that I will not repeat will not mention anything like that again on your platform you are a respected person and I sincerely apologize for that gesture that I made on that Kawasaki 420 have a nice day peace out
OMG!! I had one in high school! Damn that one looks good!!! Is it on your ebay auction?
It will be up next friday
use to have 2 of them old kdx 420's wish i never sold them they was a awesome hill climbing bike
I heard that these are really hard to gets parts for
"Hammered into submission".
Kawagreen so nice
Mean green 420 baby!
Ye old air cooled piston port. Ring a ding ding ! Soon as the front end comes up. Grab another gear. Walk the dog.!
Big brapps!✊🏻
Beautiful
Green 420? Dayummm
It's the right color always ride green
Reminds me of my 1979 kx 80 😂 I dunno why but it's pure sex