1991 KX500 first ride - I WAS SHOCKED!!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- Today we are riding a beautiful beast 1991 Kawasaki KX500 2 stroke dirt bike build done by Jay @dirtbiketv1 and our friend Donnie Bales who is the owner of the bike. This is the first time for me to ride KX500 2 stroke monster and honestly I am a little scared, I was so surprised after the ride. Check out the videos and let me know what you think, Cheers!
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1991 Kawasaki KX500 2 stroke dirt bike build
Thank you for not playing music!!! Great job!
Oh heck yeah what an absolute BEAUTY!......Team Green ALWAYS!
The mighty 1991 Kawasaki KX500. When I was a 160lbs teenage hotshoe (Jay Clark used to actually hook me up with Pistons & Rings through Wiseco back then-Not in 1991 but in 1995 and 1996 I think.) the 1991 Kawasaki KX500 tamed me. Knocked me out and broke my arm. I was out for a long while. My vision was off for a few days (now that I think about it I had to start wearing glasses shortly after that). Gave me a pretty good concusion. Man oh man those where the days 😂🤣. W.F.O.!
oh man thats so cool, thanks for sharing!
Now I think about it, a kx500 is the only bike I’ve knocked myself out on aswell! 😂😂🤦♂️
No replacement for displacement! Love the fact you can get a Rekluse for this! Absolutely gorgeous.
yea, it does make a lot of sense to have rekluse here
I still think for the majority of us riders we did ourselves a great miss justice with acceptance of 4 strokes, manly in regards to serving.
But two strokes are friggin expensive in fuel and oil
@@andreasjonsson8075new two stroked with fuel injection technology do great on fuel
@@andreasjonsson8075 who gets a bike to rip on and thinks about fuel economy? hell, idc if it does 1mpg, i'd kill to have one of these
Um my yz250 gets better mileage than anybody else 250f I know??????
@@cartersmith3544 I agree the new tech is much more efficient. It makes me wonder why California outlawed all new more efficient and safer technology bikes for use on public trails. Is it because they believe the older bikes are going to just one day disappear? This isn't a question for you I'm just wondering.
In my younger years I had a KDX420. I loved it!
I wasnt even aware of that bike, thanks for sharing Russ
KX420 24/7 smoke oil everyday 🤙
Good video. Rode my first big bore at 14. Went from 81 yz80 to a 81 Honda Cr450R (local pros bike). Raced a GP class, and had good results. All 125lbs of me on that big bore can wear you quickly. First gear was faster than my third gear on the 80. Had a couple big bores (Maico 490, Husqvarna 390, 430). Prefer smaller 250 works for me. Good vid. Thank You.
thanks for sharing brother!
So cool the recluse clutch makes such a difference this bike has so many nice touches done to it i can really appreciate it is a thing of beauty 1991 modernised looks a absolute beast of a machine 👌
right on! For sure the rekluse made a big difference and overall really enjoyable bike to ride
What a peace of work that is, amazing and sound crisp. I can only dream 👍🏻
Nothing like the power of a 500cc 2 stroke, they are amazing, they wear you out fast, but it is well worth it. I had a 1982 Suzuki RM465 for 8 years from 1982 until 1990. I got it brand new when I was 22 years old, and I rode the hell out of it for the next 8 years. Brand new it only cost $2.495, so that was not bad.
I tricked it out, white brothers works air box, boyesen reeds, wiseco piston, you name it, I even sent the shocks to white brothers in California and had their shock mod done to them. It was a beast, it would rip your hands off the grips it was so fast, and the front wheel was hardly ever on the ground. The only bad part was the severe arm pump you get from trying to hang on to it. It was the best bike I ever had, and I wish I still had it today. In 8 years I never had one engine problem, all I did was put a fresh top end on it every winter, and it was good to go for the whole summer.
HELL YEAH...BIG BORE 2T POWER..The only way to REALLY FLY
Amen brother 2 Strokes RULE 4-strokes drool !!!!- 🤣😂😅😎🤘
@@TheFox2racing Exactly pal👍👌
"This is FUN, I feel like a MAN!" 😁😂😂This guy cracks me up! Keep up the good vids!!
hahaha, thats how I felt ;)
@@dirtniron I bet!!! That bike is a beast!!! Great vids by the way! Good work and very enjoyable vids. You kickass sir! ✊✊
That’s a sweet build. 🇺🇸☝️
The Rekluse auto clutch is what transforms that beast into a ridable bike along with the modern suspension, that's a beautiful one of a kind bike.
it sure does, thanks Rob!
Did Pro's have that kind of clutch back(in the 500 Nationals?)
@@jinoziniosti5633 Hinson clutch was the big name back then
Beautiful green monster.
sounds sooo good. what a icon the KX500 is
Imagine you've just learned of motocross. You're so enticed by it, and you make an impulse decision to go to your local dealership. With an bottomless wallet, you walk up to the bike that is most expensive. A few hours later, you're driving away with a 500 in the back of your truck.
THE MADNESS!
I think they were $2,249 if I remember!
@@DennisMerwood-xk8wp now you pay 5 - 10k depending on condition🤣
Then a few hours after all of that you end up in the hospital after riding it
@@AppleUploader hahahahahaha
@@DennisMerwood-xk8wpthey were about $5,200-$5,500 in 1991 new
Oh man! What a dream bike! Rekluse is awesome! The long silencer makes that one of the best sounding KX500s on YT. Thank you for this vid!
Very nice i am a Kawasaki fan, had many but, 1982 Suzuki RM 465 would beat any similar bike on handling. Man...i mis those days. Enjoy your very nice Kawa.
1982 was an extremely good year for Suzuki! At that point I “only” had a 1982 Suzuki RM80Z…GREAT bike! Loved it
I miss those days too. I had several late ‘70s early ‘80s RMs back then.
I'm not shocked at all its a killer bike to start with. My 40 yr old 480 makes the same hp as a 2023 CRF450R and weighs around 25lbs less and built a crf150rb 2T 125 for my son. There far less expensive to build & maintain than all the new 4T junk
2 strokes rule ;)
@@dirtniron 100%!. Bought brand new CR125 Honda OEM crankshaft, crank seals/bearings, cylinder, Wiseco piston, pin bearing circlips, complete gasket kit & had the whole motor ceracoted black for considerably less than a new oem 250F bare cyl head. What not to love about them....lol
@@dirtnironyes they do! Great video💪😁
Good ol 500 two strokes , power houses 👍
Mannnn you guys build the coolest bikes on the planet hands down no question!
thanks Mike, this one is pretty cool!
@@dirtniron thank you guys for letting us in on these incredible projects!
I just sold my last KX500. What shocked me was the vibration! I used to race em when I was young, and I didn’t notice it. But damn - when I broke it out of storage and fired it up, the levers were flapping all over the place and it tried to vibrate my fillings out! I already miss it, but my health didn’t allow me to ride it with confidence. What a great engine!
Yeah, they are definitely a handful! What a machine.
Those things are beasts of a machine ❤❤❤
You are a braver man than I am riding that monster. You were rocking! And as a guy who uses big chainsaws everyday, I am impressed with Jays knowledge of the de comp button. Great video! # still motivated!
haha, right on! Thanks Stuart ;)
The KX500 and CR500 kings of the big bore!!
for sure!
KX-500 /DESERT RACING
CR-500/MOTOCROSS RACING
I miss my KX500. So much easier to ride than a non power valve CR500 at 54 years old. Have to see what happens when i finish my 87 CR500 build next year. May have to find another KX500.
haha, you are having too much fun with 500cc! I wish I can get one too ;)
I’m 52.5yr now and I’m still enjoying the HECK outta my 1988 KX500! Get another big KX500! I may just have to myself a CR500😁
grew up riding desert in 70s.....all the husky 400 and 490s, ktm 500s, and last bike i rode was 86 CR 500.....back then it was just normal......I never rode the KX......Danny Hamel was king of dez in early 90s on these.....great experience
I had 2 KX500s and found them to be easy to ride, after a short learning curve.
@greenstreak750 same with me! I had a 1991 KX500 way back in 1994…sold it. Now I have a 1988 KX500; it will not be sold😁agreed that they are easy to ride (and loads of fun), just have to be prudent with the throttle control. It will bite you if you let it!
Sounds crisp. 🤙🏽
she sure does!
Raced and rode KX500s in the 80's 90's and 00s (5th at Pikes Peak in 99 in 500 pro) they rock
Love the sound 🤟
I would keep that bike in my lounge .
This is an awesome project! THIS is how you do a 500cc bike!
Glad you like it!
Riding a dragon!
Yea!! I'd love to ride it
Beautiful bike!
my first bike was a little KX80, I graduated to the beastly KX 500, back in 91, when i went back to my kx 80 from time to time it was like riding a BMX LOL, the 500 was an absolute, I would have to practically lay on the tank to change gears lol
KX 500 Torque that will make 450s blush
I was lucky enough to have access to one of these, and a massive farm to ride it on, as a teenager. Half an hour at a time at most... it’s brutal...
Same…had access to 550acres and then another 1,000ac. Great times…but man they are fast at speed like that! Fun fun fun!
With all the modern upgrades were you able to get the engine vibration down? I rode an 88 KX 500 and it was fun, but the engine vibration actually blurred my vision a little. That was one of the downsides (at least for the older KX 500's) for me.
Ya vibration a big issue on those ☝️.BRP supply a counter balancer for their YZ250/500 conversion
Fill the handlebars with silicone, helps a lot
@@quirinm. yeah, that'd probably help. Didn't they make a thing called a "Bar snake" back in the day? Seems like you fed it into your bars to take away some of the vibrations. The KX 500 "I" rode I doubt it would stop it that much. I'd guess that a balanced crank would help the most.
I was surprised that the vibrations were not that bad, not sure what exactly caused it.. maybe better crank balancing..
@@dirtniron I remember when I was a kid bad vibrations were a problem with most Big Bore 2 strokes. I remember reading about Ricky Johnson's RC250 and the Honda team bikes that the cranks were SO WELL balanced that they were like sewing machines. If that's indeed the case....ALL my 2 strokes were like washing machines with bowling balls on the spin cycle.
I had a chance years ago when I had a KX125 and my friend had a 89 kx500 we're climbing some hills and he was afraid to go up the hill with his bike so I ran down the hill and told him I get the bike up the hill when I get to the top of the hill I yelled down now you can chase me and catch me I stayed on that bike for a good hour didn't want to get off I love that bike. 500s are so much fun to ride, later on in life I did get a KTM mxc 500 bike was a Beast.
thanks for sharing!
@@dirtniron your a lucky man to take a rip on that one.
Yes they are extremely fun to ride
Very much powerful machine
Man that sounds nice.
Awesome!!!
There tame as a puppy until you open it up. The Guru touched it. Oh! Yea.!
Did the 450 front end bolt on or did you have to modify it I have a 1990 kx125 I was do a updated front end on
I love the bike am telling you
it would be a dream come true if Yamaha did a 2024 YZ500.
fully up dated
Yep…sign me up! I’d be on the buy list😁
Gotta stay on it right into the corners…😁😁
Back in the day the only way to go was with Pro Circuit engine modes and pipe nothing else was even close 💪👍🔥 !
I had several kx 500s and raced in best in the desert and m.r.a.n in the 90s and I'm still shocked. I just fart around on a ktm now days.
100mph desert bike! Stock Standard.
they are fast for sure
How'd you get an auto clutch for that bike? They usually don't make them for older bikes?
I would take the auto clutch of(have it on my crfX)...to realy feel the power
they added it later and like it more this way. It doesnt rob the power
@@dirtniron ok, it sure looks awesome
Fun stuff
That bike!
Man, where is this track at???
Now that you've ridden a KX-500 it's only proper and fitting to now ride a CR-500 in either the 85/86/87 year bikes 😎💪🤙
working on it!
I still wanna see someone ride behind me on one of the Kx500 I use to throw 100 foot roster tales I guess that recklues clutch puts it in a slipping the pads on dirt I'm not sure. I used to ride mine like a 125.
Mine 99 Kx500 vibrates my arms to sleep!
Kawasaki engineers sometime in the mid 80’s….250cc doesn’t seem like enough, let’s double it. Hold my beer!🍺
I want one!
Still have four kx500s. One the best desert bikes.
@dougderby9454 😂hoarder! Gotta love it though…I agree with ya.
Очень классный байк
Looks badass but sounds like it lost it's Balls!!!
🤙🤙
" I feel like a Man" !!!!!!!
you bet!! ;)
Looks like a real colon ripper.
The only thing I’ve ever ridden faster than my buddies yz490 is the z900rs I bought in 2020 and the first time I rode it I almost whiskeyed it in the parking lot I almost wrecked my buddies yz I cracked the throttle on the street one time and it stood straight up on me and shot rocks the whole way up his driveway til I was able to put it back down
Luv the bike but if you can't start it uvshouldnf ride it lol
Told that to my sons friend he jumped on my 1998 kx 250 started wheeled it up the driveway stalled it and said this thing shakes…. He’s 13
@@Grams_well that’s easy to understand. He’s 13! Like all the rest of us males😂nothing will make logical sense until the frontal lobe matures…somewhere around 80-90yrs old😂
I'd ditch the Gnarly pipe.
Track needs some jumps
Those where cool bikes , I rode one for about 8 years after riding a cr 500 for 10 years. The kx was a better motor with the power valve , ran like a fast 4 stroke , much wider power band than the cr.
Of course I'm on a modern KTM now and would never go back to the big vibrating Beast
I found my 89 CR500 easier to ride than a 250.....more forgiving with fun bottom end pull.
Never should have sold for $1200
no way Chris.. $1200 😰
Yes yes yes! Finally somebody else says the same thing I’ve always said…it’s much easier to ride my 1988 KX500 than most of my 250’s (especially my ‘96 CR250). It’s just merciless in the power curve! I guess to describe the KX500 is much more “linear & predictable”. Lots more fun!
What’s the best dirt bike for a 13 year old to ride in grass like in a yard
If it's your first motorcycle i'd say find a used 2004-2012 Honda CRF100F. Fantastic beginner bike that is very fun to learn on, quiet enough for backyard use, and it's fast enough that you won't be bored with it for a good while. It has 5 speed gearbox, manual clutch, and bulletproof reliability. If you have a little more money to spend on a more modern bike the CRF125FB replaced the CRF100 in 2013 and is the same size bike with a little more power, electric start, 4 speed gearbox, same manual clutch, and 2019 and newer have fuel injection.
82 yz490
@@dormantmenacelol bahahaha yep that’s funny right there😂
Not aAUTOMATIC decompression valve. It’s manual
Checkout Kaplan America TH-cam channel the most bad ass Big Bore 2 strokes on the planet!!!
make sure to mute the sound
Kx 500 with me on it will smoke any cr Honda end quote
right on!
Kx500 with serial fender Is more nicer!
23
Not me I ride 2-Strokes,
You have to get out of second gear sometime…….
Kawa really knew how to make big ugly bikes back in them "Ice Ice Baby!" days. But their 500 engine was awesome - and sounds likewise.
That bike belongs in the desert opened up .. or climbing a hill you look at and say naaa.
2 strokes should be allowed in pro races
A dream bike
I had a Kawasaki 500 once upon a time. It had power to boot. Hit the throttle and lean and it turned like a jack rabbit does. But it would leak coolant always. Never could ever get it to not leak coolant. So i. Sold it. Bad mistake. It was a fun bike to ride. Leaking coolant in the desert around Phoenix just didn’t work out to well. Oh well it was fun anyway. It was easy to lift the front end on it if you got really good traction. In fact you had to work to keep it planted ha,ha.
haha, thanks for sharing!
We were MEN when we were Kids !!
Epic statement💪😁the best years! Before life happened & we grew up!
Tom Morgan is a common thief!
Huh?
@@rcuniversespeed9447I second that…huh🤷🏻♂️
@jamescox4823 why would you say that?
@@russellhelms2835 many years ago he ripped me off on a motor build