DirtRider . Net MX, SX, Arena Cross, Off-Road Community
Dirt Rider . Net Text Version Home
Dirt Bike Dirt Bike Dirt Bike Dirt Bike

This is the text version of DirtRider.Net
Click Here for the Full Version


Pages: 1

restorations/finding parts ?

(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: gooby

hi guys i was thinking of buying a bike to restore i have a 99 kdx .out ridin i saw 2 mint kdx's pre liq cooled models .i'de like to find one,i think i know of one i can buy... and do it up ,my question how diff is it to locate parts ,graphics ,anything i might need to do the job.is there a yr or yrs not to try this on ?when choosing a subject what should i look for to maybe choose a diff bike ,don't want to get one i can't put back together. thanks


Posted by: txvintage

Well, you might have a hard time convincing mosat that any KDX is a "vintage" bike. That being said, I would think most of the KDX stuff is out there still in the Kawasaki system.

If you want to go truely Vintage, I would recommend either a Honda Elsinore, or one of the European marques such as CZ, Husky, Sachs, Penton, Hercules, and so on. It's really hard to find a lot of stuff for old Susuki, Yamaha, and Kawasaki.


Posted by: gooby

sorry i ment no offence to the truely vintage guys .i helped restore a sears..... allstate think it was??? i don't know i had trouble finding stuff for an 87 kx just lookin to do a 70's -80 bike i just happened to see the kdx's that day


Posted by: OldMaiconut

Don't know about Kawasaki stuff. I have noticed that it's easier to get parts for my old Maico's than the jap bikes. I had no trouble with my Elsinore, but my latest project is looking to be a bit more of a challenge.... I need a new swingarm for a 78 YZ 400 if anyone trips on one.


Posted by: FenryHonda

I think I have a used but good swingarm for a '78 YZ. Let me check tomorrow and see just how good shape it's in. I was originally gonna put it on my '77 YZ 400, but decided to keep the steel swingarm on it.


Posted by: txvintage

Quote:
Originally posted by gooby
sorry i ment no offence to the truely vintage guys .i helped restore a sears..... allstate think it was??? i don't know i had trouble finding stuff for an 87 kx just lookin to do a 70's -80 bike i just happened to see the kdx's that day


No offense taken! Anyone who takes on the task of reviving a bike from days gone by is all right in my book.

A Sears All State! A Twingle! They are actually Puch road bides badged and sold as Sears All State. I don't own a street bike and haven't since 1979, but I do want a 60's Puch road bike to go with my 1974 unrestored Puch 175 MX with Enduro kit. Very cool indeed!

Have you asked over in the KDX forum? Those guys are the world's leading authority on that bike. A true landmark machine.


Posted by: txvintage

For all of you old Yamahauler guys this is the only YZ specific source I know of Vintage YZ Stuff


Posted by: gooby

ya just did over in c daves kdx.... tx ,u know ur bikes that sears was cool .i studied that engine for a while lol ,he had 2 ...made one complete we actually had it on the road .the gas tank was funny one filler 4 gas one oil if i remember right,other odd stuff but that was some time ago we did that .he had a couple of those french scooters ....vesbas (sp) too.it was original black (only color they came in ) so if u find one a diff color somethin is up .that project was a hoot .


Posted by: OldMaiconut

That Sears was a Gilera... made in Italy. I had a buddy who stripped all the street stuff off his and he used to trail ride with me on my 72 Suzuki 125 Duster. He couldn't keep up, but that ol peice a crap kept chugging along.


Posted by: 2stroke

all depends on what your going for as well. Something to sit in the garage and look at, or something to take out and beat around on. I think its cool as anything when these guys spend thousands on NOS parts, but not me, dont have the money. Besides, first time I went down, Id be crying! But, I still love to work on old bikes. Most recently a 1972 Kawasaki F9 350. It was pretty hard to come by parts for it, but Ebay was a great source. I got a NOS WIseco piston for it, and it took me almost a year to find the NOS Preston Petty fenders for it. Got a NOS Windsor PLASTIC gas tank on it as well. All from Ebay.All told, Ive got a little less than $1000 in the whole thing. Im going to race the bike for the first time in September. I bet I'll be the only bighorn running in sportsman 500 class!
As far as brands go, Ill agree Honda is alot easier to get old parts for, but anything can be done. I know a guy who is into vintage Kawasaki trials bikes, and Wiseco never made a piston for it, but there is a certain Honda piston that can be ground down a little, and made to use as an oversize...Hell, my latest project was a "vintage" '93 KX250...heh heh...newest bike Ive ever owned, but my knees are about shot, so I had to get something with more than 4 inches travel.


Posted by: Speedy

Hi ive got a 85 kdx 200 that i resurrected from the ground up! you can see it in the readers rides on page 10. Ive did alot of things to this bike inside and out. I was riding it the other day when i noticed that something inside is lettin go. I dont want to go thru it again and would sell it for the right price. I also have another 85' in the garage thats in parts. Frame and all! Why am i sellin? I have to many projects right now. Im rebuilding a 96' kdx 200 from the ground up. I also just picked up on a 86' vf500f interceptor. man the thing is nice. I need a belly/chin scoop and i also am lookin for exhaust for it. this winter it will also get gone thru from the ground up. I like rebuilding older bikes and then releasing them back into the great out doors. LOL I have had no problems finding new parts for the 85' kdx though. and hella cheap!!! Cheers!!!! -Speedy



This is the text version of DirtRider.Net
Click Here for the Full Version

Text Version Home





vBulletin Copyright ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Limited.
vB Easy Archive Final ©2000 - 2009 - Created by Stefan "Xenon" Kaeser