Goodbye KX500?

[nephron]

The last of the common open class bikes looks to be going bye-bye. Destry says this is the last year for it (from what he "heard", and I would guess he'd be the first to know) and he'll be riding the KXF450 by the end of the year.

For those of us that like that type of bike, we may only have Frank White and ATK. Unfortunately, the strength of the legs under that company are unknown, they may be having production issues (particularly importing European parts due to the US DOLLAR problem right now), and there have been no known 'great' reviews of the 700/620/500. On the plus side, a small, low volume company like ATK would be most likely to hang onto a niche bike for a long time.

It will be interesting to see how Destry does on the 450F. His open desert and H&H results are almost perfect on the KX500. Some of this success may be due to the fact that Ty Davis kept breaking his 450F (valvetrain), DNF'ing--and then having to go back to a YZ250; which, of course pales by comparison in terms of power (yet equivalent to a 450F, right? :think: ) Whatever the case, it'll be interesting. I'll bet it'll be closer racing next year, so long as Destry doesn't break this newly designed bike over and over again.

And yeah, I know people will still be riding KX500's for years to come. Sad time, but I guess time to move on.

 

[D36-108A]

That's too bad. How about the Service Honda CR500AF? Do they have a supply of engines to keep making it?

 

[nephron]

How could I forget that one? :uh: I think AJ could answer the question about the motors. I do wonder how long Honda would be willing to keep making those motors.

 

[Rcannon]

It is a shame that the open two strokes were left to die. I still think they were one of the best overall bikes around.

I wonder if the KXF 450 is going to be shared with Suzuki?

 

[NEMX305]

Its not sad that they are killing off the KX500, its sad that they stopped improving it 10 years ago. If they kept improving them, and started throwing some woods stuff on them at the factory, then they would still have a market for them. Tim

 

[TheJunkMan]

I wonder if the KXF 450 is going to be shared with Suzuki?

I doubt it b/c the suzuki's 450 MXer is ALL suzuki, leads me to believe that the KXF 450 will be ALL Kawasaki

 

[fuzzy]

The KX250f is a squid in green, the 450 will be too....

 

[gwcrim]

Damn the tree huggers anyway!!!! :debil:

 

[Rcannon]

Tim, you said it better than I did. I would love a KX 500 with the 2003-2004 frame. Hell, even the 2001 frame.

Not the 1989 frame!

 

[Studboy]

Tim, you said it better than I did. I would love a KX 500 with the 2003-2004 frame. Hell, even the 2001 frame....QUOTE]

You can do that.
I've know of at least two around here.

 

[DougRoost]

I remember reading a year or so ago a product review in Dirt Rider mag about a company that made an all new updated frame for the KX500. I believe it was something like Rocket _____. Kind of a make your own CR500AF for the green crowd and was a very complete kit.

 

[rwhitlock]

Are you referring to the infamous 'Rocket Science' frames??

I didn't think that guy was in business anymore? If so, he will make you one that is killer!! He has the jig all set up (yes, I have seen it in person) and he makes some awesome frames.

He has also made some custom frames for Hill Climbers.

Rod

 

[gwcrim]

Just out of curiousity, what's wrong with the '89 frame?

 

[Rcannon]

Nothing wrong, the frame is just quite an old design.

 

[Casper250]

I have never ridden one but you can tell by looking at it that it is an old design. Even looking at your icon, you can see that the seat stays flat right up to the gas cap, on the 500, it's got the old school U shape.

 

[DougRoost]

Are you referring to the infamous 'Rocket Science' frames??

I didn't think that guy was in business anymore? If so, he will make you one that is killer!! He has the jig all set up (yes, I have seen it in person) and he makes some awesome frames.

He has also made some custom frames for Hill Climbers.

Rod

Yep, that was it. Looked like a pretty cool deal.

 

[elf]

That's too bad. How about the Service Honda CR500AF? Do they have a supply of engines to keep making it? {quote}

Honda is no longer making engines, However they will continue to make all the parts. Service honda has to buy the parts and assemble the engine themselves.

 

[kelsorat]

Well now I'll keep my 1991 KTM540dxc for prosperity. Long live the 2 smokes.

 

[nephron]

I have never ridden one but you can tell by looking at it that it is an old design. Even looking at your icon, you can see that the seat stays flat right up to the gas cap, on the 500, it's got the old school U shape.

That's because it's neither needed, nor advisable to have your gonads squashed into the front of that neat flat seat at 100mph wfo, or 60mph through whooped-out sandwashes. But if you can name a new-fangled flattop bike that's better in the desert than a KX500 or XR650 (another disappointing oldstyle bike, eh?), I'll give you mine. Then you can ride one. Bring some buttwipe and a pair of underwear. As you say, they don't make them like this anymore. :thumb:

 

[gwcrim]

If I was a good rider, I might be concerned about the seat situation. I probably can't get but 70% of the potential out of mine. But I do get a 100% adrenalin rush. And that's why I ride.

In a year or two the prices of these bikes will probably drop like a rock. Then it'll be time to buy another one. The biggest bang for the buck in the off road world!

 

[bbbom]

Maybe they didn't update the design (same goes with CR500's) for the past 10 years because they didn't need to! :moon:

I'll admit that there isn't as big of a market for the big bores as for the 4 strokes or even 250 2 strokes BUT that's just cause so many people are scared of them. :eek: :thumb:

I'm with gwcrim, let the price drop and pick up a spare.

 

[TheJunkMan]

that's just cause so many people are scared of them. :eek: :thumb:

I'm with gwcrim, let the price drop and pick up a spare.

I agree!

 

[Casper250]

Well, even with the KX500 on its way out, you can always step it up one more notch with a 700cc ATK.

Check it out HERE

 

[nephron]

Refer to the original post in this thread. Also, that bike is somewhat sketchy as yet. Seems to be under-engineered and piecemealed together. Lots of potential, but right now it's got no overrev (NONE), is impossible to start and otherwise runs like what it is: a bike that was originally designed for Motard, converted to dirt. It's a great idea, but far from complete. Frank White tends to use his customers as his development resource base. It works, but will take a while. The 620 and 500 versions of that bike are faster, and said to provide a much better and very balanced feel to the bike.

 

[kelsorat]

It'll be interesting to get some response back from the first of ATK's new 2 stroke customers. Problem is -- the whole ATK clan kind of sticks by their leader.