Tim, can you rotate the KX500 lever up? I had to file down the outer shoulder of the spline area on my original lever to rotate it back far enough to be comfortable.
Unfortunately, I bent it under the case yesterday in a hare scramble. Had no tools, and couldn't just pull it out. Finally had to lay the bike down and do a deadlift to straighten it enough to shift. Cost me about 10 minutes, and about an hour's worth of riding energy.:)