What year KX 250???

[royxlt580]

I just got a KX 250 from a guy for pretty cheap. He said it was a 93 but the book that came with it only goes up to 91.Here is some info and maby someone can help me figure it out. The # on the frame # is JK AKXMH13LA004870
The Engine # is KX250HE004831
It has inverted Showa front forks and uni-track rear suspention.

Now the things that are wrong with it , It needs a frame and the suspention is shot. For the frame I was wondering what years will be the same or close enough to make work?Would a 125 frame work? And for the shocks, I have all the tools to rebuild fox shocks and was going to try and rebuild the rear myself. I will need a rebuild kit for the shock though.The same for the front forks, I should be able to rebuild them myself. So what year is this thing? Acording to the service manual and the engine # it could be a 90 or 91 but that is as high as the book goes. Thanks in advance. Mike

 

[MXSparx]

1990
the 10th digit of the VIN dictates the year.
Your 10th is "L" which equals '90

 

[royxlt580]

Ok. What frames would be the same as the 1990 KX250 that I have?Also would a 125 frame be the same? Thanks Mike

 

[MX-727]

I had a '90, first year for the perimeter frame. Are you sure that it has Showa's? Pretty sure the 250 came with Kayaba and the 125 came with Showa.

Go to www.kawasaki.com and work your way through to menus to view the parts diagrams. Should be able to put in the VIN number and you will be able to look at the parts fiche. Then you can compare the part numbers for the frame to other years and between the 125 and 250.

 

[royxlt580]

Ok the 91 frame is the same as the 90 .the front forks have a showa sticker on them.they have two adjustment screws on them and are blue anodized.Sound like they are Showa? Thanks for the link. Mike

 

[MX-727]

Hmmmmm....90 didn't have the blue forks. I think that started in 91 or 92. Did the VIN number show it as a 90 on Kawi's website?

 

[JasonWho]

The frame VIN is for a 1990 model, as MXParkx said. The georgiaoffroad.com site shows a picture of a 1990 KX250 as having silver fork tubes. The racetech.com website shows Kayaba 41mm tubes. I know that 1991 tubes were blue. I had a set of 1991 KX125 forks, and they were blue. The 1990 year was the first year for USD forks on a KX. 1989 was conventional. If they are 1991 forks, one of the two top screws is for air release, the other is rebound.

Hope this helps,
JasoWho

 

[royxlt580]

yes the vin showed the bike as being a 1990 kx250 h1.But the front forks must be newer, so they must be Showa? I wish I knew more about the different years and changes, I used to be big into dirt bikes in the early 80's but my friend and I almost died on one so I sold it and switched to snowmobiles.They are crazier than bikes. Any how the test spin on this bike felt great. But the bike needs some work, Minor stuff. Shocks are blown base gasket blown out needs rings and clutch hangs a bit, maby dirty oil because the basket looks fine.Also the frame is ready to fall apart, There is a 91 250 frame on **** pretty cheap. Thanks again for all the help.

 

[royxlt580]

The forks are silver. But they have the two screws on top I checked them out tonight and 1 is for dampening and the other is for air but how do you get air into them there is nothing under the screw just a hole?So they are KYB forks?Thanks Mike

 

[JasonWho]

Check racetech.com to see who made the forks. Don't put air in them. That is normally used to release built-up air pressure between motos.

Good luck.

 

[ETS]

I agree with what everyone else said for the most part. I owned a 91' KX back in 92' and I knew the original owner so they have never been switched. They were blue KYB's. At the same time a riding bud had a 90' KX and it the silver KYB forks. The 90's silver forks have a smaller tube diameter than the 91'. 90-91 are definetly the owner two years of parts interchangability. That 91' was one of the best bikes I've ever owned. Kawasaki only used kyb for a long time and might still do?

 

[MX-727]

Yep, KYB, someone just threw some Showa stickers on to look cool.

The airscrew is to release built up pressure from heat.

Have fun, I liked that bike, plus it could be a minor collectable since it was the first perimeter frame.

 

[JasonWho]

Just for the record, the '90 KX's had 41mm tubes, and the '91 had 43mm tubes. Well, OK, since I am walking down nerd street, '91 - '95 had 43mm tubes, then they switched to 46mm tubes in 1996.

 

[YZ165]

Well, OK, since I am walking down nerd street, '91 - '95 had 43mm tubes, then they switched to 46mm tubes in 1996.

I'm not so sure about that Jason, Rob1111 said the fork seals go in the shock, with silicone, you better check your stats. :laugh:

 

[JasonWho]

You are right, I am such a GOOF.