The Cult of the KX500: Keeping Kawasaki's two-stroke KX alive!

The legendary Kawasaki KX500 lives on thanks to people like KX500 Tech's Steve Wells who makes and sells engine parts for the mighty green machine. From gearbox parts to clutches and factory-style engine cases and modified cylinders, he is keeping the KX dream alive.
We ride two of his awesome bikes, a stock-framed KX500 and a fully-rebuilt perimeter-framed bike like the 1990 factory machine bristling with works parts.
Listen to the details of how these bikes can be improved and built from the man who knows them better than anyone else.
Crank up the volume as the sweet-sounding smokers are put through their paces by Steve And MotoHead's Dave Willet at the old-school Sellindge track as the differences between the two machines are probed and explained.

[jameyconrad]

As a kx500 owner, thanks so much for doing what you can to keep these old bikes alive👍👍👍

[MrKdr]

In 1988 as a 15yr old apprentice boilermaker i purchased a Brand new KX250 & KX500 and of all the bikes i have raced/owned the KX500 has always had a special place in my heart, I'm very lucky to have been in a position where i didn't have to sell it and it sits proudly in my man cave today.... I get offers all the time from people wanting to buy it.

[Sidewindergsxr]

I recently purchased a 99 kx500 with one of your 2 piece clutch cases & the bike has been beautifully fully restored...it's ported & polished as well as the cases with a custom compression release built into the engine block at the push of a button, has forged internals & bored over to a 530cc with billet accessories from top to bottom, it's a absolute monster & i plan to never sell it & hope my boy's will appreciate it as much as i do💚....Thanks for making this video & keeping the 500 2 strokes alive my friend.

[chrisbatstone]

Miss the glory big bore 500cc bikes gps where magical times 2 strokes forever guys wonderful

[mustangmustang]

It's great to see these machines being saved. Love them. 4 strokes will never do it for me ! 🍻👍 long live the 2 banger!

[randykresge]

Thanks for keeping the old Kawasaki bikes alive . I have resurrected my 1991 kx250-h. It is awesome. And the younger guys that I ride with are a little jealous. Keep the green machines alive.

[blackwarrior]

have owned five KX 500s, and still own three. I'll be 63 in a couple weeks. No there not four sale!

[crashtestpanda]

Really enjoyed watching this. Seeing the joy in both of them talking about the bikes was awesome.

[MystikAl]

great vidoe cheers guys.

I am just finishing a 1994 KX 500 engine into a 2006 RMX450 chassis conversion.
Looking forward to testing it out and scaring myself shitless.

[wallyhaskett]

I used to have a KX 500 and I loved that bike. I wish I still had it today. I would restore it and have it ready to ride other than the face that I'm not able to ride anymore after twenty operations nine of them bein spine operations. At 65 years old I wish I could still ride dirt bikes. I hope you will be able to keep the 500s racing for twenty years and more. I have had the four strokes and for me the two stroke is a clear winner any day of the week. Wish you the best!

[hamishmunro]

Watching this from NZ, and great to see the passion that is still out there for the 2 strokes worldwide, have a 04 KX250 and 94 KDX250 in the shed myself.

[reeferdogbassin]

Never rode kawasaki execpt over the parts layin on the track, but i sure appreciate this guy keepin the 500cc two stroke spirit alive! Long live the CR500! and kx500

[justinsteffen]

I certainly appreciate both of your devotion to the big bore 2 strokes. My dad had an 1991 KX 500. I used to practice on it ( vs my bike which was a 2003 KX 125). I truly believe it made me as fast as I was, ( wow that was tough to write)!!! It had its vibrations but it ripped.
He passed on and had traded the bike a few years prior. I later bought and ride a 1989 YZ 490, its air cooled but a blast to ride. Especially climbing steep hills and mountain passes. I have buddy's that cant keep up on brand new bikes and it grin8ds their gears im sure. Long live the the BIG BORES.

[TheOMGWTFBBQ]

love it i got a 1989 kx 125 i got going, i bought in pieces and shes well worth the effort . They command respect

[markkukla]

great video and awesome bikes, i use to own a 1984 George Jobe Kawasaki KX 500 works machine many years ago and i loved it, but had to sell it, in 2020 purchased an imported 1986 Kawasaki KX 500 and and have done it right up and am loving it, bike is brilliant been out on it quite a few times, mark from England

[happyraccoon]

There's a 1991 kx500 on eBay right now. In England, in museum, buy it now is $7000 ish. I just finished a Complete go thru on my 1998 kx125. And I had Three Cagiva 500's!! C1986. Sold them in 1999

[drush]

The bike of all bikes. Does it all when your a large grown ass Man!

[stevenowen]

Great to see a bloke on a mission and succeeding. Congratulations mate. Iv nearly finished my 83 CR 480. It still has her original plastics on her only now they look new again. Aftermarket stuff, pipes plastics are readily available, i stripped her eight years ago to the last nut and bolt, sandblasted the frame and painted and polished EVERYTHING as I put it back together eight years later. 'All i really need now is a base and head gasket and a seat cover and a pipe. Twenty five years ago I rebuilt the gearbox and that was an expensive venture as well as hard to track down gears and other items, selector barrels etc. so i didnt have to worry bout that this time round. I was surprised that the piston, rings and barrel were still like new. Thanks to running Castrol R 30 all its life. The only thing i had to do was change a reed valve. And she needs a new expansion chamber, all readily available. Good to see someone making all this sort of stuff for the big green machines. I wish you success, fame and fortunew x 10 for al your hard work and dedication mate. Good onya.👍👍. Great vid too.

[lawndarts]

You guys really brought back some fond memories. Thank you!

[alwynhancock]

Sad too see the Kawasaki two strokes being phased out..awesome machines👍