From: baxter@epcot.spdc.ti.com (Mike Baxter)
Subject: Re: KX250/500
Organization: TI Semiconductor Process and Design Center
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 00:10:24 GMT

In article <1992Nov04.234656.24368@convex.com> couyant@convex.com (George Couyant) writes:
>I mentioned a while ago that I was toying with the idea of swapping motors
>in my KX's. The 500 motor into the 250 frame and vica verca.

Wierd George, that's why I like you. :-)

>
>I've just put the final touches in moving the '90 500 motor into the '88 
>250 frame.  Why you ask?
>
>The '88 KX is arguably the best KX frame and suspension package ever made
>for trail/enduro riding. I love it. I like the 250 motor too, but, well,
>er, um, it's kind of gutless. The '90 KX on the other hand has faster
>steering frame geometry than the '88 and the suspension is not brilliant.
>The '90 500cc motor though is a rocket and still very tractable...so, it
>makes sense to put the faster motor into the more stable frame..right?
>

You have got to be kidding.  All I have ever herd is that the KX500 is a
steady bike that gets better suspension every year.  Doesn't the '90 KX
have USD forks.  Andy's '89 KX250 turns extreamly well and is not the greatest
in the stability catagory.  

>The only mod the frame needed was to weld on an extra motor mount. The
>rest was just bolting it up. In fact the frame needed no shimming or
>anything. Just as an aside, you should check a bike from new to make sure
>that no shims are required to limit the stress on a slightly miss-aligned
>frame. You loosen the motor mounting bolts around the bike and measure any
>gaps. Find appropriately sized shims, slip them in and bolt it all up
>again. This will ensure that vibration etc. from the motor is kept to a
>minimum. The bike also ends up feeling "tighter".
>

Well, at least it was somewhat easy.  That way if you want to switch them back
it will not be a problem.  I need more than one bike.


>I also had the expansion chamber fixed by a local bike shop. I had crushed
>it a while back and it boy, did it suck some power. They used compressed
>air in the pipe and heated the areas to reshape. I wanted to give it a try
>myself, but for $40 with a garantee, I figured it was cheap. They also
>gave it a good paint job. Only thing is that it's a slightly different
>shape and the fibreglass protector I have for it doesn't quite fit. Oh
>well, looks like I need to make another..
>

I need to find a place around here that can fix my pipe.  It's not dented too
bad, but I would like to start next season with it right.


>I want to give the bike a go this weekend in the last round of the
>Victorian Enduro series, but the rest of the family wants to go camping by
>the beach instead. Wonder who'll win....
>

Hmmmm. That's a hard one.  Anyone giving odds?


_____________________________________________________________________________
DoD #359       Current bike '91  CR250 |         Mike Baxter   
AMA #607249    Current num....061      |              
TCCRA  #761  for 1993                  |      baxter@spdc.ti.com
250cc Expert                           |
Texas Cross-Country racing series      |   Texas Instruments, Dallas Tx.   
50 miles of off-road Hell              |  
_______________________________________|_____________________________________
Disclaimer:  The opinions expressed above are my very own, becuase 
             if they were worth anything TI would patent them.