1997 KX250 Restoration - UPDATED

RyanLester761
Profile picture for user RyanLester761
Posts
1128
Joined
2/7/2007
Location
El Dorado Hills, CA, USA
RyanLester761 5/27/2014 10:41pm
5/27/2014 10:41pm
Good times Madmatt! That track looked narrow as hell. How did you end up? It looks like you got around a lot of riders...mostly because they fell or made mistakes. Haha. And that '91 cr500 on the last lap was clean!
RyanLester761
Profile picture for user RyanLester761
Posts
1128
Joined
2/7/2007
Location
El Dorado Hills, CA, USA
RyanLester761 5/27/2014 10:51pm
5/27/2014 10:51pm
Hey guys thanks again for the info on the swingarm color. I did a few samples/tests of what I found at my local stores and took pictures. I don't want to bore you all too much but the bottom picture is a done deal. As you can see, the "125" decal matched fairly well so I used that as my guide. I WILL be running the swingarm decal from the Splitfire graphics kit, so either way, I'm happy with the outcome of the color.











EL Sammo
Profile picture for user EL Sammo
Posts
166
Joined
5/19/2014
Location
AU
EL Sammo 5/28/2014 9:15pm
5/28/2014 9:15pm
Good job on the rebuild and getting back out on track! Bike looks great.
MaxPower
Profile picture for user MaxPower
Posts
2701
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
USA
MaxPower 5/29/2014 4:46pm
5/29/2014 4:46pm
You rode really well. I would never think you haven't been racing.
Watching helmet cam vids get me amped to ride
There were a good amount of riders on your gate
Were you riding sore the next day?

The Shop

See All »
MadMatt579 5/30/2014 2:33am
5/30/2014 2:33am
Thanks fellas, it was awesome being back on the track. I've got a lot to improve though, probably the main one being my fitness so i can do the bike justice. Still, to come in 8th out of 20+ riders on my first race in a decade wasn't too bad. There were a few A-graders there i recognized from my youth that were there on 500's, so that was cool lining up with them as i was only ever a C-grader back in the day. I wasn't too sore Max, I wasn't pushing as hard as i could, but now that ive got my feet wet, I'll be trying harder next race.



Kidkawie
Profile picture for user Kidkawie
Posts
1191
Joined
8/31/2012
Location
ქუთაისი, GE
Kidkawie 5/30/2014 5:58am
5/30/2014 5:58am
Looking good!

The swingarm decals I bought were a brand called ESP or something like that. The background silver had a blue tint to it, I guess from age.
RyanLester761
Profile picture for user RyanLester761
Posts
1128
Joined
2/7/2007
Location
El Dorado Hills, CA, USA
RyanLester761 5/30/2014 10:48am
5/30/2014 10:48am
Kidkawie wrote:
Looking good! The swingarm decals I bought were a brand called ESP or something like that. The background silver had a blue tint to it, I...
Looking good!

The swingarm decals I bought were a brand called ESP or something like that. The background silver had a blue tint to it, I guess from age.
Jay, my "250" decals have a green (kinda blue perhaps) tint within the silver compared to the "125" decals I got. I think mine are the ESP brand also from Dirk Timmer.

Kidkawie
Profile picture for user Kidkawie
Posts
1191
Joined
8/31/2012
Location
ქუთაისი, GE
Kidkawie 5/30/2014 12:47pm
5/30/2014 12:47pm
Yeah, that's what mine look like. No sense in me trying to match that unless I want some disco blue/silver swingarm.
RyanLester761
Profile picture for user RyanLester761
Posts
1128
Joined
2/7/2007
Location
El Dorado Hills, CA, USA
RyanLester761 5/30/2014 3:32pm
5/30/2014 3:32pm
I hear ya. It took me a minute to figure out why I couldn't match the paint to the sticker- hence all my questions about paint colors. I do plan on using the 250 decals on my 96 kx250 so I will probably just go with them anyway.
Rovalova
Profile picture for user Rovalova
Posts
183
Joined
10/5/2011
Location
AU
Rovalova 5/31/2014 6:29pm
5/31/2014 6:29pm
MadMatt, where did you get your frame paint from? I got mine colour matched and used PPG Dulon Acrylic lacquer, came up PERFECT colour was spot on and looked great, 12 months later and the its all falling off !!!! One frame has been hanging on the wall and the splitfire replica has never been ridden, I did my sons mini at the same time, but top coated with a Holts areosol and it hasnt moved. Does any one in Aus know if you can get a good epoxy like the old PJ1 stuff or anything similar.
Thanks in advance
Goodluckmonkey 6/2/2014 5:51am
6/2/2014 5:51am
Great to see it being used post-resto.

Would've been a shame to not enjoy if after all that work.
brysgrfx
Profile picture for user brysgrfx
Posts
38
Joined
3/3/2007
Location
Newhall, CA, USA
Fantasy
332nd
brysgrfx 6/2/2014 12:31pm
6/2/2014 12:31pm
Did anyone else but me know exactly how Matt felt in the video, seeing the other riders up ahead and the body just letting you know that you will not be going after them! I had a great time watching it, bike looked great and sounded like it ran pretty darn good. I think the look an Wabbit's face and the smile he had says it all.
Tizzo
Profile picture for user Tizzo
Posts
1
Joined
6/2/2014
Location
AU
Tizzo 6/2/2014 8:16pm
6/2/2014 8:16pm
Was a great day racing with MadMatt. You have done a lot of work on the bike Matt and it's looking great. I have some work to do to stay ahead next time.
TKL965
Profile picture for user TKL965
Posts
151
Joined
5/5/2014
Location
AU
TKL965 6/3/2014 12:10am
6/3/2014 12:10am
very cool, i live in bendigo, havent actually checked out VMX race yet. looks like a fun day
Crush
Profile picture for user Crush
Posts
21125
Joined
4/26/2009
Location
Sydney, AU
Crush 11/5/2014 3:26am
11/5/2014 3:26am
This thread rocks! Loved those Kawis!
Kawi4life
Profile picture for user Kawi4life
Posts
70
Joined
12/26/2014
Location
Columbia, NJ, USA
Kawi4life 1/6/2015 6:54pm
1/6/2015 6:54pm
Crush wrote:
This thread rocks! Loved those Kawis!
LOL... Seriously. This thread is putting a smile on my face! The 97 KX250 was my first brand new 250 I ever owned! I sat on one for the first time at the 1996 Broome-Tioga/Binghampton national! I still have pics of the first time I sat on the 97 KX250! I still remember clear as day the afternoon I brought my brand new one home and how much it ripped! I also entered my first race on it! (got 4th my very first time at the track). I think it's great that people are bringing these old bikes back to life and running them! However, I loved my 1999 KX250 ALOT more than the 97 so if I where to get an old KX250 it would be the 99-02. I don't know if it was only a few bad bikes/certain VINs, but me and another local guy both had problems with the 97 hitting false neutrals all the time.... I also bent the shift forks a lot. Never had the problem on any other bike before! :p
Kidkawie
Profile picture for user Kidkawie
Posts
1191
Joined
8/31/2012
Location
ქუთაისი, GE
Kidkawie 1/7/2015 5:47am
1/7/2015 5:47am
Hitting false neutral or even neutral is pretty common on KX250's. You can try polishing the star wheel. I've had 94, 98, 00 and 05 and they all did it.

Pit Row

See All »
MadMatt579 1/7/2015 6:22pm
1/7/2015 6:22pm
Yep spot on....... im having trouble with the shifting right now. Haven't had the chance to pull it apart and try the polishing trick yet. Hope it improves it because other than that, its a great bike and is very competitive against the new bikes since I firmed up the suspension.

Here's a sneak peak at the graphics kit i'll be running this year. It will have my own name and numbers though.



Paul333
Profile picture for user Paul333
Posts
2235
Joined
2/15/2012
Location
Virginia Beach, VA, USA
Paul333 1/11/2015 4:44pm
1/11/2015 4:44pm
MadMatt579 wrote:
Yep spot on....... im having trouble with the shifting right now. Haven't had the chance to pull it apart and try the polishing trick yet. Hope...
Yep spot on....... im having trouble with the shifting right now. Haven't had the chance to pull it apart and try the polishing trick yet. Hope it improves it because other than that, its a great bike and is very competitive against the new bikes since I firmed up the suspension.

Here's a sneak peak at the graphics kit i'll be running this year. It will have my own name and numbers though.



May I ask were you got the graphics and seat cover? I'm doing a 97 Team Kawasaki KX250 Rebuild myself. Just started yesterday.
Kawasaki_1996 1/11/2015 11:10pm
1/11/2015 11:10pm
Seeing those graphics makes me want to bust out my old jacket!



MadMatt579 1/12/2015 2:31am
1/12/2015 2:31am
Hey nice jacket.

The graphics kits are through Evo-mx but the kits haven't been released yet. I'll be trialing the 1st kit soon and will post up some pics in a few weeks if you'd like to see the whole kit.
MadMatt579 1/12/2015 2:33am
1/12/2015 2:33am
evo-mx.com
Kawasaki_1996 1/12/2015 2:36am
1/12/2015 2:36am
Please do mate - they look awesome.
Kidkawie
Profile picture for user Kidkawie
Posts
1191
Joined
8/31/2012
Location
ქუთაისი, GE
Kidkawie 1/12/2015 6:11am
1/12/2015 6:11am
Kawasaki_1996 wrote:
Seeing those graphics makes me want to bust out my old jacket! [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/01/11/76684/s1200_10931524_10153064523188593_4652560416259421679_n.jpg[/img]
Seeing those graphics makes me want to bust out my old jacket!



Aaaah..lolol! I have the older version of that, I'll try to snap some pics tonight.
Paul333
Profile picture for user Paul333
Posts
2235
Joined
2/15/2012
Location
Virginia Beach, VA, USA
Paul333 1/12/2015 6:50am
1/12/2015 6:50am
MadMatt579 wrote:
Hey nice jacket. The graphics kits are through Evo-mx but the kits haven't been released yet. I'll be trialing the 1st kit soon and will post...
Hey nice jacket.

The graphics kits are through Evo-mx but the kits haven't been released yet. I'll be trialing the 1st kit soon and will post up some pics in a few weeks if you'd like to see the whole kit.
Outstanding.

Thank you.
Kidkawie
Profile picture for user Kidkawie
Posts
1191
Joined
8/31/2012
Location
ქუთაისი, GE
Kidkawie 1/26/2015 7:01am
1/26/2015 7:01am
finally remembered my jacket pics, lol



russape
Profile picture for user russape
Posts
4
Joined
1/29/2015
Location
RU
russape 1/29/2015 9:34am
1/29/2015 9:34am
MadMatt579 wrote:
Thanks for the comments guys. Smx94, I'll hang on the the pipe. I plan on using the FMF when/if i do the factory 97 look in...
Thanks for the comments guys.

Smx94, I'll hang on the the pipe. I plan on using the FMF when/if i do the factory 97 look in the future.

Haha, i'll pencil in a "1" for you DJ.

No probs, Aidan. i'll let you know next time im down there.


Im going to take a break for a while, but im alreay thinking about what bike to do next. After blowing up one 125 and riding my mates bike yesterday, i think im too heavy for one, which is too bad since ive got an Evo-mx 95 splitfire kit which would look great on a kx125. Would have to go with white rear plastics though.
Maybe a 93 - 96 CR250 (like everyone else) or a 00 YZ250???
Hello Matt! Do you think about selling 1997 KX? And what price?
MadMatt579 1/30/2015 4:45am
1/30/2015 4:45am
Sorry mate, its not for sale..........unless you want to offer me some crazy $$$$$...lol

Post a reply to: 1997 KX250 Restoration - UPDATED