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Others will be along with more knowledge I’m sure. That said, if you’re going to ride it, I seem to recall the 500 needing some head/squish work to prevent pinging/detonation. With regard to parts, on my 86’s I set a bunch of searches on eBay, both by part number and description, so I get a prompt when something lists. Some are poorly described aftermarket, but I’ve gotten lucky on a couple pretty rare parts. Also try eBay Europe. Seems like there’s a ton of 80s CR stuff hoarded over there. There’s a couple vendors that also have a good selection...

Dang Adam… regrettably I do NOT have any 1984 CR500 parts for sale, but I got a head full of cool old memories of that bike and I hope you are able to get it restored and that you post up some pics when it’s done! I know the 1983 CR480 is an incredible machine & a favorite/venerable vet/vintage racer, but I will always have a soft spot for the 1984 with its “right side” kick start and front disc brake! I remember them being hard to jet and other issues too but I still thought those 84’s were awesome...

SG 12s are better than both

just get SG12s and forget about it, better boot, better quality, and last forever!

Surprised how little traction this has gotten.

I raced a 2021 KX 250f for a year and I'm currently on a 23 KTM 250f: The cockpit on the KTM is slightly more open than the KX. I'm 6'1" and the KX fit fine, but once I got on this new frame KTM I really felt comfortable. (New frame only not a fan of previous ktm cockpit). The kawi between the legs felt thin and nimble even through the shroud, but I feel like I can "lock in" on the KTM better. It's a toss up for me on which ones better. Suspension and feel of the bikes...

They only use them into the fuel tank. They sure beat spinning the metal insert in the fuel tank.

I've never understood the plastic self tapper hate, I think they're fine, just run them in until they bottom and don't put any more torque. They wont come out. I think its just the morons who crank on em and blow the plastic out are the ones that have a hard time.

Thanks for all the feedback. I went to buy a kx250x today and just couldn’t do it mostly due to the poor resale and never having ridden one. I then went to the ktm/husky/gasgas dealer and found a gasgas 250 factory edition with 15 hours on it and 6500 inserts already setup for xc for not too much more than the kx was going to cost. We will see how it turns out but the gasgas looks nice and I like red.

Stay with KTM...their identity is GNCC/Hare scrambles. You can tune out almost 100% of the vibration with Fasstco Flex bars. I have had multiple units. I even have the Flex bars for my E-bike.

KTM theyre worth it....

I have a hard time Kawis seriously when I continuously see them dropping the tail pipe like some Chinese pit bike. I mean you hear about it and you think it's just a myth, but then you see one drop off mid-moto and have to listen the guy fart his way around the track and it's just hard to imagine that the rest of the bike is any better.

If you want durability and good resale, Kawi really isn't the way to go. I wouldn't rely too much on the MX shootouts when it comes to making a decision on a woods bike.

Too much of anything is just that, Too much.