1981 Kawasaki KX80 ***Warning - lots of pictures

mxchris208
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Sanford, FL US
mxchris208
Edited Date/Time 11/23/2021 4:50pm
Here's a pretty sweet build that I went way overboard with. There are very, very few parts that aren't either new or NOS. I never had one when I was a kid (had CR80) but I love the looks of the KX and when the opportunity came last year I jumped on it. To name just a few trick items, the engine is the 105cc factory option which was then was worked by Tom Morgan. Custom built YSS shock and converted to 428 chain/sprockets. The list is almost endless.


























































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Grimace
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10/4/2017
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Orange County, CA US
Grimace 12/6/2018 4:19pm
12/6/2018 4:19pm
Amazing restoration. Excellent work!!
3
boardinblunted 12/6/2018 5:02pm
12/6/2018 5:02pm
Great build man. Have any plans for anyone riding it? That thing looks like it belongs in a showroom.
mxchris208
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Sanford, FL US
mxchris208 12/6/2018 6:44pm
12/6/2018 6:44pm
boardinblunted wrote:
Great build man. Have any plans for anyone riding it? That thing looks like it belongs in a showroom.
I did ride it and it rips but not enough that it’s broken in yet. I would love to sell it to someone who has a museum or a displayed collection.
vmxracer
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3/7/2016
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Toowoomba AU
vmxracer 12/7/2018 4:35am
12/7/2018 4:35am
Good looking resto. I had one as my first bike.
1

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lhthread
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3/6/2018
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Deer Park, NY US
lhthread 12/7/2018 9:44am
12/7/2018 9:44am
My first real mx bike. Coming from an XR80, I thought no motorcycle in the history of man could make more power than the KX! I have a vivid memory of feeling it come onto the pipe for the first time. And after about the 3rd run through the gears, I looped it hard trying to do a wheelie the same way I'd do it on the XR. There weren't many KX minis in those days, it was a YZ and RM world. I took the sales brochure to school every day to argue with my friends about which one was better. A neighbor who used to race came over and taught me how to work on it. I learned how to maintain the Uni Track links and do a top end. I asked for tools for Christmas, 13 years old. Wrenching and riding was all I cared about. It kind of ruined me (or saved me) for life.

Hats off to you for a fine build. Thanks for all the pictures. That airbox! I remember hating the way I couldn't get the filter through the opening without smearing oil everywhere. Your silencer terminates ahead of the rear number plate more than the stock arrangement, which is good for keeping it clean.
3
mxchris208
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Sanford, FL US
mxchris208 12/7/2018 11:48am
12/7/2018 11:48am
@Ihthread thanks. The airbox was actually a difficult part of the assembly. lol. The way the cage attaches to the airbox was just a weird design. Looks like Kawi changed to a better design in '82. It's a really fun bike.
HenryA
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Stockholm SE
HenryA 12/7/2018 2:08pm
12/7/2018 2:08pm
Wow, what a great restoration!
1
shuggs
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Dunfermline GB
shuggs 12/8/2018 2:56am
12/8/2018 2:56am
Very, very well done. Looks amazing
1
hackjob
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6/19/2019
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Upland, CA US
hackjob 6/19/2019 8:59pm
6/19/2019 8:59pm
I just pick one of these up and am doing a slightly custom build. I stuffed a rear shock from an 86 kx80 on her and was wondering what you used? Also, what carb is on yours? The previous owner of mine swapped the carb out for a throttle and vm33 (33mm) carb from an 80s yz.
mxchris208
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Sanford, FL US
mxchris208 6/20/2019 6:34am
6/20/2019 6:34am
hackjob wrote:
I just pick one of these up and am doing a slightly custom build. I stuffed a rear shock from an 86 kx80 on her and...
I just pick one of these up and am doing a slightly custom build. I stuffed a rear shock from an 86 kx80 on her and was wondering what you used? Also, what carb is on yours? The previous owner of mine swapped the carb out for a throttle and vm33 (33mm) carb from an 80s yz.
I had a custom YSS shock built for it. They didn't originally have one for it so I had to send them my stocker and the designed a shock. Their service was pretty quick and good pricing.
The bike has the stock carb but larger jetting for the 105cc kit.
hackjob
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hackjob 6/20/2019 7:11am
6/20/2019 7:11am
hackjob wrote:
I just pick one of these up and am doing a slightly custom build. I stuffed a rear shock from an 86 kx80 on her and...
I just pick one of these up and am doing a slightly custom build. I stuffed a rear shock from an 86 kx80 on her and was wondering what you used? Also, what carb is on yours? The previous owner of mine swapped the carb out for a throttle and vm33 (33mm) carb from an 80s yz.
mxchris208 wrote:
I had a custom YSS shock built for it. They didn't originally have one for it so I had to send them my stocker and the...
I had a custom YSS shock built for it. They didn't originally have one for it so I had to send them my stocker and the designed a shock. Their service was pretty quick and good pricing.
The bike has the stock carb but larger jetting for the 105cc kit.
Thanks for the response. I didnt know there was a 105cc set up. I can't find anything for 81/82 kx80s. Even the nitrogen pressure for the front forks....nothing in my book about it. Rear shocks weren't even mentioned, so I winged it with the shock I used.
Brian_Bowles 8/17/2021 6:50pm
8/17/2021 6:50pm
She looks great! I just got one yesterday. I need parts! The engine on mine is already re-built.
mxchris208
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12/6/2018
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Sanford, FL US
mxchris208 8/23/2021 6:37am
8/23/2021 6:37am
Keaton nyvoll wrote:
Hey, I got this bike a few weeks ago, almost exactly the same way you got yours, but without the engine or gas tank, I want...
Hey, I got this bike a few weeks ago, almost exactly the same way you got yours, but without the engine or gas tank, I want to know where you got your parts. email me at keatonn6032@gshare.blackgold.ca
Sorry, just now seen your question. Pretty much all parts I purchased were from eBay. I would get the part numbers needed from revzilla dot com and then search that pt on eBay.
mxchris208
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Sanford, FL US
mxchris208 8/23/2021 6:38am
8/23/2021 6:38am
Brian_Bowles wrote:
She looks great! I just got one yesterday. I need parts! The engine on mine is already re-built. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2021/08/17/506176/s1200_1982_KX80.jpg[/img]
She looks great! I just got one yesterday. I need parts! The engine on mine is already re-built.
Good luck. It was a fun project. I do have some parts left over if you're needing any or let me know if any questions.
mxchris208
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Sanford, FL US
mxchris208 8/23/2021 6:48am
8/23/2021 6:48am
My previous pictures didn't have the decals on them. Figured I should post a few pics with them on. Nice difference.




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Brian_Bowles 11/23/2021 4:50pm
11/23/2021 4:50pm
Chris did you paint the frame yourself? If so what paint did you use? Did you clear coat it too. Thanks!!!

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