KX500's question

[Hoony]

just reading the VMX article on the works KX500's, got me thinking what was the first year that the KIPS was introduced on the Production bike ?

and if anyone knows when did it debut on the works bike?

Over to you Holeshot Buddy, Kaw440, Davey C or Johnny O !

[Stevo17]

First power valve was the 1986 B2 model. Dont know about the works bikes

[JohnnyO]

I think Simon or Rusty are the guys to answer that.. i've only got earlier KX's

[holeshot buddy]

the 1985 beast like mine had no powervalve
just huge ports
1986 to 1988 had the 2 drum side powervalves
1989 onwards had the kips 3 powervalves 2 side drums and a top port flapper
main thing with the 3 valve motor is to set it up correctly
they all pull about 63 horsepower standard
the 85 is just more brutal (feels like 100)
generally you are just a passenger ha
good power pulls from zero to top end with no real hit in midrange like a cr500

[Davey Crocket]

I feel very flattered to be mentioned in the Kawasaki hall of fame but I'm just a newby to the Green team, TM Bill would know or even our VMX Mag owners....they all have a soft spot for Green.

[holeshot buddy]

you have got the disease

[Trent Farlow]

The KIPS was first used on the production KX125 and KX250 in 1985 , it was then introduced onto the 500 in 1986.

With regard to the works bikes, the 1984 SR125 had the KIPS system from the beginning of the 84 season, which Jeff Ward used to win Kawasaki their first 125 National Championship.  Then in late 1984 Kawasaki air freighted works power valve equipped sand cast 250cc engines in for the USA factory team and these were fitted to the 1984 works bikes for evaluation until the full 1985 KIPS equipped works bikes arrived in early 1985. The 1984 works 250 was a centre port already but with no power valve, (production was sideport) so the when the first works power valve engines arrived they  fitted the 1984 works frame with some mods. 

The first works SR500 to use a power valve was the bike used by Georges Jobe in the 1985 GP's , it used a special sand cast engine with a sandcast  cylinder with a power valve. likewise the American factory 500's. By 1986 this was on the production KX500.

[bazza]

good to hear from you Trent you have been quiet, Baz