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Modified 1989 Kawasaki KX500

by Trev

June 23, 2016

in Australian MX, Bike Reviews / Products, Dirt / Flat Track, Enduro / Rally, Features, Historic Road Racing, Kawasaki News, Motorcycle News, Motorcycle Racing

1989 Kawasaki KX500 with tasteful modifications

By Greg Smith

1989 Kawasaki KX500 - Brad Mustard - Image by Greg Smith — 1989 Kawasaki KX500 – Brad Mustard – Image by Greg Smith

MCNews.com.au recently caught up with VMX fanatic Brad Mustard at the VMX Classic Dirt 12 event held at Conondale. We thought it fitting that we showcase his tastefully modified and US derived 1989 Kawasaki KX500.

1989 Kawasaki KX500 - Brad Mustard - Image by Greg Smith — 1989 Kawasaki KX500 – Brad Mustard – Image by Greg Smith

Brad rides the KX500 every chance he gets and regularly competes in VMX events.

1989 Kawasaki KX500 - Brad Mustard - Image by Greg Smith — 1989 Kawasaki KX500 – Brad Mustard – Image by Greg Smith

1989 Kawasaki KX500 - Brad Mustard - Image by Greg Smith - Conventional forks are mounted up front as this was a factory modification in it's day due to the standard upside down forks being more suitable to the KX125 and not the trench digging KX500 — 1989 Kawasaki KX500 – Brad Mustard – Image by Greg Smith – Conventional forks are mounted up front as this was a factory modification in it’s day due to the standard upside down forks being more suitable to the KX125 and not the trench digging KX500

1989 Kawasaki KX500 - Brad Mustard - Image by Greg Smith - The engine is on it's 1st oversize, not that it needed anymore bottom end but a few CC's extra is always worth it.. right? — 1989 Kawasaki KX500 – Brad Mustard – Image by Greg Smith – The engine is on it’s 1st oversize, not that it needed anymore bottom end but a few CC’s extra is always worth it.. right?

1989 Kawasaki KX500 - Brad Mustard - Image by Greg Smith - A boysen reed block and Moose Alloy spacer help the engine breathe and let the rider get on with more important things than slipping the clutch to get it out of the turns! Stuff like holding on with your arms, shoulders and butt cheeks.. — 1989 Kawasaki KX500 – Brad Mustard – Image by Greg Smith – A boysen reed block and Moose Alloy spacer help the engine breathe and let the rider get on with more important things than slipping the clutch to get it out of the turns! Stuff like holding on with your arms, shoulders and butt cheeks..

1989 Kawasaki KX500 - Brad Mustard - Image by Greg Smith. calvini pipe and silencer help extract all of those worthless gases from the power station and look extremely "beautiful" at the same time. Well they do to me, OK? — 1989 Kawasaki KX500 – Brad Mustard – Image by Greg Smith. calvini pipe and silencer help extract all of those worthless gases from the power station and look extremely “beautiful” at the same time. Well they do to me, OK?

1989 Kawasaki KX500 - Brad Mustard - Image by Greg Smith - There's a smaller fuel tank from the same year model KX250 as it's slimmer and I guess lighter thus helping the power to weight ratio (like you need it?). — 1989 Kawasaki KX500 – Brad Mustard – Image by Greg Smith – There’s a smaller fuel tank from the same year model KX250 as it’s slimmer and I guess lighter thus helping the power to weight ratio (like you need it?).

1989 Kawasaki KX500 - Brad Mustard - Image by Greg Smith - Wider foot pegs have been installed as the standard ones were like knives on the base of your boots they were that thin. Plus the teeth would break from the mounting plate (this is a good upgrade) — 1989 Kawasaki KX500 – Brad Mustard – Image by Greg Smith – Wider foot pegs have been installed as the standard ones were like knives on the base of your boots they were that thin. Plus the teeth would break from the mounting plate (this is a good upgrade)

1989 Kawasaki KX500 - Brad Mustard - Image by Greg Smith - With the bike coming from the USA it's previous owner had put a water pump guard onto the frame to stop the chance of damaging it when bottoming out at mach 10 in a Mojave Desert race! — 1989 Kawasaki KX500 – Brad Mustard – Image by Greg Smith – With the bike coming from the USA it’s previous owner had put a water pump guard onto the frame to stop the chance of damaging it when bottoming out at mach 10 in a Mojave Desert race!

1989 Kawasaki KX500 - Brad Mustard - Image by Greg Smith — 1989 Kawasaki KX500 – Brad Mustard – Image by Greg Smith

1989 Kawasaki KX500 - Brad Mustard - Image by Greg Smith — 1989 Kawasaki KX500 – Brad Mustard – Image by Greg Smith

1989 Kawasaki KX500 - Brad Mustard - Image by Greg Smith — 1989 Kawasaki KX500 – Brad Mustard – Image by Greg Smith

1989 Kawasaki KX500 - Brad Mustard - Image by Greg Smith — 1989 Kawasaki KX500 – Brad Mustard – Image by Greg Smith

1989 Kawasaki KX500 - Brad Mustard - Image by Greg Smith — 1989 Kawasaki KX500 – Brad Mustard – Image by Greg Smith

1989 Kawasaki KX500 - Brad Mustard - Image by Greg Smith — 1989 Kawasaki KX500 – Brad Mustard – Image by Greg Smith

1989 Kawasaki KX500 - Brad Mustard - Image by Greg Smith — 1989 Kawasaki KX500 – Brad Mustard – Image by Greg Smith

1989 Kawasaki KX500 - Brad Mustard - Image by Greg Smith — 1989 Kawasaki KX500 – Brad Mustard – Image by Greg Smith

1989 Kawasaki KX500 - Brad Mustard - Image by Greg Smith — 1989 Kawasaki KX500 – Brad Mustard – Image by Greg Smith

1989 Kawasaki KX500 - Brad Mustard - Image by Greg Smith — 1989 Kawasaki KX500 – Brad Mustard – Image by Greg Smith

1989 Kawasaki KX500 - Brad Mustard - Image by Greg Smith — 1989 Kawasaki KX500 – Brad Mustard – Image by Greg Smith

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Trev

Motojourno - Founder of MCNews.com.au - Australia's leading resource for motorcycle news, reviews and race coverage for over 20 years.

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