I bought a death machine...

[VenomRS4]

Looking around craigslist last week...i stumbled across an interesting bike. It is a 1985 KTM 500mx. Yep...l/c 500cc 2 stroke. They say a cr500 is 55hp. Thats a lot and those bikes fly. Well, this bad boy has 62hp....stock. Then add a dyno-port pipe and silencer, reeds, proper jetting, and a twin air filter. I dont know how much power it makes now but I bet this bike screws. Anyway, it needs some work as you can see in the pics. Had a fresh rebuild though. I cannot figure out how to put the air box back in for the life of me. Can anyone help on this? The guy was asking a bit much IMO but i have never seen another one local so i splurged and overpaid for it. I dont care to be honest. I like it and it looks nice next to my 86' 80mx. The 80mx is like a mini version of this. They look identical except for the whole size thing. Anyway, i snapped a couple pics. Let me know what you guys think. Anyone ever ridden one? How scary is it?

[SYKO]

never rode one.... looks satanic..... I like it..... stick it in a trike!

[Macs]

I have been looking for the exact same bike to build a street legal trail bike out of. Them are very hard to find.

[VenomRS4]

I have been looking for the exact same bike to build a street legal trail bike out of. Them are very hard to find.

I love that idea. How would I go about doing it?

[Macs]

It depends by state, all you need here is a title, mirror, headlights, brake lights and your good to go. Go over to thumpertalk.com they can show you what you need for each state in the forums. I think it is in the dual sport forum as a sticky.

[300rman]

dont stick that motor in a trike frame. leave that rare machine alone, and take care of it. that thing HAS to be a beast

[88 Turbo Coupe]

I bet you can't wait to ride it! I know I would. Kid and his toys

[300rman]

ride report?

[Yamaha_Rules69]

to get the air box in--------------- does the bike have a removable sub frame in the back, or the subframe bar that comes out on one side? It should just unbolt. This is how I did it on my 1990 YZ 250. Hope this helps in some way.

[mad]

I love that idea. How would I go about doing it?

nice find i have a 86 ktm 250 and looks the same, check the water pump housing out the antifreeze eat out around the seal like the ktm 80.hopefully yours is ok.

[peeweesp]

ktm made a 550 two stroke also lol. They are even harder to find, 94 and 95 they made the 550's

[tri-Z ripper]

I know where there is an orange KTM 550 at one of my local shops he wants like $3,500 for it! in good shape thats for sure!

[Mad-V-maxr]

Thats a nice find I would have snagged it up too. I remember when they came out and Roger DeCoster rode one for a dirt bike test review. Thats where they gave it the nic name KaTooM I believe if I remember right. Be careful on that thing, it really is an animal.

[86tecater]

if you havent figured out the air box yet... on my yz 490 i had to take the swing arm off to get it in.

[Yamatrike400]

if you havent figured out the air box yet... on my yz 490 i had to take the swing arm off to get it in.

LOL! Its not that hard to get in! Just use a lot of force!