So you want a Minibike? How to build a KX65 MiniGP | Minibike Build Episode 1
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- Опубліковано 9 лип 2024
- It's winter time, so that means its time for a winter build project. Today we take a look at how to convert a stock Kawasaki KX65 motocross/dirt bike into a MiniGP bike. Please don't forget to like and subscribe!
Parts needed for a KX65 build:
- 2002+ Kawasaki KX65
- Rear Suspension (rear shock a SV650 shock or ZX6R shock)
- Front Suspension (heavier fork oil, typically 10W - 20W depending on weight)
- Steel braided lines (Spiegler or Galfer) along with Ferodo or Galfer sintered pads, you can use the stock brake caliper/size
- 12" Mag wheels with Pirelli or PMT Slicks, order from www.73motoparts.com/
- Front and rear sprocket (14/43 or 15/43) and 420 chain
KX65 Torque Specs: vermijsmotorsport.nl/manuals/k... (page 19)
#minigp #minibikes #kx65
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MY CHANNEL: Welcome to my channel. My name is Viet and I am a motorcycle enthusiast, track rider, and world traveler. I'm based out of the United States (Texas) and I have a deep passion for all things on 2-wheels. Come and follow me on my channel to see some truly unique motorcycles and motorcycle-experiences in the United States and around the world. If you like my videos, please SUBSCRIBE. Leave a comment as well to help me know if you enjoyed the content or have any suggestions. I'm eager to share my adventures with you all, thank you! - Авто та транспорт
The other benefit of using mag wheels is not having to put tubes in the tires. Extra work is never fun. Then there is safety. Blowing a tube out is an instant and complete tire failure. Tubeless wheels can rapidly lose air but nothing compared to popping a tube which is immediate.
Really enjoyed seeing the process. I have not done anything this involved and you really kept it concise and achievable.. Bravo Viet and Peter!
Thank you Michael! Appreciate your insights and support :) it’s been a fun learning experience that’s for sure!
Great seeing you upload this kind of content, really enjoy the variety👍 Thank you for suggesting this bike to me. Pretty sure this is the direction to go for a kart track bike. Next time if you could show more of the build process and prices of the add-ons that would be much appreciated. Thanks again for these videos!
Seriously thank you, viewers like you keep me going!
It's a great option for those looking to get into minis. The other option is the Ohvale, but it's definitely a higher premium, so not something I recommend immediately unless you *know* you want to spend some serious time on kart tracks for riding/training.
Great points you've made, will address those shortly. Thanks again :)
Thanks for upload....lots of great info to digest here
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching :)
great video! shout out on peter, he got a kind of a moto heaven place!
what'up,wow!a mazing ,Viet!
Cool and good
thanks bro :) spread the word
Bike looks mega already with just the wheels in but my sole new forks would help a lot too , I have a crf150r but the two stroke stuff is cool too
CRF150 is *awesome* it's so fun to see more and more folks riding minis regardless of class. If you ever make it to the Houston area please let me know! Our local kart track is amazing and I have extra minis! :D
I see you have raced the KX65 and a KTM65. Do you recommend one over the other for mini moto racing for adults? Obviously they need better brakes and suspension and wheels and tires as you have laid out for the KX. Is the KTM just as able to do so? Was one easier to build than the other? I am going to buy either the KX or KTM just not sure if one is better than the other to race and if one is easier to build more than the other. Thanks for making this video.
Hi there, between the two, the KTM is faster, especially newer ones with the power valve. It’s significant. The other important thing for adult riders is that the KTM is roomier.
The pro of the KX is that parts are very easy to come by and you can quite literally swap just about any shock on it. I’ve seen S1000s, ZX10R, SV650, and ZX6R shocks used on them. The KX is a little more cramped for an adult rider.
If you’re going to be racing minis, not just doing trackdays, I’d recommend getting the KTM even if it’s a little pricier to get started.
We used a S1000RR rear shock on our KX65. Maybe we can meet up on the track at Speed Sports one day soon. I also have 2 YSR50 frames that we race. One has 50cc 2 stroke motor and the other has 100cc 4 stroke motor. I was the one that wrecked in front of you on the 4 stroke.
YES! Let's compare notes when you get back out there again. Few of us will be there Sunday, Jan 2.
Jan 2 will be cold (48°). I’ll have to wait for a warmer day like the next weekend. 🤷🏻♂️
@@robertlaughlin62 i like this idea
What is the rear tire size ?
Thanks for such an informational video. I’ve been hunting for videos like this while researching information for my Kx65 build. Just curious - when introducing peters bike why do you say “any 2002+ kx65 is a great candidate”? I tried to find info about the differences but I couldn’t find any glaring differences between model year in the pre-2002 (2000 & 2001)
Thanks Max! So I thought I was crazy and went to double check and it looks like I made a mistake. I thought there was a swap to a 6-speed manual in 02 but turns out the 2000-01 also had the same gearbox. 2000+ is good, they are largely all the same. Thank you for pointing it out! 👍
What width do you go with for the mag wheels?
In the kit for the stiffer front springs besides the heavier fork oil and the stiffer springs the kit also comes with a pair of plastic spacers? Because it looks like that's what's in the box and couple other videos seemed to also have white plastic looking spacers that come with the stiffer springs...
Hi!! So sorry it took so long, yes the kit includes: stiffer springs and pre-cut pvc pipe/spacers.
I actually just made a video about it: ua-cam.com/video/hm1V4sAhzAo/v-deo.html
Hi, Viet I have been follow your channel, and congrats for the great job sharing really informative content!!! I am thinking abou build/get a small racing bike, but I am still not sure about a minibike or a 17” motard (that I used to ride a couple years ago). What you thoughts? Also logistics has a important role on my decision…do you think a minkbike can fit a in SUV trunk, like in a Toyota Highlander?
Hi Mauricio, thanks so much for watching. Which region do you live in? For me, motorcycling is also about the community - so I would choose minibike or 17” motard based on what the community has most of. For example, in CA there are many 150R or 85 2stroke but in Texas there is no class for that bike so majority of minibikes are 65s. My friend bought an 85 because he thought it was cool but there was nobody to ride with and no class to compete in so he sold it. Pretty frustrating experience for him.
I would recommend looking around in your region to see what bikes are more common, even if you are not racing since it’s more fun to ride in similar class. You don’t have to get the same bike, but at least a similar class. Will make the track experience more fun!
To answer your question about fit, since you already have a SUV you can easily fit a bike rack, just Google “motorcycle rack for suv”. You don’t want to put the bike inside the suv in case you spill oil/fuel. I used a minivan because it was a spare vehicle that was unused for the family, but it did smell like fuel and luckily it was not our daily family vehicle! 😅
@@vtranmoto thank you Viet, I live in Spring TX. So 65 looks like is the best choice. Any recommendation regarding KX, KTM….are aware of any known bike for sale already set for adult race? And also do you know a good shop for a 2T engine maintenance and build? Who takes care of you engine bike? Thank you again 👍
oh you are right there! Best place to start looking for one is on the TMGPS community page: facebook.com/groups/41034299615. Our team has switched entirely over to the KTM platform, though I personally really like the KX65.
Pros of the KTM 65:
- Smoother motor than the KX (though I really like the KX's kick, its exhilarating)
- Slightly roomier chassis
- More plush suspension
Cons of the KTM 65:
- More expensive, expect to pay $4-6k for a built one, whereas you can find built KX65 for way less
- Parts availability isn't nearly as easy as a KX
Most of the extremely good riders I know train on a KX still so I don't think you can go wrong at all with that option. In fact, most of the Spanish/Italian training still utilizes KX65/85 platform. The KTMs just happen to be the thing 2 out of 3 teammates prefer so we use the KTM.
As far as maintenance: my friend Peter is my teammate and team mechanic. 2T machines are mechanically *very* simple. If you have some tools and a little bit of wrenching experience I think you can do it quite easily, that being said the first time is always a little messier, but it gets easier. We do the top end clip every 15-20 hours and top end piston every other time. Aside from that, just make sure you have gas/oil mix and rip!
Hi Viet, did u DIY front&rear wheel spacer? The stock spacer can fit the MAG wheel?
When you buy the mag wheels it’ll come with an appropriate set of spacers. I got my set from Bernan at 73Motoparts!
How often do you have to open up the motor for maintenance intervals. I know it’s less than 20 hours for the rings but I’m not sure if that makes a difference or not since you’re not racing it and need top performance at all times, but you’re also double the weight for the rider it was made. Mine was my first two stroke and I had to do a full rebuild twice not realizing how often you need to maintain a two stroke
We do the piston clips and gasket every 15 hours and then a new piston, clips, and gasket every other interval. If you’re not racing it and revving it out a ton, I think you’ll be ok at 20-25 hour intervals. I would check the cylinder condition when you open it and see if the surface is smooth or starting to get rough, if you run your finger nails along the interior and it catches/rough, then you’ll know to do the service a little more frequently.
If the condition is really bad, you can also have it replayed by Millenium Technologies. www.millennium-tech.net/
@@vtranmoto I did I full rebuild this winter everything Is good. I trail ride it in the mountains so it rarely sees top gear. I’ll sell it and buy a brand new one in the near future. It’s definitely the most fun I’ve ever had even more so then my 400ex and mt09
@@SJ_999 that’s so awesome! You’re probably good then since you’re not WOT on trail as much as track. They’re a BLAST! I just wish I had more time to ride ALL the bikes, ha!
What is the issue with kx65s below 2002?
Hi there! Thanks for watching and I totally made a mistake (addressed it in a separate comment). I mistakenly thought the gearbox was upgraded in 2002 so that’s where that came from. It’s all the same, sorry for the confusion!
I want to get a minibike. I want to be done with it 2 grand or less. The whole point is to get aggressive riding experience as cheap as possible.
I'm going to be at a parking lot with some cones and cheap leathers, all day everyday
definitely the way to go! Even better if you have a kart track nearby that allows bikes on track!
Any reason to choose a 65 over an 85cc for a mini supermoto?🤔
Great question! The 65 ergonomically feels better IMO and more accurate in terms of body position for sport riding. The 85 starts to get a little big and occupies this funny space between a 65 and a full sized supermoto that isn’t quite right.
Additionally, many of the racing series for minis out there have a much larger 65cc presence than 85s. Finally, most of the racing schools in Spain/Europe use the 65 for training purposes.
What size would you need for a kx100
There’s a KX112 build in Japan that looks awesome, he uses 12” as well. Check it out
ua-cam.com/video/e-1vxPa5TZU/v-deo.html
How much is the pit bike and tyres
You can find a Kawasaki KX65 minibike for around $2500-3000, tires are about $200 for a set and last a long time.
Are you guys in Texas?
Yep! In Houston. How about yourself?
@@vtranmoto S.E. Austin. I watched some of your other videos and found out you race in TMGP. I'm gonna try it out next season! I picked up an old KX65 and am getting it ready to race. It looks so fun!!!
@@shawntreadaway7501 YES!!! Let's go! we frequently ride at Katy kart track or Speedsportz. Are you able to make it out here? If so, I can add you to a friend group on FB to do some minis with us!
What year shock fits?
There’s a whole variety of shocks you can go with, I’ve seen SV650 (03+), ZX6R, even s1000rr. It’s just a matter of what you have available and using spacers to fill up too much unwanted gap. The SV650 was the most immediate bolt on option and worked well for our weight 150-160lbs. If you’re heavier, I’d look at a ZX6R shock!
If you check out SVrider there’a a shock compatibility chart for each gen and rider weight range, may be helpful to you
@@natekerx85 thank you for the resource!
Its a supermoto!
haha exactly! it is essentially a mini supermoto :D