I love my '88 kx125! I've had it for 32 years , lots of rebuilds and couple restorations. I have two motors for it , one is always fresh. Go team green !
I owned a 1993 Kawasaki KX125, it was a year old when i got it and the original owner was an ex Welsh Champion who was sponsored by Kawasaki and this was his number 2 bike. No matter what i tried i could not set it up for jumps, years later i spoke to the original owner and he said he had the same problem with both of his race bikes. He had a lot of help from kawasaki UK but no matter what they tried they couldn't dial the suspension in to make it a good race bike. He told me that the 1993 model was why he lost his championship as it was a pig to race when it come to any jumps. I was glad i got the chance to speak with him about it because for many years i really thought the problem was me.
I had a new 1994 kx 250 and it was probably the best bike I ever had, brill suspension, real low end power into a strong mid top end, loved the handling also. I remember all the 2003 kx range were really good but 94 was a game changer !
I still have my 93 KX250, I won't sell it. Had a 90 KX250, 92 KX250, wish I didn't sell the 92, That's the one I raced at Loretta Lynn's in 30+A class, Ricky Carmichael was 12, James Stewart was 7 Kevin Windham was 14, Brian Deegan and a lot of other soon to be Pro's were all there
Nice video max, MX nostalgia, everyone has their favorite, I had an 87 yz and a 88rm 125 I felt the RM faster and better handling but love the kx colour Best, keep the top quality videos coming Max.
All the bikes from 80 onwards were so cool and no two years were the same with the year on year development race of the big four. Loved my old A5… so many great times.
I had a 1990 kx 125, now then this is where it gets interesting, I found a piece in the American dirt bike mag to what they did to the engine. This is what I did. Skimmed the head and raised the bottom of the barrel. Worked a treat.
I am not a Kawasaki fan but I love them because of everything Kawasaki has brought to the motorcycle community via shipping, heavy industry and a cornucopia of other fine things. Back 74 75 and 76 the KX 125 rotary valve inducted motor was the shit. If you had a properly set up chassis that motor was actually better than the CR125 introduced by Honda. How do I know? Because I rode them both. The KX had a superior motor but had a lackluster chassis.
Good old anthony lol. Glad you done him proud after that last video max my boy!! I got that 1990 kx 80 in my profile pic if anyone loves it enough to rescue it from my mancave. Keep up the good work 999 rocks !!!!
I tried my friends 1992 KX125 and at first I thought I was going to like it. After a few laps I felt exhausted trying to get it around the track carrying any speed. To say it was a struggle was an understatement. The Honda and Suzuki of that era were much easier to lay down some fast laps on. All that said those KX’s were very good looking machines.
Got a 03 kx 125 brilliant bike goes very well for what it is it’s just had a full restoration and been road legalised so I can brap the roads an lanes an do some endurance stuff
boy things are some good when yamahas...and ktms, were white! but kawasakis were always green...the colour of victory! i love me some kawasaki! cheers max!
999lazer- I’d like to see you do some work on the brakes and re-visit the test. From the test video The Kawasaki had by far the worst brakes and I’m sure that hurt the test rider. I love that era of bikes
Yes it’s on the cards , I did find out later that I had 8psi in the front which may have had something to do with it not turning and a fork seal had gone leaking oil on the disc , when I have some time on my hands I’ll get it running sweet once again , great work as always Max and Dad Phil 👍🏽
@@999lazer Love the videos. I had a 1988 Honda CR 125 and a 1992 Suzuki RM 125 wish I still had them both, but I had so much fun on that Suzuki. It was just a blast to ride after I had the suspension set up for me. I do love the look of that Kawasaki though! It’s sharp! Love that pipe!
Yeah them blue forks were so cool way back when But the 1996 kx was the best looking kx of the lot with the purple and green colourway and 1 Yr only colors
Some years just weren't good. Money can fix that, but most people didnt want to put another $500 into a bike thay just paid $4K for at the time when they could get a better bike right from the start. And most KX brakes were crappy untill around '95-ish.
The reality was the KX 125 was a POS, PC just knew how to mod them to be badass. Off the showroom floor the YZ125 dominated the 125 clas from 96+, atleast until everyone but them, and KTM had checked out of making ring dings. The 96+ RM125 was a good overall bike with Suzuki's famous handling, and a fun engine. The CR125 was great until 98 when it got the aluminum frame, but in 00 or 01 they revived it and it started getting better, but the CR125 was never as dominate in the class as it had been in the early/mid 90's. The 97 125SX was one of those, "WTF is Katoom doing hers," things, but the POS KTM had a stong engine. It was pretty much the first KTM that could be competitive in it's class with the Japanese bikes. At the time KTM was considered an off brand, or niche brand.
@@LBrawn what do you mean what? It's what I said. The KX125 from the mid/late 90's thru their production in the 2,000's was pretty much the least desirable 125 unless you raced for PC or factory Kawasaki in pro motocross. They dominated AMA Pro Motocross because of PC knowing how to build them, and RC, and JS being by far the most dominant 125 riders in their respective eras.
The 91 KX 125 was way better. I may be biased though, I had one brand new off the showroom floor. From what I understand, they neutered the powerband. I didn't find mine to be boggy at all, and I did mostly tight woods riding in eastern Kentucky. Zero problems. Top end smoked my friends 91 CR 125, which was supposed to be the fastest of that year. I did have a bigger carb on mine though, so take that with a grain of salt. Also I was pretty light at 155, and a low bodyfat gym rat. So, it may just be handling was never an issue for me because I treated that bike like my b*tch.
I have the 92 kx125, that im currently restoring. what exactly does a bigger carb do? the stock keihins are 36mm and 250s are 38mm. But I did hear an old trick about swapping carbs is on the 250s they would put a carb from a 500 and supposedly it would boost the power. what was your experience with the 91 kx? I've heard they kinda made the 92 a more usable power band. I was expecting it to be pulling wheelies but it seems like it rather hookup and haul
@@CircuitBreaker1985 It's all about flow. Aftermarket pipe, port job, reeds and a bigger carb. They all help with it flow more air. That's all an engine is really, an air pump. I only went with a 1mm bigger carb because I didn't have any fancy port work, and if you can only do one mod the pipe would probably be the most noticeable change. As for the powerband, they broadened and flattened it. So, you could say it became more useable. But really it just made it a lot more tame, and it didn't have the hard hitting mid range power of the previous 2 years. I liked the 91 because if you were willing to shift it and keep it in the midrange it pulled like a mother. The 90' was a freak though, it's powerband came on so hard and abruptly that people didn't like it. I thought 91 was the sweet spot, it still had that feeling of being on a wild beast, but it wasn't so brutal that you couldn't tame it. You needed to be in great physical condition though.
To be honest if it's 2stroke and old I don't care about the colour as they are all great.
Agreed 100%! Thanks for watching Dave :D
1000%
@@999lazer Can you delete this spam bot out of here please ?? It replied the same crap to me and many others as well.
I love my '88 kx125! I've had it for 32 years , lots of rebuilds and couple restorations. I have two motors for it , one is always fresh. Go team green !
I remember when I first seen the new 92 KX 125, look so good.
I owned a 1993 Kawasaki KX125, it was a year old when i got it and the original owner was an ex Welsh Champion who was sponsored by Kawasaki and this was his number 2 bike. No matter what i tried i could not set it up for jumps, years later i spoke to the original owner and he said he had the same problem with both of his race bikes. He had a lot of help from kawasaki UK but no matter what they tried they couldn't dial the suspension in to make it a good race bike. He told me that the 1993 model was why he lost his championship as it was a pig to race when it come to any jumps. I was glad i got the chance to speak with him about it because for many years i really thought the problem was me.
I had a new 1994 kx 250 and it was probably the best bike I ever had, brill suspension, real low end power into a strong mid top end, loved the handling also.
I remember all the 2003 kx range were really good but 94 was a game changer !
I still have my 93 KX250, I won't sell it. Had a 90 KX250, 92 KX250, wish I didn't sell the 92, That's the one I raced at Loretta Lynn's in 30+A class, Ricky Carmichael was 12, James Stewart was 7 Kevin Windham was 14, Brian Deegan and a lot of other soon to be Pro's were all there
Nice video max, MX nostalgia, everyone has their favorite, I had an 87 yz and a 88rm 125 I felt the RM faster and better handling but love the kx colour Best, keep the top quality videos coming Max.
I had an 86 rm and loved the blue engine and frame. The kx in the green always looked good in that era.
@@TheShift1313 yes my RM was my pride and joy, but like a twat I sold it.
Somebody piss this spam bot outta here..
It replied the same thing to my comment
Great as always! Old 125 sound always awesome! I think its time to test an old ktm!
All the bikes from 80 onwards were so cool and no two years were the same with the year on year development race of the big four. Loved my old A5… so many great times.
I had a 1990 kx 125, now then this is where it gets interesting, I found a piece in the American dirt bike mag to what they did to the engine. This is what I did. Skimmed the head and raised the bottom of the barrel. Worked a treat.
How did I miss this episode!!!
Great job as always Max👍🏼
I am not a Kawasaki fan but I love them because of everything Kawasaki has brought to the motorcycle community via shipping, heavy industry and a cornucopia of other fine things. Back 74 75 and 76 the KX 125 rotary valve inducted motor was the shit. If you had a properly set up chassis that motor was actually better than the CR125 introduced by Honda. How do I know? Because I rode them both. The KX had a superior motor but had a lackluster chassis.
i have a 93 kx 125 and i love it
the bogging off the bottom is caused by mal adjusted kips powervalve when retimed properely they rip off the bottom.
Good old anthony lol. Glad you done him proud after that last video max my boy!! I got that 1990 kx 80 in my profile pic if anyone loves it enough to rescue it from my mancave. Keep up the good work 999 rocks !!!!
I tried my friends 1992 KX125 and at first I thought I was going to like it. After a few laps I felt exhausted trying to get it around the track carrying any speed. To say it was a struggle was an understatement. The Honda and Suzuki of that era were much easier to lay down some fast laps on. All that said those KX’s were very good looking machines.
I had a 92 KX125.. I loved it! Bought it brand new for $3700.
Ant was a dbr test rider back early 90s. Top man
Im planning on buying one this is a beast
Always loved the look of the Kx to be honest even over the cr maybe 😱
I had a poster of the 1990 KX in my high school locker.
Got a 03 kx 125 brilliant bike goes very well for what it is it’s just had a full restoration and been road legalised so I can brap the roads an lanes an do some endurance stuff
Nice, I'm restoring an '87 one. If I ever find the parts!
Yeah man...loved it. You should do this with all the bikes from that vid. Ofcouse the Suzuki is my jam. More the 92 tho.
81 RM 125 was the best in the day..I should know,I had a 81 YZ!
I had a 1990 125 evo to keep for life, only had it 5months till teenage toetags stole it 😭 would love another but prices are ridiculously high!!
boy things are some good when yamahas...and ktms, were white! but kawasakis were always green...the colour of victory! i love me some kawasaki! cheers max!
I loved my 86’ YZ125s
999lazer- I’d like to see you do some work on the brakes and re-visit the test. From the test video The Kawasaki had by far the worst brakes and I’m sure that hurt the test rider. I love that era of bikes
Hi Joe, i totally agree the brakes really did hinder the KX a lot. I think a rematch a some point could be cool for sure! Thanks for watching dude
Yes it’s on the cards , I did find out later that I had 8psi in the front which may have had something to do with it not turning and a fork seal had gone leaking oil on the disc , when I have some time on my hands I’ll get it running sweet once again , great work as always Max and Dad Phil 👍🏽
@@999lazer Love the videos. I had a 1988 Honda CR 125 and a 1992 Suzuki RM 125 wish I still had them both, but I had so much fun on that Suzuki. It was just a blast to ride after I had the suspension set up for me. I do love the look of that Kawasaki though! It’s sharp! Love that pipe!
The Kawasaki 250 Tecate 3-wheeler my opinion was the best by far it was the fastest. The '80s and the early 90s were the best time to grow up
As always solid video!
I love that model as a mate owned one.. It was very average power wise compared to my 99 KTM125SX though..
His brand new 99 KX125 was quicker but the KTM still ate it for breakfast as well. For the best allrounder I'd go for the 98 onwards YZ125
A kx100 with the right rider can beat or keep with the 125s no doubt about that i rode a kx100 about 8 years ago an it was insane
Yeah them blue forks were so cool way back when
But the 1996 kx was the best looking kx of the lot with the purple and green colourway and 1 Yr only colors
Some years just weren't good. Money can fix that, but most people didnt want to put another $500 into a bike thay just paid $4K for at the time when they could get a better bike right from the start.
And most KX brakes were crappy untill around '95-ish.
I do remember that they had terrible brakes around that time. That's something that l couldn't forget about them !!!
I had a 250 92 the oversteer was hard work as a stock bike .
Because it’s not the bike it’s the rightrs think about what you just said Michael Stewart Mike Brown great riders make a great bike
I do t remember Michael Stewart but Mike Brown was great.
Great bikes to ride but never had the same build quality of the Yamaha and Hondas
You can build a Kawasaki KX125 by using the new kx-1 12 and buying the big bore top in or a 112 and you get a 124cc big wheel Minnie
Had one just like this...
Or I don't know, how about the first YZ 125 with the mono shock?? Aluminum gas tank, with leather strap?
I'd put the 03-05 as the best KX125's. 92 is a dinosaur.
1980 yz 125g
Tbh i love the rm more
:) I have an 86
Nice ! That's the 1st year to have a rear disc.. great bikes. I'm trying to get my mates 85 KX125 from him that's sat in his shed for the last decade.
Iv got a kx 125 1993 for sale nice bikes
you forgot sebastian tortelli. the king of kawasaki kx 125 ...
The reality was the KX 125 was a POS, PC just knew how to mod them to be badass. Off the showroom floor the YZ125 dominated the 125 clas from 96+, atleast until everyone but them, and KTM had checked out of making ring dings. The 96+ RM125 was a good overall bike with Suzuki's famous handling, and a fun engine. The CR125 was great until 98 when it got the aluminum frame, but in 00 or 01 they revived it and it started getting better, but the CR125 was never as dominate in the class as it had been in the early/mid 90's. The 97 125SX was one of those, "WTF is Katoom doing hers," things, but the POS KTM had a stong engine. It was pretty much the first KTM that could be competitive in it's class with the Japanese bikes. At the time KTM was considered an off brand, or niche brand.
WHAT1
@@LBrawn what do you mean what? It's what I said. The KX125 from the mid/late 90's thru their production in the 2,000's was pretty much the least desirable 125 unless you raced for PC or factory Kawasaki in pro motocross. They dominated AMA Pro Motocross because of PC knowing how to build them, and RC, and JS being by far the most dominant 125 riders in their respective eras.
I cut my teeth on this bike. First bike ever! Oh, I miss her, sad I ever sold her.
The 91 KX 125 was way better. I may be biased though, I had one brand new off the showroom floor. From what I understand, they neutered the powerband. I didn't find mine to be boggy at all, and I did mostly tight woods riding in eastern Kentucky. Zero problems. Top end smoked my friends 91 CR 125, which was supposed to be the fastest of that year. I did have a bigger carb on mine though, so take that with a grain of salt. Also I was pretty light at 155, and a low bodyfat gym rat. So, it may just be handling was never an issue for me because I treated that bike like my b*tch.
I have the 92 kx125, that im currently restoring. what exactly does a bigger carb do? the stock keihins are 36mm and 250s are 38mm. But I did hear an old trick about swapping carbs is on the 250s they would put a carb from a 500 and supposedly it would boost the power. what was your experience with the 91 kx? I've heard they kinda made the 92 a more usable power band. I was expecting it to be pulling wheelies but it seems like it rather hookup and haul
@@CircuitBreaker1985 It's all about flow. Aftermarket pipe, port job, reeds and a bigger carb. They all help with it flow more air. That's all an engine is really, an air pump. I only went with a 1mm bigger carb because I didn't have any fancy port work, and if you can only do one mod the pipe would probably be the most noticeable change. As for the powerband, they broadened and flattened it. So, you could say it became more useable. But really it just made it a lot more tame, and it didn't have the hard hitting mid range power of the previous 2 years. I liked the 91 because if you were willing to shift it and keep it in the midrange it pulled like a mother. The 90' was a freak though, it's powerband came on so hard and abruptly that people didn't like it. I thought 91 was the sweet spot, it still had that feeling of being on a wild beast, but it wasn't so brutal that you couldn't tame it. You needed to be in great physical condition though.
Kawasaki won the most shootouts. And the brakes... who need them they only slow you down
one two five
honda rules
a quick answer to the question , is a big fat NO
The answer is no. Something more like a '74 YZ125A or a CR125M could be called iconic. Nice bike but no icon.
Kill the music or I’m gonna unsubscribe
Bro u mentioned the 3 different things about the bike 3 diff times through out the video just criticism take it to heart and do better jk
First of all it sound shite drop it to me ill get her signing
Only because those riders you mentioned wasn't on a different brand. They could've won on anything. Kawasaki is junk!
And NO Yamaha is by far the most iconic 1_2_5 as the euros say...if it wasn't for PC Kawasaki wouldn't have won shit...
Who is PC?
@@Scissors69 Pro Circuit! Brappp
@@motoyamasnigglepuff8654 - Ah, right you are. Cheers
love my kx125, team green forever !!