1979 KDX400A1 Restoration Started! (finally)

[IT400C]

Hi Guys,

I've had a clean runner KDX400A1 sitting in my garage for a couple of years now (as well as an A2 parts bike), and I've finally got to the stage where I can give it the care and attention it deserves...   

Dad had one back in 1979, and always said it was the best bike he'd ever owned.  So I've got this one to do up for him to do the occasional ride on.

Being mainly a Yamaha man, I'm a little unsure of some of the finer details that I take for granted on my IT's etc.

Things like what engine paints etc did the 79 KDX's have? 

• Were the Kwacka engines a Semi-Gloss Black?
• What about the hubs?  Semi-Gloss?
• What about the exhaust?  Flat or Semi-Gloss?

Also, anyone out there have any nice '79/'80 KDX400/250 sidecovers or mudguards?

Anyne got a good KDX400A1/A2 kickstart? 
Or does a kickstart off another model fit and do the job?

Does anyone do replica seat foams?

Haha - I'm starting with a VERY low knowledge base here....   

Thanks,

Tony

[IT400C]

(Sorry for the over-sharpened photo)   

[IT400C]

[cyclegod]

Here's some stuff....

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/KICK-START-LEVER-KAWASAKI-1980-KDX400-DX400-/360369970061?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item53e7b95b8d

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1979-1980-Kawasaki-KDX-250-400-Plastic-Kit-AHRMA-VMX-/280706182333?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item415b646cbd

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SEAT-PAN-KAWASAKI-1980-KDX400-DX400-/360369952425?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item53e7b916a9

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/FRONT-SPROCKET-COVER-GUARD-KAWASAKI-1980-KDX400-DX400-/380343124234?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item588e37810a

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/KAWASAKI-79-80-KDX400-250-KLX250-tailight-23024-4001-/150695767519?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item23162aeddf

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/KAWASAKI-KDX400-SPEEDOMETER-1979-KDX-400A1-NEW-/120655388324?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c179f1ea4

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Kawasaki-KDX400-KDX-400-1112-Cylinder-Jug-/110701257545?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item19c64f2349

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1979-KAWASAKI-KDX400-KDX-400-SPEEDOMETER-SPEEDO-250-450-/350448685469?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item51985e919d

[GMC]

Good stuff.
I’ve been intrigued by this model for a while now. I’ve never been a big fan of big bores as they can be big cumbersome beasts at times, especially in the bush, but from looking into this model I have found that the tank, seat, swingarm & forks are all the same as the KDX 250 which has me thinking that the 400 may feel like a torquey 250 (or the 250 feels like a big cumbersome beast)


HTH

Part # = 36001-4001-7F
Part Description = SIDE COVER,LH,LIME GREEN
Model Count = 3
KDX250-A1 80 250 KDX250 OFF ROAD
KDX400-A1 79 390 KDX400 OFF ROAD
KDX400-A2 80 390 KDX400 OFF ROAD

Part # = 36001-4002-7F
Part Description = SIDE COVER,RH,LIME GREEN
Model Count = 3
KDX250-A1 80 250 KDX250 OFF ROAD
KDX400-A1 79 390 KDX400 OFF ROAD
KDX400-A2 80 390 KDX400 OFF ROAD

Part # = 35022-4001-7F
Part Description = REAR FENDER,LIME GREEN
Model Count = 2
KDX250-A1 80 250 KDX250 OFF ROAD
KDX400-A1 79 390 KDX400 OFF ROAD

Part # = 35004-4001-7F
Part Description = FRONT FENDER,LIME GREEN
Model Count = 2
KDX250-A1 80 250 KDX250 OFF ROAD
KDX400-A1 79 390 KDX400 OFF ROAD

Part # = 23005-5002-7F
Part Description = HEADLAMP BODY,COMPLETE,LIME GREEN
Model Count = 11
KDX175-A1 80 175 KDX175 OFF ROAD
KDX175-A2 81 175 KDX175 OFF ROAD
KDX175-A3 82 175 KDX175 OFF ROAD
KDX250-A1 80 250 KDX250 OFF ROAD
KDX250-B1 81 250 KDX250 OFF ROAD
KDX250-B2 82 250 KDX250 OFF ROAD
KLX250-A1 79 250 KLX250 OFF ROAD
KLX250-A2 80 250 KLX250 OFF ROAD
KDX400-A1 79 390 KDX400 OFF ROAD
KDX420-B1 81 420 KDX420 MOTOCROSS
KDX450-A1 82 420 KDX450 OFF ROAD

Part # = 13064-5003
Part Description = KICK PEDAL ASSEMBLY
Model Count = 9
KX250-A7 81 250 KX250 MOTOCROSS
KDX400-A1 79 390 KDX400 OFF ROAD
KDX400-A2 80 390 KDX400 OFF ROAD
KDX420-B1 81 420 KDX420 MOTOCROSS
KX420-A1 80 420 KX420 MOTOCROSS
KX420-A2 81 420 KX420 MOTOCROSS
KDX450-A1 82 420 KDX450 OFF ROAD
KX500-A1 83 500 KX500 MOTOCROSS
KX500-A2 84 500 KX500 MOTOCROSS

Part # = 53001-4002
Part Description = SEAT ASSEMBLY
Model Count = 3
KDX250-A1 80 250 KDX250 OFF ROAD
KDX400-A1 79 390 KDX400 OFF ROAD
KDX400-A2 80 390 KDX400 OFF ROAD

[IT400C]

Dad rode an IT400F in 1979, which he liked. 

But then in 1979 he got the KDX400A1 and instantly fell in love with it.  Guys that he struggled keeping up with on the IT, he was suddenly faster than on the KDX.  He described it as the most confidence inspiring bike he'd owned.


He described it as turning extremely well (steep forks), but it was very stable in the fast stuff as well (long wheelbase/swingarm).  It felt very light to ride and was very well balanced too.

The power was linear and it just seemed to get traction everywhere.  He used to say that no matter where you were or what revs you were doing, if you wanted to go faster, you just turned the throttle a little more..   

He loved it, which is why I'm restoring one for him.

And me too of course...   

[Davey Crocket]

You two are dribbling lunatics 

[IT400C]

You two are dribbling lunatics 

Hahaha - the voice of experience.....   

[GMC]

You two are dribbling lunatics 

It sure beats dribbling politics 

[firko]

You two are dribbling lunatics 

It sure beats dribbling politics

Hallelujah Geoff!
It look like a sensible conversation about motorcycles to me. Go for it Tony, they're a good thing, a friend in the USA rode desert on a KDX400 and he still reckons it's one of the most overrated bikes of the late 70's early 80's.

[IT400C]

Hallelujah Geoff!
It look like a sensible conversation about motorcycles to me. Go for it Tony, they're a good thing, a friend in the USA rode desert on a KDX400 and he still reckons it's one of the most overrated bikes of the late 70's early 80's.

Yo Firko, I hope you meant to say 'underrated'...   

[Canam370]

 
It look like a sensible conversation about motorcycles to me. Go for it Tony, they're a good thing, a friend in the USA rode desert on a KDX400 and he still reckons it's one of the most overrated bikes of the late 70's early 80's.
[/quote]

So you are saying they are a poxbox Firko?

[bigk]

I have a magazine test on one and it reads pretty good.
K

[firko]

Go for it Tony, they're a good thing, a friend in the USA rode desert on a KDX400 and he still reckons it's one of the most overrated bikes of the late 70's early 80's.   

Doh! Another Homer moment, brought to you by Acme brand Early Onset Dementia.
In a burst of rabid excitement at the thought of leaving the house in the pissing rain to do my weekly shopping at the mall, I wrote the post and hit send without my usual pre send edit. Underrated was of course what I mean't.   

I actually considered turning one of these KDX puppies into an Evo racer a few years ago. I'd acumulated most of the bits from various Kawasaki models but in the end I figured I had way too many bikes so it got shuffled onto eBay . Doesn't Simon Healy race a KDX based bike in Evo in Viper?

[JohnnyO]

Firko that Evo bike that Simon built is a KX250A5 with the KDX400 engine and it now belongs to Rusty. It's a good thing.. i had a ride on it a few weeks ago.