Get A New Bike For $1500

After
The little things go a long way. Bars, levers, brakes and tires are the first parts riders should be looking at. They're what connects you to the bike, the bike to the ground and keeps the bike under control.

After all this we were still under $1000 total. We found the One Industries black camo kit which replaced our tattered fenders and shrouds while giving our bike a distinctly updated look. It was so much of a change of style that Doc T paced the length of the garage two times looking for his trusty old KX-F.

Not only did the bike look new, save for the polished frame rails and slight nicks on the motor-nothing that a quick shot of a cleaning product wouldn't buff out-but it now felt new. The seat cover tightened up the seat foam. Holding onto new grips on a perfectly straight bar does wonders to how fresh a bike feels. It started right up like always, but the exhaust note was now crisp, sharp and less ratty, not to mention quieter. And nothing rattled. Not the muffler core, not the bar, not the formerly sloppy levers or the loose chain on worn sprockets. And another big plus: The lever ratio of the Sunline clutch perch was slightly different than stock, and it made the lever pull much lighter with better feel. For those riders who like a smaller-diameter lever feel, these Sunlines are great. From the first laps we could tell the bar was taking the edge off of any vibration as well. The bike felt pretty new. The brakes were actually better than ever. Compared to the stock parts, the AP pads truly have better bite and really good feel to go along with it; they were even better than an oversize kit we had tried on the bike earlier in the season. Having a good new chain and sprockets aids safety, performance and helps the bike feel fresh. And one of the biggest aids was the new front rim, especially when jumping. No longer did it feel as if the wheel was totally out of balance, like a supershaker when it was spinning fast.

We were so pleased with the bike we wanted to make it even more like a 2008. One of the biggest changes to the chassis on the new KX-F is the front engine mount and its spacing. We ordered up the spacers and the longer bolts and swapped them out, back to back, at the track. This same change is what makes the off-road KLX feel so light, and it worked the same magic on this '07 KX. It's mostly felt initiating turns, where the bike feels lighter and turns in much easier. Also, on jump faces and especially in the air the once-stiff and rigid bike is a lot more flickable. For about $85 we got a lot of the 2008 KX-F. When we put the Doc back on the bike he wondered what we did to the motor. Freshening up a bike has that kind of effect, though to be honest we did drop the rear sprocket from a 52 to a 51, so some extra speed in each gear might have added to his positive impression.

Was this project a success? Hell yes. Sure we were lucky that we didn't need more internal engine stuff to start out with, but it shows how beneficial taking care of a four-stroke motor can be. Keep the filter clean, change the oil often and don't use the rev-limiter as a shift indicator or a brake going into turns. But even a new clutch kit or a piston and gasket kit runs between $150 to $200 each. If you take the right steps with almost any well-cared-for bike, you can get it back to a shape so close to brand-new that after a few rides you really couldn't tell the difference! Your bank account will thank you for it, and try putting a price on the fun times. The thousands you'll come out ahead will buy a lot of gas and track day fees!

Project 2007 KX450F
Kawasaki: See your local dealer; www.kawasaki.com
Bracket, part No. 32190-0330: $25.84
Bracket, part No. 32190-0331: $25.84
Collar (10mm spacer), part No. 92152-0595: $3.67 (2)
Bolt, part No. 92153-1869: $9.48
Bolt, part No. 92153-1870: $6.62 (2)
Nut, part No. 92152-0595: $2.38 (2)
Spoke nipples: $2.10 (36)

AP Racing: www.niksindustries.com
Brake pads, front and rear: $35.99 ea.
PRF Racing brake fluid: $29.95 (16 oz)

RK Excel America: 760.732.3161; www.rkexcelamerica.com
GB 520 MXZ3-120 chain: $93.31
Silver Excel front rim: $132
Front sprocket: $25
Stealth rear sprocket: $80

Sunline: 661.257.2756;www.sunlineracing.com
RC-1 forged flex lever perch set: $169
Forged flex brake lever: $49.95
AV One OS handlebar: $89.95
Progrip double-diamond kit: $16.95

One Industries: www.oneindustries.com
Black camo kit: $179
Phat numbers: $13.95

Dunlop Tires: 800.845.8378; www.dunlopmotorcycle.com
D952 rear tire: $95.03
D952 front tire: $85.86

BRP: www.brpit.com
Chain guide: $69.95