WHAT IS IT? 2023 KAWASAKI KX500AF
WHO? Lewis Dickson
WHERE DID YOU BUY IT? Dromana, Vic
HOW MUCH? Bike owes me upwards of $35,000
WHY DID YOU BUY IT?
I wasn’t really in the market for a new bike… but after a scroll on Facebook I came across the advertisement for this new 2023 Kawasaki KX500AF and I knew I had to have it! The sound of any KX500 is something you don’t hear very often these days and when you do it automatically gives you goosebumps and makes your hair stand up! So with that heart transplant in a modern alloy frame with better brakes and suspension I knew it would be an absolute animal!
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO IT?
Where do I start? Custom chassis, fully rebuilt ’92 KX500 engine, custom sticker kit and Panthera electric start kit from the States – anyone that has had the pleasure of starting a KX500 knows how fun they are to start and as I’ve already had seven knee operations from a previous stack off my old KX450 with my toes touching my forehead I figured a button to fire her up wouldn’t be such a bad thing! I have fitted a Hyggee cone pipe from the States also.
I wasn’t happy with the engine looking old so my local mechanic Stuart Elliot suggested we pull it out, strip it down to the bare engine cases and send them away to be wet blasted which we did!
HOW DOES IT GO?
It’s an absolute weapon to ride; you near enough need balls of steel! Put it this way, I weigh 110kg and I can literally be sitting on the fuel tank in top gear and I can touch the throttle, literally touch it, and it just wants to wheel stand! So we have just ordered a 46 tooth sprocket to try to calm it down somewhat, so we will see how that goes…
WOULD YOU RECOMMEND BUYING ONE?
Would I recommend buying one?! Well, if you know how to hang onto one and have pretty deep pockets then go for it. I believe it’s Australia’s first 2023 KX450F swapped to a KX500AF so it’s pretty cool and unique to me, which is why I love it. I like to be different!
5 UNIQUE THINGS ABOUT LEWIS AND HIS BIKE
1. My first car I painted Kawasaki green.
2. I own a big Snap-on Kawasaki green toolbox.
3. My four kids all ride Kawasakis.
4. The Panthera electric start kit is the best thing since sliced bread.
5: My bike is Australia’s first 2023 KX500AF.
