Tyler Bowers & The Unit | KX500

When a Kawasaki KX500 found its way to Tyler Bowers, the racer completely restored it to factory-level race-ready condition. Hear Bowers discuss his build of "The Unit."

[@greensocks4507]

Nice vid, thanks for posting. I've been riding the KX500 's since '97.

[@ridered7262]

Very cool to hear how he talks and is grateful for the parts and help. Seems like a humble guy. Well done!

[@AzMtnThumper]

I just bought a garage find 99! Going through it now, can't wait!! That bike is beautiful.

[@chrisgleis2821]

So wanted to see him ride that.

[@hotsauce3700]

The bike is beautiful and that fuel tank is gorgeous. Thanks for the video.

[@djALLWAYS]

we expect the follow up video of Bowers ripping this thing soon! @transworld

[@robw3761]

That's such a sweet kx500 I had the same one that I bought brand new from Pomona Valley Kawasaki in 1994 that bike was so reliable great desert bike I didn't take it too many tracks back then really the only track to take it to was Glen Helen but I was more of a desert guy single track Easter ride out at Honda Valley up in Hesperia great video brings back lots of memories I'm sure you will enjoy that bike I actually want to find one myself nothing like a big boar two-stroke 500

[@daddydaughterrepairs9091]

There was a time of daydreaming in 6-8th grade in the Springfield Massachusetts area! I’m not sure there was a wooded area in the city that didn’t house a makeshift track for riding! The two strokes were top dogs back then, you could hear them come from one end of the neighborhood to our street witch had a dead end into the woods! Those bikes took all my extra time! And a good thing they did, they kept me disciplined, kept me out of trouble! I couldn’t have given a shit for regular sports or tv or video games! I loved being outside and those bikes helped me stay on track to become a responsible Man!

[@joski9030]

That tank is a stunning bit of engineering

[@bradtaylor8793]

500 2 strokes are great but what about the vintage truck it is sitting in!

[@bobbyphillips2538]

Great bike. Saw you at the Glen Helen Two-Stroke race. Loved the outside pass you put on the Yamaha rider. Caught on my phone from up on the hill behind the tower, near the table that drops you down past the tree entering that corner. I will put it up with a couple other clips when I can, one of the nice jump over the corner of the hill that leads up onto the area where I stood . Good to see someone ride a 500 well. Its because you love the bike. The modern four-strokes, while undeniably good, make it to easy to be fast for guys who are not that good. So racings boring,and its hard for the best to overcome bad starts and come to the front. Plus they will, I believe, by being so expensive to repair,if a top end grenades for example, do great harm to our sport by denying new riders the low price or free entry level back yard or garage find bikes that new riders inherit or buy cheap for their first bikes. Its not possible for a two strokes top end to cost over $750 to repair if its not even there! The new bikes are so costly to repair thatyou find them being parted out at less than 5 years old. Surprisingly, I think the saving grace will be the cheap china and Korean knockoffs, that everyone felt so threatened the health of the sport. Cause once the guy rides, and the hook is set,then he will happily bankrupt himself and everyone else he must to ride. By the way, if you have not realized it yet, you were born 25yrs too late. Its so obvious watching your face as you recount the buy,build,and ride sequence that you are a 500 guy born out of his era. Too bad.

[@Fvission]

Nice! Tom Morgan is building me a YZ315 stroker right now. Have had him do YZ295 before. You will love his KX500 magic.

[@gs817]

Well done Tyler!!!!!!

[@benashlin8845]

Incredible build. Let's see him rip on it. Love that tank!

[@mixerguru]

Dude you're a great fucking rider I'm good enough after a million years to notice the details in your style you look really great on the 500 sucks you have to race those fucking trail bikes

[@owenarsenault5955]

Super sick build. 😎

[@danbosman2246]

I want to hear it wide open power band!!

[@markcortis4163]

Beautiful build,we want the video.

[@deanwaring6100]

Love it ... NICE WORK 😍

[@Kyle-pl6rl]

We need a video!!!

[@danielkarlsson608]

Nice bike! In my early days I got a flat from having too long fender bolts. Lesson learned. So, a "rack" for the "unit"? Makes sense, it says "Unit-rack" right there on the swingarm!

[@jasonharden2732]

Bowers,KX 500,2019 Supercross...Winner!

[@derrickfish7776]

Waiting oñ the ride video now

[@markfisher3543]

Sweet

[@beyondtraining_]

That fuel tank is wild!

[@AaronMartinCOOLVIDEO]

cool little toy.

[@Heavywall70]

Real moto Big bore smokers I remember my foot shaking violently with fear after I kicked it over. Scariest, fastest and funnest bike I could ever think of

[@greensocks4507]

Not that scary H 70. I've logged a couple hundred hours on the KX500, still got an '04 in the shed. Scary is an over rated term for the bike . Keep the oil clean, I run a K&N air filter and a Pro Circuit exhaust and Silencer pretty much standard with a reed kit and Renthal bars. Short shift the bike and it'll look after you all day. And it'll pull the wheel up in top. Ride it sensibly and it's always been my favourite dirt bike. Fast too .. :-)

[@massivesaint1415]

I had a guy send me a video of a KX250 with an H1-750cc 2 strokes triple motor in it. Meanest thing ive ever seen.

[@kvuk18]

2stroke sound is music just wish I could smell the oil

[@gdv4612]

Music is right and sounds different than other 2 strokes. You never forget it.

[@mxgryan]

Can someone tell me more about that tank?

[@daviddillon6794]

He said the tank was from Australia. And the name of the guy that builds them.

[@lostinspace699]

I had two kx 500 s I beach raced one of them put a big down pipe on it got the ignition beefed up ,bigger fuel tap for methanol standard swing arm 11,8,,,1/4mile trying to keep the front end down ,,, Katoong Katoong ,,,,

[@sushimamba4281]

Too much talk and not enough braaaap! Used to own one of these. Awesome bike. Awesome power.

[@hometownguy7184]

needs a bigbore kit...lol

[@bryanlettow4389]

Stock for stock 500s are not slow.

[@caiocastro2602]

Salve félas !

[@aussi3212]

fuck yes, that thing is better up close in video that its photo shoots , and tyler even kicked that bitch over like a 500 pro, hopefully Tom ported it to have 80hp lol

[@donncherne7828]

Dave in Denver has all the radical rides! I know the guy

[@fuellerr]

If he wanted to see real KX500 power he should go with the FMF Burly pipe and use a stock silencer that has been shorten a few inches then say it's not that fast

[@mxgryan]

Haha at least he had the balls to admit its slower than a modern 450. Bet theres a lot of ticked off creekers on here

[@zanebailey4163]

The MX Guru suspension, chassis, and final drive components

[@cmurph5752]

For sure lol

[@seanpurcell9056]

Ye and how old is that 500 to modern 450 four stroke to catch up the 500 two stroke lots of years of development for the 450 to catch up

[@assman199491]

But. But. But but they are cheaper..but with if they kept development..but real mean ride 2 strokes LMFAO..glad he said that.. coming from a REAL RACER and not a bunch of straight line farm road riders

[@mxgryan]

@@assman199491 agreed. I'm not saying the 500 isnt powerful or cool. But to dip snuff and claim itll lay down faster lap times is dumb ya know!

[@gdv4612]

Too much talking and no riding.

[@mxgryan]

Be patient!

[@kevinbaker8102]

I've ridden the KX with both the40 mm and the 38 mm 40 is faster

[@team2sick850]

I have a 1988 cr500 for sale tyler

[@owenarsenault5955]

How much? Where is it located?

[@team2sick850]

@@owenarsenault5955 nor cal 3000