| MODEL | KAWASAKI KX 500 1996 - 1998 |
| Year | 1996 - 1998 |
| Engine Type | Two stroke, single cylinder, reed valve |
| Displacement / Capacity | 499 cc / 30.5 cu in |
| Bore X Stroke | 86 x 86 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 8.4:1 |
| Cooling System | Liquid cooled |
| Max Power | 66 hp / 49.2 kW @ 7000 rpm |
| Max Torque | 65.7 Nm / 48.4 lb-ft @ 6000 rpm |
| Ignition | Electronic CDI |
| Induction | Keihin PWK39 carburetor |
| Start System | Kick |
| TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
| Lubrication | Premix |
| Gear Box | 5 speed (1st 2.000, 2nd 1.450, 3rd 1.181, 4th 0.954, 5th 0.791) |
| Clutch | Wet, multi-plate, cable operated |
| Final Drive | Chain (primary reduction 2.538, final reduction 3.357) |
| CHASSIS SPECS | |
| Frame | High-tensile steel semi-double cradle with aluminium bolt-on section |
| Front Suspension | 41 mm upside-down cartridge fork, 310 mm / 12.2 in travel |
| Rear Suspension | Bottom-link Uni-Trak with adjustable preload, 330 mm / 13.0 in travel |
| Front Brakes | Single 220 mm disc |
| Rear Brakes | Single 190 mm disc |
| DIMENSION SPECS | |
| Overall Length | — |
| Overall Width | — |
| Overall Height | — |
| Seat Height | 950 mm / 37.4 in |
| Wheelbase | 1514 mm / 59.6 in |
| Ground Clearance | 325 mm / 12.8 in |
| Dry Weight | 100 kg / 220.5 lb |
| Wet Weight | — |
| WHEEL SPECS | |
| Front Tyre | 80/100-21 51M |
| Rear Tyre | 120/90-18 64M |
| FUEL SYSTEM | |
| Fuel Capacity | 9.8 litres / 2.6 US gal |
| Fuel Consumption | — |
| Top Speed | — |
Late-1990s KX 500 motocross bike, a 499 cc two-stroke that Kawasaki was running in its final years of the 500 class. The page describes a late revision with a new frame, no side-access airbox and reworked rear suspension, around 1997. The spec table shown on the page is the same as the other KX 500 entries.
