454 --> 500 Rear Swing Arm, a ? about why to (not how)

[treasurestate]

Hello all, I am new here.  Just had the chance to pick up a new to me 89 454LTD.  While not my first motorcycle, it is my first belt driven motorcycle.  The PO says that he never changed it and thinks that it is the original belt (31 y/o!!!).  I have read quite a bit here about the rear swing arm adaptation, which seems pretty straight forward.

n00b question: if it were not that Kawasaki made it so easyto do this mod, or that 3" of extra wheel base is a great thing, why else would someone do this?  More specifically, given the cost of an OEM Kawa$aki 128 tooth belt, what advantages are there for the 137 tooth belt?  Are the less expensive on the aftermarket?  If so, can someone share the hook up with a supplier, PN, and where they get theirs?  I have seen the cat on eBay selling the "show piece" belts that are not for actually powering a motorcycle - happy to pass on those. 



One other quick tidbit about me and this bike: My first motorcycle was a Kawasaki 700 LTD, 4 carbs, triple disk brakes, shaft drive - that bike was a runner!  I miss that bike, so when I saw its little cousin come up for sale, I jumped on it. I bought this bike to take with me to Texas.  I have the opportunity to possibly get another ride in with my favorite uncle who lives in KCK.  Not sure how many rides he has left, but he is a real life Indiana Jones Donkey-kicker kind of dude, and should this be our last time out on two wheels, I want to go big this April: medalofhonorhostcity.com/events/annual-motorcade/

[treasurestate]

Okay, I think that I may have found a belt that I can use with the longer 500 swing arm.  


Different Question Re belt conditioning/reconditioning/treatment: I have seen on here (may have been EagleRider) say that putting heavy axle grease on the front drive pulley to preserve that pulley. 

Will axle grease preserve the belt?  Or is it known what effect the grease would have on the rubber itself? 

Has anyone had luck with treating the belt with silicone (like in the off season)? 

I have seen some stuff on YT about using Armorall, but that does not seem like a good idea - anyone smart on that? 


Thank you in advance, 

TS

[treasurestate]

I put a very nice EN500 swing arm on to my 454 this afternoon, and even found a low mileage drive belt that I cleaned up with soap/water/scrub brush.  Very happy with how compatible Kawasaki made everything, it was almost too easy!  Front drive pulley looked great BTW, rear wheel is currently disassembled for paint. 

Question: I overlooked the need/forgot to ask about the rear brake cable.  That does not carry over from the 454 to the 500, correct?  I will need a 500 cable to go the distance?  

Thanks! 

TS

[Blaine]

Jan 4, 2021 21:37:40 GMT -6 treasurestate said:

Okay, I think that I may have found a belt that I can use with the longer 500 swing arm.  


Different Question Re belt conditioning/reconditioning/treatment: I have seen on here (may have been EagleRider) say that putting heavy axle grease on the front drive pulley to preserve that pulley. 

Will axle grease preserve the belt?  Or is it known what effect the grease would have on the rubber itself? 

Has anyone had luck with treating the belt with silicone (like in the off season)? 

I have seen some stuff on YT about using Armorall, but that does not seem like a good idea - anyone smart on that? 


Thank you in advance, 

TS

Dont use grease...It will rot the belt....I spray mine with WD-40 than wipe clean.

[Blaine]

Jan 21, 2021 20:29:20 GMT -6 treasurestate said:

I put a very nice EN500 swing arm on to my 454 this afternoon, and even found a low mileage drive belt that I cleaned up with soap/water/scrub brush.  Very happy with how compatible Kawasaki made everything, it was almost too easy!  Front drive pulley looked great BTW, rear wheel is currently disassembled for paint. 

Question: I overlooked the need/forgot to ask about the rear brake cable.  That does not carry over from the 454 to the 500, correct?  I will need a 500 cable to go the distance?  

Thanks! 

TS

Yes you need the 500 cable.

[treasurestate]

Roger that, thanks, Blaine! 

[pya977]

i used my en450 cable by re-routing it and it works perfectly well. i bought a new en500 cable, it would not fit as it was to short so may be there are 2 types for the en500 and i got the wrong one. check this out before buying