88 KDX 200 fork upgrade question

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richep4012
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88 KDX 200 fork upgrade question

Post by richep4012 »

I am racing a 1988 KDX 200 in some local vintage races and am considering upgrading to a newer fork set up. Are the 89+ conventional forks considered an upgrade to the no clicker 88 forks? I don't want to go upside down. Thanks for any input.
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Re: 88 KDX 200 fork upgrade question

Post by KDXGarage »

It would be the tiniest of upgrades.

Look at a 1989 KX front end conversion if you want to stay conventional.
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Re: 88 KDX 200 fork upgrade question

Post by sarrant »

A '95+ KDX front end is bolt-up to your bike, would get you away from damping rod forks, as well as give you twin piston front brakes. Plus, I bet there's a whole lot of them available right here on the forum on the cheap.

Of course the '89 46mm KX forks are fantastic, but they maybe getting hard to come by.
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Re: 88 KDX 200 fork upgrade question

Post by Jtons71 »

Not sure if you saw the post where had already mentioned this. I did a conversion to my 87 this summer. The front ent off a 1991 kx will bolt straight on. They work so well it's like having another bike. Not to mention they look so good in that anodized blue.494
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88 KDX 200 fork upgrade question

Post by sarrant »

Sounds like he is trying to avoid USD forks
richep4012
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88 KDX 200 fork upgrade question

Post by richep4012 »

I really want to avoid showing up at my local vintage series with upside down forks lol. I'll keep an eye out for some 95's.
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88 KDX 200 fork upgrade question

Post by 6 Riders »

richep4012 wrote:I really want to avoid showing up at my local vintage series with upside down forks lol. I'll keep an eye out for some 95's.
95-06 200/220 are all the same. I think the 220 forks came with heavier springs as well
newbbewb wrote:^what he said.
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*side note...I'm drunk, so try to read what I'm trying to say, instead of what I actually type
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Re: 88 KDX 200 fork upgrade question

Post by KDXGarage »

I think the spring rates were the same.
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88 KDX 200 fork upgrade question

Post by vintagekawi »

If you are interseted, i have a couple of different forks available. I have a pair of 88 kx 125 forks, 1995 kdx 200 forks and a pair of 1989 kdx 200 forks. I am never gonna use them, if you want just pay shipping i would be happy to get rid of em and see them get used. I run 89 kx 250 46mm kayaba on my 1989 kdx 200, I am very happy with them, way better than the 42mm that it came with. I picked them up on ebay with triple clamps for a 100 bucks. What ever forks you run make sure you run the proper spring for your weight, kdx forks are ususally way to soft for mx use.
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88 KDX 200 fork upgrade question

Post by SS109 »

Old post revival! :mrgreen: I would really like someone to point out how the '95+ KDX forks are different, and better, from the '89-'92 forks? I know of no difference between them.

If the OP is still looking, or any others (on any bike) wanting to stick with conventionals for racing vintage classes, the '96+ conventional Showa forks from a Suzuki would be a perfect upgrade for these bikes. Yep, takes a little more to bolt them on but it would be well worth it.
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