Hello from the Isle of Man.

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bazwalton
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Hello from the Isle of Man.

Post by bazwalton »

Hi all,
I thought I would say hello and introduce myself.
My names Baz (short for Barry) and I'm from the Isle of Man. It's the little rock in between Englland and Ireland.
I am 48 and used to ride bikes as a young fella, I got back into them in 09 and had a Gas Gas trials 321 2001, then a GG ec 300 2010. I then got a half decent trials bike, a GG 300 txt pro 2010, that I still have.
I was trying out different bikes to see what I liked. A Yammy wr250 followed which I swapped for a GG ec 250 4t. I love the new bikes that are available today.
BUT, I had a hankering for the bike I started on, a KDX 175 A1.
So for the last year or so I have been looking. I found a couple of sheds that would need a fair few pennys spent on them, so I kept looking. Then out of the blue an importer bought this to the UK from the good ole US of A.

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It's unbelievably 'as new' with just 700 miles on the clock.
everything is as it was when it left the show room. Even the tool kit in the bag is there.
I was in two minds about whether It was too good to use. I held off for a month (the weather has been horrible) but then the sun came out today and I gave up trying to justify looking at it and had to go rip it up.
I put fuel in her and had a go at kicking her over. (hadn't even had a try since I bought her)
Couple of kicks and bang ~ life.
She sat there purring. I sorted the levers to suit me, put a bit of play in the clutch lever ( it was instant ) checked the brakes worked and then had a blast.
I was transported right back to 1981. It was horrible, hahaha.
No power and then skittish and sliding fron the front and rear.
I then remembered it was not my 2010 250 4t and started looking for the power band.
Haha, oh it was there. keep it on the pipe and row the box. What a rush.
But why so skittish. I stopped and checked the tyre pressures ~ 30psi in the fron 25 in the rear!!
They must have been pumped up or just pressurised in the container from the states
(or the last owner only used it on the road.)
12psi in the front 8 in the rear and what a difference.
I now have a grin that is in danger of splitting my head open. Hahaha.

Image

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:supz:

Hope to chat and join in the discussions on here.
cheers
Baz
https://www.facebook.com/Classic-Mann-952895831458690/ Kdx racing and restoration.

Kdx175x5 Kdx200x4 Kdx220x2 Kdx450. Kdx200AF.
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dude541
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Hello from the Isle of Man.

Post by dude541 »

hi baz,
and welcome to kdxrider :grin:
great looking bike,glad you decided to use & enjoy it.

best regards
john
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SS109
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Hello from the Isle of Man.

Post by SS109 »

Welcome to the forum! That bike looks freakin awesome! :supz:
Youtube Channel: WildAzzRacing
AZ State Parks & Trails OHV Ambassador - Trail Riders of Southern AZ
Current KDX: '98 KDX220
Old KDX: '90 KDX200 -White/Blue
'11 GasGas EC250R
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bufftester
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Re: Hello from the Isle of Man.

Post by bufftester »

Welcome. The A1 was the first KDX in our family way back when, replaced a Suzuki TS185 and outlasted a Honda MR175, what a workhorse it was. I have been toying with the idea of a hybrid 175/200 old air cooled motor in a modern aluminum frame :hmm: Guess I should finish my current build first
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Julien D
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Re: Hello from the Isle of Man.

Post by Julien D »

Welcome! Good looking bike you found!!
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bazwalton
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Re: Hello from the Isle of Man.

Post by bazwalton »

Thanks for the welcome guys. :grin:
https://www.facebook.com/Classic-Mann-952895831458690/ Kdx racing and restoration.

Kdx175x5 Kdx200x4 Kdx220x2 Kdx450. Kdx200AF.
GKBO
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Hello from the Isle of Man.

Post by GKBO »

IoM,don't you guys have a little road race there?Might just have heard of it,the Isle of Man TT.On just about every street riders bucket list :grin: I got to get used to dirt bike tire pressures myself,those sound like something I'd do.Looks like a fun bike so go have some!
skippypinecone
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Re: Hello from the Isle of Man.

Post by skippypinecone »

Nice bike! Found myself a 1980 175 about a month ago with 993 miles on it, almost done getting it trail worthy. Cant wait to feel those mushy drum brakes in a corner. Nothing simpler than a vintage air cooled two stroke. Great to have you on the site!
argclh6670
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Hello from the Isle of Man.

Post by argclh6670 »

Definitely a nice ride you stumbled on. I'd like to visit Isle to watch the the TT's one of these years. Looks like a beautiful place. Oh yeah, welcome my man.
bazwalton
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Re: Hello from the Isle of Man.

Post by bazwalton »

Cheers guys,
Yes we have the TT here. The place is a bit of a motorsport fest most of the time.
There is always something on. A lot of petrol heads here, hahaha
https://www.facebook.com/Classic-Mann-952895831458690/ Kdx racing and restoration.

Kdx175x5 Kdx200x4 Kdx220x2 Kdx450. Kdx200AF.
Sticker Dave
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Re: Hello from the Isle of Man.

Post by Sticker Dave »

Hi Baz
I am probably a bit closer to you than most of the guys on the forum, As I live in sunny Barnsley, South Yorkshire !!
Would you have any spare bits for my KDX 175 A-1 rebuild please ?

Cheers

Dave
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