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fritzl65
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Newb

Post by fritzl65 »

About to take the plunge
Hi,
I am Fritzl65
I am about to buy a 1996 KDX200
This will be my first adventure into dirt.

I have been riding road machines,
first:
1972 CB550
then 1972 650 Bonneville
Then 1980 FLX

Then I was gifter some dirt bikes or my sons, aged 8 and 9,
they have Honda XR80 and XR100.

Instead of having one of us standing around whilst the other two ride, I decided to get an enduro.
A friend has the 1996 KDX200 and I will nost likely be picking it up in 2 weeks.

Looking for any advice...
please dont be too hard on me... I am a self confessed newb
Fritz
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turtle
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Re: Newb

Post by turtle »

Welcome to the site!! You made a great choice. The KDX is a friendly and still very capable bike. I was in your position a couple years back - rode street for years and always wanted to ride dirt, and finally made the plunge. It's been great. There are some sticky posts to help with some of what you need to know as a newbie.

edit to add: viewtopic.php?f=77&t=12457#p117919 <---- Newb info sticky
Bill
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2004 KDX220R
2011 Triumph Tiger 1050 SE
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scheckaet
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Post by scheckaet »

fritzl65
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Post by fritzl65 »

Hey thanks for the welcom guys
Bill where in central il are you?
I am in the Okupied City State of Tschikago
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diymirage
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Post by diymirage »

fritzl65 wrote: I am in the Okupied City State of Tschikago
gesundheit :grin:
newbbewb wrote:DIYmirage has it right.


-1996 KDX 200 woods weapon (converted to 99 green body)
-1996 KDX 200 plated street toy (barney edition)
-2003 Yamaha TTR125-L (wifeys bike)
-1997 KDX 220 project bike
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turtle
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Post by turtle »

scheckaet wrote:he means the one in my sig :wink:
http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 57#p117919
Yes I did mean that one! :mrgreen:
fritzl65 wrote:Hey thanks for the welcom guys
Bill where in central il are you?
I am in the Okupied City State of Tschikago
Fritz, I am from the Peoria area. I feel your pain as a fellow IL citizen ...... home of the 'temporary' 67% income tax hike :kick: and legacy of jailed governors! :busted:
Where are your favorite riding areas? Closest to here is Astoria, IL (Brushy Ridge park) but we do some dual sports north of here (Leaf River, Morrison, etc.)
Bill
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2004 KDX220R
2011 Triumph Tiger 1050 SE
fritzl65
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Re: Newb

Post by fritzl65 »

Bill,
being that we are newbs...
we are off to the Bong Recreation area when it opens in May...
I have to get my sons XR80 (be nice) repaired...

I have wrenched on my other bikes, 66 BMW up to a 1980 FXEF, but am a little nervous about cracking these "little" things...

I hope that it is not too difficult...

the KDX200 is in southern IL I will go get it in 2 weeks. Then I have to clean her up some..

How hard is it to go invertedd forks on these...I think I am going to have to work them over as is and so I might as well improve it some... I weigh in at 215#

I have a friend in Peoria, but he is a Shovelhead freak...

Fritz
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KDXGarage
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Re: Newb

Post by KDXGarage »

Welcome to the forums.
Thank you for participating on kdxrider.net. :bravo:
To post pictures from a device: viewtopic.php?f=88&t=24128
fritzl65
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Re: Newb

Post by fritzl65 »

Thanks Jason!

I have cousins around Dothan
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turtle
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Re: Newb

Post by turtle »

fritzl65 wrote:Bill,
being that we are newbs...
we are off to the Bong Recreation area when it opens in May...
Never heard of that one. Where is it?
fritzl65 wrote:I have wrenched on my other bikes, 66 BMW up to a 1980 FXEF, but am a little nervous about cracking these "little" things...

I hope that it is not too difficult...
I find these easier to work on than street bikes - less complex, smaller bits, no body work, no worries
fritzl65 wrote:How hard is it to go invertedd forks on these...I think I am going to have to work them over as is and so I might as well improve it some... I weigh in at 215#
I added them to mine. There are straight bolt ons (KLX 300) to more complex swaps requiring stem changes and so on. I put KX125 forks on mine. Spring rate for me at ~175 was about right. The swap was pretty straightforward. The biggest thing was just getting all the controls and brake lines right. The fork swap area has tons of info.

I hope you have great fun with this bike!!
Bill
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2004 KDX220R
2011 Triumph Tiger 1050 SE
fritzl65
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Re: Newb

Post by fritzl65 »

Bill
Bong Recreational area is in Wisconsin. Exit 340 off of 94
What about wheels/hubs for thr inverted?
Perhaps best to get new springs first?
I am 5'11" and 215#
Any advice is appreciated in advance.
Ill probably hve to replace seals i think
fritzl65
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Newb

Post by fritzl65 »

UPDate
damn I should have done this earlier...
I passed on the 1992 KDX200 and got a 2001 KDX200 for 200 USD less and in better shape...
They boys and I are still looking for a place near Chicago to go to ride...
We are all new to dirt bikes and really could use some pointers...

thanks for reading
Fritz
fritzl65
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Re: Newb

Post by fritzl65 »

Hey All,
still hoping for a riding spot near Chicago...
We also could use some lessons, I only know street machines, and do not wish to pass on any bad habits to the kiddies, 10/11 years old
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