New KDX guy - Maryland

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BamBam
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New KDX guy - Maryland

Post by BamBam »

Just bought my first KDX. Took me 35 years since the old highschool days riding my Ossa GPIII, but I always wanted a KDX and now I have one! While some may say its a 20 year old bike, to me its 20 years in the future from my last bike. Ha! This thing feels great. Just need to tune a few things and hoping you guys can help me with any learned experience.

The goal is to race an enduro one day.
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Re: New KDX guy - Maryland

Post by KDXGarage »

Welcome to the forums!

Congratulations on your KDX. :partyman:
Thank you for participating on kdxrider.net. :bravo:
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Re: New KDX guy - Maryland

Post by bufftester »

Welcome to the forum and congrats on the new bike!
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Re: New KDX guy - Maryland

Post by MaverickAus »

G'day from Australia, and photos or it didn't happen :mrgreen:
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New KDX guy - Maryland

Post by doakley »

BamBam wrote:Just bought my first KDX. Took me 35 years since the old highschool days riding my Ossa GPIII, but I always wanted a KDX and now I have one! While some may say its a 20 year old bike, to me its 20 years in the future from my last bike. Ha! This thing feels great. Just need to tune a few things and hoping you guys can help me with any learned experience.

The goal is to race an enduro one day.
It may be a 20 year old bike but if you get the suspension dialed in right for you it can still be competitive in enduros and hare scrambles. Remember it is 80-90% the rider! Welcome back. You and I are following similar paths it sounds.
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New KDX guy - Maryland

Post by BamBam »

Image

Will try the photo upload. Merry Christmas to me!

Hopefully someone will have some suggestions as to where I can ride this thing. Trying to get my boy interested in riding so he now has an XL100 to learn the basics. Then maybe a KDX for him too? :supz:
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Re: New KDX guy - Maryland

Post by B737driver »

Man that's a clean bike. Congrats. Do yourself a favor and read up on the 220 piston issues. Lots of documented cases of failures if it is the stock piston. That's where I would focus my energy first.
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Re: New KDX guy - Maryland

Post by BamBam »

Thanks. I heard about the piston issue and confirmed and previous owner changed piston. Now I am going to change fork springs for my weight. Waaaay too soft and squishy right now. Maybe get headlight and tail light working in the near future?

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Re: New KDX guy - Maryland

Post by Tyl3r »

Nice ride! Man is that thing clean! It a 97?

From a guy who's currently dealing with a failed 220 piston issue (because I took the PO's word for it), I'd still pull the head and check the numbers stamped on the top of the piston. A new head gasket isn't that expensive....wayy cheaper than my repair bill! haha

There are wiring diagrams floating around on here if you want to fix the lights (just gotta search around on here for them).
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Re: New KDX guy - Maryland

Post by KDXGarage »

Very nice and so clean looking. Congratulations.

If you were in high school 35 years ago, it looks like you graduated when you were 5. :mrgreen:
Thank you for participating on kdxrider.net. :bravo:
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Re: New KDX guy - Maryland

Post by BamBam »

Thanks! Highschool was class of '83. Back then I was riding a 1977 Ossa so this KDX already feels a million times better in the suspension department. Back then I read Dirt Bike magazine and dreamed of getting a KDX one day and riding the Blackwater 100 !! Was excited to find a clean KDX and look forward to restoring it. A set of ridiculously overpriced original fork boots are already on the way :shock:

At age 51 I am holding up pretty good for an old man. You should have seen me in my 40's on TV competing in shooting events. Ha!

Need to find a place to trail ride and get my groove again. So far just a few blips in the back yard just to do a wheelie. Made me smile ear to ear!!
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Re: New KDX guy - Maryland

Post by KDXGarage »

I have a new set tucked away. I shudder to think what they cost now. :shock:

If you had been OK with black, you could have gone with Daystar model 69 fork boots, $27 at Rocky Mountain.

https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/10 ... fork+boots
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Re: New KDX guy - Maryland

Post by KDXGarage »

OMG!!! I CHECKED!

What did you pay!?!?!?
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Re: New KDX guy - Maryland

Post by BamBam »

When I looked up the daystar brand, the dimensions either top or bottom didn't seem correct for my forks. After searching the web, found some original purples from Kawasaki parts store delivered for like $58. Ouch! Have not arrived yet.

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Re: New KDX guy - Maryland

Post by KDXGarage »

$58 for a new OEM set?

Daystar model 69 fit well. I had a set on my 1987 KDX200 with 43 mm conventional forks.
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Re: New KDX guy - Maryland

Post by BamBam »

A place called "Partzilla" is selling the Kawasaki part #49006-1296-VW for $50.54 plus shipping. A good twenty bucks less than most others!

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New KDX guy - Maryland

Post by motogoalie1 »

Hey man. Im over in DE.
Ive done a couple if ECEA races last year. Thats all the trail riding I got in last year. Ive got an 03 KDX 220. Any advice you need just shoot an email.
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Re: New KDX guy - Maryland

Post by BamBam »

I didn't see an email link for you Motogoalie.... but while I try to get my bike and body ready for an endure, which of the ECEA locations do you think might be best for a rookie based on difficulty (and or terrain, I guess)? Not trying to win. Just trying to finish (without injury) as a start. Work up from there :boogie:
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Re: New KDX guy - Maryland

Post by Ms0619 »

Congrats on the new ride! I noticed you are in MD. Google "reading anthracite company access pass". Its a little bit of a drive, but looks to be well worth it. I plan on heading up this spring. The ecea website should have some info on local harescrambles and enduros too! Good luck!
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Re: New KDX guy - Maryland

Post by BamBam »

OK - package arrived and Partzilla jammed me on the fine print. Apparently that price is for ONE (1) fork boot. No thanks. Will have to go with the Black Daystars. Sheeeesh!
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