Help me decide, 1999 200 or 2000 220?? With Pics!

Got questions? We got answers....
wyokdx
Member
Posts: 8
Joined: 11:10 pm Jul 18 2013
Country:

Help me decide, 1999 200 or 2000 220?? With Pics!

Post by wyokdx »

I know the 200 hasn't been ridden in awhile, but I'm not sure what maintenance has been done. From the comments I am beginning to think I should keep looking. Maybe a bike that has been better maintained will come along. I am really not in a hurry to buy, but I do want to purchase something relatively nice even though I have small budget.
Are there better KDX's out there in this price range? Should I be patient and keep looking?
royadams
Supporting Member I
Supporting Member I
Posts: 567
Joined: 10:38 am Aug 20 2012
Country:
Location: anderson sc

Re: Help me decide, 1999 200 or 2000 220?? With Pics!

Post by royadams »

I'd look at the 200, its closer and looks pretty good for the money.i would Clean and grease all the bearings. The 3 or 4 hundred you save on the bike can go a long ways if you need some bearings, chain and sprockets, or other little things.
User avatar
diymirage
Supporting Member II
Supporting Member II
Posts: 2909
Joined: 05:00 pm Sep 19 2011
Country:
Location: michigan

Re: Help me decide, 1999 200 or 2000 220?? With Pics!

Post by diymirage »

as far as maintenance goes, I would buy a new airfilter (I know, you can clean the old one but for the price of a no toil pre oiled filter why bother?)
drain the oil and put a fresh quart of oil in the trannie and lube/adjust the chain
now, if it was my bike I would replace the sprockets and chain as needed but since this is your first KDX you might not know what gearing combo you like so I would ride it with whats on there and see what you like


things to look for when inspecting a bike you like to buy,
as mentioned, chain, is it rusty and poorly adjusted? that is a sign of neglect
set the bike up straight and look through the glass (its on the outer clutch cover just above the brake lever) and check the oil level
(don't worry about it being high, a lot of people run the full quart instead of the 850 ML the book calls for, but be sure it isn't too low)
see if the seller is willing to show you the airfliter (takes 2 screws to take the seat off to expose it) and look for signs of proper maintenance, clean and oiled, not dry and dusty/dirty
with the bike on the kickstand tilt it so the rear wheel comes of the ground and move it back and forth to see if the wheel bearings are wore out
with the 200 especially (not all of them but this one you showed us) check for proper front end alignment, ride it and see how it trails, sit on it and apply the front brake and rock it back and forward to ensure there is no excessive play on the steering bearings

other than that use your best judgment and look for things that seem "off" , like the brake line on the 220 or sealant where someone did a top end and cheaped out and used "gasket in a tube" instead of an actual gasket

have a look at my 96

Image

see how the rear fender kicks up higher then it should?
that shows the subframe the fender bolts to is bend
look for little things little things like that
(also, see how the forkboots are purple? that makes it a 96 aswell even though the rest of the plastics are from a 99)

oh, and if you can, have the seller tell you the 10th digit of the VIN so you can double check the year

A = 1980
B = 1981
C = 1982
D = 1983
E = 1984
F = 1985
G = 1986
H = 1987
J = 1988
K = 1989
L = 1990
M = 1991
N = 1992
P = 1993
R = 1994
S = 1995
T = 1996
V = 1997
W = 1998
X = 1999
Y = 2000
1 = 2001
2 = 2002
3 = 2003
4 = 2004
5 = 2005
6 = 2006
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
User avatar
KDXohio
Supporting Member
Posts: 825
Joined: 06:04 pm Jun 19 2013
Country: United States
Location: Dayton, Ohio

Re: Help me decide, 1999 200 or 2000 220?? With Pics!

Post by KDXohio »

I've never ridden a 220 I found a pretty good comparison searching around for some other reviews

http://justkdx.dirtrider.net/200vs220.html

I'd love to copy and paste all the info here but I don't want to steal someone else's work
1990 KDX200 FMF Fatty, Answer VFC silencer, VForce 3 Cage, Wiseco Piston, KX125-J series KYB USD fork conversion, Race tech goldvalves, J series front brake assembly, air-box snorkel removed, Acerbis Headlight, KX450F Front fender, Pro Taper RM bend bars, ASV front Brake lever, MSR Clutch perch and lever, RB Head mod, 36mm PWK carb, Trail Tech Kickstand.
User avatar
scheckaet
KDXRider.net
KDXRider.net
Posts: 3740
Joined: 12:09 am Nov 10 2005
Country:
Location: edmond oklahoma

Help me decide, 1999 200 or 2000 220?? With Pics!

Post by scheckaet »

get the 200.
Post Reply