Will KDX 220 top end fit on the 200?

[Wd40]

I'm thinking about locating a 220 cylinder/piston & carb to install on my 1997 KDX 200. I think it will fit? Anyone try this?

[scheckaet]

cylinder, head, and carb, you'll also need the powervalve.
You'll end up with a lesser bike though

Send your carb and head from your 200 to RBD to have them machined and you'll get 220 torque without sacrificing the top end of the 200. all of that at a much lower price too...

[diymirage]

cylinder, head, and carb, you'll also need the powervalve.

wouldn't he be able to use his 200 carb on the 220 top end ?
I thought it was considered a slight upgrade

[scheckaet]

yes, the 200 carb is a big upgrade, forgot about that one.
I'm so used to tell people how to turn their weak 220 into a 200 beast ...

[osobad]

IMO, having owned or ridden a 200, 220, eric gorr 225 all being great I don't think I would want to go back to a 200. Now with that said in stock form even with with pipe and and airbox mod done I like the 200 better, When you do the RB mods different story. I would have to say I like the 220 whith just the RB head and a 200 carb without RB mods better than 200 whith RB head and carb mod. THe 220 needs the bigger carb for me . Now the 225 Eric gorr is my favorite, real nice . Have the carb modded by RB and veven nicer. All of this is my preference and I ride combination of tight single track with open areas thrown in. If I had a 200 I would send off to Eric Gorr and make it a 225 unless I found killer deal on a 220 jug and head. 220 heads can be hard to find sometime. Price will be about the same and with the 225 your getting a fresh replate.

[kawagumby]

I'm with osobad, a 220 responds to mods much more fully than the 200's. I can pull a gear higher with a modded 220 vs a 200 and it revs to the moon. I recently sold my last 200 because I didn't ride it as much as my 220. About that carb... it really depends on how and where you ride... the smaller carb keeps the torque curve lower and will pull better off idle - if your terrain is muddy, rocky and tight, that smaller carb may be better. I'm running an RB striker on my 220 now, but it did lose some bottom in the process (even with that carb's perfect setup and jetting).

[osobad]

Yea the smaller carb gives a little better bottom end and I do have mix of tight woods with some open which is why I like the bigger carb.With that said the modded 220 with the larger carb still has quiet a bit more bottom than the 200 will ever have and I can pull a higher gear also .

[scheckaet]

the modded 220 with the larger carb still has quiet a bit more bottom than the 200 will ever have .

From what i've heard on this site many a time from those that had both 200 and 220: with the same carb and head mod, they become much much closer in power delivery. the 220 (with rev pipe) still has a bit more low and the 200 (with torque pipe) a bit more rev.

[osobad]

It really depends on what you like. Ithink the eric gorr 225 is closer in bottom with all around porting to the 220 whith mods. This is starting with a 200 cylinder. my modded 200, all RB mods ,airbox pipe ect would never pull like the modded 220 or eric gorr 225. Even with the woods pipe on 200 and rev on 220. They did get closer with 200 having alittle more rev but I like my bikes to start pulling a little earlier than the 200 does . I am not knocking it all it is a wonderful engine and I would be very happy with it if that was the only option. Also the 225 and 220 mod helps out when it gets a little sandy wich we have plenty of down here. If I had a 200 I would do the eric gorr 225 over a modded 220 or 200 unless I could turn it in to a modded 220 cheaper. If I had 220 I would just mod it. Something I have not talked about yet is that if you know someone who does porting and really knows what they are doing the 220 responds well to some mild porting. I know Freddett does this but I have not ridden a bike that he ported. Mine was done by a local guy.

[kawagumby]

the 220 (with rev pipe) still has a bit more low and the 200 (with torque pipe) a bit more rev.

My experience having twice owned both bikes at the same time (all different machines) is that the 220 with the rev pipe still has good low to mid, and also will outrev a 200 with an FMF woods pipe.
My modified 220 feels close to a 250. I just bought a brand new Husky TE250 (a KTM 250 exc with linkage suspension) and my 220 engine doesn't give up much in comparison. Kawasaki built an amazing little engine with both models, IMO.

[Julien D]

the 220 (with rev pipe) still has a bit more low and the 200 (with torque pipe) a bit more rev.

My experience having twice owned both bikes at the same time (all different machines) is that the 220 with the rev pipe still has good low to mid, and also will outrev a 200 with an FMF woods pipe.
My modified 220 feels close to a 250. I just bought a brand new Husky TE250 (a KTM 250 exc with linkage suspension) and my 220 engine doesn't give up much in comparison. Kawasaki built an amazing little engine with both models, IMO.

Something must have been wrong with your 200s. The big difference lies in the porting and carb size. Without having port work done on the 220, it will not have the over-rev of a 200 regardless of pipe choice. Going a step farther by comparing it to a TE or EXC 250.... I want some of what yer smokin. :lol

[kawagumby]

Did you even read my post?
I said the modified 220 will out rev a 200 using a "woods" pipe.

The larger porting of the 200 only works wonders if you're running rev pipe, and, frankly, that combo doesn't work well in the tight trails where the KDX with it's short wheelbase really works well. That's why most guys run the woods pipe on the 200.

You DO NOT need to port the 220 to get a strong rev out...
Have you ever compared the two jugs side by side? The 200 intake tract is huge compared to the 220, you can port the 220 all you want and it still won't have the volume the 200 has - but my experience shows that difference doesn't matter as much as one might think.

I think a lot of people forget that the 220 was developed FROM the 200, the 220 ports were specifically developed for a stronger enduro-type engine and that does not necessarily mean less top end "within the confines" of enduro trail riding and rev out. I'm not talking wide open desert trails where you use a rev pipe (and the bike is out of it's handling element). I'm talking significantly more horsepower over a wider range of rpms, which includes a great rev-out.

And if you want what I'm smokin.... buy a TE or EXC like I did, you'll find the well modifed 220 actually has a harder hit off bottom than that engine (even when powervalve set for max low-end) . The peak HP isn't that different either, IMO, I guessing about 6-7 HP over the KDX.

I bought my first H model 200 in 1995, when they first came out. I bought my first 220 in 1997 when they first came out. I'm an A level district 36 cross-country rider, and have farted with these bikes for 20 years. My current 220 has an RB modified striker, head, and uses the rev pipe. I have swapped pipes with my 200's, run the same exact RB striker carb on the 200's, run the 200 carb on the 220's etc., using virtually every combination of bolt-ons conceivable to get the best performance out of each bike. I'm also a pretty good tuner.

To say that my 200's must not be running right is insulting and BS. I've only owned 6 H model KDX's so I must not know what I'm talking about, eh? One was fast enough to take a first place B vet trophy in a national hare scramble in the late 90's.

What experience do you have to back your position?

[Julien D]

Sarcasm is often wasted on the interwebs. I hope you enjoyed your rant. :)

Sent from my HTC6500LVW using Tapatalk

[kawagumby]

Sarcasm is often wasted on the interwebs. I hope you enjoyed your rant. :)

Sent from my HTC6500LVW using Tapatalk

well, Hmmph.

[Wd40]

Thanks for the replies. I appreciate the input. Both of my 200's run good I just wanted more bottom end for the tight, steep rocky terrain I ride in. I've read all the post and I'm looking at all the options out there.

[Julien D]

The 220 is indeed king of the tight steep rocky trails. Before going that far, you might try head and carb mods coupled with a woods pipe and shorter gearing. If it doesn't work for you, your RB modded carb will still be a nice match for a 220 cylinder.