KDX is it Competative to race?

Got questions? We got answers....
Post Reply
gtoron
Member
Posts: 173
Joined: 09:18 am Apr 13 2006
Country:
Location: Long Island NY

KDX is it Competative to race?

Post by gtoron »

Hello all and thanks in advance for the inf.
I am 40 years old looking to start some enduro racing. Will this bike be Competitive? I know the hop up ability, but I do not want to "outgrow" the bike within a year. I have never raced but have ridden before. I am not looking to be a wildman on the circuit but want a bike I can grow with and hopefully place well.
Cost is also a factor . Opinions please :grin:
User avatar
fuzzy
KDXRider.net
KDXRider.net
Posts: 3437
Joined: 01:29 pm Jun 18 2003
Country:
Location: Fredneck, MD

Post by fuzzy »

Yes, with some susp work it'll be great. COncentrate on that before motor mods. Mr KDX Jeff Fredette still races one in the ISDE every year.
'91 KDX 200 Project $300 KDX
'95 KDX 200 Project $600 KDX
'94 WR 250 Always a project
User avatar
skipro3
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 4329
Joined: 11:58 pm Nov 04 2004
Country:
Location: BANNED FOR LIFE!!
Contact:

Post by skipro3 »

It's a very competitive enduro bike. I race mine quite a bit. It's also very cool to kick all that KTM butt. They always brag but I point out that thier claim is with the bike and not the rider; therefore, I'm a better rider!!! Ha!!

Now get out there and kick KTM butt!!!
Jerry

I'd rather be a smartass like carvr, than a dumbass like.... well, you fill in the blank!
User avatar
Indawoods
Creator and Founder
Creator and Founder
Posts: 9951
Joined: 09:59 am Jun 12 2003
Country:
Location: Midwest

Post by Indawoods »

The bike is very capable.

More capable than most riders and one of the reasons people switch to a KTM is due to the riders lack of ability and looking to the bike to make up for lack of skill.

This is not always the case but more so than not.

Work on your skills and don't worry about the KDX keeping up.... it can.
*** Administrator //***
****'95 KDX 200/****

"People ate cows a thousand years ago for the same reason we eat them now. Cause they are easy to catch.We're not savages,we're just lazy. A cheetah could taste like chocolate heroin. But will never know. Those bastards are fast!!! "
motorhed220
Member
Posts: 215
Joined: 04:23 pm Dec 30 2005
Country:
Location: Hamilton Ontario

Post by motorhed220 »

Competitive? dont make me laugh!!!! This bike is a DOMINATOR...consider this...the KDX has gone on largly unchanged throughout the years...while KTM revamps there enduro models on a yearly basis...and The Green Hornet still keeps up, and wins steady, based on rider skills of course.

Next, if price is your concern then...KDX wins it again, the KTM EXC or whatever it is, will cost mountains more than a Kawasaki KDX ever will. Further more, any other brand Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, etc..MAY cost less and i mean big MABYE, but the model will NEVER compete with a KDX. DRz's, XR's, WR's, all four Stroke, all heavy, all crappy red blue and yellow garbage...Stay, (or Go) green and destroy the competition, in the bush, on the trails and even on a track...

Finally, I ride will all MX bikes, all KX's, YZ'z, and big fat heavy 4 stroke monsters, that never keep up in the bush...the KDX is the king of ALL the trails PERIOD. :supz: :lol:
Live to Ride, Ride to live!!!
crazyaboutriding
Member
Posts: 166
Joined: 01:52 am Mar 19 2006
Country:
Location: Colville, Washington

Post by crazyaboutriding »

Hey, I'm not dissing on the KDX 200's, they haul some serious a$$, but if i had the choice, I would probably perfer the new CRF 450X. But like you said, it will keep right up with them. it's all about being able to RIDE it faster than you could a 4 stroke. i personally could probably ride a 4 stroke faster though. take it easy on the 4 strokes though!!! they can still haul. I would suggest the KDX 200 though. alot easyer to ride with less weight (besides the loss of bottom end).
Kevin
'00 KDX 200
User avatar
fuzzy
KDXRider.net
KDXRider.net
Posts: 3437
Joined: 01:29 pm Jun 18 2003
Country:
Location: Fredneck, MD

Post by fuzzy »

IMO, If you can't handle tearing down your a KDX to every last part, including motor, and reassembling it then don't bother with a modern racing 4-stroke. They are maintance pigs, and if you you don't maintain them it will cost you dearly. Even maintained some still grenade. Albeit they are heavy pigs, the 'old-school' 4-strokes still have a place in a woods bike....Again, IMO. The fact that the last GNCC race I saw the factory yamaha riders were on YZ250's says a lot. You can bet those are YZ250's with custom wide trannies in them too. For that matter, 4-strokes were in the minority period. Heck, in MX the 400, 426, and finally 450 still couldn't beat a works 250 until the AMA finally added rules to hinder the 2-stroke. Long live the 2-stroke, KDX, and any other 2-stroke enduro for that matter. Sadly I belive we are living in the final years for them.
'91 KDX 200 Project $300 KDX
'95 KDX 200 Project $600 KDX
'94 WR 250 Always a project
NM_KDX200
Member
Posts: 314
Joined: 09:24 pm Aug 18 2005
Country:

Post by NM_KDX200 »

>|<>QBB<
fuzzy wrote:dearly. The fact that the last GNCC race I saw the factory yamaha riders were on YZ250's says a lot.
Several years ago I rode a nice enduro-ized YZ250 with a flywheel weight, suspension, etc. and my first thought was "Why would anyone want a 4-stroke??". It was tractable, light, slim, good handling, peppy and reliable. A couple of weeks ago, I rode my first YZ250F. It was fun and I was going fast, but my first impression- honestly- was "Now, THIS is what XR250's should be!". It still had 4-stroke-like power and pulled very well out of the corners with immediate traction. At first I thought "Hey, I'd like to have one of these!" Then, I jumped back on my KX125 and you know what? The KX was still fun. If I were going to do semi-serious enduros or off-road racing, I'd build me a YZ250 or KX250 enduro bike. For casual "fun" racing, the KDX is fine.
1999 KDX 200
2001 KDX 220
2002 RM 134
2004 KX 125
User avatar
Colorado Mike
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 1921
Joined: 11:42 am Feb 25 2005
Country:
Location: Colorado

Post by Colorado Mike »

I rode a YZ250F a couple weeks ago. I had never ridden a high performance 4 stroke before. I was expecting a lot of low-end grunt, but I was surprised that my 220 had much more snap down low. The top end of the 250F was where it would pull away from my bike. Also, I went through some choppy bumps and ruts and the YZ forks ate that stuff up like it was nothing. My KDX still has the conventionals on it and the only way to get through that stretch at the same speed was with the front off the ground. The YZ could actually steer through there. Steering is good.

Next week I'll probably get to ride a YZ450F. I bet that'll solve the gutless low end problem. The funny thing is, the more I ride other bikes, the more I like mine. 15 year old technolgy that could use some updates, but over all, a pretty good bike.

Too bad Kawi is gonna stop making them. One of the Jap manufacturers ought to wake up and start building trail-freindly versions of their 250 2 stroke MX bikes. As in lights (with a high-output coil) wide tranny, soft seat, skid plates and good bar guards.
Mike

Life's tough, it's even tougher if you're stupid.
'04 KDX220
User avatar
Indawoods
Creator and Founder
Creator and Founder
Posts: 9951
Joined: 09:59 am Jun 12 2003
Country:
Location: Midwest

Post by Indawoods »

And a 10 year no-fault warranty! :?
*** Administrator //***
****'95 KDX 200/****

"People ate cows a thousand years ago for the same reason we eat them now. Cause they are easy to catch.We're not savages,we're just lazy. A cheetah could taste like chocolate heroin. But will never know. Those bastards are fast!!! "
Green Hornet
Supporting Member II
Supporting Member II
Posts: 1455
Joined: 06:54 pm Aug 08 2005
Country:
Location: Orange County-New York
Contact:

Post by Green Hornet »

Mike-You did not do the conversion yet????
"Growing Old is Mandatory, Growing Up is Optional"
2008 KLX450R
2008 DRZ400SM
2005 KDX 220R
1985 KDX 200A3
2005 KLX 125L (SONS)
2003 KTM 50SX Pro Jr
B Senior # 254/0092

http://sponsorhouse.loopd.com/Members/R ... fault.aspx
Thanks to my 2008 Sponsers:
Dunlop, SteelMX, Amsoil, Simpson, Pro Works Racing, Pro Moto Billet, SLAP Energy,Boyesen, Rhino Stands, SixSixOne/SunLine Moto for your support.
John W Read Jr
User avatar
Colorado Mike
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 1921
Joined: 11:42 am Feb 25 2005
Country:
Location: Colorado

Post by Colorado Mike »

nope. been saving up my money cuz I'll need a new Scotts damper mount $80.00, and if I get one of those, I want to convert to fat bars $80.00, and if I do that I need new bar guard mounts , and I'd rather have the triple tree inner mounts $50.00, so I'd have to go to the cycra pro-bends... $90.00... :roll:
Mike

Life's tough, it's even tougher if you're stupid.
'04 KDX220
User avatar
fuzzy
KDXRider.net
KDXRider.net
Posts: 3437
Joined: 01:29 pm Jun 18 2003
Country:
Location: Fredneck, MD

Post by fuzzy »

One of the Jap manufacturers ought to wake up and start building trail-freindly versions of their 250 2 stroke MX bikes
They did, and stopped right at the millenium cusp. Well, everyone but honda. Yamaha had the WR, and that went 4-stroke in '98 w/ the new 400 :roll: . Suzuki had the RMX, and I think that stopped in '99 to never be replaced by a 4-stroke(yet). Kawi never did a MX-based enduro, but they already had one of the most sought after enduro bikes out there...KDX! And....they still make it, fortunately. Basically I think the jap enduro's just never sold. KTM/misc euros really ate into their market, and had 'better' machines. Take my WR for example. Yamaha half-assed it. They threw a lighting coil(no lights!), FWW, poorly designed large tank/seat, and Wide trans into a YZ250. No porting differences or susp valving difference. Stock this bike is almost a nightmare on the trails only saved by the wide trans and throttle control. They took off in the desert as no one cared about the lights or ergos, it would trail ride, but would still SHRED the sand and had a nearly 90mph top speed while having a granny first. I guess maybe if Yami/Zook build better enduro bikes they may have sold more of them. When the WR went 4-stoke they finally started adorning it w/ proper mods, but it has that sucky 4-stroke mill :mrgreen: But....It sells. I think MX conversions outnumber just about anything in the enduro/HS/GNCC arena though...Followed by KTM....Followed by the KDX. Depending on where you live swap the conversion/KTM in those standings.

I've yet to ride one (really don't want to), but it's no suprise that the 'racing' 4-strokes have no bottom. I'm sure the WR's are a touch better than the YZ/RMZ/KXF w/ the wide trans, and different cam but it makes since why. You can't build a high-rpm 4-stroke and retain tons of bottom. A 2-stroke shines here with the invention of the powervalve--without it you can't build a 2-stroke like that either! The 4-stroke equivelant is variable valve timing, and got forbid if they add that **** to a bike you will never be able to work on it--Kinda acts like a variable camshaft. Think of a MX 4-stroke as a drag car....Take a small block car that runs 9's/10's and swap the 4000+ RPM converter out for a stock unit. It will never go anywhere unless it manages to spin the tires to free up the load. Why? Because it will have no bottom--it's torque peak will be something like at 75% of it's RPM range, and will have less power at 1500RPM than it did stock. These bike motors are no different. Thay are made to run wide open at the necessary sacrifice of bottom end.

Damn the EPA! Just think if they didn't mess w/ the 2-strokes. We would be getting all the newest 2-stroke technology. I don't know about you, but I'd kill for a rotary valved, direct injection, power valved, 2-cycle enduro bike! How does right-off-idleXR400-like bottom w/ factory 250 like top-end sound? How about never jetting again, and gaining fuel economy while making more usable power? :prayer: Jet ski's have it, ouboards have it, well, there you have it... :lol:

Sorry, I guess I hijacked this thread w/ my 4-stroke bashing.
'91 KDX 200 Project $300 KDX
'95 KDX 200 Project $600 KDX
'94 WR 250 Always a project
motorhed220
Member
Posts: 215
Joined: 04:23 pm Dec 30 2005
Country:
Location: Hamilton Ontario

Post by motorhed220 »

The fact o the matter is this...4 Stroke= Maintainance Pigs, time bombs that are a tickin...heavy...and too slow power...the ONLY reason 4 stroke are doin well is cuz the tracks are being made to suite 4 strokes, and 2-stroke bies are being hindered and constantly regulated....to compare apples to apples...2 stroke ins everyday if the week, every time hands dwon in every aspect, BUT due to conventional laws and the facts of the consumer world, 2 Stokes are produced and goverened, so that they lose consumer appeal and thus die out...but as for them Honda pigs...stay away from thos Red Devils...they SUCK!!!!
Live to Ride, Ride to live!!!
User avatar
fuzzy
KDXRider.net
KDXRider.net
Posts: 3437
Joined: 01:29 pm Jun 18 2003
Country:
Location: Fredneck, MD

Post by fuzzy »

:supz:
'91 KDX 200 Project $300 KDX
'95 KDX 200 Project $600 KDX
'94 WR 250 Always a project
motorhed220
Member
Posts: 215
Joined: 04:23 pm Dec 30 2005
Country:
Location: Hamilton Ontario

Post by motorhed220 »

Does ya think...if the Jap compainies made BETTER enduro's then they would sell better, and thus not kill the market...lets face it...nobody save the Green Team, makes a worth while Enduro anymore, and the KDX's time is waning. So the big CEO's of the sport are seeing the "enduro" genre if you will, fade out, and so they are halting the production of these treasured bikes to save money...when in reality, they lost money because they never took the Enduro Sport serioulsy and made proper bikes to start. Now the motorcycle world is going to a "MX/Street" style market, where the MX bikes are converted and play the role of every style, and the Street bikes stay on the road, there is no medium, no in between....its a sad thing... :sad:

Does anybody not see that or am i screwed up lol? :partyman: :rolleyes:
Live to Ride, Ride to live!!!
Post Reply