KDXRIDER.NET

K, this is going to probably be a couple of really stupid questions, but please bear with me - I'm a total noob with dirt bikes.

I have an old '85 KDX200, and I want to stiffen the suspension because I'm fat (without replacing the suspension). What steps do I take on this bike to get its existing suspension as stiff as possible? Are there clicker adjustments on the rear shock? Do I add air up front?

Any help or advice, or link to a walk-through would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers,
-Superwilly

The clickers only adjust the damping. To stiffen it (the suspension) you need to replace the springs with the correct ones for your weight. Racetech and other suspension specialists have spring rate calculators on their websites. While you are changing the fork springs, you would be mighty wise to replace the oil too, it can get nasty in there.

The first step in suspension tuning is to start with the right springs installed and the forks/shock all clean with fresh oil of the right type and amount. Then you can ride and see where you need to go from there as far as clicker adjustments or valving changes.

Another good option is to find a good suspension tech in your area and have him help you out. By this I mean a real suspension guy, as in, that's all he does. Not some doofus at a shop that can change fork seals.

CM is looking at this from the 'correct' point of view. Misadjusting a suspension to 'resolve' an undersprung problem isn't productive.

You can add resistance to the suspension by doing exactly what you said.

The shock has adjustments for compression and rebound, the forks for compression only. The shock compression adjustment is the one on top of the shock. Turn it all the way in (CW) for maximum resistance. It's a brass screw with a tapered tip. Don't reef on it.

Same for the clickers on the forks...all the way in (CW).

You could put air in the forks. You would need to adapt a couple of schrader valves for that into the bleed screw holes on top of the forks. Use the correct device to put air in. Your 2 1/2HP air compressor is NOT the right tool. Use a hand pump. You probably don't want to go over 6lbs or so.

None of those 'adjustments' will result in a beneficial change..they will just make everything out of whack...mess with fork seals and such.

You would be far better off putting the required springs in.....

...but that's not what you asked.

Cheers!

Thanks guys - I'll probably just end up leaving it alone. It doesn't bother me to ride it, cause I'm a noob and I don't really get any air or anything - more than anything it just looks silly when the bike sags so much when I get on it.

I think the best bet would be for me to lose some weight, and then look at sinking my money into a better bike! :)

-Super

Better bike? HA!

Build it, and they will ride!

Actually, he says it's an 85. I had an 81 and they had shrader valves for pumping up the forks a bit. I think the high end was 11 psi though. those older bikes were kinda cool as far as being bomb-proof.. no rads, no power valve, drum brakes, so you can't bend a rotor.. but they also kinda sucked cuz they had no rads (low power) drum brakes (get them wet and you better hold on) . Good bike for getting the hang of it, but if you wanna go fast, easier on a newer bike.

Makes sense now... I thought he had an H series....

Yea, lol, I didn't say I would move away from the KDX per se, I love the bike, its just getting a little long in the tooth, and replacement parts are getting harder to find....

CM wrote:kinda cool ...kinda sucked

Ha!!

Yeah. I took note of the '85 part...why I didn't yell at you to just ..FIX IT!!

Ride it. Have a good time. Learn some stuff. Upgrade a couple of decades!!

My 83 250 carrys my 230lbs just fine, but back then I am sure the HP and suspension differences between the 200 and 250 were alot bigger then it is know. I can remember riding a 150 suzi and feeling like a wimp, I enjoyed my trail 90 (still in use btw) more than that 150. Cousins had an RM250 and KZ400, they were scary fast and no comparison. CC said it best, ride it until you get tired of it and upgrade to a more modern Green Monster. I do strongly recommend working on the brakes, you can almost bet they will rapidly go away once you start riding hard, I am down to front brake only, it makes for some exciting moments

BTW-Superwilly----that pic is sick