KX500 vs KDX200

Got questions? We got answers....
Post Reply
User avatar
jc7622
Supporting Member II
Supporting Member II
Posts: 677
Joined: 01:53 pm Apr 24 2007
Country:
Location: Oklahoma

KX500 vs KDX200

Post by jc7622 »

Has anyone here ridden a KX500 much? I was wondering how they compared to the modded KDX200. Are they too much to handle in the woods or are they nice and smooth? I've been eyeballing all those KX500/KX450F hybrids and they sure look sweet.
User avatar
Mr. Wibbens
KDXRider.net
KDXRider.net
Posts: 4884
Joined: 02:57 am Nov 07 2004
Country:
Location: Playing in the Poison Oak
Contact:

Post by Mr. Wibbens »

I've heard they can be a handful, but I sure like to ride one :lol:
Warning! This member tends to use sarcasm as a regular form of communication. If a post seems offensive, before you panic and fly off the handle, re-read the post and imagine it being said with a sideways grin.
((Bike Profile))
((Pics))
FIVE OUT OF FOUR PEOPLE DONUT UNDERSTAND FRACTIONS
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've ridden one, but not nearly as much as I would like. I think people exaggerate how hard they are to ride. They make a ton of power of course, but that power is spread over a wide range so it's not so bad. It's a different kind of ride though. Kinda like riding a jet ski on dirt, cuz it just rips a roost of rocks and dirt out behind it. If you ride with people that like to follow , they might not enjoy it so much. :lol: I've only ridden it at very high altitude, so I'm sure the power would be a good bit more at sea level.

I wouldn't ditch my KDX for one unless I rode open areas more, but I would love to have one as a second bike. They handle better than a stock KDX at moderate to higher speed. They feel lighter to me than a KDX too.
Mike

Life's tough, it's even tougher if you're stupid.
'04 KDX220
User avatar
Mr. Wibbens
KDXRider.net
KDXRider.net
Posts: 4884
Joined: 02:57 am Nov 07 2004
Country:
Location: Playing in the Poison Oak
Contact:

Post by Mr. Wibbens »

I rode a 2000 CR500 in the woods

It was a lot of fun. Never have to shift. Wheely anytime anywhere

But man that thing would where you out, and it sucked trying to start it even on flat level ground
Warning! This member tends to use sarcasm as a regular form of communication. If a post seems offensive, before you panic and fly off the handle, re-read the post and imagine it being said with a sideways grin.
((Bike Profile))
((Pics))
FIVE OUT OF FOUR PEOPLE DONUT UNDERSTAND FRACTIONS
User avatar
Colorado Mike
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 1921
Joined: 11:42 am Feb 25 2005
Country:
Location: Colorado

Post by Colorado Mike »

The KX I rode must have been jetted well because it was easy to start. I think it was fitted with an aftermarket auto compression release too.

this is a nice one..

Mike

Life's tough, it's even tougher if you're stupid.
'04 KDX220
User avatar
kawagumby
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 927
Joined: 10:09 am Nov 30 2006
Country:
Location: California

Post by kawagumby »

I had a CR500 for a couple of years, off-road suspension, flywheel weight, etc. It was great for power-sucking terrain with big hills, or big straights, everywhere else it was slower than any other kind of bike. If you use the power on typical trails you blow the trails away and don't go any faster, if you rev them, the engine rotating mass's gyro effect makes them hard to turn, so you end up short shifting them and not using the power. A kdx is faster in any kind of tight terrain, no sweat.
And yes, they wear you out. Nobody but legendary heroes in the desert ever did well on a KX500. Fun to watch videos of guys like Roeseler or Hamel do long wheelies on them at speed. :prayer:
1994 KDX200, Beta 200rr, yz125, yz250, kx100 modded for adult, gasgas contact 250.
User avatar
barryadam
Supporting Member
Posts: 255
Joined: 02:07 pm Sep 18 2008
Country:
Location: Mission Viejo, CA

Post by barryadam »

I currently have both, a 2001 KDX220R & a 2001 KX500.
My son took over the 220 from me when I got the 500.
Both are plated in Calif and we ride trails, tracks, fire roads, OHV parks and everything else. No dunes/paddle stuff, though.
The 500 is a great bike that is super versitile. But as Kawagumby says, it will wear you out.
The 500 is MUCH taller geared (stock) for the tight stuff. At idle in 1st, I'm doing about 5-10 mph. The KDX tops out at about 10 mph in first. LOL. The 500 geometry is stable at speed, but doesn't turn like the KDX. They are pretty close in weight and height.
The KDX is much easier to ride in technical stuff.
I have a lot of fun riding the 500.
Here they are together:

Image

Image
tommyd
Supporting Member
Posts: 77
Joined: 10:53 pm Dec 10 2008
Country:
Location: Boulder City NV

Post by tommyd »

>|<>QBB<
kawagumby wrote:Fun to watch videos of guys like Roeseler or Hamel do long wheelies on them at speed. :prayer:
I grew up in the same town at the same time as Danny Hamel and it's fun watching him in person!

He passed me like I was standing still in the dirt while I was on the highway in my car. When I saw him later I asked him how fast he was going. He said around 118 because if you go any faster in the dirt you lose traction!
User avatar
treelimb
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 142
Joined: 12:13 pm Oct 27 2007
Country: United States of America
Location: Cedar Bluff,Al.

Post by treelimb »

>|<[url=http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... #64977Here they are together:

Image

Image[/quote]

I appreciate the pics as well as the info comparing the two.I have been salivating for a KX 500 for more than a while. One day I'll have the ability to make a side by side picture and declare that i own one of each. The second pic is absolutely the type that makes a day riding worth that much more. What a beautiful place to take a break.
Oh yeah- many a day my KDX 200 wears me out.I keep going back for more though.
Last edited by treelimb on 07:18 pm Dec 15 2008, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
jc7622
Supporting Member II
Supporting Member II
Posts: 677
Joined: 01:53 pm Apr 24 2007
Country:
Location: Oklahoma

Post by jc7622 »

Where were those pictures taken.
User avatar
barryadam
Supporting Member
Posts: 255
Joined: 02:07 pm Sep 18 2008
Country:
Location: Mission Viejo, CA

Post by barryadam »

>|<>QBB<
jc7622 wrote:Where were those pictures taken.
The first picture is in the San Bernadino National Forest between Pioneertown & Big Bear (So. Calif). Brent had just ridden to the top of Heartbreak Ridge on the KDX; I pooped out just before the "squeeze".
http://www.gpsxchange.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1759

The second picture is another ride in the SBNF, on the Cleghorn Ridge overlooking Silverwood Lake. It's a typical fire road or ridge trail that we have a lot of here in S. Calif. You can see them all over the ridges in the background. Here are some pics of the same area showing some of the more challenging trails.
http://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/showth ... crab+flats

For those who wonder about the KX500 vs the KDX, these trails shown on this TT link (page 2) are the kind that are a bit tougher for the 500 and are more of the KDX specialty. Some of the other ride areas we have here locally, include a lot more of these type of challenging sections and I get a real work out on the 500. Or maybe it's because my son on the KDX is 32 years younger than me?!?!?! :mrgreen:
tommyd
Supporting Member
Posts: 77
Joined: 10:53 pm Dec 10 2008
Country:
Location: Boulder City NV

Post by tommyd »

I've Jeeped all over that area but I really want to ride my bike there. My best friends dad lives in 29, so I'm gonna have to make that happen!
Post Reply