KX to KDX Rear Suspension Swap
- KDX220PHIL
- Supporting Member I
- Posts: 419
- Joined: 08:31 am May 19 2005
- Country:
- Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
KX to KDX Rear Suspension Swap
Anybody try converting the rear suspension on a KDX with a KX?
Why can't this be done?
Why can't this be done?
- Indawoods
- Creator and Founder
- Posts: 9951
- Joined: 09:59 am Jun 12 2003
- Country:
- Location: Midwest
Nope...Shock is an inch longer...
*** 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!!! "
****'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!!! "
- KDX220PHIL
- Supporting Member I
- Posts: 419
- Joined: 08:31 am May 19 2005
- Country:
- Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
- KDX220PHIL
- Supporting Member I
- Posts: 419
- Joined: 08:31 am May 19 2005
- Country:
- Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
- Indawoods
- Creator and Founder
- Posts: 9951
- Joined: 09:59 am Jun 12 2003
- Country:
- Location: Midwest
I think CMOT has done this... I'd PM him to ask what was involved.
*** 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!!! "
****'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!!! "
- skipro3
- Gold Member
- Posts: 4329
- Joined: 11:58 pm Nov 04 2004
- Country:
- Location: BANNED FOR LIFE!!
- Contact:
I tried. The longer shock causes the swingarm to extend too far down and it hits the frame. Also the angle of the chain sprockets is all wrong. I think that if the KX lower linkage was changed too, then it might work. A complete swingarm change out too might do the trick. But seriously, I've got both, a KDX and a KX and the KDX rear suspension is every bit as good as the KX on the trails. I would recommend that you not waste the time. Yes, some KX rear shocks have high speed dampening control, but I would not think you could tell the difference.
Jerry
I'd rather be a smartass like carvr, than a dumbass like.... well, you fill in the blank!
I'd rather be a smartass like carvr, than a dumbass like.... well, you fill in the blank!
- KDX220PHIL
- Supporting Member I
- Posts: 419
- Joined: 08:31 am May 19 2005
- Country:
- Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
How about for jumping 7ft. + of air? Do you find the KDX rear suspension adequate? How would a revalved KX Shock compare to a revalved KDX?
I think our terrains may be different but I drive in very little rocky terrain, mainly highspeed woods and open fields, sand pits, lots of hard packed, whoops, and some sand and mud. I don't like to crawl over obstacles like whoops, I like to hit them with speed (except logs, already had an incident there). Would the terrain I drive in change the requiremt of the shock in comparison to rocky terrain? One more thing, jumping the bike is something I never plan giving up, I love jumping as much as I do woods riding.
I think our terrains may be different but I drive in very little rocky terrain, mainly highspeed woods and open fields, sand pits, lots of hard packed, whoops, and some sand and mud. I don't like to crawl over obstacles like whoops, I like to hit them with speed (except logs, already had an incident there). Would the terrain I drive in change the requiremt of the shock in comparison to rocky terrain? One more thing, jumping the bike is something I never plan giving up, I love jumping as much as I do woods riding.
- kdxquebec
- Supporting Member II
- Posts: 1255
- Joined: 07:18 am Nov 24 2004
- Country:
- Location: Québec:North Pole
- Contact:
- KDX220PHIL
- Supporting Member I
- Posts: 419
- Joined: 08:31 am May 19 2005
- Country:
- Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
- KDXer
- Supporting Member
- Posts: 2845
- Joined: 12:11 pm Nov 12 2004
- Country:
- Location: Sydney, Downunder
I am usually known for not letting the truth get in the way of a good story but this next one is gospel, Scout's honour.
I was hitting a 40' t/top on a International class MX track when I first got my KDX. After jumping it all day doing simple little tricks I decided to try preloading / seat bouncing to get extra height. Big mistake.............. Well to cut a long story short we ended up approx measuring 60+ foot. So what you say ?!? Well that was stock standard KDX suspension all round. I'd say the KDX shock with revalving would be more than suffice. Here's a dodgy pic to illustrate the distance I jumped. And yes it did hurt but I didn't crash.
I was hitting a 40' t/top on a International class MX track when I first got my KDX. After jumping it all day doing simple little tricks I decided to try preloading / seat bouncing to get extra height. Big mistake.............. Well to cut a long story short we ended up approx measuring 60+ foot. So what you say ?!? Well that was stock standard KDX suspension all round. I'd say the KDX shock with revalving would be more than suffice. Here's a dodgy pic to illustrate the distance I jumped. And yes it did hurt but I didn't crash.
- KDX220PHIL
- Supporting Member I
- Posts: 419
- Joined: 08:31 am May 19 2005
- Country:
- Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
- KDXGarage
- KDXRider.net
- Posts: 14087
- Joined: 06:45 am Nov 01 2004
- Country: United States of America
- Location: AL, USA
- Contact:
Just to be sure, are you asking if anyone has put a KX shock on ANY KDX, or does "a KDX" mean a KDX of the same model family as yours??
GOOD JOB!! Indawoods to remember that CMOT has a KX shock (and forks) on his KDX200 E model. He said he has 1989 KX forks and shock on it.
If a shock is valved to work well for riding rocks, logs, ruts, roots, etc., then it won't work well for the MX track. Think dual-purpose bike. Good at both, but not fine tuned specifically for either. It would be a compromise. The same goes for a KX shock. If it were fine tuned for a high speed MX track, then it wouldn't work so great plonking along through rocks and logs, etc.
GOOD JOB!! Indawoods to remember that CMOT has a KX shock (and forks) on his KDX200 E model. He said he has 1989 KX forks and shock on it.
If a shock is valved to work well for riding rocks, logs, ruts, roots, etc., then it won't work well for the MX track. Think dual-purpose bike. Good at both, but not fine tuned specifically for either. It would be a compromise. The same goes for a KX shock. If it were fine tuned for a high speed MX track, then it wouldn't work so great plonking along through rocks and logs, etc.
Thank you for participating on kdxrider.net.
To post pictures from a device: viewtopic.php?f=88&t=24128
To post pictures from a device: viewtopic.php?f=88&t=24128
-
- Supporting Member II
- Posts: 1005
- Joined: 06:57 pm Mar 19 2005
- Country:
If the main problem is just that the shaft on a KX shock is an inch longer then a good suspension shop should be able to shorten the shock. The problem then becomes (in my mind anyway) is that the valve stacks that will work with the shortened shock may not be well known. i.e. I would want the shop to commit to revalving it until I was a happy camper
KTM 380EXC Mine
KDX 200 Mark's
TTR 125 L Wife's
KDX 200 Austin's
EC 300 Tyson's
WR430 Husky - mine
KDX 200 Mark's
TTR 125 L Wife's
KDX 200 Austin's
EC 300 Tyson's
WR430 Husky - mine
- KDXGarage
- KDXRider.net
- Posts: 14087
- Joined: 06:45 am Nov 01 2004
- Country: United States of America
- Location: AL, USA
- Contact:
Yeah, what he said.
Unfortunately, by the time one pays for getting a KX shock shortened and revalved and re-revalved a few times, the time and money may not be worth the trouble.
Great point on the revalve information perhaps not being too well known, as a shortened KX shock in a KX is a lot different than a shortened KX shock in a KDX with different:
swingarm length
linkage design
linkage mount location
shock mount location
the many differences in mounting locations of various parts
etc.
etc.
Unfortunately, by the time one pays for getting a KX shock shortened and revalved and re-revalved a few times, the time and money may not be worth the trouble.
Great point on the revalve information perhaps not being too well known, as a shortened KX shock in a KX is a lot different than a shortened KX shock in a KDX with different:
swingarm length
linkage design
linkage mount location
shock mount location
the many differences in mounting locations of various parts
etc.
etc.
Thank you for participating on kdxrider.net.
To post pictures from a device: viewtopic.php?f=88&t=24128
To post pictures from a device: viewtopic.php?f=88&t=24128
-
- Member
- Posts: 71
- Joined: 12:39 pm Nov 14 2004
- Country:
- Location: Houston, TX
If you're wanting a hipo shock, another option would be a Works Performance shock, http://www.worksperformance.com/html/dirt.html. Look at the DB app guide. They list Duracross and Ultracross models for the H series. Haven't tried them before so I don't have any firsthand knowledge but I've seen some good reports on them. They will customize valving setup to what you want it to do.
Best,
Greg
Best,
Greg
'03 KDX200 -Mine
'03 CRF230 - Daughter's
'03 XR100R - Son's
'02 CBR600F4i - Street
'63 Seagrave 531B, '42 Seagrave Aerial
'03 CRF230 - Daughter's
'03 XR100R - Son's
'02 CBR600F4i - Street
'63 Seagrave 531B, '42 Seagrave Aerial
-
- Supporting Member I
- Posts: 74
- Joined: 08:48 pm Nov 15 2004
- Country:
- Location: Québec
For the record, it can be done even if the shock is 1 inch longer. I "temporarily" installed a KX 250 '01 shock while waiting fom the busted kdx shock to be revalved (unfortunatly the rebuilder-racer went to never never land and I'm stuck with the KX shock he lent me for 0$)Anybody try converting the rear suspension on a KDX with a KX?
Why can't this be done?
On the motocross track, the KX shock is absolutely great. Man, bring on those whoops and double jumps. Whoohooo. In the trails, it performs as well as the kdx shock only if I adjust the settings to the softest. My biggest problem is that the bike ends-up sitting taller.... this is not a good thing in technical trails if you are vertically handicaped like me.
Overall, I'd prefer having back my kdx shock revalved to my liking. For now, I enherited a KX shock and learnt to live with it.
No problem with clearances, frame hitting...
Oh, by the way, shims are necessary on the top mount (the KX shock mount is about 1/8 narrower).
KDX220 (RB'd, EFM Autoclutch, FMF Rev, KX front end... Crash proofed and crash tested tOO often !)
- KDXer
- Supporting Member
- Posts: 2845
- Joined: 12:11 pm Nov 12 2004
- Country:
- Location: Sydney, Downunder
- skipro3
- Gold Member
- Posts: 4329
- Joined: 11:58 pm Nov 04 2004
- Country:
- Location: BANNED FOR LIFE!!
- Contact:
John, that KX shock just bolted right up?? On my KDX, it would not fit. The lower part of the shock hit the swingarm when unweighted. Race sag, no, but in the air, it hit hard. Also the angle for the chain was very wrong. Any photos?
Thanks!!!
Thanks!!!
Jerry
I'd rather be a smartass like carvr, than a dumbass like.... well, you fill in the blank!
I'd rather be a smartass like carvr, than a dumbass like.... well, you fill in the blank!
- KDXGarage
- KDXRider.net
- Posts: 14087
- Joined: 06:45 am Nov 01 2004
- Country: United States of America
- Location: AL, USA
- Contact:
Hi, johnkdx220, if you have any photos, or can take some, I would like to see it as well.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you for participating on kdxrider.net.
To post pictures from a device: viewtopic.php?f=88&t=24128
To post pictures from a device: viewtopic.php?f=88&t=24128