83 kdx200 swap to 86 kdx200 forks

M

Matt90GT

Member

May 3, 2002

1,517

1

• Mar 20, 2003

• #1

So my friend got a complete front end. Forks, wheel, brake, clamps, MC. The works to do the swap.

Any suprises there? I know we are going to need to use the clamps from the newer bike since we are going from 38 to 43mm units.

Thanks for any info!

 

D

dirt bike dave

Sponsoring Member

May 3, 2000

5,348

3

• Mar 21, 2003

• #2

I thought the '86 had 41mm forks and the 43mm did not come along until the '89. Should be a nice swap, worth if for the brakes alone.

 

M

Matt90GT

Member

May 3, 2002

1,517

1

• Mar 21, 2003

• Thread starter
• #3

Find out tomorrow.

Racetech list them as 43mm. The 93-94 use the 41mm inverteds I know for sure. and then the 95+ is the 43mm.

The better forks and brakes is the reason for the swap.

 

M

mulerider

Member

Mar 21, 2003

20

0

• Mar 21, 2003

• #4

No surprises here, unless these forks are rebuilt and completly resprung they will have that same mushy feel.

 

M

Matt90GT

Member

May 3, 2002

1,517

1

• Mar 21, 2003

• Thread starter
• #5

we got KDX250 springs ready to install for the time being since they should be 43mm like the racetech site suggest. After that, move up to the XR springs if needed. Also play with the oil weight.

I am thinking that after increasing the braking on the front of that bike, my friend will notice more brake dive and want stiffer than the KDX250 springs.

 

M

Matt90GT

Member

May 3, 2002

1,517

1

• Mar 22, 2003

• Thread starter
• #6

Simple swap! Everything worked fine on the clamps. The forks were in excellent shape with still yellow colored fluid in the forks. That go changed, seals were good. The MC reservoir cap had a stripped screw, so we used the extra unit in the garage.

Took about 6 hours including lacing a used rim up.

The forks are 43mm FYI.

 

D

dirt bike dave

Sponsoring Member

May 3, 2000

5,348

3

• Mar 23, 2003

• #7

Sounds great, Matt! I am sure it will be a big improvement. If your friend is looking for even more, the older KDX forks really respond to a Race Tech Cartridge Fork Emulator. It worked magic on my '90.