How would a kdx220 with the typical mods i.e. bigger carb, stiffer springs, pipe, etc. stack up to a 125cc motocrosser witha 144 kit on it. I ride mostly woods with a good amount of single track, some nice hill climbs in coal dirt, and occasional track or jumps. Whats the power difference, weight, and any previous experiance.
KDX220 Vs. mx 144
- Thread starter nfisher87
- Start date
Sunny State KDX
Member
- May 26, 2005
- 105
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A kitted 125 has superior suspension. about 30lbs less weight and equal or more HP. I'm about to give up on the KDX and go with a 125 cause I'm sick of the weight in tight trails. A 125 is more work as you have to keep it on the pipe but they are so much lighter to throw around. Hence why the majority of Off-Road races (GNCC, and Hare Scrambles) you see guys on 250 MX bikes setup for woods work. It's all weight and what you can throw around for 2+ hours. I raced 125's for years and I just can't get used to weight of the KDX I'm also only 155lbs and it is alot of work riding the 220 for 2 hours. Don't get me wrong for just a playbike the KDX is awesome but I'm getting more serious about Hare Scrambles and I'm now shopping for a woods weapon not a great trail bike which is what the KDX is.
I guess I would have the opposite appraisal of them, but I weigh quite a bit more, ride trails more, and ride at much higher altitudes. 125s absolutely suck up here. Major pain in the butt to ride (I had an old IT175 when it was a branny new model - that dates me - and it flat wore me out just to ride). The KDX is a joy and still has plenty of snap, power everywhere, decent if not world class suspension (esp. if you tweak it), and really is not that heavy.
My perspective may be skewed though, note the other bike I ride.
My perspective may be skewed though, note the other bike I ride.
A tricked out KDX will be easier to ride, but a 125 (or 144) will be faster.
I have a 220 with the following -
FMF Rev pipe
FMF Turbine Core II silencer
Boyseen Reeds
FPR Porting
FPR cut head
FPR bored carb
Cut up airbox lid
13/49 gearing
Proper jetting
.40 kg fork springs with 7.5 wt oil
A fresh 125 with a pipe and proper jetting can give me a run, but I almost always win. In fact, the only guys that run neck and neck with me are between 30 and 45 pounds lighter (I'm 180ish). I've never ridden / raced a 144, but I'm sure it would beat me.
I have friends with 125's (98 CR, 01 YZ, 03 YZ, 03 CR). We trade bikes around, they always are amazed at the overall pull my bike has, allowing them to shift far less. But they are horrified at how "fat" my bike it. It really does feel like riding a sofa compared to a 125er. All of em say it's an easy bike to ride, but too hard to go fast on.
When I hop on a 125 the first thing I notice is how tiny the things feel, like I'm on an 80. Second thing I notice is that I have to keep it screaming to make foward progress. I'm sure a 144 has much more low-mid than these bikes though. After a minute or two I'm used to it (I rode a 94 YZ 125 for years). Then I wonder why I have a KDX. I can flat out haul the mail on a MXer compared to the KDX on pretty much any terrain.
In whoops it's no contest. If I'm swapping ends on the KDX at 30 mph I can be calmly cruising at 40 in the same section on an MX bike. Granted a revalve would help me a lot, but I don't think it'd make up that difference.
In single track stuff the 125's are a blast. As long as you are willing to use/abuse the clutch you can fling them through area's where the KDX is bull-dozing me around.
In super tight stuff (like barely moving, crawling over logs/rocks/other riders) it's more of a toss up. The KDX is easier to keep running and moving, but the 125's are much easier to man-handle over obsticles.
On big wide open trails the KDX wins. My bike will pull over 80 mph on GPS, so I eat those guys up. If you geared a 125 to do that the gap between gears would be horrific.
Now, for casual riding the KDX wins. I can cruise all day, no problems. Putting around on a 125 gets old after a while. At race pace my bike beats me up and wears me out, where as a 125 is lighter and eats up terrain better, letting me run hard longer. If I had to do it over again I'd buy a KTM 200 or a 250 motocrosser. To me that'd be the best for running hard, yet having enough power spread to cruise around comfortably when need be.
I have a 220 with the following -
FMF Rev pipe
FMF Turbine Core II silencer
Boyseen Reeds
FPR Porting
FPR cut head
FPR bored carb
Cut up airbox lid
13/49 gearing
Proper jetting
.40 kg fork springs with 7.5 wt oil
A fresh 125 with a pipe and proper jetting can give me a run, but I almost always win. In fact, the only guys that run neck and neck with me are between 30 and 45 pounds lighter (I'm 180ish). I've never ridden / raced a 144, but I'm sure it would beat me.
I have friends with 125's (98 CR, 01 YZ, 03 YZ, 03 CR). We trade bikes around, they always are amazed at the overall pull my bike has, allowing them to shift far less. But they are horrified at how "fat" my bike it. It really does feel like riding a sofa compared to a 125er. All of em say it's an easy bike to ride, but too hard to go fast on.
When I hop on a 125 the first thing I notice is how tiny the things feel, like I'm on an 80. Second thing I notice is that I have to keep it screaming to make foward progress. I'm sure a 144 has much more low-mid than these bikes though. After a minute or two I'm used to it (I rode a 94 YZ 125 for years). Then I wonder why I have a KDX. I can flat out haul the mail on a MXer compared to the KDX on pretty much any terrain.
In whoops it's no contest. If I'm swapping ends on the KDX at 30 mph I can be calmly cruising at 40 in the same section on an MX bike. Granted a revalve would help me a lot, but I don't think it'd make up that difference.
In single track stuff the 125's are a blast. As long as you are willing to use/abuse the clutch you can fling them through area's where the KDX is bull-dozing me around.
In super tight stuff (like barely moving, crawling over logs/rocks/other riders) it's more of a toss up. The KDX is easier to keep running and moving, but the 125's are much easier to man-handle over obsticles.
On big wide open trails the KDX wins. My bike will pull over 80 mph on GPS, so I eat those guys up. If you geared a 125 to do that the gap between gears would be horrific.
Now, for casual riding the KDX wins. I can cruise all day, no problems. Putting around on a 125 gets old after a while. At race pace my bike beats me up and wears me out, where as a 125 is lighter and eats up terrain better, letting me run hard longer. If I had to do it over again I'd buy a KTM 200 or a 250 motocrosser. To me that'd be the best for running hard, yet having enough power spread to cruise around comfortably when need be.
- Jul 3, 1999
- 2,726
- 1
Keeping a 125 on the pipe for 2 hrs in tight trails will wear you out, and you'll be swapping a lot more because you don't have any bottom end so you have to pin it to go anyplace. I weigh 155 also and a 2hr harescrambles is not that bad, and an all day mixed terrain ride is way fun but not on a 125.The KTM will get you good bottom end and light weight with better suspension.
Just my $.02
Just my $.02
Sunny State KDX
Member
- May 26, 2005
- 105
- 0
I rode an 04 RM250 yesterday with woods suspension set for my weight (155lbs) I am now leaning that way instead of the 125... The power was right where it needed to be and you could crawl it when needed. It did have an 8oz flywheel weight and my friend said that makes a huge difference in slow speed situations. The suspension and weight were so much better than the KDX that I'm scrambling to sell my bike right now so I can buy this guys RM. He just bought an 06 RM250.
Anyone want a superclean slightly modded KDX220???? LOL
Anyone want a superclean slightly modded KDX220???? LOL
Sunny State KDX
Member
- May 26, 2005
- 105
- 0
You got mail Greg :)
