kx 100 1996 specs.Vs new

[Ed95Pont]

I am hunting for a bike for my wife.We have decided on an kx100.I really would like to bye one a little older and put a few bucks into it slowlly.I just dont have the cash right now for a late model one.

Anyone up to speed on the significant changes throught the years.Are they all powervalve engines.What about suspension changes.Some where I read that they made significant changes in 98.But I cant find any specs on the mid 90 ones anywere on the net.

Their are a couple 96 models forsale locally.I have not checked them out yet.

Thanks
ED

 

[bikepilot]

I am not up to speed on what changes were made when, but there are bassically two types of KX100's, I'll call them old and new. The older ones had on radiator shroud on the right and no shroud on the left, the new ones have shrouds on both sides to look more like a big bike (but still one rad).

The old ones had conventional damper rod forks, the new ones have inverted cartridge forks.

The old ones have steel swingarms, the new ones have aluminum swing arms

The old ones have no powervalve

The new ones have a powervalve (but its rather unefective and prone to failure)

The old ones were bullet proof

The new ones have several different power valve releated problems (still not fixed on the 05's)


The KX100's at my house (I'v ridden both).
- My sister's 1991 KX80 Big Wheel. Mods, RPM 107.2cc motor, ported for low to mid, FMF exhaust.
- My wife's 2003 KX100. Mods bill's exhaust, mabey a 105cc big bore, porting unknown.

Experence
- motor: sister's bike makes more low, mid and top power.
wife's bike is decent, runs very crisp and clean, but isn't quite as strong on the low end as sister's bike
- egronomics:
Sister's bike feels smaller. A bigger rider like myself (5'10" 160lbs) finds the assymetrical tank/shroud set up a little odd.
Wife's Bike feels like a 2/3rds scale KX125. Tank/shrouds are symmetrical which is a plus in my book
- Suspension Forks:
Sisters bike: Forks are damper rod style and do not respond to sharp bumps (like rocks or tree roots) very well, flex is noticable.
Wife's bike: Forks respond to sharp bumps fairly well, flex much less noticeable.
- Suspension Shock: Both bikes feel quite similar, and work reasonably well.

Brakes - both bikes have pretty good brakes, front brake on my wife's bike is a bit stronger than that of my sister's bike.

hope this helps