Need advise on a good enduro setup....

[leeinmemphis]

Hey guys,

I am a "c" class hare scramble rider am 29 years old and weigh about 230 lbs. I have a 2001 husky 360 that I race hare scrambles and trail ride on. My dad has a 2000 kdx that has been sitting in the garage and only ridden once. I am considering setting the kdx up for enduros. In order to do this I'll have to spend about 1500 or so on the suspension and motor mods and I'm not quite sure it's worth it. I asked the kdx guys and they seem to think the bike can be made "competitive" but won't be quite up to par. My husky is a handful to ride in a hare scramble and really don't think I can handle it on an enduro. My question is do I need to go ahead and bite the bullet and sell the kdx then buy a 200exc or 400exc or something like that or is it still a "good" idea to put that kind of money into a kdx? Are there any other bikes or options I should consider? I know for resale value the kdx will never get my money out of it if I fit it with all of the enduro stuff but am just wondering what the plus and minuses are. Thanks.

-lee -

 

[Farmer John]

Keep the KDX & fix the suspension.
If you are in the C class you can win on just abourt anything as long as you are stubborn enough to finish.
A KDX 220 would be a good stater enduro bike mostly because it will not wear you out over a 80 - 110 mile event.

 

[lawman]

hey lee,
can't get reply to work on p.m., so i'll answer here.

glad to hear you are interested in enduros! the kdx makes a fine enduro bike, esp. since you are just starting out. an enduro is not like a hs; it's much longer; the terrain is usually alot rougher; & you have to try to go fast on someone else's schedule on terrain you see only once or at the most twice. it's alot different from going around for lap after lap on a hs track that is wide enough for atv's! it's alot more dependent on the rider than pretty much any other form of dirt bike racing, so you'll see people do well on almost anything. i think you need something you are used to so you don't have to think about riding it, that is easy to ride all day (around here, 55-80 mi. or so), on every kind of terrain. the trails are sometimes hard to do at any speed, much less fast, & yet people will fly by you! my philosophy is that anybody can go fast on the easier, hi-speed parts, so these races are won & lost in the super-tight sections (this is why i ride a 200 myself). since you think your 360 would be too much & you already have the kdx, i think i'd do minimal mods on the kdx (pipe, jetting, tires, springs & valving) & then take it from there. it will be fine for your 1st few & then if you really get into it, you can decide where to go from there.

the new schedule is up, & we'll be doing all of them if possible, so let me know if you want to go & we'll hook you up. they're alot of fun! john

 

[justql]

I ran my first few enduros on a bone stock KDX. They're great bikes. It'll work great for you.

 

[fishhead]

I suggest fixing the suspension on the kdx first and modify the motor later

 

[MN KDXer]

Lee,

I answered in the KDX room, and after reading your post here with more info, I have some more thoughts.

First question, is- how much have you ridden the KDX? Compared to the Husky, it's gonna be a real pooch. That in itself can be a major adjustment. You may not like the KDX unless it was burning nitro.

Second, how tall are you? From what I've seen, the shorter guys seem to do better on the KDX than us taller spouts. If you're tall, get some taller bars and the tall seat foam.... actually, just get the seat foam right away, a heavier guy like yourself will smash the stock stuff quickly. (not being a smartguy; the stock foam is squish stuff and flabs out quickly for everyone except those lightweights who stand all the time.)

But, if you were to keep the KDX, I'd take things in a couple of steps. First, a guy your weight MUST have stiffer fork springs; about 5 sizes stiffer! The stockers are good for someone in the 140# range, but the stock rear spring is good for a 190# person. You'd want both springs. While you're in the fork, max the oil height and go to 7wt. The next thing to spend on, is to get a RaceTech kit for the forks. (or WER, or MX Tech makes them, too). About $120-140. They aren't really very hard to install, once you have the nifty damper rod holder tool (like I drew up for the Just KDX room). With those changes, the KDX would be a whole bunch better, and should be good enough to get you rolling pretty good. Last, round up a T or R pipe with the stock carb + stock silencer and let it buck. (rejet & drill out the airbox lid = free.) The bike will be well on its way, and will give you a feel for whether you like the bike enough to go further.

Another avenue to consider- Enduro-ize the Husky. See if you can get a flywheel weight, perhaps a different pipe, and suspension work. (is it the MX or enduro version? I'm completely in the dark about Huskys.)

 

[leeinmemphis]

thanks guys. I'm probably going to go ahead and install the springs and valves.


mn. I am about 6' tall. The husky is the enduro model but it has a seat that feels like you are riding on a diving board. I don't think I can stand an all day enduro on that thing. I may go ahead and do the kdx suspension and see what happens. Then if I don't like that I'll probably go ahead and buy a 200exc or something like that. Thanks again.

-lee-

 

[Farmer John]

Lee,
Go check out Julius Pleaser's thread in the For Sale forum.
I think these are the springs you would be looking for.