Setup for beginner

[dom]

My '91 KDX is about to be handed down to my girlfriend. She has ridden a bit before but is still very much a beginner. I was planning to add a flywheel weight that I have and swap the springs back to stock. I was also thinking of finding a stock height seat and a stock pipe to tame it down a bit.

I'm about to order sprockets for it. I've always run stock but I was wondering if I should change the gearing. If I was going to ride it more I'd go up 2-3 teeth in the rear to save on the clutch abuse on the really steep hills but I wonder if that would make it harder to control for her. This will be the first 2 stroke she has ever ridden.

Any other suggestions to make it new rider friendly?

 

[kmccune]

Keep the stock gearing and put the snorkel back on. Drop the forks to slow the steering and maybe use less then standard rear preload to even it out a little .... at least untill she starts to use the travel then you'll have to go back to your settings :^) If your worried about the throttle responce, do what I did for my kids, put a piece of 1/4" tube arround the throttle cable on top of the slide, this is an effective way to limit it, when new riders are unsure of themselves.

 

[Zerotact]

you can jet the bike fat, that would make it less powerfull.

 

[skierjet]

Tune it down - and take it slow

I just had an unfortunate experience with a fairly new rider that usually rides a YZ 125. He is somewhat new to woods, and was interested in buying my KDX200, because his 125 needed a top end. I let him borrow it while I rode on my other bike - a woods friendly YZ250. My KDX rips, and he was definately impressed with the power. Unfortunatly, he looped it out and landed very awkward in a water break ditch. Broke his Tibia plateau and tore two ligaments in his knee. Decent rider, but he grabbed a handful of the KDX200 throttle and it was not pretty. No damage to the bike though. He said that his stock YZ125 doesn't pull that strong. Oh - fyi - my '92 KDX has Boyeen Reeds, FMF Fatty & Turbine Core pipes, air box mod, perfect jetting, Wiseco Top end, 38kg front springs, and new 13/49 gearing. Not a brute like my YZ250, but it can still get you in trouble in a hurry. Moral of the story - is that - a tuned down KDX is much more ridable for the beginner than the well modified version. Anyone need a 200?