Guys,
Over the weekend I decided to perform some inexpensive mods to my bone stock '00 200. I purchased a set of '98 XR 400 springs (.38 kg, I believe) and I wanted to install them in the bike, along with a 12T countershaft sprocket.
I installed the springs, and flushed/replaced the fork oil. I set the fork oil level at 100mm per Fredette's recommendation on the JustKDX site. I also cut the stock metal spacers down, as opposed to using PVC tubing. I filed down the edges of the cut piping, and used a small grinding stone to smooth the interior. Hopefully the metal won't wear and leave "splinters" like I've seen with PVC. I used pipe cutters to cut 2 21 mm sections out of the pipe. This is probably long, but it's easier to cut down a spacer again than to add to it. ;)
I also removed the airbox lid while I was messing around, and installed the 12T front sprocket. My chain is toast anyway, so I figure if I like the mod I'll go back to a 13T front, and larger rear.
WOW! I only rode the bike around the yard (a fair amount of ground here on the lake), and the bike feels great! I didn't appreciate how soft & numb the front end was before! I'm 5'10" & 185 lbs. The front end of the bike feels *much* more planted and secure now. The handling just feels much more...confident, I guess. The bike is also a lot peppier as well, with the removed airbox and smaller sprocket. I'll definitely keep the ratio and go to a 13T front /bigger rear when I replace the chain.
I purchased a '99 YZ 125 last week, and after riding it I was amazed at how light/nimble it is. I've never been on a 125 before, so it was pretty amazing. Very light, handled great, a fair amount of power and physically shorter to boot! I actually started to consider riding the YZ instead of the KDX! Now that I've modded the KDX, though, I'm back to loving it.
If these simple mods ($20 for springs, $18 for sprocket, air box lid = free) improve the bike this much, I can't *wait* for my newly purchased ProCircuit pipe to arrive! :yeehaw:
Color me ecstatic... :thumb:
Brandon
Over the weekend I decided to perform some inexpensive mods to my bone stock '00 200. I purchased a set of '98 XR 400 springs (.38 kg, I believe) and I wanted to install them in the bike, along with a 12T countershaft sprocket.
I installed the springs, and flushed/replaced the fork oil. I set the fork oil level at 100mm per Fredette's recommendation on the JustKDX site. I also cut the stock metal spacers down, as opposed to using PVC tubing. I filed down the edges of the cut piping, and used a small grinding stone to smooth the interior. Hopefully the metal won't wear and leave "splinters" like I've seen with PVC. I used pipe cutters to cut 2 21 mm sections out of the pipe. This is probably long, but it's easier to cut down a spacer again than to add to it. ;)
I also removed the airbox lid while I was messing around, and installed the 12T front sprocket. My chain is toast anyway, so I figure if I like the mod I'll go back to a 13T front, and larger rear.
WOW! I only rode the bike around the yard (a fair amount of ground here on the lake), and the bike feels great! I didn't appreciate how soft & numb the front end was before! I'm 5'10" & 185 lbs. The front end of the bike feels *much* more planted and secure now. The handling just feels much more...confident, I guess. The bike is also a lot peppier as well, with the removed airbox and smaller sprocket. I'll definitely keep the ratio and go to a 13T front /bigger rear when I replace the chain.
I purchased a '99 YZ 125 last week, and after riding it I was amazed at how light/nimble it is. I've never been on a 125 before, so it was pretty amazing. Very light, handled great, a fair amount of power and physically shorter to boot! I actually started to consider riding the YZ instead of the KDX! Now that I've modded the KDX, though, I'm back to loving it.
If these simple mods ($20 for springs, $18 for sprocket, air box lid = free) improve the bike this much, I can't *wait* for my newly purchased ProCircuit pipe to arrive! :yeehaw:
Color me ecstatic... :thumb:
Brandon
