TTR125 to KDX200 too big of a jump?

[TrikeKid]

I have a modded TTR125L now and probably towards the end of this year i'll be looking to sell it and get a KDX. My dad says that he thinks its too much bike for me to take care of in rutted/rooty conditions like we were riding this weekend. I think that if I put a Kouba KDX3 link set in and maybe shave the seat that it'd be fine. I think i can get between 1800 and 2000 for my TTR and around here that should cover a KDX and the stuff I need to set it up. What has changed on the KDX over the years other than the water cooling and such, I see alot of parts that only fit 95 and up, what changed?

[86waterpumper]

How tall are you? The kdx sits fairly low compared to mx bikes as it is. The power is controllable, especially if it's basically stock. Then later on you can add a pipe and various other mods as your skill level increases etc. The reason you see parts only fitting the 95's and up is because that is the last time the kdx got a huge makeover pretty much. The 89 through 94 kdx's were watercooled, but they had a round style frame, and a bit fatter seat, but I think they are still great bikes. In 95, they went to a square style perimiter frame, and made them look somewhat more like a mx bike, and then in 97 the 220 came out, which has a good bit more low end grunt, but isn't quite as fast as the 200. The newer models obviously have more aftermarket parts avialable to a point, and you can choose between a low end and a rev pipe. Here is a pic of my 94 model

[TrikeKid]

I'm about 5'3 the TTR has an extended swingarm to raise it to around 33-34in seat hight and i'm almost flat foot in boots.

[86waterpumper]

Well the kdx even stock, (and this is the newer models) is only 36 inches on the seat height, so you are only looking at a difference of two inches. If you have to, use the lowering links, but I wouldn't shave the foam on the seat, I don't think it'll be needed, and the newer kdx's don't have much seat cushion to spare. I didn't look up the specs on the older 89 through 94 bikes, but I bet they are lower than 36 already.

[TrikeKid]

well if we buy one my dad wants to get a 95+ for a buddy bike, I am looking more at an XR simply because of the availability. All the KDX's around here are in the $3000 range because they're all so new.

[TrikeKid]

We got a KDX. 95 with an FMF pipe and silencer, acerbis head light and a graphic kit. Course dad tore into it before I got a chance to ride it and found all the things that are wrong with it, now we need a new linkage, radiators and a bunch of miscellanious bolts. It was still an alright deal for $1700

[ScottZJ]

Wow that seems aweful high for that year. I guess location could pose alot of the price issue. I got a 2000 KDX200 for around 1600$ I think lol. They are great bikes to have a fun to ride. They dont do great at a MX track with huge jumps but they will do fine on the average jumps in the woods...........peace



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[TrikeKid]

yeah the cheapest 2000 around here was 2250. the good news is that we dont need a linkage because we managed to save the original, still wont be out for this weekend unless the dennis kirk order with the linkage bearings gets here tommorow.