Greetings,
I've just picked up a 2004 KDX 220, and while its in decent shape, it'll be getting a full rebuild over the next several weeks, along with a boatload of accessories!
2 things are for certain, the piston will be replaced with a Wiseco kit, and the head & carb will be sent to RB Designs for his mods.
I'd like to know which after-market brand I should choose for the following items:
Good looking bike. Mt thoughts:
Cycra triple tree handguard mounts.
cycra hardguards
heated grips if you ride in the cold
front end swap to inverted forks
devol skid plate, radiator guards.
aluminum pipe guard if you drop bikes and ride rocks
change fluids
grease swingarm bolt - rear suspension points
bearings if needed
and RIDE that dood ! ! !
2005 KDX 220
R&B Carb Mod
R&B Head Mod
Fork Swap - 99 KX125 Valved for B woods plush
FMF Gnarley
Airbox Mod
Tagged
I vote for the Hyde skid plate
E-line pipe guard
works connection rear caliper guard
BRP chain guide
MSR shift lever
works connection rad braces
pro taper or renthal sprockets
IMS footpegs
pivot works for all bearing kits
factory connection for the suspension rebuild/revalve
dunlop MX51 for tires or pirelli scorpions
and if I may add Zeta odometer drive canceler
maier rear mx fender
moto tassinari v-force 3 reed valve
and Amsoil for all your fluids
Greetings,
Interesting point about the lighter chassis, but while we would all like to ride lighter bikes, my goal here is primarily to build a comfortable, powerful, rugged, and bullet-proof KDX.
I'll leave the frame and fork swap mods for another bike at another time.
Pro-X piston. - I can't imagine why any non-racer would go Wiseco.
Klotz gear and pre-mix oils. Get the Super Techniplate KL-101 at 50:1
Lucas Ethanol stabilizer when you mix your fuel because ethanol free gas is getting harder and harder to find. This stuff makes it a non-issue. I use Amoco 93 and never foul a plug and every bike in the stable runs better than they ever have.
The Moose Contour handguards are a better price point and look better to me than the Cycra but I find the Cycra more comfortable.
Fasst flex bars are OK on a big heavy bike but I wouldn't add that much weight to a KDX.
RB mods, head and carb are mandatory.
I don't care for a steering stabilizer personally, every time I ride a bike with one, I turn it to the weakest setting. Just added weight on a KDX. These bikes aren't twitchy anyway.
Skid plate? Pick one that looks cool to you. Other than that, what's the difference?
Hyde skid plate with integral pipe guard. Tougher than any aluminum guard and you slip over the rocks and stumps instead of gouging and sticking on an aluminum plate+ best protection for your pipe hands down.. Hyde fork and disc guard, Hyde swingarm and rear disc guard. Hyde frame protectors. = one well protected 220!
MadMax wrote:Pro-X piston. - I can't imagine why any non-racer would go Wiseco.
Because the stock (pro-x) piston for the kdx220 likes to shatter, dropping big chucks of aluminum into the bottom end, often times wrecking the main bearings, rod bearings, cylinder plating, and head. At that point, you'd sure wish you had paid the extra $20 for the forged piston.
MadMax wrote:Pro-X piston. - I can't imagine why any non-racer would go Wiseco.
Because the stock (pro-x) piston for the kdx220 likes to shatter, dropping big chucks of aluminum into the bottom end, often times wrecking the main bearings, rod bearings, cylinder plating, and head. At that point, you'd sure wish you had paid the extra $20 for the forged piston.
If it were a 200, the pro-x piston would be fine.
I thought using the pro-x cured this problem over the oem. So, Pro-X actually made the oem 220 piston? I thought there was a lot more to it than that. Wasn't there a huge discussion on here about that? Meh.
As far as the extra $20... Small money is never an issue with my choice of parts. I'd pay $20 more for the Pro-X in my 200 just so I can avoid cold seizures. Around here, I'm not the only person to cold crank this beast.
Cold seizures can be an issue with forged pistons, yes. But not nearly as much as they used to be.
And yes, pro-x/art produces the stock pistons for many manufacturers, kawasaki 2 strokes included. The pro-x piston is exactly the same unit as the OEM. I'm not interested in having another cast vs. forged debate, that horse is past dead. I like and use both. I do prefer the wiseco though, simply for durability. Suffice it to say that I would not put a cast piston in a 220, ever.
Thanks for that. I'll keep it in mind when I get a 220. I just won't let my kid ride it unless I've warmed it up first. LOL
I thought Pro-X just made a direct OEM copy. I'm glad to learn something everyday. Wait, now that I think of it, I did know that Pro-X made the Kawi pistons, I was thinking of Vertex and KTM.
Would knock off 20-50lbs in the process.
