Well guys I screwed up and sold my KDX 220. I thought I wanted to get something a little more modern and maybe move to a 4 stroke. It's been a few months now and I've been to look at a few bikes and ridden a couple different ones. I knew I screwed up pretty soon after I did it. The KDX is all the bike I need for my riding conditions and I'd have been better off putting a little money into the one I had vs buying something different.
It's too late now but I just came across another 04 220 on craigslist. He is asking $1400 which based on the pictures seems pretty fair, best of all it's really close to home. That is good because I've already wasted several hours driving across the state to look at bikes that turned out to be junkers. Anyway I was looking at the pictures and I wasn't sure what the thing is covering up the water pump? I knew it looked funny but I've never seen a KDX motor look like that.
Id think its worth a look, does look like a pump protector.
Has the stock piston been changed out? It doesn't look like its been messed with or abused. I'd probably go, shake the rear wheel and swingarm, and show him $1200 cash (with another $200 in my back pocket lol). I'd check for other signs of abuse, but seems fair, especially close to home. That is if it's as it looks... let us know!
I know shaking the rear wheel checks for wheel bearings and linkage/swing arm bearings. If they are loose, is it hard or expensive to repair?
I know about the 220 piston and I don't know if it has been replaced but I have already taken that into consideration.
I may shoot him a lowball offer of $1000 and see if he bites but I'd probably give him his asking price if he can verify the top end and if I don't find anything else wrong.
JFortner5 wrote:I know shaking the rear wheel checks for wheel bearings and linkage/swing arm bearings. If they are loose, is it hard or expensive to repair?
Once you can get all the parts of the suspension off, swapping out the bearings isn't that difficult. You don't have to use a press, common tools work. These are from my hybrid but a KDX should be similar.
But, and it is a BIG BUT, getting the parts off can be a real pain if the PO hasn't serviced them periodically. The swing arm bolt is a common one that can be very difficult to remove if it is seized in place. You can do a search here or on TT and get an idea of what could be involved.
I went and looked at the bike in person today. It looks good and is cleaner than when the pictures were taken. I thought it had a stock pipe on it but that is actual an eline carbon fiber guard over an FMF Gnarly. That's a bonus and $200 I don't have to spend on a pipe. The radiators weren't smashed up and everything suspension wise felt tight. It started from dead cold with one kick.
Unfortunately it started pouring rain, but I rode the bike anyway. I didn't stay on it long because I was soaked instantly, but I rode it enough to shift up and down through the gears and check the brakes. I left it there because of the rain and I also stupidly forgot my ramp but I should be going to pick it up tomorrow.
I think he is. He told me he was raised to keep his word and that it would be there for me tomorrow. He had a guy offer him more than his asking price but he refused. Seems like a good guy to me.
Once it's in my possession tomorrow I'm going to go ahead and order the new piston and I'll probably strip the bike down for a good cleaning/inspection.
