OEM looking street legal conversion?

[Juke22]

Hello all,

I’m looking to convert my new KDX200H into an OEM looking street legal dirt bike.

I personally prefer the original look of the bike, and not those universal headlights/taillights kits. I like older stuff, bikes of this era, so I’d prefer to keep the plastics original.

So far, the only hi/lo headlight option I’m seeing are the small mountable LED auxiliary lights. There don’t seem to be any aftermarket LED that just fits right into the stock shroud.

https://procycle.us/product/2210-auxili ... egasus-led

Similarly, for the brake light, I think I’ll need to modify the existing rear fender light to include a second bulb for the brake light, but I heard the stock red lens does not glow well with a LED (maybe I could add some clear red film?)

Apparently there is an OEM license plate bracket?? But I can’t find it. The rear blinkers could be mounted to that, but might hit the muffler. I’d prefer not to drill holes into the rear fender. Front blinkers should be easy enough.

I read briefly that I may need to rewind the stator, but have not done research yet. I’m sure plenty of people have done this before, but surprised not found more info on using stock/oem plastics.

I appreciate any info y’all have, or can point me in some direction. Thanks

PS don’t hate me for making this great trail bike street legal!! I started on a DRZ400S, and am progressing towards more off-roading. If all goes well I’ll be on the hunt for a coveted purple 1995, and eventually collect an XR400, XR250, DRZ400 kicker, KDX200.. maybe WR400, and CRF250X too. Carbureted, older, Japanese bikes are what I like.

Thanks

[KDXGarage]

Welcome to kdxrider.net.

The USA version did not come with a tag holder, but an international version may have. That probably means an international fender also.

Good luck on the conversion.

[billie_morini]

juke22,
get some two lead 12V automotive sockets. These examples use two filament 1157 bulbs. They'll work very well for the tail light. They can be used for a two filament headlight or you can select a different socket for much brighter headlight.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/315121580122

https://jcaparts.com/cdn/shop/products/ ... 1545143853

[Chopperpilot]

juke22,
get some two lead 12V automotive sockets. These examples use two filament 1157 bulbs. They'll work very well for the tail light. They can be used for a two filament headlight or you can select a different socket for much brighter headlight.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/315121580122

https://jcaparts.com/cdn/shop/products/ ... 1545143853

Agreed, I did this on my KLX650R which has the same tailight setup as the KDX (except is already DC power). Another trick to making the tail and brake light much brighter (besides using an LED) is to paint all the inside, sides, of the tail light holder (except the part of the red lens pointing straight back) with white paint. It's shocking how much the white paint on the inside made the taillight on the KLX.

[Chuck78]

Browse Yamaha WR250/400/426/450 taillights on eBay if you have the OEM KDX rear fender still. The Yamaha WR version is the EXACT same Koito taillight as the '95+ KDX, except that it has a dual filament socket for use with an 1157 brake light taillight bulb! You can of course also just chop up the original to fit a dial filament socket

[Chuck78]

On the high/low beam headlight, 1990-2006 KDX OEM headlights use the same bulb socket as the Honda XR, for which Cyclops Adventure Sports offer an LED kit with inline rectifier and high/low Trail Tech light + kill switch combo. 1989 KDX200E1 did not use the same headlight bulb socket, FYI.

UFO KDX headlights also use a different bulb type which is far less common as well, so verify what you have exactly.

https://www.cyclopsadventuresports.com/ ... b-kit.html

Ouch... The price went up about 25% since a few months ago... Bummer.

[Juke22]

You guys ROCK!

The Yamaha WR version is the EXACT same Koito taillight as the '95+ KDX, except that it has a dual filament socket for use with an 1157 brake light taillight bulb! You can of course also just chop up the original to fit a dial filament socket

Are you referring to the whole taillight assembly, for example this 2000 WR400F? Part#: 5BF-84710-00-00

So I’d only need one bulb?? I’ll have to figure out how to wire that from the brake light switch, shouldn’t be too hard. Thanks!

“juke22,
get some two lead 12V automotive sockets. These examples use two filament 1157 bulbs. They'll work very well for the tail light…”

Thanks! Maybe this won’t be so tough with yalls help

“On the high/low beam headlight … Cyclops Adventure Sports offer an LED kit with inline rectifier and high/low Trail Tech light + kill switch combo… “

That looks bright!

Welcome to kdxrider.net.

The USA version did not come with a tag holder, but an international version may have. That probably means an international fender also.

Good luck on the conversion.

Thanks, I just saw some fender extensions/flap for sale in Japan for the 1991 KDX200SR.. I wonder if it would fit, or off another bike.. yikes this might be the hardest part of the build. Might have to fabricate something to extend from the frame under the fender.

Agreed, I did this on my KLX650R which has the same tailight setup as the KDX (except is already DC power). Another trick to making the tail and brake light much brighter (besides using an LED) is to paint all the inside, sides, of the tail light holder (except the part of the red lens pointing straight back) with white paint. It's shocking how much the white paint on the inside made the taillight on the KLX.

Thanks, great advice! Does DC mean I’ll need a battery and rectifier? Will I need to do that, or will the stock stator have enough output? Might the KLX650R be better than the WR if so?

[Chopperpilot]

I don't know the specs on the WR vs KLX650R. My 96 KLX650R already had a DC setup and has enough juice for the factory radiator fan, two LED headlights (kind of a BAJA setup), and heated grips......just not all at the same time. I do not have a battery on the KLX650R. It's a fairly rare bike with a cult like following (only imported 93-96), the 96 has a significantly better electrical system than previous versions and is the only one with a radiator fan. Now there was a street legal version called the KLX650C that had a battery, electric start, etc. Not as light and doesn't have the offroad prowess (heehee) of the kickstart R model, but seems to be a pretty sweet dual sport. Too bad everyone back then bought the KLR650 instead because of the price.