KDXRIDER.NET

What are the advantages to dropping a KDX motor into a KX frame? and if so what years work with a 2003 220?

Lighter weight frame, with better handling amd better suspension. Any year kx will work but I am sure some years would be easier than others.

mostly the better handling and suspension though (and, if you are into that kind of thing, a more modern look)
I seem to remember one of our member making a KX 125 hybrid and weighing that, it only weighed less then 10 pounds less than a stock KDX

Is the suspension and handling that much better than a KDX with KX forks? I just don't see that much difference between the frames.

Is the suspension and handling that much better than a KDX with KX forks?

Yes.

I did the xr400 springs upgrade, then the KX forks upgrade, and finally built a KDX powered CR250. There is no comparison.

To be fair though, the KDX was better for just plunking around

It's really apples and oranges. The KDX is a trail bike, whereas the KX is an MX bike. In certain situations, a properly suspended and tuned KDX will have its advantage. In others, the lighter and more nimble MX chassis will have its own advantages. When deciding if an MX hybrid is the build for you, it's important to consider what you spend most of your time doing with the bike, and what you expect from it.

And don't forget the big difference in ergonomics. KX is much slimmer, with a flatter seat-to-tank transition.

Correct. The kdx is more of a sit IN, and the kx is more of a sit ON.

Apples to oranges is right. In some places i love my hybrid, in others i hate it and look down on it. i've still been unable to find a bike thats all around as good as a kdx in the tight trails. Once the trails open up a bit the hybrid is just unbeatable. I would liken the hybrid as a quiver weapon.

Absolutely. I want a hybrid, but am not willing to give up the comfort of my E bike. It's like a tractor powered couch, lol.

How do the mid 90's to 98 KX frame compare to the H series KDX? Would a hybrid off one of those frames be similar to a late model hybrid or not really worth the effort for such a little gain over the stock KDX?

Probably not much gain, but would be a fun build. I've got a 93 kx125 roller in the shed, if I ever happen across an H series motor / donor bike for it, I will find out .

The biggest gain/loss that you will realize is the longer rake of the KX. One of the reasons that the KDX is so good in tight woods, the short rake. But the hindrance to the short rake is that it (the KDX) doesn't land jumps as well as a KX.
IMO that would be the largest gain/loss (as apposed to just swapping forks), doing the DX/X hybrid. So if you want to race a KDX on a "track" that has lots of big jumps, the Hybrid would be Ideal. But then again, if you ride trails a lot, you loose the ability to ride in circles around a tree.

Which is the best bike for a beginner, a KDX with better forks, or a KDX/KX hybrid? I will use it to play around on, and right tight trails and enduro's. No motocross racing or jumping at all.

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for what its worth the 2003-2005 chassis is the easy one to convert. It can use the stock KDX pipe.