KDXRIDER.NET

can anyone give me some things to check regarding the rather flat response i am getting in first and second gear on my bike??
once it hits 3rd it flies!
everything is stock on the bike and i haven't checked the jet's yet!!

If jetting is OK, then you are experiencing the KDXs low gearing. When I first got my KDX I hated the gearing and jumped the front sprocket up a tooth. I have reconsidered this though and think a 14/50 combo is best for these bikes, just don't use first gear....at all.
I am racing on an MX track and want the instant throttle "hit" though.

james wrote:can anyone give me some things to check regarding the rather flat response i am getting in first and second gear on my bike??
once it hits 3rd it flies!
everything is stock on the bike and i haven't checked the jet's yet!!

my kids 95 is the same way...1st n 2nd suck....but 3rd n up it rips. Almost feels like theres something wrong!! Did you ever change gearing such as 6 suggested? Stock gearing too. Maybe 6 is on to something!!??

First and second are very short at 13/47. I like the trials-bike grunt of it for crawling, but honestly I tried

15 /48

and found this to be my favorite. This ratio forces the rider to choose between a LITTLE BIT MORE clutch usage in the nasty stuff (seriously, instead of 3 seconds of total slipping all day, it's 5, not much difference in 4hours of riding!) and the first side benefits are:

1 I carry more speed over obstacles instead of relying on the crawling ability of the lwoer gearing
2 i don't have to micro-manage the throttle or clutch to control traction, just let the taller gearing (and less torque) prevent wheelspin
3 1 effects 2 also, since there is more speed carried, there is less on/off throttle, and less spinning up of the rear in slick conditions

BUT, I'm a slow rider, if I were to race I'd be a C class scrambler IF the conditions were absolutely perfect, and was 110% on my game, and KNEW EVERY TURN OF THE TRAILS from riding them all summer long. For a fast guy, he may want to gear to set 3rd up as the most used range of the day.

A friend of mine who is faster than me (hey mulley) said he gears the bike for third gear to be the most used during a race. It seems to work pretty good, but I'm no expert, just passing on my own experiences. :)



The best part of all of this: it takes two minutes to change from 13/14/15 and try it out. Give it a shot on your favorite trail and see what you think. Don't let the nano second of extra clutch slipping to get you moving change your mind, it's everything AFTER you're moving in second that mattes ;-)

Report back too :)

I agree with ohgood,s reasoning and swapping your front sprockets is minimal difference on chain length, cost but maximum benefit.

how does it take only 2 minutes to change a front sprocket???
details please???

so let me just recap and clarify ! the less teeth i have in front the better the bottom end and one or two extra will improve mid to top end???
i was running 13/48 now 14/48 so this will effect my bottom end???

Yes, with 14 on the front your gears will be slightly taller.