I had thought of doing my own list on what I consider the top 5 mods for the KDX are for some time so I finally did it. I'm sure some of you have seen it already but I made a video on it and thought I would share it here. Do you agree? Think I'm wrong? Let me know what mods you think rate higher!
Re: My Top 5 Mods for the KDX
Posted: 03:29 pm May 20 2022
by bufftester
Mostly agree with the mods, I would order them a little differently and add a couple that would be most beneficial for the riding we do out here in the Pacific North West.
1. Suspension - Front and rear springs/valves, or a rear spring/front fork swap. Suspension is the most bang for your buck when starting out, will make the most dramatic impact to your riding, and aid in your progression.
2. Aftermarket Pipe - Really helps the bike breathe and uncorks some potential in both the 200 and 220. You could do a silencer as well, but the stock one is quite quiet and easy to service, and a spark arrestor which is a must in our part of the country (although it is also quite heavy)
3. Skid Plate - Simple protection that can literally save your engine. Still amazes me that all the bike companies turn out off-road bikes without basic off-road protection smh
4. Bark Busters - Wrap around hand guards are a must in the tight woods. Unless you really like broken fingers
5. This one is a toss up for me. Either head mods, or carb mods. If your carb is working great, then go head mod. If your carb is finicky and hard to adjust then the carb mod.
After that there are a bunch of little things, clutch actuator, tires, pegs, steering stabilizer, kick starter, stator rewind, lighting...etc. All of which are covered on this site in detail.
Love the vids!
Re: My Top 5 Mods for the KDX
Posted: 04:53 pm May 20 2022
by SS109
See, that's what I want to hear!
Yes, suspension is number one. I guess my vid was a bit misleading in that I numbered them but it really wasn't done with any thought to order. Just my top 5.
I forgot all about the pipe it's been so long since I rode with one. Doh! Huge difference in power over the OEM pipe.
The skid plate and bark busters are more great mods but I consider those a mod for any bike and not just the KDX hence why I didn't include them. Of course, some would say the same about suspension but the KDX is one that benefits from a suspension swap more than any off enduro made since probably the mid 90's!
Re: My Top 5 Mods for the KDX
Posted: 05:39 pm May 21 2022
by MoonStomper
Sorry, all of those mods place second to… Limited Edition Purple Renthal handlebars!!!
93B2273C-1660-423D-82C8-81FA6FF46F6A.jpeg (737.53 KiB) Viewed 3975 times
Re: My Top 5 Mods for the KDX
Posted: 07:04 pm May 21 2022
by Slick_Nick
MoonStomper wrote: 05:39 pm May 21 2022
Sorry, all of those mods place second to… Limited Edition Purple Renthal handlebars!!!
I scored me some for my KX125 retro build. They aren’t available in Canada so I had to ship them to the states and fly down and pick them up! I found a guy on Etsy who makes the bar pads with the classic Renthal font!
2AE1F346-B751-4EEB-94F9-402882E488CE.jpeg (3.55 MiB) Viewed 3971 times
Re: My Top 5 Mods for the KDX
Posted: 07:44 pm May 21 2022
by SS109
MoonStomper wrote: 05:39 pm May 21 2022
Sorry, all of those mods place second to… Limited Edition Purple Renthal handlebars!!!
93B2273C-1660-423D-82C8-81FA6FF46F6A.jpeg
Now if only the frame matched the bars!
Re: My Top 5 Mods for the KDX
Posted: 08:59 pm May 21 2022
by doakley
Ha ha! Purple bars, really?
I modded my '99 220 specifically for enduros and hare scrambles. Here's my top mods:
1. Suspension, I have KX 250 forks with gold valves, sprung and set up by a local pro suspension tuner. My shock is the stock KDX but modded by Jeff Fredette, again for my weight and old man speed (or lack thereof), Best bang for the buck by far.
2. FMF pipe and silencer/spark arrestor ('nuff said!)
3. Ron Black carb mod and head mod (WOW! really woke up this bike!)
4. Auto clutch and left hand rear brake. I tried a Magura hydraulic clutch and it was good, but at my age, nothing helped ME as much as the auto-clutch. Combined with the LH rear brake it makes the tight and technical stuff much better for me. I don't even have a foot brake any more. Put a longer brake line on the Magura clutch master cylinder and ran it directly to the rear brake. Works perfectly and I have a lot more rear brake control now.
5. Flexx bars. If I have to compete with Moon Stomper's purple bars I'll say the Flexx bars have really helped me deal with the vibration and broken shoulders. Expensive for what you get, but IMO, worth it to me.
Other mods were more in the category of personal preference, foot pegs, grips, bark busters, radiator guards, skid plate, fenders etc. than things that made me faster or safer (both of which are misused words given my slow speed and crash history). I also really like the new taller, firmer seat and custom gripper cover. Don't think it made me any faster but I'm 6'1" and it makes the bike fit better.
Re: My Top 5 Mods for the KDX
Posted: 01:33 pm Jun 08 2022
by VTMTcowboy
MoonStomper wrote: 05:39 pm May 21 2022
Sorry, all of those mods place second to… Limited Edition Purple Renthal handlebars!!!
93B2273C-1660-423D-82C8-81FA6FF46F6A.jpeg
By the time I realized they were available, they were already sold out! That would have been perfect for my 97 220. Maybe they'll come back for another round since they seemed to be so popular. Great bike by the way!
Suspension, carb tuning, controls (pegs, grips, bars) and tires top the list for me. Number 5 is an unknown at this point.
MoonStomper wrote: 05:39 pm May 21 2022
Sorry, all of those mods place second to… Limited Edition Purple Renthal handlebars!!!
I scored me some for my KX125 retro build. They aren’t available in Canada so I had to ship them to the states and fly down and pick them up! I found a guy on Etsy who makes the bar pads with the classic Renthal font!
2AE1F346-B751-4EEB-94F9-402882E488CE.jpeg
Those are sweet!!
Re: My Top 5 Mods for the KDX
Posted: 07:45 pm Jun 10 2022
by MoonStomper
Love that RETRO Renthal bar pad!!!
So I’m planning to order the Devol radiator guards since I’m very happy with the skid plate/h2o pump guard/rear disc guard they did. Think I’ll do a purple ano job on the rad guards when I get them. Any anodizing advice? Looks pretty straightforward from what I have read.
Re: My Top 5 Mods for the KDX
Posted: 09:04 pm Jun 10 2022
by SS109
MoonStomper wrote: 07:45 pm Jun 10 2022
Any anodizing advice? Looks pretty straightforward from what I have read.
Slick_Nick has done some of that and his work looks amazing.
Hey, Nick, where ya at?
Re: My Top 5 Mods for the KDX
Posted: 06:39 am Jun 11 2022
by doakley
No input on the anodizing, but I have those guards on my bike and they are great. Good idea given where you race!
Re: My Top 5 Mods for the KDX
Posted: 09:16 am Jun 13 2022
by Slick_Nick
MoonStomper wrote: 07:45 pm Jun 10 2022
Love that RETRO Renthal bar pad!!!
So I’m planning to order the Devol radiator guards since I’m very happy with the skid plate/h2o pump guard/rear disc guard they did. Think I’ll do a purple ano job on the rad guards when I get them. Any anodizing advice? Looks pretty straightforward from what I have read.
Yeah I've done lots of anodizing. I have a pretty nice purple too! Rad guards would look great in that color!
Re: My Top 5 Mods for the KDX
Posted: 10:42 pm Jun 13 2022
by MoonStomper
It seems there are different levels of ano you can do with various levels of durability. Any advice on achieving a suitable finish toughness for a part like that?
Re: My Top 5 Mods for the KDX
Posted: 09:24 am Jun 14 2022
by Slick_Nick
MoonStomper wrote: 10:42 pm Jun 13 2022
It seems there are different levels of ano you can do with various levels of durability. Any advice on achieving a suitable finish toughness for a part like that?
Type 2 will be more than sufficient. Aluminum oxide is hard.
Re: My Top 5 Mods for the KDX
Posted: 03:00 pm Jun 14 2022
by Molly's 70
Type 2 will be more than sufficient. Aluminum oxide is hard.
[/quote]
Aluminum oxide is not only hard, is also tenacious. It melts at around 3800 degrees, when the aluminum melts at around 1000 degrees. Can't weld through it worth a damn, so it's got to be removed.
I always thought it was weird to oxidize aluminum, to prevent more oxidation. But it works.
Re: My Top 5 Mods for the KDX
Posted: 07:12 pm Jun 14 2022
by MoonStomper
Sweet! Thanks for the info, any advice on a proper purple dye you’d recommend?
Re: My Top 5 Mods for the KDX
Posted: 10:59 am Jun 15 2022
by Slick_Nick
Molly's 70 wrote: 03:00 pm Jun 14 2022
Type 2 will be more than sufficient. Aluminum oxide is hard.
Aluminum oxide is not only hard, is also tenacious. It melts at around 3800 degrees, when the aluminum melts at around 1000 degrees. Can't weld through it worth a damn, so it's got to be removed.
I always thought it was weird to oxidize aluminum, to prevent more oxidation. But it works.
[/quote]
That's exactly why you need to weld Aluminum on AC, so it can break up the oxide layer. Technically it CAN be done on DCEP (like MIG welding) but that's another story...
Re: My Top 5 Mods for the KDX
Posted: 01:15 pm Jun 15 2022
by Molly's 70
Slick_Nick That's exactly why you need to weld Aluminum on AC, so it can break up the oxide layer. Technically it CAN be done on DCEP (like MIG welding) but that's another story...[/quote wrote:
AC with argon is preferred, as the shielding gas is ionized on the positive half cycle, then the ions will etch off the oxide on the negative half cycle. This is how a GTAW or Tig welder cleans aluminum.
Where I work, They clean aluminum in hydrochloric/hydrofluoric acid. This works really well getting rid of the oxide before we weld it.
