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Hi. My friend (forum member wsjkawasaki) is looking to buy a used KDX 200/220 ('95 and up). We are going this afternoon to look at a 1997 KDX220. I am going along to help him check it out. I am pretty familiar with what to check out on a used bike, but could use some help on some KDX220 specific things to check, plus a general refresher. He said, the guy said he could take it for a test drive. What should we be looking for BEFORE and DURING the test ride? As far as genral wear and proper upkeep, I was thinking to check:

chain slack
wear on chain guides (swingarm upper/lower, roller guides, chain guide)
wear on sprockets
tire wear
wheel bearing/swingarm/linkage/steering bearing play
leaking fork / shock seals
worn rotors/pads
dirty air filter (will bring ratchet and 8mm socket to remove seat) (will also see if it has the airbox lid still in it)
remove radiator cap to check condition of coolant
pull the plug?

Besides general stuff like that, what should we look for before he test rides it?

brake function
suspension feel (just for proper function)
make sure it revs out (stuck KIPS)
odd noises (besides KIPS rattle)
smooth shifting
smooth clutch operation
check to see if lights work
will it idle?

Is there anything else anyone can think of? Any oddball particulars to check on the 220? The guy said it had a Wiseco piston, so we are hoping this was just regular maintenance, not post-grenading.

Thanks for any help and wish us luck!

Jason... just about covered it... I would also check the frame...especially the sub-frame to if it has been welded on or bent.

Are you going to do a compression check?

I wil check the frame, too. I thought about a compression check after I wrote that post. I wil take my compression checker with me. Does anyone have a 220 supplement manual to tell me the compression figure? (you do NOT have permission to say GET A MANUAL) :-)

Being the friendly guy I am, I have already started to harp on my buddy about getting:

a 200 manual and 220 supplement manual
2 liters fork oil (change fork oil)
1 liter shock oil (change shock oil)
top end gasket kit/clean & check KIPS (and take cylinder and head to machine shop for measurement)
take tires off rims to check tubes and rusted spoke nipples
clean/regrease swingarm/linkage/steering bearings
flush radiators/add new 50/50 coolant
flush & change brake fluid/inspect brake pin bolts

I forgot to mention:
clean/oil air filter
flush/rinse fuel tank
clean carb/check jetting
buy carburetor jets
buy spark plugs

possibility to need:

new chain and sprockets
new air filter
new wheel bearings

Unless he reads this before he comes over, I will hit up with:

strip to frame & grease/anit-seize/blue Loc-Tite the hell out of it.
possibilty of frozen/"wore slap out" swingarm/linkage bearings

He already knows about stiffer fork springs. :-)

I am glad he has me as a friend. I'm so helpful. :-)

OH YEAH! I almost forgot. Clean / Lysol sandwich holder on rear fender.

I am glad he has me as a friend. I'm so helpful. :-)

He is in good hands. You covered it.

Your list looks pretty good. Don't forget to change the tranny oil and clean out the pipe/repack the silencer if its not stock. Also check the reeds, if they've still got the duck bill reed stops chances are they are the originals and should be replaced.

-Maurice

The guy said it had an FMF pipe, but I don't recall if he said anything about the sparl arrestor/silencer. I am assuming stock.

Thanks for the tips.

I will add replace the copper pipe/cylinder gasket if a 220 has such a thing.
I will also add checking the reeds to the list.

Can someone go down a quick list of 200/220 differences for me? I am thinking:

o-ring chain (did a '97 have an o-ring chain?)
is the chain guide wider to accomodate an o-ring chain??
rod
cylinder
piston
rings
carb

Is the transmission the same?

Is everything else the same? There is a 200 model KDX200 in the paper, so if he passes on the '97 KDX220, maybe we can swing by and check out the 2000 model.

Thanks.

He got it! Thanks for the help, everyone.