A path less travelled 97 kx125

Discussion for swapping a KDX motor in a MX frame...
Ridea200
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Re: A path less travelled 97 kx125

Post by Ridea200 »

After looking at what I've posted so far, I think I've covered everything so far. The pic with the black paint is how it sits.
Bufftester: Can you explain what you mean by splines?
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Re: A path less travelled 97 kx125

Post by MoonStomper »

Y’all are badasses. I can’t even imagine fabricating like this.

… and what’s “banning”?
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Re: A path less travelled 97 kx125

Post by SS109 »

Ridea200 wrote: 12:36 am May 06 2023 Bufftester: Can you explain what you mean by splines?
I believe he is referring to slipping in a smaller piece of pipe that just fits inside the factory frame tubes where you plan to weld. This helps strengthen the welded joint area.

MoonStomper wrote: 09:42 am May 06 2023 … and what’s “banning”?
That is when someone gets kicked off the forum for unacceptable behavior. In this instance here it was all in jest! :mrgreen: Just for the record, I don't know of any actual member who has ever been banned from the forum. Only spammers who somehow slip in once in a while.
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Re: A path less travelled 97 kx125

Post by Ridea200 »

Ok. Makes scents. I did think about it, but didn't. To late now...It was almost impossible to not get good penetration though.
Messed around a little today with the exhaust. Pipe to muffler, and upper pipe mount. No pics just yet...
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Re: A path less travelled 97 kx125

Post by Ridea200 »

Other than upper pipe mount tab, got the exhaust sorted out. Also started on bending up the desert tank...loads of fun there...
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Chuck78
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Re: A path less travelled 97 kx125

Post by Chuck78 »

Very nice work! 👍

I've been contemplating a future build of perhaps a 1996-1998 "KDX150" with sending Eric Gorr a KX125 cylinder and head for full woods porting & 144cc overbore and replating. The motivation would be to have a woods bike significantly lighter than the KDX, and have the purple '96 KX plastics and graphics purple 💜

A hybrid would be great, but more work, and I'd like it to be as lightweight as possible.

I'd read of 2000 KX125 cylinders being modified to match up to the 95-98/99 cases, as they have better low/mid range porting. That'd be my goal.

I do have a spare 220 engine though, so if I found a purple plastics era project bike for cheap, I'd be tempted either way!

Thanks for documenting this!

Oh also, for my purple plastics/graphics era, TFB Designs makes the retro 1996 purple shroud graphics with checkered flag backgrounds to fit the later KX model plastics, expanding the potential for me a bit!

Keep the posts coming!
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Re: A path less travelled 97 kx125

Post by Ridea200 »

Both stock, and desert tank fitted. One thing with the desert tank though, is the kx petcock hits the cylinder. I'm pretty sure I've come up with an easy fix. Just have to pick up a few things.
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Re: A path less travelled 97 kx125

Post by Ridea200 »

Still haven't welded the pipe mount tab, so other than that, and the petcock, I guess, for the most part, its down to carb fitment. Its not the usual swap the boot & go...(that is part of it...) Wiring...almost forgot. Am I missing anything?
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Re: A path less travelled 97 kx125

Post by Ridea200 »

Oh...and Chuck78: That would be pretty cool to build a nice "125" as like a little sibling to your kdx.
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Re: A path less travelled 97 kx125

Post by bufftester »

Wiring is the easy part, just pull over everything from the KDX frame. Radiators and hoses should bolt right up. The tricky bit on the carb is the fitment between the carb and the air box boot. On my hybrid I used part of the boot from the KDX to make an adapter to the KX boot.
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Re: A path less travelled 97 kx125

Post by Ridea200 »

Started on the carb fitment. I removed the kx air boot, and cleaned the box up a bit. Everything's still pretty dirty from the desert...stuffed the carb, and kdx air boot in place. The pics will show what I was talking about before.
Befftester: Yes, the wiring, and radiators are going to be super easy. I'll have to check your build out again. It was in the back of my mind when looking at stuff, but couldn't remember who...Also, what about a 250 boot?
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Re: A path less travelled 97 kx125

Post by bufftester »

If you use the KDX boot you should be golden. Plenty of room on that to get the clamp on.
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Re: A path less travelled 97 kx125

Post by Ridea200 »

That's the kdx boot with full shock extension. Once I stepped on the peg, it was just fine...And yes, the carb is hitting the frame. Had something come in the mail though...
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Re: A path less travelled 97 kx125

Post by KDXGarage »

Cool paint. I used it on my 1993 KX125 subframe.
Thank you for participating on kdxrider.net. :bravo:
To post pictures from a device: viewtopic.php?f=88&t=24128
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Re: A path less travelled 97 kx125

Post by Ridea200 »

KdxGarage: You're actually the first one that I had seen mention it, in a little older post, where someone was asking about paint match.
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Re: A path less travelled 97 kx125

Post by KDXGarage »

Thanks! It ain't cheap, but it is great.
Thank you for participating on kdxrider.net. :bravo:
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Re: A path less travelled 97 kx125

Post by Ridea200 »

Thanks to all you guys! With all the info on here, it's almost made it to "easy". Hopefully with the year that I'm tackling, it adds to the knowledge base.
Airbox mods to come...
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Re: A path less travelled 97 kx125

Post by Ridea200 »

Got the airbox most of the way done. I'll post pics when I finish it up.
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Re: A path less travelled 97 kx125

Post by Ridea200 »

The carb now fits, with the cap. I just relief cut the frame, and shaped it with a hammer. Now I need to bend the tank a little, for the throttle cable. Almost done with all the welding, I think. Exhaust tab, carb spot, and possibly the upper coil mount, if I use the kdx coil.
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Re: A path less travelled 97 kx125

Post by Ridea200 »

Here's a question: What carb should I run? Left is 00 kdx200, and right is 97 kx125. Both drop in place...not sure if one is better than the other.
# on side of the kx is G275 AKHM.
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