KX/KDX Hybrid - How much better?

[jc7622]

I've been thinking about this hybrid thing. I have 03KX forks being shipped for my 05KDX. Once I get them set up I hope it makes an improvement in handling.

I'm wondering how much different the hybrid would be. Assuming that both bikes were set up similarly ergonomically and the KDX had the same USD forks and a similarly set up rear shock, is the KX framed version that much better? Anyone with hands on experience with both set ups care to comment?

JC

[Indawoods]

The KX is setup more "cab forward" design. It makes you sit and or ride in a more aggressive stance.

[2001kdx]

Lighter and slimmer. More importantly, as Inda stated, more suited to agressive riding with the position it puts you in. When I had my KDX, I thought it was great. After only a month of owning my RM, when I sit on the KDX it fells extremely awkward. It literally feels like you're sitting "in" the bike.

Never felt a KDX with USD's though.

[art5]

had both, depends on what you want, i definitly push the extremes of the motor more on the hybrid, no question on which one handles the best, the hybrid wins hands down. but I love the kdxs

[Rollo]

After racing the KDX200 both enduro and mx I found the motor was good but the bike couldn't handle the pounding.Being in the vets you don't get the option of the size bike you race against .250 2 bangers and 450 4stokes aren't much fun to race against .A friend was selling his 02 KX125 which I bought after hearing of a 125/200 hybrid .I also have a crf450x which I try to race .I dropped it and ripped the top spiggot out of the radiator.Lucky I had taken the KX125 as a spare.My race buddies laughed at me when I lined up at the start gates.They weren't laughing too much when we hit the first corner.I thought middle of the pack was'nt to bad .The 125 rode well but so under powered ,mainly in the mud.It handled so much better than the KDX.I have just about finished my hybrid.Fuel tank mod and the electrics to do it will be interesting to see how good it goes on the mx track.

[ebeck]

Ahh good. Yeah the KDX motor and the KX make a tremendous bike, especialy with the $65 RB head mod.

Mind you it is no CRF450 power wise, but in terms of a balance of weight, handeling and low/mid ange power it makes a really hard to beat combo.

[krazyinski]

I like the power of the KDX it has such a easy powerband when tuned correct
and does not lack any get up and go.

The KX is a brute power wize but speaking from having a nice KDX motor and bike then, jumping to a KX 250 the suspension and balance of a KX with the Power of the KDX makes me Ponder on why it was never done by the factory.

[ebeck]

Suzuki made the RMZ and Yamaha made the WR250, both 2 stroke trail bikes based on th MX bike.

I remember reading about those bikes in shootouts and the result was magazines wondering the same thing.

[fuzzy]

The euros simply trumped the sales of them...and yami kept the WR alive, but went 4T in '98.