Secong Ride Report
Posted: 10:36 pm Nov 02 2008
I got my motor back together and got a chance to ride the hybrid in decent conditions (not in 18" of water after a hurricane).
First off, the motor runs really good. All I have is a PC pipe, V-Force reeds and the RB head. I am probably going to be happy with that setup for a while. There is all the power on tap that I can use right now. Even the slightest twist of the throttle puts power to the ground. Very nice. It will grunt right up anything anf then when the trail opens up it will haul @$$ with the front wheel lifting off the ground way up into the upper gears. I think the head makes a big difference. Just out of curiosity, what could I expect if I also did the carb mod?
Now to the hybrid part. This thing turns and corners really nice. I turns better than the KDX pretty much everywhere. My biggest concern before the build was that I would be disappointed in its slow speed ultra tight trail ability. It doesn't give anything up to the KDX there at all. It may even be better because I have found that I can lean it WAY over in a sharp turn and whip it around anything. The KDX didn't like to lean like that.
On faster terrain or more open higher speed trails it corners much better. I am still not fully comfortable with using all of its turning potential. I'm still kind of riding it like a KDX. It is only occasionally by accident that I experience just how nimble it can carve through turns. Ususlly I get a feel for how well it handles by flying into a turn way to fast and then the bike pulls it off and I fly around the turn leaned over spraying roost into the air. I think to myself, "Holy cow, did I just do that?". If I was a skilled enough rider I could do every turn like that and really go fast. That will take a lot of practice before I can do that intentionally. The KDX wouldn't do that. Usually I would crash or blow out the turn and go into the trees in those situations. The hybrid just likes to be layed over and carve through the turn. It is easier to toss it from side to side under you. I don't think the KDX is a slouch. I still think they are great bikes. If you ride really aggressively and fast then I think the hybrid is more suited to that. If you ride slower or like to take turns tackling impossible obstacles or ride mostly in horrendous technical first gear stuff etc, etc then you might just as happy with the KDX (but not any less happy with the hybrid).
It is also a little stable at high speeds. I wouldn't say that the KDX feels unstable (some people might) but the hybrid is a little less stressful tapped out in 6th gear.
I still need to sort out a few bugs (handle bar position, suspension, seat height, etc) that I think will improve it even more.
First off, the motor runs really good. All I have is a PC pipe, V-Force reeds and the RB head. I am probably going to be happy with that setup for a while. There is all the power on tap that I can use right now. Even the slightest twist of the throttle puts power to the ground. Very nice. It will grunt right up anything anf then when the trail opens up it will haul @$$ with the front wheel lifting off the ground way up into the upper gears. I think the head makes a big difference. Just out of curiosity, what could I expect if I also did the carb mod?
Now to the hybrid part. This thing turns and corners really nice. I turns better than the KDX pretty much everywhere. My biggest concern before the build was that I would be disappointed in its slow speed ultra tight trail ability. It doesn't give anything up to the KDX there at all. It may even be better because I have found that I can lean it WAY over in a sharp turn and whip it around anything. The KDX didn't like to lean like that.
On faster terrain or more open higher speed trails it corners much better. I am still not fully comfortable with using all of its turning potential. I'm still kind of riding it like a KDX. It is only occasionally by accident that I experience just how nimble it can carve through turns. Ususlly I get a feel for how well it handles by flying into a turn way to fast and then the bike pulls it off and I fly around the turn leaned over spraying roost into the air. I think to myself, "Holy cow, did I just do that?". If I was a skilled enough rider I could do every turn like that and really go fast. That will take a lot of practice before I can do that intentionally. The KDX wouldn't do that. Usually I would crash or blow out the turn and go into the trees in those situations. The hybrid just likes to be layed over and carve through the turn. It is easier to toss it from side to side under you. I don't think the KDX is a slouch. I still think they are great bikes. If you ride really aggressively and fast then I think the hybrid is more suited to that. If you ride slower or like to take turns tackling impossible obstacles or ride mostly in horrendous technical first gear stuff etc, etc then you might just as happy with the KDX (but not any less happy with the hybrid).
It is also a little stable at high speeds. I wouldn't say that the KDX feels unstable (some people might) but the hybrid is a little less stressful tapped out in 6th gear.
I still need to sort out a few bugs (handle bar position, suspension, seat height, etc) that I think will improve it even more.