KDXRIDER.NET

Hey guys, just trying to see if you can help me with the predicament I am in.

I found an 89 KDX on craigslist, and it looks pretty decent. Here's the link: http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/mcy/4882258482.html. Reason i want to buy it is because it would be like my spare/vintage race bike for the vintage bike weekend we do up at our property in New York.

So saying all of that, i still have some concerns. Like I said, it looks to be in pretty decent shape. For parts, how hard is it to find stuff for these things (skid plates, motor components, carb stuff, etc)? Is the price good? Is this a good bike to still go out and ride a lot?

If anyone can help me with this that would be great!

Thanks!
TimmyD

I had an '89 and it was pretty decent. I've heard the upside down forks aren't as good although they look better.
weak links: left side clutch shaft bearing would get sloppy if you let the oil level go down. rear shock linkages wear fast and so require the absolute best grease often.

The KDX USDs are probably not significantly better than the '95+ H-Series conventionals: they're very similar in design. But they are a lot better in both design and function than the 1989 E-Series damper rod conventional forks.

But based on the photos, I'm not sure those are KDX forks. The fork guards and what I can see of the clamps/top caps make me think they might be '91 KX forks, which are actually quite good.

As for the other questions, E-Series KDX are great bikes, with the biggest Achilles heel known to be the reliability/availability of aluminum KIPS subvalves.

Take a look around the E-Series forum here for a better feel.

It does not seem too bad. Those are KX forks, not KDX.

Thanks for the replies guys! I think I might consider buying it.

Jason wrote:It does not seem too bad. Those are KX forks, not KDX.

what makes you think those are kx forks? I'm not starting a war, but to me, in those pictures, it's impossible to tell. kx style fork guards, much like the klx style guards damn near bolt on. my 93 forks look exactly like that because I've bolted klx guards onto them.

choppered out
KX rotor, I think
can't see for sure, but one way to tell is 2-bole lower triple clamp vs. single bolt on KDX

Blue 91 KX front ends use the same brakes as KDX's

93-94 kdx USD forks have kx brakes... that is a factory rotor, kx or kdx.

kx forks should be 43mm I believe, kdx are 41mm. kx have compression AND rebound adjustment, and like mentioned above, an extra bolt in the lower triple.

I'm just saying I can't tell from that crap picture. Choppered out? I dunno, either way the 93-94 forks are 10x better in my opinion, because they don't have that goddamn overhang that other kdx have. If they're kx, even better. buy it

Looks well maintained and cared for. $1000 is a good deal mind you that's around $1250 CAD but still, really not bad.

OBO if you can get it for $800 then it's a steal