KDX 220 hitched a ride home

[DosStroke]

So now I have a 1997 KDX 220, seems surprising clean for its age and also surprisingly peppy, guy I got from (an old desert racer) just kept saying this bike seems to have a lot of power. It has been about 20 years since I own a dirt bike so I am pretty much back to newbie status. Any tip would be great! The bike has some interesting bits and pieces, suggesting someone loved it before I go it, are these devol racing brake guards common? It has the biggest exhaust pipe ever, looks like it could be the rev pipe? It is stamped Gold Series FMF "Burly" can't seem to find much else on it. Looking forward to some riding and some wrenching! First order of business is to lower this thing down a tad...

Hello from San Diego, CA!

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[KDXGarage]

Looks nice! Welcome to kdxrider.net.

I have seen the Devol guard a few times. I don't know if they still make them or not.

[bufftester]

Welcome to the forums, and congrats on the bike, she looks very clean for her age, even still has the purple tool bag attached lol! Devol still makes and sells the disc guards as well as a skid plate and radiator guards. Pretty standard fare for the old desert race guys. Search this forum for lowering links or Kouba links for lowering info, basically you put new dogbones on the rear and raise the forks up in the clamps in front. Make sure it is sprung properly for your weight first tho.

[DosStroke]

Ok, I was just reading about SAG. I am coming in at 5’10 170lbs and the adjusters are all the way down toward the bottom of the shock right now. Probably need to look into that more...

Also the bikes smokes a fair amount as it runs, guy said the fuel may be pretty old, could that cause that type of issue?

[KDXGarage]

Throw up a new post in the Q&A section. Your issues don't sound too bad. :-)

You sound about the right weight for the stock spring.

[DosStroke]

Will do, thanks!

[KDXGarage]

Before you leave, ... I would like to mention that the fork sticker is cool to me. I don't specifically remember seeing that before.

[dc2012]

Of your still looking to lower it down I'm making some lowering links on Thursday. Kinda shameless plug but links are getting hard to come by. Go look into the for sale thread they will be very affordable

[rungrandpa]

"Any tip would be great!" My tip would be to spend at least $360.00 on riding boots.

[doakley]

Wow! Nobody’s gonna’ tell him to check the piston in a 220 no matter what? Guys are getting slack.

[Rider47]

+2 with doakley... check/change the piston! It’s cheap insurance plus you can make sure the KIPS is clean and ready to go.

[KDXGarage]

yes, the piston, slacking indeed!