KDX 200 1987 REBUILD

[Slemmins]

Hey all I'm after some advice on upgrading my late dad's 1987 kdx 200. It hasn't been ridden for 15 years and i want to get it to a point where it is reliable and ready to rock, I had the engine rebuilt but aside from that I need some guidance on what parts are likely to need replacing and also what upgrades might be recommended for these bikes? It has a mikuni carb as well but mechanic who rebuilt engine told me i should replace it so any suitable carb recs would be great! I am new to riding and will just be taking it out in the bush here in australia a few times a month! It is an aircooled 1987 KDX200-D1. Thanks in advance for any advice! Ill attach some pictures.

[Chuck78]

Welcome to the forum!

The '86-'88 KDX are some of the best air cooled woods bikes ever built, congratulations on keeping this one alive!

I'd recommend greasing/cleaning the suspension linkage bearings and swingarm bearings most definitely, as well as having a shop rebuild the shock. Once they lose their oil from a faulty seal head or worn bushing, the shock bodies can get destroyed fairly easily.

A Keihin PWK 35 was the new and improved carb that came out on the 1988 model, hut it had a choke lever on the opposite side as most other Keihin PWK 35 carbs, making choke access inconvenient unless you have the 1988 carb body with the choke lever.

SmartCarb SC3 34mm is a brand new high tech carb that goes great on our KDX's, and they likely will fit the 86-88, but I'm not sure if anyntest fit efforts yet. Ask Nathan Dyess at SmartCarb. The older style Lectrons should also fit, but the SmartCarb SC3 and the far more expensive Lectron Billetron Pro Series are far better.

Beware of Chinese fake copies of new Keihin carbs, they flood the market...

[KDXGarage]

Welcome to kdxrider. It is great that you are looking to rebuild your father's bike. It is also great to see a D1. We did not get that model in the USA.

I would chekcon the shock, as it does not have a hard anodized body. It can wear out more easily.

I would check on all the rubber parts.

Get a factory service manual as it will be the best money spent on it.

Disassemble the suspension linkake and steering to clean, inspect and grease everything. The heim bearings did wear fairly quickly on these of not maintained well.

Good luck on the rebuild and thanks for sharing.

[Chuck78]

Ahhh... I was speed reading and totally missed the "1987 KDX200-D1," as well as the blinkers on the literature photo... A street legal version of the KDX200C, of course Australia would have this option. I wonder if it was like the 200J, where they were modified for Australian road legal equipment once received from Japan into Australia?

[billie_morini]

Slemmins,
fun project you have. When completed, consider placing sticker of a koala or 'roo on the fairing. Kinda like the gecko on my KDX & DRZ (photos).