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I'm sure this has been asked before is there a direct swap out for fork conversion.

KX500 or KLX300

dualscotty wrote:I'm sure this has been asked before is there a direct swap out for fork conversion.

You couldn't have been more right. There has been a whole subforum for 12.5 years. Feel free to search the Fork Conversion subforum for 12.5 YEARS of KDX front end / fork swap information.

And don't forget, when asking about YOUR KDX, let us know which model YOUR KDX is and which country.

ced64k wrote:KX500 or KLX300

Does this mean the for tubes mentioned fit into the stock KDX200 Clamps? Just slide em in?

KDXSPODE wrote:

ced64k wrote:KX500 or KLX300

Does this mean the for tubes mentioned fit into the stock KDX200 Clamps? Just slide em in?

There is no such swap as that. You need the complete front end, triples and all. The stem for the KLX/KX mentioned will fit in the KDX steering head bearings.

I'll add that finding a KX500 fork is maybe harder than doing a stem swap on kx/kxf lower triple :) And the KLX300 fork is not better than the KDX...

The KLX300 fork performs better than the 1995+ KDX200 / KDX220R fork just by its design. It is not world's better, but it IS better.

For those who wonder, one cannot slide 55mm tubes into a 43mm opening.

My bike is a 98. Would like to do the swap with as little ease as possible as I'm sure every one does. Also not to much fuss with the geometry either.

As much ease

Forks from a 98/99 DR350SE or (iirc) 96-99 DR350 are 43mm and will slide right into the triples. Not even a bolt on solution, it's a slide in solution. Said forks have compression/rebound damping controls. Not the best forks out there, but you said easy.
Also, upper and lower bearings are the same for the steering stem, so you could bring over the DR triples and press in the kdx stem, or maybe even use the DR stem.
I just did this swap, but I didn't have a DR stem to spare, so I slid the forks into the kdx triples.

"Good job, guys. "

ced64k wrote:I'll add that finding a KX500 fork is maybe harder than doing a stem swap on kx/kxf lower triple :) And the KLX300 fork is not better than the KDX...

They seem to pop up all the time when I'm trolling around on E-Bay... http://www.ebay.com/itm/96-04-KAWASAKI- ... Nf&vxp=mtr

How do like the results friedom?

dualscotty wrote:How do like the results friedom?

Engine is split and waiting for a crankshaft, so I can't comment on the ride. The forks are from my dr350 though, and I got some good years out of them. These forks/front end can be expensive sometimes, but other times guys are upgrading the front end on their Dr and sell them reasonably to prevent clutter.
I would prefer to be able to use a DR stem so I could use the DR triples. The e series kdx upper triple angles the bars towards the rider and doesn't lend well to bar risers. DR triple would work perfect though.

"Good job, guys. "

E clamps can be swapped for H or C clamps. I am not 100% sure on offset, so just a top clamp swap might be possible.

Jason wrote:E clamps can be swapped for H or C clamps. I am not 100% sure on offset, so just a top clamp swap might be possible.

Good point!

"Good job, guys. "

dualscotty wrote:How do like the results friedom?

Catching up here.. got my 92 kdx all put back together with the DR350 cartridge forks (43mm showa conventionals) slid into the kdx triples.
I've only been on one real ride with them, and they do pretty good. No question about whether they're an upgrade - they're cartridge forks vs oil dampers. Great at speed, but I haven't straightened out my geometry yet, and the engine was having idling issues so I can't comment on technical slow sections yet. Think I'll raise the forks in the triples as they're longer than the kdx forks, and set my sag. Idle issue has been fixed, so now it's time to dial it in.

"Fun Wheel Drive"

Another followup. Got to use the bike at high speeds, some jumps, and some single track sections. These qualify as a good direct bolt on/slide in fork!

"Fun Wheel Drive"

My kx500 swap you'll need forks triples and a kx wheel which most people for get about.

How is that any easier/better than a kx125/250 swap? Does it not need the stem swapped?

"Fun Wheel Drive"

SHO DON'T

Which fork guards are those?