Great trail riding. I'm on my third KDX. This is my first 220 though. I have had it stored for 8 years, but am about to get it ready to ride again and plan on getting back into racing some scrambles. I so miss riding.
After getting used to the handling on my kdx, I don’t think I could ever switch. I haven’t found a bike that can take a tighter turn in the woods. It’s just so reliable and fun to ride there’s no reason to upgrade to a ktm or husky. For the price and age difference, the kdx 200 can’t be beat. Won’t be too terribly long before they aren’t as cheap anymore though. Their prices have already shot up throughout the years. If I wanted to ride more dunes or track, I would for sure switch to something different, but as far as woods riding goes, I don’t think you can do any better than the kdx
Great video! I was lured in by the title. I have a 2001 KDX 200, (mostly stock, FMF Gnarly, Factory Connection fork upgrades) and a modified 2004 KTM 200SX. That one also has Factory Connection fork work, FMF Gnarly and a 9oz flywheel weight. Both purchased from same original owner in a package deal. Though not exactly "apples to apples", given the KTM being the SX, here's the synopsis. Both are similar in the woods, with the KDX being a little softer, obviously. KTM does rev a bit happier than the KDX, but the Kawi lugs lower RPM's far better, and a little less tiring in the woods. Very hard to stall. KDX is noticably heavier, but has the advantage of a tighter turning radius. The KTM front suspension feels a little more planted to the ground in cornering, but "blips" over tough obstacles (tall ledge, roots) a little easier; perhaps due to its being 20+LBS lighter? ( Bridgestone M59 front) on both. Despite winter jetting, the KTM is a bear to start in the cold weather, but KDX always fires right up. Summary: reliabilty of both has been exactly the same: bullet proof. If I had to pick one for the woods, it'd be the KDX. On a track, clearly the KTM. So I'm well set up for both scenarios. But if I could keep only one????? KDX stays.
I owned a 1993 kdx200 for about 10 years before buying a brand new 2022 Husqvarna. The suspension on the KDX is better for woods riding, just absorbs the rocks and roots so much better. You would think modern bikes would have figured out these old bikes and improved on them, but the old KDX remains king of the woods in my opinion. Todays bikes are set up like MX bikes, not woods bikes. Even the enduro models from KTM and Husqvarna. Look at the slim seats, sky high seat heights, stiff suspension, too many electronics that fail...not for woods riding. I wish I had my old KDX200 back but I fell victim to the e-start. :(
@@OnoratoRestorationsonly if you have kickstart as a backup. Too many things can fail on e start. Way nicer to start if you stall going up a hill though. At the same time the kdx is so easy to kick especially once it’s warm it’s not too much issue.
Had a 220. Fantastic to ride but nowhere to ride it where i live with the cops being called on you and i can't be bothered with that anymore. Great bike though. Light footed and utterly controlled.
Just took my 05 kdx 220 to the dealer I bought it from new and said pretty sure I need a new clutch or top end. They tweaked a few things and said , nope everthing is fine.
Do both of these bikes have a strong low end and mild top end? The only two strokes I've ridden are motocross style bikes with not much low end but all top end. Cr125, cr250, rm250. Although the 250s have the low end snap as well but pretty wild for woods riding. I'd love ether one of these bikes I bet.
As in, “how good does it run off the pipe?” This appears to be similar to the riding I recall from (many) years ago for pace, only it wasn’t nearly as green in and around Riverside.
Nice job...but right off the bat this is not a fair comparison. I have a KDX 220 FRP modified and it would be a closer comparison to a bone stock KTM 300. Not a 200. But oh well.
Hey did you guys change the stock piston on your kdx220? I hear the stock kdx 220 pistons are flawed and can break apart while running and ruin the cylinder/bottom end.
@OnoratoRestorations Wish I lived back east and could use a great little woods bike. But being in southern CA I ride in Mojave so a KDX wouldn't work so well.
Great trail riding. I'm on my third KDX. This is my first 220 though. I have had it stored for 8 years, but am about to get it ready to ride again and plan on getting back into racing some scrambles. I so miss riding.
Kdx is a great bike. Best wishes getting yours going again.
After getting used to the handling on my kdx, I don’t think I could ever switch. I haven’t found a bike that can take a tighter turn in the woods. It’s just so reliable and fun to ride there’s no reason to upgrade to a ktm or husky. For the price and age difference, the kdx 200 can’t be beat. Won’t be too terribly long before they aren’t as cheap anymore though. Their prices have already shot up throughout the years. If I wanted to ride more dunes or track, I would for sure switch to something different, but as far as woods riding goes, I don’t think you can do any better than the kdx
Agreed
Great video! I was lured in by the title.
I have a 2001 KDX 200, (mostly stock, FMF Gnarly, Factory Connection fork upgrades) and a modified 2004 KTM 200SX. That one also has Factory Connection fork work, FMF Gnarly and a 9oz flywheel weight. Both purchased from same original owner in a package deal.
Though not exactly "apples to apples", given the KTM being the SX, here's the synopsis.
Both are similar in the woods, with the KDX being a little softer, obviously. KTM does rev a bit happier than the KDX, but the Kawi lugs lower RPM's far better, and a little less tiring in the woods. Very hard to stall. KDX is noticably heavier, but has the advantage of a tighter turning radius. The KTM front suspension feels a little more planted to the ground in cornering, but "blips" over tough obstacles (tall ledge, roots) a little easier; perhaps due to its being 20+LBS lighter? ( Bridgestone M59 front) on both. Despite winter jetting, the KTM is a bear to start in the cold weather, but KDX always fires right up.
Summary: reliabilty of both has been exactly the same: bullet proof. If I had to pick one for the woods, it'd be the KDX. On a track, clearly the KTM. So I'm well set up for both scenarios. But if I could keep only one????? KDX stays.
Nice bike.
I owned a 1993 kdx200 for about 10 years before buying a brand new 2022 Husqvarna. The suspension on the KDX is better for woods riding, just absorbs the rocks and roots so much better. You would think modern bikes would have figured out these old bikes and improved on them, but the old KDX remains king of the woods in my opinion.
Todays bikes are set up like MX bikes, not woods bikes. Even the enduro models from KTM and Husqvarna. Look at the slim seats, sky high seat heights, stiff suspension, too many electronics that fail...not for woods riding. I wish I had my old KDX200 back but I fell victim to the e-start. :(
E start is nice.
@@OnoratoRestorationsonly if you have kickstart as a backup. Too many things can fail on e start. Way nicer to start if you stall going up a hill though. At the same time the kdx is so easy to kick especially once it’s warm it’s not too much issue.
not sure that stock ktms and husqs enduros have stiff suspension. more likely soft. But kdxs r still the best)))
Had a 220. Fantastic to ride but nowhere to ride it where i live with the cops being called on you and i can't be bothered with that anymore. Great bike though. Light footed and utterly controlled.
Yeah ,definitely getting hard to find places to ride.
Just took my 05 kdx 220 to the dealer I bought it from new and said pretty sure I need a new clutch or top end. They tweaked a few things and said , nope everthing is fine.
You should try the 2023 Beta Xtrainer. Its like a modern KDX
I would love to. They are so nice.
Great video arm pump is real
Do both of these bikes have a strong low end and mild top end? The only two strokes I've ridden are motocross style bikes with not much low end but all top end. Cr125, cr250, rm250. Although the 250s have the low end snap as well but pretty wild for woods riding. I'd love ether one of these bikes I bet.
Tons of bottom end Especially the Kdx.
As in, “how good does it run off the pipe?”
This appears to be similar to the riding I recall from (many) years ago for pace, only it wasn’t nearly as green in and around Riverside.
Nice job...but right off the bat this is not a fair comparison. I have a KDX 220 FRP modified and it would be a closer comparison to a bone stock KTM 300. Not a 200. But oh well.
Hey did you guys change the stock piston on your kdx220? I hear the stock kdx 220 pistons are flawed and can break apart while running and ruin the cylinder/bottom end.
Mine all stock about 30 hours on it.
I have a 2000 Kawasaki KDX220 with the RB carb and head mod and a FMF desert pipe and it's the best woods bike ever made if you ask me
My kdx definitely isn’t that quiet with us fmf powercore.
This is how you Learn to ride before going out on the street.
Ok boomer
@@mxlife558 Okay squid
Any fat dude can ride on the street.
I've heard that the 220 is actually better than the 250.
Yed it is.
@OnoratoRestorations Wish I lived back east and could use a great little woods bike. But being in southern CA I ride in Mojave so a KDX wouldn't work so well.