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Offline Coop

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New bike in the garage...
« on: September 23, 2010, 02:10:59 PM »
Brought home the 2003 KDX200 today. After just a quick spin on it once I got it home I realized I am going to like it a lot better than the 125. Needs some tinkering and maintenance but nothing major. Most of it is stuff I do anyway when I first buy a bike. I did manage to already break the ball off the clutch lever already when I tried to straighten it. Bent levers really annoy me LOL.


- Mike - Don't take life so seriously, nobody gets out alive.

Offline TMKIWI

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Re: New bike in the garage...
« Reply #1 on: September 23, 2010, 05:30:24 PM »
Congrats  ;D
If you don't fall off you are not going hard enough

Offline Coop

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Re: New bike in the garage...
« Reply #2 on: September 23, 2010, 06:11:44 PM »
Thanks. I seriously think I am losing the tail light and that huge rear fender, it doesn't work anyway (I haven't even looked into why because I really don't care lol). I'm thinking about keeping the headlight though.
- Mike - Don't take life so seriously, nobody gets out alive.

Offline SachsGS

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Re: New bike in the garage...
« Reply #3 on: September 23, 2010, 07:37:26 PM »
If you heat the lever with a butane/propane torch and apply pressure at the same time it's relatively easy to straighten them out.

Offline eprovenzano

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Re: New bike in the garage...
« Reply #4 on: September 24, 2010, 02:25:53 AM »
Congrats Coop.  I think you will like the 200 as well.  My KTM does not have a headlight, but...  its in the near future plan to be added.  It would make it nice to be able to make it back to the truck when it get dark. 

Eric Provenzano
2019 KTM 300 XCW TPI
2000 KTM 300 EXC (Son's)
2001 KTM 380 EXC
Sold 1991 KDX 200... fun play bike
Sold 1999 KX250
Sold 1999 YZ125 (son's)
Sold 2001 Yamaha TTL 125 (son's 1st bike)
Sold but never forgotten 1974 Honda Elsinore CR250M
Sold 1974 Honda Elsinore CR125

Offline JohnN

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Re: New bike in the garage...
« Reply #5 on: September 24, 2010, 11:00:33 AM »
Wow! Nice looking machine.

You will enjoy that bike, it is absolutely the perfect small bore trail bike.

Congratulations!!
Life is short.

Smile while you still have teeth!

Offline Coop

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Re: New bike in the garage...
« Reply #6 on: September 24, 2010, 12:42:23 PM »
Thanks guys. I am going riding tomorrow so I will be able to give it a proper test. The more I think about it the more I think I am keeping the headlight for sure, not so sure about the tail light.

Sachs I was using my propane torch, I have straightened dozens of levers (I'm cheap lol). But this one was curled around pretty good and snapped before I got it all the way straight. I think with the ball gone it will work better with my barkbusters anyway.
- Mike - Don't take life so seriously, nobody gets out alive.

Offline opfermanmotors

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Re: New bike in the garage...
« Reply #7 on: September 24, 2010, 01:02:27 PM »
Nice looking trail bike, surprised about the conventional forks though! 

The frame has extra tubing comming out the side, is that for when you're low riding and you can put your feet there and lean back?  Need to get one of those old tall chopper seats! :)  j/k

Modest beginings start with a single blow of a horn, man.

Offline Coop

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Re: New bike in the garage...
« Reply #8 on: September 24, 2010, 01:46:40 PM »
I think that was Kawasaki's attempt at a built in bash guard kind of. I plan to get a proper skid plate eventually LOL.

So the taillight was just a blown bulb and the headlight bulb is blown too. I had a 1056 here but don't have whatever type of bulb this headlight one is. The button in the bars sticks you have to manually pull it back out. But once you hear it click you can push it in and the taillights work. So I will get a headlight bulb tonight or tomorrow to check that.
- Mike - Don't take life so seriously, nobody gets out alive.

Offline TMKIWI

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Re: New bike in the garage...
« Reply #9 on: September 24, 2010, 03:44:49 PM »
You can get a KX style rear fender that bolts straight on.
If you don't fall off you are not going hard enough

Offline factoryX

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Re: New bike in the garage...
« Reply #10 on: September 24, 2010, 06:11:41 PM »
Great looking bike, wish I had one to ride.also, if I remember correctly the one of the best pipes for the kdx is a modified stock one.
Never mind wrong year:
http://www.dirtrider.net/justkdx/pipe.html
« Last Edit: September 24, 2010, 06:17:30 PM by factoryX »


I ride an 03 yz250, wait 04, wait 05, what ever, they're all the same #$@% YOU!

Offline TotalNZ

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Re: New bike in the garage...
« Reply #11 on: September 24, 2010, 06:39:11 PM »
Nice clean bike. Can't go wrong with the KDX it's bullet proof.
Ditch all the lights and horn and other junk off it put a KX front number board and rear guard on her.
You'll really notice the difference in the steering when you take all that crap off the triple clamps.
I'd leave the exhaust stock and see if you reckon you need more power. KDX's are really quiet and it'd be a shame to ruin that on a trailbike.

Offline GlennC

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Re: New bike in the garage...
« Reply #12 on: September 24, 2010, 06:59:43 PM »
Sweet bike Coop!  8)

Offline Coop

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Re: New bike in the garage...
« Reply #13 on: September 24, 2010, 08:18:35 PM »
Yeah the bike is so nice and quiet I don't plan to mess with the exhaust anytime soon. I like quiet bikes  :D
- Mike - Don't take life so seriously, nobody gets out alive.

Offline Coop

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Re: New bike in the garage...
« Reply #14 on: September 25, 2010, 05:15:01 PM »
Well I spent about 3 hours on it today and I love it!! I thought I liked trail riding my old 125, but this KDX is so smooth and has great power for our tight, technical trails, that even when I was exhausted towards the end I was still smiling  :)

Normally the guys I ride with (2005 YZ250, 2006 WR360) usually have to wait for me at every hill and every time they turned around today to check on me I was right on their wheel. Very confidence inspiring.

Once I get the suspension set up for my weight I think it will even more fun.
- Mike - Don't take life so seriously, nobody gets out alive.