Dirt Bike Service Honda KDX 200 article

[ridered125]

The June Dirt Bike has a ride impression of the Service Honda KDX 200. They loved it. "Small bore bikes of any stripe handle well (and the KX 250F chassis is one of the best), but with the DX engine, it has less weight high in the frame and less gyro effect from rotating mass to overcome, so this chassis has a light feel and flickable handling the KX 250F can't hope to match. The bike is a true blast to ride hard."

Dirt Bike goes on to lament that Kawasaki shafted its customers by never making a bike like this.

Also when people talk about two strokes not being competitive anymore they are comparing at best five-year-old technology to current stuff, which this test shows isn't fair.

Put a two stroke motor in a new chassis and you have a great package.

Oh, one other thing, the price for the modern KDX -- $12,400. Ouch.

[Recovered]

Service Honda is fucking outrageous.  I love the stuff, but, why should something that is all OEM cost double what OEM costs?  I could understand a little on top for fabrication, but seriously, 12-13k for a 250 two stroke that, although is new, is still 12 year old technology, in a CRF roller that the engine (and suspension) were not meant to be in?

hate to be a naysayer. but he also is not paying retail for his rolling chassis and parts, either.

[SachsGS]

I wonder how the SH KDX compares to the Euro 200s?

[VintageBlueSmoke]

The other thing to consider in the prices from Service Honda is that these bikes are made from parts. If you bought all the parts to your $20k Ford pickup, it would be over $75k! Your $500 bicycle would be $2000! $12k for a custom built motorcycle suddenly doesn't sound so outrageous.

[Recovered]

The other thing to consider in the prices from Service Honda is that these bikes are made from parts. If you bought all the parts to your $20k Ford pickup, it would be over $75k! Your $500 bicycle would be $2000! $12k for a custom built motorcycle suddenly doesn't sound so outrageous.

  It costs less than 12k to piece them together, otherwise he would not be selling them.

[cnrcpla]

  It costs less than 12k to piece them together, otherwise he would not be selling them.

I'm not sure how much it costs to make them, and 12k does sound outrageous for an MX bike, but he does need some margin for profit to make more.

[ridered125]

The Dirt Bike article said Service Honda had to buy all the parts for the motor new from Kawasaki and then assemble it.

[TMKIWI]

Anyone know how much a KDX motor weighs.?
Looking at my mates KDX the motor looks alot heavier then my old KTM200.
Just curious.

[chump6784]

Kawasaki is making a profit off every part he buys as an individual piece. when you buy a complete bike the manufacturer only has to make a profit on the whole thing, It would cost a fortune to buy every part off kawasaki. take the cost of labour to put it all together and then add a little bit for profit and i can see why his price is so high.

On the other hand MPS has a RM250 AF on ebay for 9k. It too is ment to be a brand new motor in an RMZ frame. wonder why so much difference in price? would love to get my hands on that

[GlennC]

I always wondered what Service Honda's profit margins are. Seems like after all the fab work and assembly of the new engine, that there wouldn't be much profit left. I still think that 10-13k isn't that much for a custom scooter. Look at the custom chopper crowd 30k and up for a POS that is nearly un ridable.

They are selling all they can build. In most business when the lead time get longer the price goes up.

[MetalMike1982]

Kawasaki is making a profit off every part he buys as an individual piece. when you buy a complete bike the manufacturer only has to make a profit on the whole thing, It would cost a fortune to buy every part off kawasaki. take the cost of labour to put it all together and then add a little bit for profit and i can see why his price is so high.

On the other hand MPS has a RM250 AF on ebay for 9k. It too is ment to be a brand new motor in an RMZ frame. wonder why so much difference in price? would love to get my hands on that

The RM250f sounds like an awesome bike . I'm gonna have to check that out

[twosmoke595]

if they sold more of them, the prices would go down, but they sell a limited amount every year which is why the prices are so high

[ford832]

My Berg was almost that in 05.Fortunately,I bought it in 07 as a brand new 2yr leftover and saved a bundle.As stated above,limited production and high parts/manufacturing costs mean a hefty price tag.It's not out of line.Rebuild your F a couple times and you're right there.

[Recovered]

Kawasaki is making a profit off every part he buys as an individual piece. when you buy a complete bike the manufacturer only has to make a profit on the whole thing, It would cost a fortune to buy every part off kawasaki. take the cost of labour to put it all together and then add a little bit for profit and i can see why his price is so high.

On the other hand MPS has a RM250 AF on ebay for 9k. It too is ment to be a brand new motor in an RMZ frame. wonder why so much difference in price? would love to get my hands on that

The RM250f sounds like an awesome bike . I'm gonna have to check that out

best handling chassis ever. hands down, not even a question, nothing will cut a line inside of it.  lakeland.

[TMKIWI]

Why would an alloy RM handle any better.?
Nothing cuts inside a 06-08 RM anyway.