Current/ex, kdx owners' suspension feedback

**r.2stroke** · 23rd September 2009, 18:45

Are there any kdx owners...past or present,that have made suspension mods to their kdx like proper fork/shock springs for their weight and a revalve(gold valve or the like) front and rear,and then been satisfied that it was worth spending the money for the gain it made over stock,or maybe not worth it and should of updated to something else.
I'm at that point...problem is,i have no idea what a re-valved,sorted kdx is like over stock(i got stiffer fork springs tho)
Thoughts welcome......
Cheers.

**scott411** · 23rd September 2009, 19:01

1st option you have done, heavy fork springs, the rear is not to bad spring wise, but set your rider sag up to about 95-100mm,

2nd stage, gold valve the forks and shock, much better again,

3rd option, replace forks for usd KX forks, best option, but most expensive,
helps alot in ruts as well, if you get forks off a wrecked bike make sure you get them serviced with new bushes, revalving thsese forks will help as well,

i have ridden all 3 and it is better the more you spend money on, the last KDX i raced i just did option 1,

**Ktmboy** · 23rd September 2009, 19:20

Originally Posted by scott411

1st option you have done, heavy fork springs, the rear is not to bad spring wise, but set your rider sag up to about 95-100mm,

2nd stage, gold valve the forks and shock, much better again,

3rd option, replace forks for usd KX forks, best option, but most expensive,
helps alot in ruts as well, if you get forks off a wrecked bike make sure you get them serviced with new bushes, revalving thsese forks will help as well,

i have ridden all 3 and it is better the more you spend money on, the last KDX i raced i just did option 1,

I did option 1 and 2. t'was a vast improvement. Maybe find a wrecked KX125 front end including triple clamps.

**mfordy** · 23rd September 2009, 20:27

I've done option 1 only - made a huge difference to the point where the bike is probably better than the rider.

I also investigated options 2 and 3 but decided for the money invested, it would have been better to upgrade the bike. Also KX125 front ends are hard to find at a reasonable price especially when you factor in the rebuild/revalve cost as Scott mentioned

**JP.** · 23rd September 2009, 22:09

Ive only had mine a week but will def look at doing option 1.

A whole 2001 KX125 frame and forks went for $200 on trademe this week! I have to get used to my bike before spending lots of money on it..

**r.2stroke** · 26th September 2009, 18:09

Damn!i wished i'd been more on to it searching trademe for the KX forks! $200 for the frame and forks sounds like a bargain!
Would a gold valved front and back on the kdx,make it some where near a current enduro bike in the suspension stakes?,or still miles apart?

**cs363** · 26th September 2009, 18:16

Originally Posted by scott411

1st option you have done, heavy fork springs, the rear is not to bad spring wise, but set your rider sag up to about 95-100mm,

2nd stage, gold valve the forks and shock, much better again,

3rd option, replace forks for usd KX forks, best option, but most expensive,
helps alot in ruts as well, if you get forks off a wrecked bike make sure you get them serviced with new bushes, revalving thsese forks will help as well,

i have ridden all 3 and it is better the more you spend money on, the last KDX i raced i just did option 1,

X 2 On that (haven't experienced option 3 but plenty of people whose opinion I respect have) sorted suspension and a decent exhaust pipe are the best mods you can do to the KDX, totally changes the bike.

**cave weta** · 26th September 2009, 19:18

Originally Posted by cs363

X 2 On that (haven't experienced option 3 but plenty of people whose opinion I respect have) sorted suspension and a decent exhaust pipe are the best mods you can do to the KDX, totally changes the bike.

So - you trying to make up with Scott then?

**retired motoman** · 27th September 2009, 20:44

How long you been riding ? ...if a newbie year or two, ever done any training with a top rider? best money spent when stating out. Whats your weight? what you using it for ?
The kdx is a good starting platform for a c grade rider geting into mx or new to trail rides and the bush. I had gold valves in my forks only and there a big improvment , springs for your weight and rider sag are the first place to start,
i see you have done that allready . If your fairly young and just geting into it you will soon want to upgrade so in that case dont spend to much coin on it , and if you are older and been riding it for some time , what are you doing still riding it lol, save your coin and upgrade . There a solid fun bike to start out but most people i no who have had them including myself soon rise in ability above there intended use, imho anyway.

**r.2stroke** · 28th September 2009, 17:24

Originally Posted by retired motoman

How long you been riding ? ...if a newbie year or two, ever done any training with a top rider? best money spent when stating out. Whats your weight? what you using it for ?
The kdx is a good starting platform for a c grade rider geting into mx or new to trail rides and the bush. I had gold valves in my forks only and there a big improvment , springs for your weight and rider sag are the first place to start,
i see you have done that allready . If your fairly young and just geting into it you will soon want to upgrade so in that case dont spend to much coin on it , and if you are older and been riding it for some time , what are you doing still riding it lol, save your coin and upgrade . There a solid fun bike to start out but most people i no who have had them including myself soon rise in ability above there intended use, imho anyway.

Ive been riding on and off for the past 7/8yrs,in my eary 40's now,74kgs,and id consider myself a kind of "experienced"novice...still cant do a decent wheelie,or even a half decent one!and i wouldn't describe myself as a fast rider...but i can get around..if you know wot i mean.I dont plan hitting the MX track,i stick to the rides in woodhill,riverhead,that sort of thing and the great MR rides.Good point on the coaching,im gonna get some with Mr Birch very shortly,good value i hear.I find the power of the kdx fine enough for me,it does struggle up very steep snotty hills power wise..but that could be me not being good enough technique wise,other than that, i find its got plenty.But suspension wise,thats another story..i want better!

**retired motoman** · 28th September 2009, 20:20

Ok cool , birch would be one of our best technical riders imo , he will be great to learn off. If you are more then happy with it and dont mind spending more coin to get it handling how you want , get it revalved . you will need to tell them what trouble you have with it now, your weight and what sought of riding you do with it, its money well spent . Your only 4 kg more then me , i need the valveing softer in most cases with late modal bikes. You said you have fitted stiffer springs? the kdx stock ones will be pretty soft thou, but did you try winding your rebound and comp in first? i cant remember now how much ajustment there is on the kdx, but have a good play with your clickers and then ride at your normal pace and see how it feels, then stop and try a diffrent setting and ride again to you get it where you feel happy. make sure you write down where you started at. It takes time and there is no magic setting but spend some time trying to improve what you got first . oh and if you want to get her singing a bit
more , fit a rad valve reed cage , they work well on the kdx .

**cs363** · 28th September 2009, 20:37

Originally Posted by retired motoman

Ok cool , birch would be one of our best technical riders imo , he will be great to learn off. If you are more then happy with it and dont mind spending more coin to get it handling how you want , get it revalved . you will need to tell them what trouble you have with it now, your weight and what sought of riding you do with it, its money well spent . Your only 4 kg more then me , i need the valveing softer in most cases with late modal bikes. You said you have fitted stiffer springs? the kdx stock ones will be pretty soft thou, but did you try winding your rebound and comp in first? i cant remember now how much ajustment there is on the kdx, but have a good play with your clickers and then ride at your normal pace and see how it feels, then stop and try a diffrent setting and ride again to you get it where you feel happy. make sure you write down where you started at. It takes time and there is no magic setting but spend some time trying to improve what you got first . oh and if you want to get her singing a bit
more , fit a rad valve reed cage , they work well on the kdx .

With all due respect, the KDX is well known for having a spring imbalance - the front end is very soft in comparison with the rear (which is almost spot on for a 74kg rider) you can play with clickers and oil levels etc all day and it won't make a blind bit of difference until the spring rates are sorted.
Also, clickers don't make sufficient difference unless the valving is within range to start with. Think of it as trying to tune a bike that is jetted extremely rich or lean by only using the air screw...
Your comments regarding softer valving/springing on late model bikes is closer to the mark though as the average MX/Enduro bike is set up (in most cases0 for around an 85kg rider.
Agree re your other comments on Mr Birch and trying settings (once the bike is valved and sprung properly) though, also the reed cage or carbon reeds - KDX's respond well to those.

**retired motoman** · 28th September 2009, 20:43

Your dead right , i just didint have the heart to say the old kdx is well behind
the eight ball now , we have come a long long way

it can be made to handle better its just going to cost $$$
At 40 somethink , i dought you would look back if you got on a newish 250f or a ktm exc .

**cs363** · 28th September 2009, 20:53

Originally Posted by retired motoman

Your dead right , i just didint have the heart to say the old kdx is well behind
the eight ball now , we have come a long long way

it can be made to handle better its just going to cost $$$
At 40 somethink , i dought you would look back if you got on a newish 250f or a ktm exc .

Yep, dead right regarding the 250f's - I've had a couple of KDX200's then some CR250's and now have a CRF250X (didn't want a four stroke until I could find one I liked with an electric leg, can't be buggered using what little energy and fitness I have kicking a flooded/reluctant starting four stroke out in the bush....

- especially being in that same age group!)
But as you say, with a few $$ spent there's still a bit of life in the KDX and they can still embarrass people on much newer, high tech machines in the hands of a skilled rider!