Kawasaki KDX 200: It keeps going and going
and... Power: The ‘91 KDX 200 watercooled engine
chugged strongly from the low-end and powered into a strong
mid-range. It kept pulling right into a snappy top-end. The power
was beginner and novice friendly, yet strong enough to keep
experienced pilots entertained. Suspension: The plush forks
and rear suspension absorbed small and medium hits extremely
smoothly. When the bike was pushed, the suspension revealed its
limits by bottoming out easily. Stiffer springs helped the problem.
Handling: The KDX 200 turned well and was comfy at speed
until the too soft suspension protested. However, the bikes good
handling character soon disappeared when ridden at warp speeds. As
mentioned, stiffer suspension springs helped. The KDX was a bit
wide in the mid-section. Reliability: The Kawasaki was a
reliable bike. Beware of holes rubbed in the air boot from the air
box bolting. To keep costs down, the KDX did not come with neat
items like an O-ring chain and long wearing sprockets. Odds
& Ends: The KDX 200 has a tendency to overheat and boil
radiator fluid. It's an outstanding trail/play bike that's easily
modified to be competitive in enduro races.
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