Kawasaki KDX 200 - A Devilish Dirt Bike

This is about one of some of the killer motorcycles built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries over the years. They are featured in the other videos linked in the video and below in the description.
The KDX200 really was a giant of a motorcycle.
video links
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[@kwilli222]

Over 30 years ago my mate was running in his friends fully rebuilt mint KDX200 including painted frame. He knew I always wanted one and let me have a go on it! 5 minutes later I had chucked it down the road, I'm still embarrassed to this day about it!!

[@barebonesmc]

Ouch, and not a great start, but fantastic bikes, 🙂Cheers for adding your bit mate. Ride Free 🙂

[@stevencunningham4680]

The Kawasaki KDX 200 & 220 are two of the greatest off road motorcycles ever made. I wish Kawasaki still made them.

[@barebonesmc]

there is more in the main video linked in the description 🙂Cheers for watching mate. Ride Free 🙂

[@WhatTimeIsIt369]

Love these old bikes.

[@barebonesmc]

as im sure you can tell, me too 🙂Cheers for adding your bit mate. Ride Free 🙂

[@lorditsprobingtime6668]

That looks like a very versatile and fun bike. I so wish they hadn't all but done away with 2 strokes, by far they were best for being able to have good power and light nimble machines.

[@barebonesmc]

great bikes 🙂 Cheers for watching mate. Ride Free 🙂

[@dominocweber9763]

Such a legendary bike! I one day hope to get my hands on a clean 90s kdx. Came to the channel for the dakar coverage and stayed for the content. Once again thank you barebones for what you do.

[@barebonesmc]

Welcome aboard mate, enjoy the ride and cheers for the support

[@whitneyestate1402]

I owned a 1981 KDX 420. It was a pretty decent bike but was no match for the open class MX bikes that were converted for hare scrambles and/or the desert. I had it in 85-86 and sold it in 87 to purchase a 86 CR 500, which was used for hare scrambles. The KDX 200/250 was universally viewed in the paddocks as a better bike than its 420/450 big brother.

[@barebonesmc]

Cheers for adding this. as i have often said, if we could amass the combined knowledge of all the subscribers we would have the most comprehensive motorcycle encyclopedia ever 🙂

[@noduh736]

Ya these are great bikes these and the old 90s 2t yamaha wrs

[@stevencunningham4680]

The Yamaha IT's were better than the WR's.

[@barebonesmc]

great bikes 🙂 Cheers for watching mate. Ride Free 🙂

[@barebonesmc]

remember, whats best for one isnt necessarily best for another, if we all thought the same it would be a boring world 🙂Cheers for watching and for the comment mate. Ride Free 🙂

[@CarlT-cc9bn]

Great video. Im a huge fan of these bikes. Had a ‘91 in my twenties and just had an absolute blast on it. So easy to rip around the woods. Now in my late forties, I found a ‘06 (last production year) that’s in terrific condition. The plan is to go through the whole thing and make it perfect, and then try not to get maimed riding it😏

[@barebonesmc]

great bikes,there is more here in the main video kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGPQZ6d8ZdeNgbM 🙂 Cheers for watching mate. Ride Free 🙂

[@btchhopperou812]

I had both at the same time- a 98' 220 and the 89' 200. TOTALLY different machines- granted the suspension was better on the 220, but it was a decade 'newer'. The power delivery on these 2 could not have been more different. If you think the 200 has low-end power, I'll assure you the 220 had GRUNT like that of a 400lb boar hog that suddenly caught scent of a sow in-season... whereas the 200 reminded me of my 85' water-cooled ATC250R I had, just a little bit less power through the range, still had low-lower/mid rideability, just a more pronounced powerband that come in early compared to say a KX250. Some say the 'mushy' KDX suspensions were too soft, but I felt after adjusting the rear spring and thicker fork oil, that was nice for me at 225lbs. It was like sitting on a comfy couch going fast down a pretty harsh trail LOL, but she'd bottom pretty good if I messed around with anything big jump-wise- and I wasn't planning any supercross with it... ever. That said, with a smaller rider or a massaged setup, I heard they'd do about anything asked fair well. Funny thing too, the 220 was noticeably better on fuel, BUT it did have -2mm on the carb size. I am looking for another 220 currently that is 'plateable' so I can run about on it. I put a +1 14T countershaft sprocket on my last one and it did it good for top speed which I could easily do 75mph with a bit more if I pressed on. anyhow, I'll digress now... THANK YOU, sir, for all of the hard work- I enjoy all of your content as well as respect your knowledgeable commentary and opinions.

[@barebonesmc]

glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for adding to the story mate, welcome aboard

[@KingFriday274]

You did not mention that it also can hold its own on a moto cross track. I know from experience.

[@barebonesmc]

i guess that depends on the track AND the rider :-)

[@julianwinter3435]

I love my kdx but wish they made a 300 2stroke

[@barebonesmc]

great bikes I think Sherco or Beta are probably as close ass you can get now 🙂 Cheers for watching mate. Ride Free 🙂

[@CraigHenry-zq8jz]

I recon only 125s,were around when kdxs made a showing uk wize.

[@barebonesmc]

interesting, being honest i thought i remembered the 125 earlier, but the data i have says later, significantly, but im talking globally, according to what i have it was the 400 first in 79, then the 175 in 1980 the 250 in 81 the 200 in 83 and the 125 last in 1990, the only thing i can think is that the earlier KE125 75-78 is what i had remembered, but ive been wrong before. dont think we ever got the KDX450 or 220 here, which i have dated at 1980 and 1998 respectively, i can imagine the 450 was bonkers, 45HP and only 120kg sounds a good combination 🙂 hope you enjoyed it mate, there is more in the main video linked in the description

[@CraigHenry-zq8jz]

@@barebonesmc thanks for the reply 👍

[@barebonesmc]

no problem mate @@CraigHenry-zq8jz

[@user-tc9ss6vv6i]

Sold my 200 to a mate he rode it on the HWY overheated &. Glazed the bore. Bought it back cheap

[@barebonesmc]

Wild days, and even wilder nights 🙂Cheers for watching mate. Ride Free 🙂

[@mikerider58]

Modern day technology is breaking these Wild Mustangs.

[@barebonesmc]

Wild days, and even wilder nights 🙂Cheers for watching mate. Ride Free 🙂

[@KingFriday274]

There's no way it makes 37 horsepower.

[@barebonesmc]

being totally honest mate, that passed me in the edit, and your the first person to point it out even though the main video it comes from is almost a year on, i should have said 27, but we all make mistakes sometimes, i do usually catch them in the edit

[@KingFriday274]

@@barebonesmc just commented because i have one, and i have a yz250f. The yz250f makes 38 bhp, and its much faster.

[@barebonesmc]

@@KingFriday274 im glad you did mate, just a slip of the tongue, im not infallible 🙂 cant believe no one commented before lol

[@KingFriday274]

@@barebonesmc that being said, I love my KDX and I pick it over the other bikes 99% of the time.

[@barebonesmc]

Sometimes they do just get it right lol 🙂Cheers for watching and for the chat mate. Ride Free 🙂

[@DavidLee-b9k]

Perez Michelle Johnson Angela Taylor Margaret

[@barebonesmc]

there is more in the main video linked in the description 🙂Cheers for watching mate. Ride Free 🙂