Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127164
ust when you thought it was safe to go back into the woods, Kawasaki introduces what could be the meanest bark buster of the decade - the all-new and water-cooled KDX200. Over th e years, the KDX200 has picked up a reputation as being the "perfect" off-road motorcycle. It was reliable, easy and cheap to maintain, light, well suspended, torquey and, best of all , carried a rather small price tag, all of which kept the weekend trail rider happy and the serious enduro co mpetitor zeroing checks. The KDX has maintained th e same basic design ever since its debut back in 1982, but no matter how good the KDX might've been over th e years, it needed a cha nge - a sp icing up - a nd, bo y, did it get it. J Tech stuff 38 The 1989 KDX is now liquidcooled, which is a first for the KDX. It ha s two radiators mounted to th e frame's from downtube located just in from of the ga s tank, sim ilar to th e KX250 a nd 500. In fact , the KDX 's moto r is based aft er th e KX250, except for the K.I.P .5. powervalve system which is sim ilar to what is found o n the KX125. Water-cooling allows [or closer tolerances betw een th e pi ston a nd cylinder wall to improve Perfo rmance, reliability and reduce engine noi se. Plus, liquid cool ing keep s engine operating temperatures down to help maintain maximum power outpu t. The aluminum cylinder is treated by a n electro-fusion process to create a very hard and porous surface. This treatment is designed to improve lubrication and dissipate heat better, which in turn, should increase the life-span of the piston and rings. Feeding the cylinder through a sixpetal reed-valve is a new crescentshaped slide 35mm Keihin carburetor , which gathers air through an allnew and larger airbox. A new heavier crankshaft is used to control vibration and smooth power transition, with modification at one end to fit a new and heavier flywheel magneto and the other to drive the water pump. The magneto output is up from six volts to 12volts, so more powerful bulbs are used in the headlight and taillight. The exhaust pipe is all new -and attached to the end is a much smaller and lighter aluminum U.S. Forestryapproved spark arrester silencer. The spark arrester assembly is detachable. (Belorr) No stones rrere left ullfumed in flesiping tie llerr ICDUOO. (Ilig#lt) A . re.r disc brae is fin.I" Hopted, .ad the nerr .I.",i.... siletteer (bottom riglrt) incorpor.tes • U.S. Foresfty-illPfll'o,ed .rrester. . .'* The clutch has finally been beefed up. The spring load is stiffer and the number of steel clutch plates has been increased to seven and the friction plates to eight. Plus, the clutch housing has a separate smaller cover so th e plates can be inspected without having to remove the complete outer case. The KDX's chassis is all new. The frame is basically a 1987 KXI25 frame with slight modifications. It has a green-painted semi double