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
(Continued from pag« 39 ) . th e tri prneter a t resets a nd a t mi lea ge markers in end ures when yo u're in a h u rry . H ow ever, th e accuracy o f th e Odo me ter seems close, a nd th e who le [system is reli ab le. T here a re n o iba tteries to wo rry abo u t. . We aren' t too h appy with th e KDX's brak es, ei ther. T hey're stro ng .•enough to slo w it do wn bu t have a m u sh y feel a t both ends. P lu s, th e front pads sq uea ked horribl y, especia lly after ridi ng th rough wa ter. Ov erall h andl in g is better th an • ever. It co rners accura tely a n d the -Iron t end isn 't overly sens itive to movement like it used to be. The tires tick well to th e dirt. e So far n o th in g has bro ken , cracked or sh o wn any signs of p rem ature ea r on our KDX a nd basic ma in rta ina nce is simple. The ai r filter has . . ea sy access a nd ad justing the chain •is a breeze. t A rurrotrer IqOflf millkes tile ICDX euier to lfIHeurer. (Abore) A stronger clutch is a major ,mprorement. (Below) The ri«lrt.IJand guard is next to useless. It still pirots againt the front brake lerer. Add in ' up the score card Even though the 1989 KDX200 is physica lly an a ll- new motorcycle from the ground up, it sti ll radiates KD X. T he o n ly di fference is th a t it p la in ly works better in j ust a bout every catagory - it h as m ore lo we n d power, b e tt er suspens ion , stronger bra kes, shar per handli ng a nd is quieter. H owever , so me fla ws st ill exist. It still co u ld u se more topend speed, a firmer sea t, and better a ttached a nd stron ger hand guards, but th at's a bo ut it, As far as wa ter-cooli ng goes, we had no p rob lem s with th e engi ne over hea ting in u n us u a lly tigh t terra in, so we figure it's go ing to ta ke so me ser ious ly gnarly special test sectio ns to turn th e KDX into a stea me r. All in all, th e new KDX is a serious en duro co nten der ca pable of zeroing a ny zeroable checks, especially the o nes after the tight and ugl y sections. I n the fas ter sect ions it's go ing to be a litt le bit tougher, though. Bu t no matter how serious the KDX may loo k for~89, it h asn 't lost .its flare as a fu n play bike for those who aren't into keep ing time. • Kawasaki KDX200 Engine type .... . _Uquid-cooled. two-stroke. single Bore x stroke •• . 66.0 x 58.0mm Displacement . ... . • . • . _. 198cc Compression ratio • . • .•••• 7.5:1 Carburetor • . . • . • . 35mm Keihin Horsepower •. • ••. . . Claimed 36 bhp @ 7500 rpm Torque .. . • . • Cla imed 3/5 Ib-ft· Starting system .. • • Primary kick Ignition .. . . ... . . . • •. .... . COl Lubrication ... .. .... . • . Premix Primary drive ••.. . . Straight-cut gear Final drive • . .. . . . . . #520 chain Frame .• . ... . Single downtube. split double cradle Rake . .• . . . . . . . •. • . . . . . . . . 27 0 TraiL 4 .41 in. Front suspension •• •• .• • Kayaba telescopic fork OUR RIDERS. DISTRIBUTORS. IMPORTERS ENTHUSIASTS. SUPPLIERS. EMPLOYEES AND ESPECIALLY OUR DEALERS ~ FOR MAKING 1988 OUR BIGGEST AND BEST YEAR EVER . THANK YOU! o~ HAPPY HOLIDAYS THE MORE YOU KNOW · THE BETTER IT GETS W MOTORCYCLE SAF ETY FOUNDATION Forthe Motorcycle Ride rCourse Nearest You . ... Call To ll Free: Fork tube diameter . .. . • . 43mm Front wheel travel 1 1.4 Rear su spension • .• Kayaba UniTrak single shock. swingarm Rear wheel travel • . . . . . . . . 11 .8 Front brakes . . . • • . . Disc 8 .7 in. Rear brakes . . •.. •. ; Disc 7 .5 in. Front tire . ... . • . . • . • •. 80/100 Dunlop K490 Rear t ire 100/100-18 Dunlop K695 Claimed dry weight 224.9 Ibs Overall lengt h : 8 3 .9 in . Overall w idth . •. ... .... 35.0 in . Overall height 49.2 in. Wheelbase 57.1 in. Fuel capacity 3 .2 ga l. Ground clearance •.•.•• 13.4 in. Seat height . • .. . • .• . . . 35.8 in. Colors .• . . . . . . . . . .••. . . Green Retail price .. .. . . •• . ... $2.699 800-447-4700 I MOTORCYCLE SAFETY FOUNDATION • W 61