.RIDING IMPRESSIONS
1997 Kawasaki KDX200, KDX220R and KLX300R
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(Left) The new KDX220 Is all bottom end - crack the throttle and It jumps.
(Below) " you liked the KLX250, then you'll love the more spirited 300.
By Kit Palmer
Photos by Kinney Jones
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t seems kind of odd that the first manufacturer in over a decade to
produce a small-bore, two-stroke, off-road bike truly capable of
rivaling the Kawasaki KDX200 for single-track supremacy happens to be the same manufacturer that builds the KDX200 itselfKawasaki. For 1997, Kawasaki has introduced the KDX220R, a slightly
larger-displacement version of the already tried and proven, and muchloved, KDX2oo.
It also might seem kind of strange that Kawasaki chose not to drop
the 200 from its off-road family but instead to let it go head-to-head
with the all-new (well, sort of) 220. Perhaps Kawasaki has too much
sentimental attachment to the 200 for it to be automaticalJy given the ax.
After all, it is the KDX2oo, an old friend. For Kawasaki, bringing on the
new 220 and hanging on to the 200 is kind of like buying a puppy
before 01' Fido kicks the bucket. You know, to ease the pain of saying
goodbye to your trusted companion.
But, still, why a 220? According to Kawasaki, the 220 is supposed to
"bridge the gap between those riders who may feel that a 200cc machine
may not have enough pull but that the added size and weight of a 250cc
motorcycle is too much." BasicalJy, that bndge is a slightly bigger piston
and a different carburetor, but more on that later.
The 220 isn't the only new off-road bike to join the Kawasaki family.
Kawasaki wisely chose to abandon the underpowered but maneuverable KLX250 four-banger for a bigger-displacement version, the
KLX300. Unlike the KDX200 and 220, which are nearly identical motorcycles, the KLX300 is significantly changed over the KLX250, which has
been eliminated from Kawasaki's lineup after a two-year showing. It
made its debut in 1994 but never really took off like Kawasaki thought it
would. A rather heavy price tag, hard-starting habits and being somewhat down on power did not help its cause any. Nor did Honda'S introduction of the XR400R.
Other than having an 18cc larger displacement, the only real difference between the KDX200 and 220 are the carburetors. To achieve more
bottom-end, and increase ridability on tight and technical trails, the 220
comes fitted with a smaller 33mm Keihin FYI< mixer, as com'pared to the
