sixstringsteve
Well-Known Member
- Location
- UT
Many won't understand the point of this build, but that's ok. I've tried many different bikes in search for the perfect trail bike for the stuff I like to ride, and I haven't found the perfect bike yet. So I decided it's time to build the perfect bike. I enjoy projects and I enjoy fabricating.
I wanted something light for the technical steep, rocky goat trails I like to ride here in Utah. I have a trials bike, but it makes the trails TOO easy. I'm a shorty, (5'6", 28" inseam, 165 lbs) and I only ride trails and trials (no MX, no desert). So i don't need more than 10" of travel, but something like a CRF230 is too heavy, bulky, and low performance. So I've decided on a KX100.
Pros:
- plenty of power (~25 rwhp)
- great seat height
- super narrow seat/tank (makes it easier to touch the ground)
- super light (150 lbs w/o gas)
- fantastic suspension and brakes
- very cheap
- 2t zip: fun to ride
- plenty of aftermarket. These bikes haven't changed in the past 12 years, and they share many parts with the kx80/85s as well.
Cons
- wheelbase is too short (50.8" wheelbse)
- rider area too cramped
- wheels are too small
- fork angle is a little too slack
Plans for this project
- keep it light. I'd like to stay as close to the stock 150 lbs as possible, but I'm thinking 175 lbs is more realistic.
- 18" rear wheel with a trials tire (maybe even a tubeless trials wheel)
- 21" front wheel (possibly with a trials tire)
- wheelbase stretch: 2" on the swingarm
- 2" frame stretch (behind the head-tube)
- flywheel weight (still undecided)
- low gearing
- steepen the head tube angle a degree or two (still undecided)
- larger tank
- add a light
- lower the foot pegs
- bigger bars
- possibly make it street legal (still undecided if I want to do this)
Anyway, feel free to follow along as I tackle this project. I'll have a lot of questions, feel free to chime in with ideas/suggestions, I'm all ears.
Here's what I'm starting with: a clean low-mile 2000 KX100.
I wanted something light for the technical steep, rocky goat trails I like to ride here in Utah. I have a trials bike, but it makes the trails TOO easy. I'm a shorty, (5'6", 28" inseam, 165 lbs) and I only ride trails and trials (no MX, no desert). So i don't need more than 10" of travel, but something like a CRF230 is too heavy, bulky, and low performance. So I've decided on a KX100.
Pros:
- plenty of power (~25 rwhp)
- great seat height
- super narrow seat/tank (makes it easier to touch the ground)
- super light (150 lbs w/o gas)
- fantastic suspension and brakes
- very cheap
- 2t zip: fun to ride
- plenty of aftermarket. These bikes haven't changed in the past 12 years, and they share many parts with the kx80/85s as well.
Cons
- wheelbase is too short (50.8" wheelbse)
- rider area too cramped
- wheels are too small
- fork angle is a little too slack
Plans for this project
- keep it light. I'd like to stay as close to the stock 150 lbs as possible, but I'm thinking 175 lbs is more realistic.
- 18" rear wheel with a trials tire (maybe even a tubeless trials wheel)
- 21" front wheel (possibly with a trials tire)
- wheelbase stretch: 2" on the swingarm
- 2" frame stretch (behind the head-tube)
- flywheel weight (still undecided)
- low gearing
- steepen the head tube angle a degree or two (still undecided)
- larger tank
- add a light
- lower the foot pegs
- bigger bars
- possibly make it street legal (still undecided if I want to do this)
Anyway, feel free to follow along as I tackle this project. I'll have a lot of questions, feel free to chime in with ideas/suggestions, I'm all ears.
Here's what I'm starting with: a clean low-mile 2000 KX100.
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