redelk
Moderator
Please... speak to the hand.
Posts: 3212
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posted June 17, 2002 07:52 PM
 Edited By: redelk on 18 Jun 2002 08:06
Guess what came home to roost in the Elk's garage
Yes my friends, after close to a SIX YEAR absence, my 1989 KDX200-E1 has come home to pappa.
When I started riding sportbikes, I kinda lost interest in the hassles of going out for a serious trail ride and my "competition days" have long since been over. So basically, I loaned it to a friend who was still racing and he campaigned 4 fairly successful seasons with it. After that, it has spent the last two years sitting under another friend's back porch with a tarp thrown over it.
About six months ago, I stop by his house (which is about 50 miles from where I live) and he told me he had it. I hadn't even seen it in person (had seen pictures) in over FIVE YEARS! The rear wheel is so out-of-round and the spokes are so tweaked, it actually wabbles. He offered to get it respoked and trued, so I told him to go ahead and call me when it was done.
Well, time went by and I got a wild hair to stop by his place again this weekend. He hadn't done anything with it so I told him that I'd just come and pick it up after I rode back home and got the truck and trailer. Later that night, I was back with the trailer.
When we rolled it out, it still had mud and shit on it from the last time it was raced. It also had the same mixed gas and oil in the case as well. The best part was, just like the trusty steed it had always been, after about three kicks, it fired right up. After loading it up, I took it to a car wash to give her a well deserved and long over do bath. Then I took her home and returned her to her right place in my garage. Since it was about 2 am, I figured that I'd assess the damage (besides the rear wheel) the next morning.
Well, the six year absence has not been to kind to her. I drained out the gas, flushed the radiator, cleaned off the plug (didn't have a spare) and changed the oil. There were just a few problems. I didn't have any two stroke oil except for my chain saw and the only engine oil I had was what I had drained out of my 12R. I figured that it would be okay since this was just for "flushing purposes" only. There was all kinds of gunk in the tank, but what shocked me was what looked like very old Kaluha and cream that came out of the engine! ACK! I ended up using all the oil from my 12R to flush the KDX. The KDX only holds 800 cc of oil!
After doing all that, as if she was showing her appreciation for being back in my caring hands, she fired up.... FIRST kick. That's my baby! It looks like it will take a good $400-$500 to bring her back up to snuff. Even though I only paid $2800 for her when she was brand new, that's about all she would be worth today ($500+). In her current condition, probably even less. The thing is, I have NO intentions of EVER selling her. We've been though way too much shit and I got way too many great memories for me to ever think of letting her go.
It's not that I have made any plans on getting back in to riding in the dirt. I have long since either sold or given away all my gear. Even my (it was even old back then) Bell Moto 3 helmet. One thing I do still have is a service manual that's still in the plastic and a few recollections of how to work on her. It think it will be a blast to fix her back up to she was like back in her old glory days.
This is what she looked like back in '92 and the end of my last season in the Blackjack Enduro Circuit and Team Manager of Red Elk Motorsports (which campaigned EIGHT bikes!).
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There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
   
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Zhooligan
Moderator
Post Whore Extraordinaire!
Posts: 3829
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posted June 17, 2002 08:01 PM
KDX 200s are like an old lab. They are tough, friendly as hell and are ready to play. At the end of the day a good day in the woods puts one helluva smile on my face. Have fun!!!
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To those who do not count their life in years, but in how life
has touched them in the past and how much it can hold in the
future; -- Youth is forever.
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SPEEDCRAVER
Expert Class
Posts: 183
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posted June 18, 2002 04:41 AM
I had one of those and I really miss it now. Much easier to ride in the woods than my KX 500. Man, that is in great shape! Have lots of fun and remember "Trees are solid leafy immovable objects!!!!"
Alan
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I keep all of my guns loaded, to many people die from unloaded guns.
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big12
Novice Class
Posts: 91
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posted June 18, 2002 05:28 AM
Memories! In the corner of my mind. Memories of the way we were. Still looks new have fun.
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