New to the 450 need xc advice..

[willb]

My Bud has purchased the new KFX. His Z is currently for sale.;)

Question: He is ordering the typical protection items: skids, hand guards, etc...

What other items does this machine need, if anything for the trails that you suggest?

He is a very good rider and does race. I am typically his wrench man that is why I ask.

Don't need suggestions that have anything to do with I drag race such and such:::

Merry Christmas

[erac4019]

He's talking about me and what we're looking for is suspension help. I dont want to drop a grand on new shocks but the way my bike came from the factory the ride is harsh. On my Z the only suspension upgrades I have are works 3x's and the ride is sooo much better. I have a feeling a softer seat may help too but I really have no idea where to start on the suspension. Does anyone have a link or can you explain what/how to adjust it. Willb will be coming out to the house sometime in the next month or so and we're going to set up my shocks but I would like to have an idea where to start.
Just to give an idea of how it rides now, I have a pretty large woop section behind my house and when I fly through it it feels like I have no shocks. Just guessing but would I soften up my compression and increase my rebound allowing the shock to absorb the bump and then rebound quicker to set up for the next one? And should I set up my front shocks first or my rear? I'm looking for any advise to get started so let me know what cha got.

[spincr4hire]

Go with the GT Thunder revalves, Laz also has a new front end (a-arm/shock setup) thats supposed to be really nice.

[erac4019]

Thats what I'm trying not to do right now, spend a bunch of money on the revalve/respring, I want to get the stock suspension set up so that its tollerable for now. Did you ever get your fronts revalved by Laz or are you running resprings all around? According to a few on the other site Ric's(prey2none) set up is pretty good now and I see you did the subframe mod too. I think I'll wait until someone offers that as a bolt on mod. :D

[QUADROOKIE]

Laz is known as probably the best suspension guy around. I don't know what he charges, but I am pretty sure Colby @ C&D Racing (site sponsor) will revalve your stockers (all 3) for around 700 bucks and he does IMHO just as good of job as anyone. The stock suspension can only be adjusted so much on these. If he is a C class racer, or just racing for fun, the stockers will be just fine. But if he wants more perormance he is gonna need at least a re-valve. I would do this before any pipe, filter, PCIII, etc, no questions asked. Also, some beadlock wheels would be high on the list, and tire balls but they are expensive.

[spincr4hire]

Originally posted by erac4019
Thats what I'm trying not to do right now, spend a bunch of money on the revalve/respring, I want to get the stock suspension set up so that its tollerable for now. Did you ever get your fronts revalved by Laz or are you running resprings all around? According to a few on the other site Ric's(prey2none) set up is pretty good now and I see you did the subframe mod too. I think I'll wait until someone offers that as a bolt on mod. :D

good luck with that, lol. The stock springs are pretty harsh. Yes, I'm running revalves/new springs all around as well as GTT XC linkage. I'm pretty happy with it but like Ric said the new GTT a-arms are pretty awesome.
Yes, I did the subframe mod, cant wait to get out and try it out, that was my only complaint with the KFX, rear end seat height was too high (felt tippy at times).

[feature05]

What is this subframe mod you guys are talking about?

[spincr4hire]

cutting and rewelding the lower mount to lower the seat height (around 2"). You do have to shim the airbox up and the pipe out for clearance issues.

[450raider]

ok yall sparked my intrest on this subframe mod, if you lower the rear of the frame wouldnt the plastic and seat bend or somethin when you put it back in place? and what exactly is it supposed to do give you a more "sitting in" feeling rather than a "sitting on top" feeling id deffinately like to see one if it works.

[willb]

spincr:

Would there or is there a better spring that may help for now.

And no bubba, I am not cutting and welding on your new bike until you knock atleast 2 tits off the tires. LOL

[esquared]

Stay away fro AC Racing skid plates , they suck and AC Racing leaves you hanging .

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l219/aptusshooter/AC3.jpg

This is after hitting a rock and the swing arm skid jammed into the brake rotor at 25mph and I got thrown .

[esquared]

Stay away fro AC Racing skid plates , they suck and AC Racing leaves you hanging .

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l219/aptusshooter/AC3.jpg

This is after hitting a rock and the swing arm skid jammed into the brake rotor at 25mph and I got thrown .

[esquared]

Stay away fro AC Racing skid plates , they suck and AC Racing leaves you hanging .

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l219/aptusshooter/AC3.jpg

This is after hitting a rock and the swing arm skid jammed into the brake rotor at 25mph and I got thrown .

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l219/aptusshooter/AC1.jpg

Go with the Pro Armor skids as they are way heavier built . Here is a shot of them side by side .

[esquared]

Stay away fro AC Racing skid plates , they suck and AC Racing leaves you hanging .

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l219/aptusshooter/AC3.jpg

This is after hitting a rock and the swing arm skid jammed into the brake rotor at 25mph and I got thrown .

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l219/aptusshooter/AC1.jpg

Go with the Pro Armor skids as they are way heavier built . Here is a shot of them side by side .

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l219/aptusshooter/CF002947.jpg

[esquared]

Originally posted by 450raider
ok yall sparked my intrest on this subframe mod, if you lower the rear of the frame wouldnt the plastic and seat bend or somethin when you put it back in place? and what exactly is it supposed to do give you a more "sitting in" feeling rather than a "sitting on top" feeling id deffinately like to see one if it works.

Screw that mod , buy this and solve your seat problem . http://www.quadtech-atv.com/pages/products/qt-kfx-450-khs.html

[erac4019]

Thats not what the sub frame mod is for. It lowers the center of gravity in the rear by about 2" making the KFX handle better.

[KFX-R]

I have the pro aromor skids and they do the same especially on the chain side of the rear skid. Always have to take it off and bend it back down. GT thunders sprocket guards provide more clearence but have heard that they aren't perfect either. TAG needs to get off they're butts and make the poly full skid that said they would have about 3 months ago.

[spincr4hire]

Originally posted by esquared
Screw that mod , buy this and solve your seat problem . http://www.quadtech-atv.com/pages/products/qt-kfx-450-khs.html
already got that mod chief, does nothing to solve the seat height problem, but does make for a comfy ride.

[450raider]

hey spincr, just curious hows that lowered subframe thing working for ya, does it feel more stable and centered?

[BEN #1]

SOME ADVICE WE HAVE HAD LUCK WITH !
ROLL OVER RELAY SILCONE REWORK !
KICK START ASSEMBLY KAW DEALER PT# 99994-0097 $300.00
I MAY BE ABLE TO GET A LITTLE CHEAPER.
THROTTLE BODY SENCER ADJ !
A SERVICE MANUEL IT DOES HAVE ALOT OF INFO ON STOCK SHOCK'S ADJ ! 60.00
EBAY HAS A AIR BOX AN INTAKE THAT REALLY INCREASE HP 189.00
I HAVE A USED PRO CIRCUT T4 PIPE MAYBE !
I HAVE A ROLL OVER SIZE TANK A MUST !
YOU NEED TO TAKE YOU ELE PLUG'S A PART AN PUT SOME DILECT
GREASE TO KEEP WATER OUT! SRRAY THE ENTIRE ELE WIRES WITH SILCONE
GT THUNDER WANTS 750.00 TO REDO FRONT STOCKSHOCK'S
IF INTERESTED I HAVE SOME NEW TAKE OFF'S FRONT AN REAR !
I DO HAVE A SYS 3 STEERING STABLIZER 1
LET ME KNOW
CHECK COIL BOLT'S MAY BE TO LONG AN CUTTING INTO WIRING HARNESS
QUAD TECH SEAT COVER MAKE'S IT SOFTER 1

GOOD LUCK

[spincr4hire]

Originally posted by 450raider
hey spincr, just curious hows that lowered subframe thing working for ya, does it feel more stable and centered?
worked out great, feels a lot better now