MtnEX
03-05-2009, 09:17 PM
Well, I got to introduce myself and my KFX450R to an afternoon of TIGHT TECHNICAL woods riding.
This place is not rocky or real rough or real steep. But it is super tight, twisty and technical. A good place to start out with my new quad, provided I could keep it out of the trees and brush. Certainly tighter than a harescramble or GNCC course.
I have also rode here with my other two quads recently. So I would be able to size the KFX450R up really quickly in this environment.
Now I tell it like it is period, so I hope folks here can take criticism along with the praise...
The seat everyone complains about... I didn't even notice it, but my buns do remember it a little now.
The vibration everyone talks about... I was concerned because I'm a bit sensitive to that... but I didn't notice much of that either. In fairness I haven't done a lot of high reving though.
I do have something that makes a vibrating buzzing noise lower in the front that I can't seem to locate.
The ergos are just unreal great for me... like a step above a custom aftermarket chassis. And the steering effort... it is soooo light. It really cuts down on the fatigue of twisty trails.
It doesn't turn tight for crap. The stem or stops need a grind job to tighten it up a lot. This was a pretty big handicap in the places where it wasn't cool to throttle the rear around. In some of those sections I spent more time in reverse than I did in second gear. EVERYTHING ABOUT THE REVERSE IS SOOO NICE.
This brings me to the next thing... somehow it's too fast at minimal speeds. It has the same chain gearing setup as my 400EX, but somehow it's still too fast. So I would say it needs a 13t front for me, but what I believe it really needs is another gear under what it has. I have often wondered anyways why these 450's don't have a 6 speed tranny for this reason.
The clutch slipping wasn't bad though, thanks to a nice pull and nice short hardware on the bars.
The gearbox is really excellent in operation. Shifting is amazing both ways. Neutral is an instant find, and the reverse engagement is sooo nice. The only time it didn't work instantly, I found I'd wedged a big stick between the frame and shifter... lol...
The fenders somehow don't offer as much splash protection from water and mud. But all of the plastic lines are great in the woods except for the points on the front fenders. I wedged some things between the takeoffs and nosepiece.
The engine is great after a certain RPM off the bottom. The throttle response is instant from the EFI. The revs and acceleration build quick. But I still have a lot of work to do on throttle maneuvers for the tight technical obstacles. It may be that I'm fishing in the wrong RPM, or I need to get more creative on the clutch work.
The stock tires are fair actually. But I did ride with concern of a puncture not knowing how well they are constructed.
The handling is superb even with everything as it was when I took delivery from the dealer. The tires have some roll and want to bite and rail sometimes when you want to slide. The suspension settings are a bit stiffer than I expected also. But even as is, it still feels to me like it out-handles any stock sport quad I've ridden and I've been on all but the KTM.
The combination of the stiff suspension, super easy thumb throttle, instant throttle response and lackluster turning radius got me pounced all out of shape and almost in trouble through a section of clay wash-rut-whoops.
The bike kicked back quicker than my thumb could compensate, the throttle rapped easily and the engine barked proudly... pouncing me all out of shape suddenly, which blew my attack, killed my rhythm... causing me to lauch and over-shoot.
Luckily I didn't launch out of the whole section into the trees on either side of my exit opening into the woods. Instead I landed dead parallel into the last face. It was soaked right up, but took all my momentum. I stalled and slid backwards into the pit bottom.
I regained my composure and after another stall I managed to dig up out.
Overall I am happy, but have a few things to iron out.
This place is not rocky or real rough or real steep. But it is super tight, twisty and technical. A good place to start out with my new quad, provided I could keep it out of the trees and brush. Certainly tighter than a harescramble or GNCC course.
I have also rode here with my other two quads recently. So I would be able to size the KFX450R up really quickly in this environment.
Now I tell it like it is period, so I hope folks here can take criticism along with the praise...
The seat everyone complains about... I didn't even notice it, but my buns do remember it a little now.
The vibration everyone talks about... I was concerned because I'm a bit sensitive to that... but I didn't notice much of that either. In fairness I haven't done a lot of high reving though.
I do have something that makes a vibrating buzzing noise lower in the front that I can't seem to locate.
The ergos are just unreal great for me... like a step above a custom aftermarket chassis. And the steering effort... it is soooo light. It really cuts down on the fatigue of twisty trails.
It doesn't turn tight for crap. The stem or stops need a grind job to tighten it up a lot. This was a pretty big handicap in the places where it wasn't cool to throttle the rear around. In some of those sections I spent more time in reverse than I did in second gear. EVERYTHING ABOUT THE REVERSE IS SOOO NICE.
This brings me to the next thing... somehow it's too fast at minimal speeds. It has the same chain gearing setup as my 400EX, but somehow it's still too fast. So I would say it needs a 13t front for me, but what I believe it really needs is another gear under what it has. I have often wondered anyways why these 450's don't have a 6 speed tranny for this reason.
The clutch slipping wasn't bad though, thanks to a nice pull and nice short hardware on the bars.
The gearbox is really excellent in operation. Shifting is amazing both ways. Neutral is an instant find, and the reverse engagement is sooo nice. The only time it didn't work instantly, I found I'd wedged a big stick between the frame and shifter... lol...
The fenders somehow don't offer as much splash protection from water and mud. But all of the plastic lines are great in the woods except for the points on the front fenders. I wedged some things between the takeoffs and nosepiece.
The engine is great after a certain RPM off the bottom. The throttle response is instant from the EFI. The revs and acceleration build quick. But I still have a lot of work to do on throttle maneuvers for the tight technical obstacles. It may be that I'm fishing in the wrong RPM, or I need to get more creative on the clutch work.
The stock tires are fair actually. But I did ride with concern of a puncture not knowing how well they are constructed.
The handling is superb even with everything as it was when I took delivery from the dealer. The tires have some roll and want to bite and rail sometimes when you want to slide. The suspension settings are a bit stiffer than I expected also. But even as is, it still feels to me like it out-handles any stock sport quad I've ridden and I've been on all but the KTM.
The combination of the stiff suspension, super easy thumb throttle, instant throttle response and lackluster turning radius got me pounced all out of shape and almost in trouble through a section of clay wash-rut-whoops.
The bike kicked back quicker than my thumb could compensate, the throttle rapped easily and the engine barked proudly... pouncing me all out of shape suddenly, which blew my attack, killed my rhythm... causing me to lauch and over-shoot.
Luckily I didn't launch out of the whole section into the trees on either side of my exit opening into the woods. Instead I landed dead parallel into the last face. It was soaked right up, but took all my momentum. I stalled and slid backwards into the pit bottom.
I regained my composure and after another stall I managed to dig up out.
Overall I am happy, but have a few things to iron out.