MtnEX
10-17-2009, 01:33 AM
I read through this ATVriders review.
http://www.atvriders.com/atvreviews/kawasaki-2010-kfx-450r-atv-worcs-atv-racing-ride-review.html
It's a pretty fair review, and the KFX gets pretty good marks.
In my opinion, they are not far off on their opinions.
The only thing I disagree with is the author's take on the low end power.
My '08 was extremely strong off the bottom stock.
It did suck from off-idle to a certain point.
But it's all business from there on.
The only 450 that rivals it stock for stock in low end is the KTM.
This wording from the author also contradicts the review of the '08 model.
I guess the author could be comparing to say a 400EX bottom? Anyways, they don't have the off-idle low RPM stall resistance of a 400EX, but none of the 450's do. And in terms of stock power, the KFX450's torque and HP curves intersect at around the 400EX's peak power... but it's only cranking a bit over 5000 RPM... about half way to red line.... so....
Some pushing problems were noted in both reviews, and also the turn radius.
I did not find the turn radius to be less than anything else... but not tight enough for me either. I had my stops on the lower milled down and it took care of that.
I have also experienced the pushing problems, only in certain particular conditions... very loose, off-camber, or tight uphill turns... but mostly only with a combination of those... So the problem is not to the degree I have experienced on Honda 450's.
There are 2 things that I finally found to take care of this though. One is that very often, the toe-in is not set "in-spec" from the factory and is typically missed. The other is that the stock front shocks have a HUGE range of adjustability in the rebound department.
What I mean is that in a range of about 20 clicks you can go from instant rebound to no rebound... literally.
The front end comes stock set up 2 clicks from the middle, towards hard for compression... and set about in the middle for rebound.
In any event, the rebound adjustment in conjunction with the compression can be set where the bike feels perfect 99% of the time, but that 1% of the time the front end washes out.
I've achieved that at various different settings for different conditions.
Slowing the rebound takes this push away.
This is one nice shock that in stock form seems to respond a lot more to rebound adjustments than it does to compression adjustments.... for some reason I don't know.
Sprung a little stiff in the front maybe?
I'm no guru on suspension, but that's my suspicion.
I for one have been considering trying LEVELING my frame rake... dropping the front by reliving a little preload...
It might be that this bike does not need the typical 1/4" or more of frame rake the others do?
Somebody has to experiment I guess.
http://www.atvriders.com/atvreviews/kawasaki-2010-kfx-450r-atv-worcs-atv-racing-ride-review.html
It's a pretty fair review, and the KFX gets pretty good marks.
In my opinion, they are not far off on their opinions.
The only thing I disagree with is the author's take on the low end power.
My '08 was extremely strong off the bottom stock.
It did suck from off-idle to a certain point.
But it's all business from there on.
The only 450 that rivals it stock for stock in low end is the KTM.
This wording from the author also contradicts the review of the '08 model.
I guess the author could be comparing to say a 400EX bottom? Anyways, they don't have the off-idle low RPM stall resistance of a 400EX, but none of the 450's do. And in terms of stock power, the KFX450's torque and HP curves intersect at around the 400EX's peak power... but it's only cranking a bit over 5000 RPM... about half way to red line.... so....
Some pushing problems were noted in both reviews, and also the turn radius.
I did not find the turn radius to be less than anything else... but not tight enough for me either. I had my stops on the lower milled down and it took care of that.
I have also experienced the pushing problems, only in certain particular conditions... very loose, off-camber, or tight uphill turns... but mostly only with a combination of those... So the problem is not to the degree I have experienced on Honda 450's.
There are 2 things that I finally found to take care of this though. One is that very often, the toe-in is not set "in-spec" from the factory and is typically missed. The other is that the stock front shocks have a HUGE range of adjustability in the rebound department.
What I mean is that in a range of about 20 clicks you can go from instant rebound to no rebound... literally.
The front end comes stock set up 2 clicks from the middle, towards hard for compression... and set about in the middle for rebound.
In any event, the rebound adjustment in conjunction with the compression can be set where the bike feels perfect 99% of the time, but that 1% of the time the front end washes out.
I've achieved that at various different settings for different conditions.
Slowing the rebound takes this push away.
This is one nice shock that in stock form seems to respond a lot more to rebound adjustments than it does to compression adjustments.... for some reason I don't know.
Sprung a little stiff in the front maybe?
I'm no guru on suspension, but that's my suspicion.
I for one have been considering trying LEVELING my frame rake... dropping the front by reliving a little preload...
It might be that this bike does not need the typical 1/4" or more of frame rake the others do?
Somebody has to experiment I guess.