2012 Racing season...

TYEster · 12-07-2011, 07:03 PM

Just got a game changer!

'12 KX450F... No more will I be disadvantaged 50+lbs to little bastards on equal or lesser equipment. Also we wanted another supermoto so why not kill 2 birds with 1 stone.

azoomm · 12-07-2011, 09:21 PM

Nice.

Why the Kawi?

Particle Man · 12-07-2011, 10:14 PM

Must like green

TYEster · 12-07-2011, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azoomm

Nice.

Why the Kawi?

It was a HARD decision between the '12 KX and any new generation CRF450.

I liked the CRF's weight and size(lightest 450 in class). Chris and Chad both have CRFs in both setups, and I liked them in the way I could live with. But I liked the features of the KX in the motor dept. And adjusting the bars and pegs to fit my height/size usually required aftermarket parts, in this case they come adjustable from the factory.

What really gets me is the simple plug-in-go tuning. 3 OEM couplers come with the bike. A general stock plug, a mild one for slick track conditions, and an aggressive one which I think would work great for supermoto trim. And if I wanted to get really crazy, I can get a USB cable from Kawasaki take the bike to AF1 or any other reputable tuner and get a custom tune on each plug if I so choose.

Now if it could stop raining one weekend, I could go ride it!

azoomm · 12-08-2011, 01:02 AM

Cool options. Dirt has come a long way.

We need the rain, don't complain too much about it.

TYEster · 12-08-2011, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azoomm

Cool options. Dirt has come a long way.

We need the rain, don't complain too much about it.

I know I just hate that it waits till the weekend to come pouring down.

It's hard to get mid-week options to ride. Only 1 track in our area is open Weds night, everyone else is sat/sun. But this weekend is looking good and I CANNOT wait to go break it in!

TYEster · 12-10-2011, 08:35 PM

Just broke it in at my local track today... Beat on it as much as I could considering the muddy/rutty conditions.

This this is stupid. I mean it's just dumb. I ran it through the gears after some heat cycles, and even sitting on the tank it pulled up in 4th. Stock tune coupler too.

Once ON the track, it had 0 hesitation in clearing anything I gave it gas for. Even the "big" quadzilla felt like a little double today. The power is just everywhere and honestly, it could stand to be toned down a bit. Either that or I just have a really strong throttle hand from wringing the 250Fs neck for over a year and a half.

The negatives of the bike are the brakes. I don't know that they suck that bad, as they just aren't as good as everything else. The bike is 25lbs heavier than my YZ that has a weak lever pull, both bikes take as much time to really stop. The downside is that this bike hauls so much ass, it takes a similar braking zone going into turns which kinda hinders having all that power on tap. The other thing is weight, but that only was a factor when trying to load the bike or lift it onto a stationary center stand. I use a pop-up stand 99% of the time.

The only thing it really needs currently is suspension setup. I didn't wanna screw with that today, as much as getting the motor broken in. Thankfully I know this track very well and the stock settings were "ok" in the average conditions. Where it got rutted up and choppy, the bike bounced around worse than a basketball. But that'll be an easy fix with some better valving and springs for my weight.

Dave · 12-12-2011, 02:18 PM

Nice

TYEster · 03-20-2012, 10:21 PM

Well after tax returns and waiting on one of the only and worst Supermoto parts websites in existence to finally get my wheels to me...

Here it is with a test fit. Needs thinner front pads or front rotor(too tight) and the correct sprockets, a little trimming and re-adjusting and it will be ready to ride!

Sixxxxer · 03-20-2012, 11:35 PM

That bike looks SICK in supermoto Mode!!!

12-07-2011, 09:21 PM	#2
azoomm moderator chick Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Hill Country TX Moto: Pasta Rockets Posts: 8,917	Nice. Why the Kawi? __________________ We have enough youth. How about a fountain of "smart"? Come Play at the Track!! http://www.elitetrackdays.com

12-10-2011, 08:35 PM	#7
TYEster With MORE TYEstosterone Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: TX Moto: '12 KX450F / 08 YZ250F #512 / 07 KX65 #1 Posts: 1,429	Just broke it in at my local track today... Beat on it as much as I could considering the muddy/rutty conditions. This this is stupid. I mean it's just dumb. I ran it through the gears after some heat cycles, and even sitting on the tank it pulled up in 4th. Stock tune coupler too. Once ON the track, it had 0 hesitation in clearing anything I gave it gas for. Even the "big" quadzilla felt like a little double today. The power is just everywhere and honestly, it could stand to be toned down a bit. Either that or I just have a really strong throttle hand from wringing the 250Fs neck for over a year and a half. The negatives of the bike are the brakes. I don't know that they suck that bad, as they just aren't as good as everything else. The bike is 25lbs heavier than my YZ that has a weak lever pull, both bikes take as much time to really stop. The downside is that this bike hauls so much ass, it takes a similar braking zone going into turns which kinda hinders having all that power on tap. The other thing is weight, but that only was a factor when trying to load the bike or lift it onto a stationary center stand. I use a pop-up stand 99% of the time. The only thing it really needs currently is suspension setup. I didn't wanna screw with that today, as much as getting the motor broken in. Thankfully I know this track very well and the stock settings were "ok" in the average conditions. Where it got rutted up and choppy, the bike bounced around worse than a basketball. But that'll be an easy fix with some better valving and springs for my weight. Last edited by TYEster; 12-10-2011 at 08:37 PM..

03-20-2012, 11:35 PM	#10
Sixxxxer Like Gixxxxer But Not Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Dirty Jersey Moto: 2008 ZX6R Posts: 4,891	That bike looks SICK in supermoto Mode!!! __________________ [FRSH] Candy Plasma Blue

12-07-2011, 10:14 PM	#3
Particle Man Custom User Title Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Central NY Moto: 2003 SV650S Posts: 14,959	Must like green

12-08-2011, 01:02 AM	#5
azoomm moderator chick Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Hill Country TX Moto: Pasta Rockets Posts: 8,917	Cool options. Dirt has come a long way. We need the rain, don't complain too much about it.

12-12-2011, 02:18 PM	#8
Dave Chaotic Neutral Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cherry Hill NJ Moto: GV1200 Madura, Hawk gt Posts: 13,992	Nice

03-20-2012, 10:21 PM	#9
TYEster With MORE TYEstosterone Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: TX Moto: '12 KX450F / 08 YZ250F #512 / 07 KX65 #1 Posts: 1,429	Well after tax returns and waiting on one of the only and worst Supermoto parts websites in existence to finally get my wheels to me... Here it is with a test fit. Needs thinner front pads or front rotor(too tight) and the correct sprockets, a little trimming and re-adjusting and it will be ready to ride!