I'm looking into a Kawasaki KFC 450R, but i had some questions about it before i got it.

How often do you have to adjust the valves?

How durable is the aluminum frame for jumping, and doing wheelies?

 

Is that the model endorsed by the Colonel himself? lol

I have no clue about the valves, the frame well how much do you weigh? The frame should be fine, it is raced in mx and xc. However when you start beating on it, example jumping beyond its limits, flat-landing it, casing a jump, exceeding the recommended weight limits, then things can happen.

Oh, and I didn't initially respond because I didn't really know about the valves, and I am really not sure about the frame.

-Krait

 

I'm not sure if its the model endorsed by the Colonel himself. I weigh 120, and i have a ramp in my backyard, that i flat-land. I currently have a 2003 Honda sportrx 250ex that i have been flat-landing since i got it, and i haven't had any problems, but since the frame on the kawasaki 450r is aluminum, i don't how much it will hold up. i catch about 12 feet high, and 35 feet long when going over the jump.

 

The frame will be fine but I recommend trying to land on your rear tires first instead of flat landing it. The valves, no clue...

 

okay. Would landing on the rear tires first hurt the quad at all?

 

Even tho its aluminum, most manufacturers beef them up to be acceptable strength. To be honest, I doubt these new aluminum frames weigh much if any less than comparable chromo or steel frames. Why? Because when you weld aluminum it weakens it, therefore needs extra beefing up to withstand the stresses. When mx bikes switched to alum they didn't really see much if any weight decreases.

My point, the frame should be fine as long as its used appropriately. But if you damage it, it will probably be more expensive to fix/replace. If you have had no problems with your 250ex then it should be fine, but it is generally never a great idea to flatland anything on a regular/continuous basis.

My comment about the Colonel was because you put KFC in the first post...

-Krait

 

As I recall, it has bolt together sub frames (????), so any component that cracked or broke could be easily replaced, without a complete frame swap (???).

Honestly, I have a buddy who has the 450 and it is doing fine, but in the past I have always regarded Kawi machines as being quirkey, based on the experiences of my other friends who have owned them.

I have a new 2009 KLX250S dual-sport bike which is my first ever Kawi, so I am holding my breath....

 

The Kawi 450 does have a bolt on subframe, while the Can-am DS450 uses lock bolts to piece together all the frame spars. The Kawi main frame is hand-welded. Only the DS can have any single component/spar on the frame replaced without affecting the other parts.

By all means, if you like the KFX, give it a go. It is made for high performance riding, so I would imagine it can hold up to decent usage, I haven't heard of any weird problems with it. Since you are a lightweight, it shouldn't be much of an issue.

-Krait

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Krait

Even tho its aluminum, most manufacturers beef them up to be acceptable strength. To be honest, I doubt these new aluminum frames weigh much if any less than comparable chromo or steel frames. Why? Because when you weld aluminum it weakens it, therefore needs extra beefing up to withstand the stresses. When mx bikes switched to alum they didn't really see much if any weight decreases.



My point, the frame should be fine as long as its used appropriately. But if you damage it, it will probably be more expensive to fix/replace. If you have had no problems with your 250ex then it should be fine, but it is generally never a great idea to flatland anything on a regular/continuous basis.



My comment about the Colonel was because you put KFC in the first post...



-Krait</end quote></div>

I agree with the stregnth, the wieght diffrence not sure, but you could eaisily find out, just check the dry wieght of it, vs say a yfz n if its lighter thats most likey were it comes from as far as holding up, with your weght it shouldn't ever be a issue... I wieght 195 and I wouldn't think i would have a issue to be honest

And about Kawi bikes biegn quirky, they are, atleast the older ones 2000 n back as far as dirt bikes....
With that biegn said the only thing that would concern me would be the efi, If it were me I'd wiat a few years, let them get the quirks ironed out...

 

I wouldn't think that the frame would have an issue with cracks/breaks... at least it shouldn't.

But the truth is that this quad has not been out long enough to find out in this online community. I suggest hunting for another more specific forum to ask.


Here are my thoughts on it as a mountain trail rider though... I would worry myself and hope that they make some really mean frame protectors... which would kill the point due to weight.

I would be afraid I'd damage the frame banging it on something.