Hey what's up! I'm looking to buy a 2006 KF400 when they come out this summer! But I need some input first just to make sure its the right quad for me. I have a few questions because I've never actually ridden one. Also, my background: Bayou 220, KDX200 (fast!) - both sold. Last summer I bought a 2005 P360 4x4 new and it is great. Fully auto so either of my parents can handle it easily. I've got the bug for something fast ever since I sold my KDX200.

First of all, as a former KDX 200 rider, how will the speed of the KFX400 compare?

How is the KFX400 on a MX track? Does it take the jumps ok? The guys I've seen riding sport quads on the MX track look to take a beating when they land compared to the bikes. . .is it really that hard of a landing? I used to ride my KDX200 on the track and it would sometimes bottom out if I got a little too much air, although I never raced it on the MX track because it was a woods bike.

Also, my KDX was bad about fouling plugs because I had to ride slow so my my buds riding utility quads could keep up. I know that the KFX400 is a 4 stroke and all, but me being new to sport quads I have to ask this: Is there any chance of the KFX400 fouling out spark plugs when you are riding slow and just fartin' around? Or do you have to wrap it out all the time like a 2 stroke? I plan on doing alot of very slow trail riding on it because my parents (60 years old) will be riding the P360 and they don't "do" fast -lol!

Lastly, what changes do ya'll expect to see on the 2006 KFX400? The 2003-2005 seem to be the same exact machine.

Thanks in advance and I can't wait to hear what ya'll have to say!

 

Pecker, the 4 stroke will not foul plugs no matter how much you dog it. I guess you might be able to get it to foul plugs if you went really rich on all areas of the jetting but generally speaking you will not foul plugs with the KFX400. I'm a 2 stroke die hard when it comes to dirtbikes and one of the great things that I really liked about our KFX400 was that you can kinda ride it on the pipe so to speak as it likes to rev. Give it to a 4 stroke rider and they can lug it all they want, won't matter.

I had the KFX400 on a track once and it did just fine, though I usually ride single track. If you are going to do an occasional MX track day I wouldn't sweat the suspension. It can be improved but at a cost. It's no YFZ or TRX 450 suspension wise out of the box.

For 2006 I was hoping we will see a Kawa 450 that will shame the others, time will tell.

 

BigSaint,
Thanks for the info!

I was wondering also, do you think that adding a Warn 1.5 winch (11 pounds) to the front of the KFX400 will change the handling? I'm wondering how it will affect the feel of the KFX when jumping and its ability to pull wheelies.

Thanks again.

 

it will be harder to pull wheelies just because you are adding 11 lbs to the front of your quad. in the air you might have to use a little more body english to keep it nuetral in the air but they usually fly pretty strait. i take my Z400(same as KFX400) to the track and have no problems at all. i was never to slow and my suspension never bottomed out. it feels a bit slow compared to my yz250f but it is also 100lbs heavier.

 

Thanks for the info Poopy,

So, do you think that I should avoid the winch for the type of riding I plan to do, or do you think I'd still be able to do the things I mentioned pretty well?

 

I don't think there will be any changes in 06. They changed the cam, carb and frt shocks for 05

 

There won't be any changes to the KFX400 for '06, Jazz- but the hot rumor is, and I'm kinda inclined to believe it- is that Kawasaki is bringing out a new, from the ground up 450.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

In dirtwheels, they said the new suspension on the z400's and kfx's is comparable to the yfz and trx. I havent been on a Z with the new shocks though so I dont know personally

 

Do ya'll think the MSRP will stay at $5799?

 

Yea, the MSRP will stay the same. We just quoted a guy on a new 400KFX and it is still at $5799. The 400 is a great machine. I've ridden a few that have come into the shop and they got tons of lowend. I like them. Great power, great suspension (especially for 2006, they got new shocks up front) It will handle the mx tracks with no prob. 4 strokers done foul plugs near as much as the 2 strokers but it still happens. Just keep an extra just in case. Team Green won a champion ship on a 440KFX last yr I think so that says somethin right there. I'm actually puttin the 440 big bore kit in one at our shop for a friend. Can't wait to ride that green machine! Gettin full HMF exhaust and K&N kit too. Yee hawww.