I finally got the Dirtwheels issue with the Mojave 500EX motor. I would love to build one. And since the KXF is not going to make it into production this is the best enviromental choice. Especially with all those tree huggers around. This quad seems even mre doable than the KXF250 because it used a stock frame. All I need is a Rolling Mojave chassis and some custom a-arms, exhaust, aftermarket axel and swap swingarmed from the Mojave with my wifes Lakota. Even if kawasaki does make a new sport quad it probably want equal the 60hp the 500 motor makes STOCK. Hey, this sounds like an awsome dune machine is what I'm looking for. Maybee I could even get some custom turbos and efi. Can you say Raptor eater or Banshee Killer?

 

As I've posted in here before I have considered this project for some time, even going as far as purchasing an EX-500 motor from a wrecked bike though I sold it before I ever started the project. When I heard Kawasaki commissioned the project I was excited but I was extremely disappointed to learn they built it around a Mojave chassis. As I'm sure you learned from the article it is way too much motor for the frame both by weight, continually bottoming the suspension, and power-inability to control wheelying the short Mojave chassis. Though the cost would climb excessively an aftermarket frame modified for the purpose or perhaps another frame-tecate-4 or Suzuki 500 would be a better starting point. Predictably the Mojave is overmatched by this motor.

 

The main thing I would want this quad for is a duner. Actually a longer swingarm would be a consideration. That is actually what the quad was built for so they magazine proably should have done the test in the dunes. Also the T4 frame would be harder to used, the frame would need major mods and it is still to short.

 

You're right about the Tecate frame-It would have the same drawbacks and would be an even tougher starting point. Aftermarket shocks would be a priority if I went with a Mojave foundation-longer swingarm, axle, a-arms as well.

 

That 500 twin is heavy. I think that there are better choices as far as motors that you can choose from. By the way, lonestar in Phoenix area can build any of their frames to accept virtually any reasonable motor choice for an additional 400 bucks on top of the frames original price. I was going to do this with my KX500. It starts to get very pricey very fast when you start looking for people to build you a pipe, and all the little stuff that goes into a project like this. Plus, you end up with a machine that has mis-matched gearing. A Yamaha is a lot cheaper if that is what you want. Just kidding!
On the serious side, you can spend 10 to 15 thousand building a 250R or outlaw Banshee and in my humble opinion, that is about as good as you or I can do it. Good luck.

 

At this point I think I will continue to resist all urges to throw deposit money at a Raptor and will wait a bit longer for Kawasaki to come through with some production high-performance model.