450F Meet Elise

snowflake

snowflake

Picked up a new bike yesterday, Originally I was going to buy a YZ250, but everyone I found was over priced and/or clapped out. I've loved the KX450's that I've ridden, and wanted a 450 for a desert race bike, and when this low hour clean condition 09 came up, with a seller wanting to meet in Moab Utah of all places, I jumped on it.

Its already got
IMS 2.7(8?) Gallon tank
TM Designworks chain sliders
FMF TI Core Exhaust
and a set of handguards (makes it go faster)

Come income tax time I will likely resume my search to add a YZ250 to the stable.




I hopped on it in the parking lot I met the guy at, rode it down the alley and while turning around gave it right around 1/2 throttle and it pulled the front wheel up :thumb:
 
snowflake

snowflake

2strokesteve89:
Nice......I will say that of all the 4skins I've ridden, the 09 on up KX 450's are by far the best as far as light feel, never ending power, and overall comfort, if I ever bought a 4 skin that would probably be it.
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I'm not sure what 450's you have all ridden, but of the ones I have the KX was for sure the top performer.
I rode a 2010 YZ450F, motor was good, but it was funny feeling and I didn't like it, I know people with the revised ones, not sure what year range but they did make a few changes and they say they're much better but out of my price range.
I rode an 09 CRF450, and well, what a piece of shit, it felt like it was down by 75cc on the other two, forks were impossible for me to adjust to my liking and it cornered about as well as an abrams tank.
The 09 Kawi was my pick, I just so happened to find what appears to be a good one on the used market (just look at the clutch cover)
 
2strokesteve89

2strokesteve89

snowflake:
I'm not sure what 450's you have all ridden, but of the ones I have the KX was for sure the top performer.
I rode a 2010 YZ450F, motor was good, but it was funny feeling and I didn't like it, I know people with the revised ones, not sure what year range but they did make a few changes and they say they're much better but out of my price range.
I rode an 09 CRF450, and well, what a piece of shit, it felt like it was down by 75cc on the other two, forks were impossible for me to adjust to my liking and it cornered about as well as an abrams tank.
The 09 Kawi was my pick, I just so happened to find what appears to be a good one on the used market (just look at the clutch cover)
Click to expand...

I have not ridden the zook, I agree with you totally on the others, I've ridden 3 different YZ's from 06 to 11..... There is a feeling of unsteadiness from the yzf' almost like a twitchy feeling, but front heavy at the same time. The Honda is a pile, I think anyone who likes those things are brain washed Honda loyalists. But the KX I honestly could tell very little difference in feel and handeling from my RM, the only difference I could tell was how I can knife the rm in a corner and maybe not as much with the Kawi. It's hard for me to see a clear view of the clutch cover, but I assume you are saying very little signs of being heavily ridden.
 
snowflake

snowflake

2strokesteve89:
I have not ridden the zook, I agree with you totally on the others, I've ridden 3 different YZ's from 06 to 11..... There is a feeling of unsteadiness from the yzf' almost like a twitchy feeling, but front heavy at the same time. The Honda is a pile, I think anyone who likes those things are brain washed Honda loyalists. But the KX I honestly could tell very little difference in feel and handeling from my RM, the only difference I could tell was how I can knife the rm in a corner and maybe not as much with the Kawi. It's hard for me to see a clear view of the clutch cover, but I assume you are saying very little signs of being heavily ridden.
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Stuff like this is far more useful than any mag review I've ever read :smirk: They should hire us, although I bet Honda would pull their advertising dollars.

And yeah, its got some bumps and bruises from being ridden in the bush, but the frame, and engine covers show very little use.
 
2strokesteve89

2strokesteve89

snowflake:
Stuff like this is far more useful than any mag review I've ever read :smirk: They should hire us, although I bet Honda would pull their advertising dollars.

And yeah, its got some bumps and bruises from being ridden in the bush, but the frame, and engine covers show very little use.
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I'll send my resume into dirt bike magazine tommorow.
 
Mihylo33

Mihylo33

2strokesteve89:
I have not ridden the zook, I agree with you totally on the others, I've ridden 3 different YZ's from 06 to 11..... There is a feeling of unsteadiness from the yzf' almost like a twitchy feeling, but front heavy at the same time. The Honda is a pile, I think anyone who likes those things are brain washed Honda loyalists. But the KX I honestly could tell very little difference in feel and handeling from my RM, the only difference I could tell was how I can knife the rm in a corner and maybe not as much with the Kawi. It's hard for me to see a clear view of the clutch cover, but I assume you are saying very little signs of being heavily ridden.
Click to expand...


I will never own a Honda other than a Generator or car...... maybe an old school XR.... they are the only Hondas worth owning.... I'll actually ride anything but will only ever race a Zook...
 
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