16 YZ 450 VS 16 KX 450?

YZfan1230
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YZfan1230
Edited Date/Time 5/18/2017 5:46am
Hey everyone

Over the last couple weeks I've been looking at some options at a new leftover 16 bike. Both bikes are the same price out the door. I'm also a bigger guy at 6,1 270 pounds so which bike better suits a big rider?
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mattyhamz2
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mattyhamz2 5/18/2017 6:21am
5/18/2017 6:21am
Yamaha. The newer kx feels more compact than the 15 and older Kx's. Just my opinion
Jbulz
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Jbulz 5/18/2017 6:28am
5/18/2017 6:28am
My vote is the 16 KX. I'm a little smaller at 5'9" and 240 lbs. The new KX is much narrower, but stock, the foot pegs can be lowered and handlebars can be moved forward.

I had FC revalve my suspension and love it.
pete24
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pete24 5/18/2017 6:35am
5/18/2017 6:35am
im a yamaha guy fom waaaaay back look at my avatar, i rode the 16 yz and loved it then i rode the kawi and bought one , the yz is wicked good smooth fast and comfortable, but the kawi feels like a bicycle compared to the yz, if i never rode the kawi i would have been perfectly happy with the yammi

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coastlinecascot 5/18/2017 12:04pm
5/18/2017 12:04pm
16 kx450 with cone valve or just spring forks. I rode one with cone valves. Amazing bike. I currently ride a 14 yz450
cjmx
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cjmx 5/18/2017 12:10pm
5/18/2017 12:10pm
if at all possible, ride them. I've ridden both and they're 2 completely different bikes.
Jbulz
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Jbulz 5/18/2017 12:15pm
5/18/2017 12:15pm
+1 on test riding. I've always been a Yamaha guy, but hated the 16 YZ450 I rode. Loved the 250F though!

And don't let the air forks scare you. Get them revalved and they'll work fine. The only downside to them having to check and set your air pressures before a moto.
adam8781
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adam8781 5/18/2017 12:16pm
5/18/2017 12:16pm
both bikes are great but the kx450f is closer to the mark stock.

16 yzf, they went to 25mm offset and it turns like a cruise ship. and the bike is very very fat in the knees.
- cycra power flow plastic kit to narrow it up
-20mm ride engineering clamps with honda damper
-ride engineering rear linkage

16 kx450f, awesome bike WORST FORKS out there. solution
06-12 kyb sss forks, or 13-14 kyb psf1 forks. or the sff spring forks conversion.


I like the ergos of the green bike better. And im a huge yamaha fan, that should tell you how much better then 16 kxf is to ride imo.
JBecker 72
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JBecker 72 5/18/2017 12:18pm
5/18/2017 12:18pm Edited Date/Time 5/18/2017 12:20pm
Love my 16 KX450F. I'm a big Yamaha guy and also own a 13 YZ250. Would have liked to stay blue, but I don't like the 10+ Yamaha 450. So far I am very happy with my choice.

Should add I'm a 6'1" Vet B rider and love the ergos on the Kawasaki.

Should add that I strongly disagree with the Kawi having the worst forks. I've found a good baseline setting and am really happy with them. And I've rode it back to back with my Yamaha.
fullysicmate 5/18/2017 12:28pm
5/18/2017 12:28pm
adam8781 wrote:
both bikes are great but the kx450f is closer to the mark stock. 16 yzf, they went to 25mm offset and it turns like a cruise...
both bikes are great but the kx450f is closer to the mark stock.

16 yzf, they went to 25mm offset and it turns like a cruise ship. and the bike is very very fat in the knees.
- cycra power flow plastic kit to narrow it up
-20mm ride engineering clamps with honda damper
-ride engineering rear linkage

16 kx450f, awesome bike WORST FORKS out there. solution
06-12 kyb sss forks, or 13-14 kyb psf1 forks. or the sff spring forks conversion.


I like the ergos of the green bike better. And im a huge yamaha fan, that should tell you how much better then 16 kxf is to ride imo.
This is why you need a ktm
YZfan1230
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YZfan1230 5/18/2017 12:30pm
5/18/2017 12:30pm
I also got to add, the bike is mostly gonna be stock and I want to save the cash. I just to make it rideable and comfortable. Thanks for the input so far, keep It coming!
Jbulz
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Jbulz 5/18/2017 2:27pm
5/18/2017 2:27pm
Bone stock the KX is damn good bike, but I found the suspension was wayyy harsh once the track got rough. Only thing I would recommend is a revalve, it totally changed the behavior of the bike. Before I got that done like, the suspension was pretty terrible on anything other than a smooth track.

The YZ suspension was smoother, but that thing was just so wide and awkward feeling that I couldn't get used to it. The SSS stuff is hard to beat if you're just going to ride it stock.
jeffro503
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jeffro503 5/18/2017 2:47pm
5/18/2017 2:47pm
adam8781 wrote:
both bikes are great but the kx450f is closer to the mark stock. 16 yzf, they went to 25mm offset and it turns like a cruise...
both bikes are great but the kx450f is closer to the mark stock.

16 yzf, they went to 25mm offset and it turns like a cruise ship. and the bike is very very fat in the knees.
- cycra power flow plastic kit to narrow it up
-20mm ride engineering clamps with honda damper
-ride engineering rear linkage

16 kx450f, awesome bike WORST FORKS out there. solution
06-12 kyb sss forks, or 13-14 kyb psf1 forks. or the sff spring forks conversion.


I like the ergos of the green bike better. And im a huge yamaha fan, that should tell you how much better then 16 kxf is to ride imo.
I don't agree on the fork thing. Had my 12' Kawi done by FC and they were really good. But they also did my 16' Kawi...and those forks were a LOT better! We are also talking about a completely different chassis here too. I know that affects things. But damn...after FC did my 16'....that was one sweet riding bike!
YZfan1230
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YZfan1230 5/18/2017 3:07pm
5/18/2017 3:07pm
adam8781 wrote:
both bikes are great but the kx450f is closer to the mark stock. 16 yzf, they went to 25mm offset and it turns like a cruise...
both bikes are great but the kx450f is closer to the mark stock.

16 yzf, they went to 25mm offset and it turns like a cruise ship. and the bike is very very fat in the knees.
- cycra power flow plastic kit to narrow it up
-20mm ride engineering clamps with honda damper
-ride engineering rear linkage

16 kx450f, awesome bike WORST FORKS out there. solution
06-12 kyb sss forks, or 13-14 kyb psf1 forks. or the sff spring forks conversion.


I like the ergos of the green bike better. And im a huge yamaha fan, that should tell you how much better then 16 kxf is to ride imo.
fullysicmate wrote:
This is why you need a ktm
I'd go in that direction, but where I live the KTM dealer is 4 hours away from me, and there is no Husky dealer near unless I get on a ferry. So service and parts wise it's out of the question for me.
YZfan1230
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YZfan1230 5/18/2017 3:08pm
5/18/2017 3:08pm
Thanks everyone! I ride a Yamaha and the dealer is closer but you all got me steering more toward a 16 Kawi, any notable problems with the 16+ Kawi?
bvm111
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bvm111 5/18/2017 3:49pm
5/18/2017 3:49pm
adam8781 wrote:
both bikes are great but the kx450f is closer to the mark stock. 16 yzf, they went to 25mm offset and it turns like a cruise...
both bikes are great but the kx450f is closer to the mark stock.

16 yzf, they went to 25mm offset and it turns like a cruise ship. and the bike is very very fat in the knees.
- cycra power flow plastic kit to narrow it up
-20mm ride engineering clamps with honda damper
-ride engineering rear linkage

16 kx450f, awesome bike WORST FORKS out there. solution
06-12 kyb sss forks, or 13-14 kyb psf1 forks. or the sff spring forks conversion.


I like the ergos of the green bike better. And im a huge yamaha fan, that should tell you how much better then 16 kxf is to ride imo.
jeffro503 wrote:
I don't agree on the fork thing. Had my 12' Kawi done by FC and they were really good. But they also did my 16' Kawi...and...
I don't agree on the fork thing. Had my 12' Kawi done by FC and they were really good. But they also did my 16' Kawi...and those forks were a LOT better! We are also talking about a completely different chassis here too. I know that affects things. But damn...after FC did my 16'....that was one sweet riding bike!
Jeff... you mean when FC revalved my 16 KX450 WhistlingTongue

I kid I kid!!!!

I have followed FC recommended air pressures for my weight with the revalve that Jeff had done and I have to tell you it's damn near the best handling bike I've ridden. Is it tedious wth setting the air... yeah it is, but now that I know the proper sequence with the chambers it's been good once set!

The motor is super controllable, lots of torque and easy to ride!!!!

You will love it if you get one!
fullysicmate 5/18/2017 3:55pm
5/18/2017 3:55pm
adam8781 wrote:
both bikes are great but the kx450f is closer to the mark stock. 16 yzf, they went to 25mm offset and it turns like a cruise...
both bikes are great but the kx450f is closer to the mark stock.

16 yzf, they went to 25mm offset and it turns like a cruise ship. and the bike is very very fat in the knees.
- cycra power flow plastic kit to narrow it up
-20mm ride engineering clamps with honda damper
-ride engineering rear linkage

16 kx450f, awesome bike WORST FORKS out there. solution
06-12 kyb sss forks, or 13-14 kyb psf1 forks. or the sff spring forks conversion.


I like the ergos of the green bike better. And im a huge yamaha fan, that should tell you how much better then 16 kxf is to ride imo.
fullysicmate wrote:
This is why you need a ktm
YZfan1230 wrote:
I'd go in that direction, but where I live the KTM dealer is 4 hours away from me, and there is no Husky dealer near unless...
I'd go in that direction, but where I live the KTM dealer is 4 hours away from me, and there is no Husky dealer near unless I get on a ferry. So service and parts wise it's out of the question for me.
There is this http://www.ktmpartsexpress.com/ but yeah it is good to have a dealer handy. I just got off a YZ and I wont be going back anytime soon, I did like my 2012 kx450 though. But now I have the magic button I wont be going back to anything without one.....

If its down to just yz and kx, my vote is kx.

good luck
jeffro503
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jeffro503 5/18/2017 4:16pm
5/18/2017 4:16pm
adam8781 wrote:
both bikes are great but the kx450f is closer to the mark stock. 16 yzf, they went to 25mm offset and it turns like a cruise...
both bikes are great but the kx450f is closer to the mark stock.

16 yzf, they went to 25mm offset and it turns like a cruise ship. and the bike is very very fat in the knees.
- cycra power flow plastic kit to narrow it up
-20mm ride engineering clamps with honda damper
-ride engineering rear linkage

16 kx450f, awesome bike WORST FORKS out there. solution
06-12 kyb sss forks, or 13-14 kyb psf1 forks. or the sff spring forks conversion.


I like the ergos of the green bike better. And im a huge yamaha fan, that should tell you how much better then 16 kxf is to ride imo.
jeffro503 wrote:
I don't agree on the fork thing. Had my 12' Kawi done by FC and they were really good. But they also did my 16' Kawi...and...
I don't agree on the fork thing. Had my 12' Kawi done by FC and they were really good. But they also did my 16' Kawi...and those forks were a LOT better! We are also talking about a completely different chassis here too. I know that affects things. But damn...after FC did my 16'....that was one sweet riding bike!
bvm111 wrote:
Jeff... you mean when FC revalved my 16 KX450 :whistle: :P I kid I kid!!!! I have followed FC recommended air pressures for my weight with...
Jeff... you mean when FC revalved my 16 KX450 WhistlingTongue

I kid I kid!!!!

I have followed FC recommended air pressures for my weight with the revalve that Jeff had done and I have to tell you it's damn near the best handling bike I've ridden. Is it tedious wth setting the air... yeah it is, but now that I know the proper sequence with the chambers it's been good once set!

The motor is super controllable, lots of torque and easy to ride!!!!

You will love it if you get one!
Super happy you're digging that bike Barron! It truly was an awesome ride. Especially since FC got the suspension dialed. Bike feels like a 250 on steroids.

Pit Row

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crc245
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crc245 5/18/2017 8:50pm
5/18/2017 8:50pm
Another vote for the Kawasaki, but only after you ride both first and try to make an unbiased decision!
JBecker 72
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JBecker 72 5/18/2017 9:04pm
5/18/2017 9:04pm
YZfan1230 wrote:
Thanks everyone! I ride a Yamaha and the dealer is closer but you all got me steering more toward a 16 Kawi, any notable problems with...
Thanks everyone! I ride a Yamaha and the dealer is closer but you all got me steering more toward a 16 Kawi, any notable problems with the 16+ Kawi?
I've only got 3 hours on mine, so not sure yet. Hopefully it goes well. Haha

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