2016 KX450F owners....positives over the 15's and older?

jeffro503
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3/18/2016 8:11pm Edited Date/Time 3/19/2016 5:15pm
So I know the 16' Kawi 450 is about 7 - 8lbs lighter than the 15' and 14' , maybe close to 10lbs or so over my old 12" I had. You guys that own one or have ridden the 16' , what other things did you really like compared to the older models? How is the suspension and what could a good revalve ( if needed ) make the suspension feel like? Possibilities and so forth and could they be made to work pretty well? And does the 16' feel quite a bit slimmer , more nimble compared to the older ones? I know from sitting on one , it almost felt like I was sitting on a 250F compared to my 12'.

My 12' was kind of the bastard child and had an aggressive Exhaust cam compared to the 11' and 13' that I rode. Power a little more mellow , maybe better for a Vet guy like me?

What's your overall experience on the bike now that you have had some time on it? Any advice , or weird things you may of found now that you've owned one for a while?
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bvm111
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3/18/2016 9:01pm
Jeff we should just bite the bullet and each get a 16 KX450... Maybe get a good 2fer deal if we get them together at motosport. I can drive back up like I did last summer and we can break them in and hit mountain view again and maybe shoug this time!!!
jeffro503
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3/18/2016 9:12pm Edited Date/Time 3/18/2016 9:12pm
bvm111 wrote:
Jeff we should just bite the bullet and each get a 16 KX450... Maybe get a good 2fer deal if we get them together at motosport...
Jeff we should just bite the bullet and each get a 16 KX450... Maybe get a good 2fer deal if we get them together at motosport. I can drive back up like I did last summer and we can break them in and hit mountain view again and maybe shoug this time!!!
Actually brother Barron....that sounds like a solid decision. I am waiting until probably June or July because I want to take advantage of the big rebates Kawi has , AND I know Scott at Hillsboro motosports very well , and could definitely get a deal on two. If we wait until those rebates hit , we may get some pretty good deals.

I swear I have to be a head case. I really had my heart set on that 2016 YZ250 , and I keep going back and forth. But damn , I already own my a 250 stroke I love a lot , may as well pair it up with a new 450 instead. I thought about a 250F , but a guy posted something on here a couple days ago that really got me thinking. He said " It's a lot cheaper to detune a 450 to your liking , than putting a bunch of money into a 250F to make it faster " , That and the valve train lasts about 3X longer. I need to quit being such a puss and get back on the 450 I think.

Besides , if that 16" is and feels a lot lighter that my old 12' , and isn't as violent in the power dept compared to what I had , it may be the bike I've been looking for.

And Barron....you need to plan that vacation so a weekend falls in the middle! I'll get you into so much riding that damn 16' will need a fucking rebuild by the time you get back home!
bvm111
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3/18/2016 9:23pm Edited Date/Time 3/18/2016 9:23pm
Jeff For what it's worth I sat on a 15 and 16 back to back and the 16 is noticeably slimmer and lighter just sitting on the show room floor... Almost feels as light as my KX! Thats exactly when I will be able to do it, mid June to mid July... And I will do it if the price is right... Let's see what we can put together! I can taste the wings after mountain view and jokes with the owner over a couple beers!
jeffro503
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3/18/2016 9:37pm
bvm111 wrote:
Jeff For what it's worth I sat on a 15 and 16 back to back and the 16 is noticeably slimmer and lighter just sitting on...
Jeff For what it's worth I sat on a 15 and 16 back to back and the 16 is noticeably slimmer and lighter just sitting on the show room floor... Almost feels as light as my KX! Thats exactly when I will be able to do it, mid June to mid July... And I will do it if the price is right... Let's see what we can put together! I can taste the wings after mountain view and jokes with the owner over a couple beers!
Ha! Oh hell yeah! That was a great time man! You , me and Patrick staying way after they closed so they could make sure we were full of beer and world famous hotwings! That old dude was cool as heck!

Just keep me informed on what month and so forth will work for you and the family. I'm always flexible with my work schedule so I can make things work. Try and stick around for a few extra days too. Would be fun to maybe hook up with the family and grab some food and hang out.

I won't talk to Scott as of right now because it's way early , but just keep me up to date. We could do a mtn view and possibly a Washougal or Albany in that time frame.

The Shop

tempura
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3/19/2016 12:35am
I'm waiting to see what the 2017 kx250f has going for it.
tmauto769
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3/19/2016 4:29am
The last KX450 I owned was an 07, so I really can't give you the specific answers your asking for, but I came off a '12 crf450 and went to a '16 kx450. I personally think the crf had a little more grunt off the very bottom end, but after that it is over for the crf. The kx feels like a feather compared to the crf which is saying something because the crf was pretty light for a 450. The forks are really good, shock is great, more predictable than the crf was handling wise, turns better than the crf. 3 guys i ride with 2 vet riders, 1 younger pro ranging in weight from 190 to 220 all seem to really like the bike. One of the vet guys who has a '14 350sx is really considering going back to a 450 now that he has rode my bike. I have seen you posting on here about what bike to get, and in my opinion this is the one you will be happy on, being that you already have a 2 stroke. Btw I weigh 175# so that is a pretty big difference in weight ranges that have gelled on this bike with hardly any suspension changes.
RJMX834
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3/19/2016 4:39am
I picked one up last month. Although I have not ridden it yet I can tell you by sitting on it, it's the skinnest 450 I've sat on. It's extremely light on the Stand, feels as light or lighter than my 2013 Kx250F I just sold. I dunno what you want to pay for one but I bought mine for 7300 otd.
3/19/2016 4:53am
IT looks newer and better which is the only thing that counts on Vital.

Now for actual riders, I tried one last fall and thought it felt slimmer, lighter and more balanced than the older KXes I've ridden. It doesn't steer with the rear as much as older ones making it more agile and flickable.

I came off a 125 when I rode it so I can't comment on the powerband other than it was easy to manage. The track wasn't rough so I won't conclude anything on the suspension but I've heard it can be made to work very well. Checking pressures in 6 chambers (excluding tires) before each ride can get old though.
Justin345
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3/19/2016 5:02am
I own a '15 and rode my buddies '16. It's noticeably slimmer and turns a little better in stock trim than the '15. Your '12 hits like Tyson. They toned down the cam in 13-15 and I absolutely love the '15's motor. I prefer the 15 over the 16 in terms of motor performance. The 16 doesn't have as much low end but continues to pull hard through the mid and top, in a linear fashion. You could probably easily change that characteristic with an exhaust and remap to your liking. Overall, the 16 is still a great "do-it-all" bike and is a better starting point for chassis in stock trim. I don't leave my bikes stock longer than it takes me to get them from the shop to my garage though. Haha
mx317
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3/19/2016 5:46am
Sheriff245 what are these 6 chambers you speak of? The fork has 3 on one side only.
3/19/2016 8:34am
mx317 wrote:
Sheriff245 what are these 6 chambers you speak of? The fork has 3 on one side only.
You're right. I wrote without thinking. "Only" 3 air chambers in the forks.
mx317
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3/19/2016 9:05am Edited Date/Time 3/19/2016 9:12am
Sheriff245 wrote:
You're right. I wrote without thinking. "Only" 3 air chambers in the forks.
I didn't even like the 3, I now have a set of Enzo valved spring SSS style KYB forks on my 16 and couldn't be happier. I bought them off ebay for a good price and the big difference between the 09-12 Kawasaki KYB forks and the Yamaha SSS forks are valving and set up which Enzo took care of. Mine work awesome.
jeffro503
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3/19/2016 11:59am
Sheriff245 wrote:
You're right. I wrote without thinking. "Only" 3 air chambers in the forks.
mx317 wrote:
I didn't even like the 3, I now have a set of Enzo valved spring SSS style KYB forks on my 16 and couldn't be happier...
I didn't even like the 3, I now have a set of Enzo valved spring SSS style KYB forks on my 16 and couldn't be happier. I bought them off ebay for a good price and the big difference between the 09-12 Kawasaki KYB forks and the Yamaha SSS forks are valving and set up which Enzo took care of. Mine work awesome.
Thanks for all the responses so far guys.

@mx317 : On the new Kawi , we are able to get the SSS fork inserts for the forks? I have a hard time finding any information on this at all. What is the going rate for a set of the inserts? And where do I look for them?

After all the responses about this bike , I'm really considering this bike. Like I said , I had my mind made up on the YZ 250 , but damn it , I already own a 250 2 stroke I like a lot. I originally planned to never own a 450 again because that damned 2012 Kawi 450 I had , with the full FMF and JD Jetting programmer was just to strong for what I needed / wanted. It turned me off from the 450's. Loved the freakin bike....but it was just to fast for me any more. Get myself in trouble when I'd ride tired.
FLmxer
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3/19/2016 12:20pm Edited Date/Time 3/19/2016 12:23pm
I loved the 15. My buddy just got the 16 and i forgot to ride it but will next time and let you know. I got off a 05 honda 450 to a 15 Honda 450. Getting on the 15 kxf450 felt like the older Honda ergonomically and i felt right at home instantly. The 16 kxf is slimmer and i hear feels like a 15 Honda now ergonomically as it is lighter and slimmer.
mx317
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3/19/2016 1:24pm
jeffro503 wrote:
Thanks for all the responses so far guys. [b]@mx317[/b] : On the new Kawi , we are able to get the SSS fork inserts for the...
Thanks for all the responses so far guys.

@mx317 : On the new Kawi , we are able to get the SSS fork inserts for the forks? I have a hard time finding any information on this at all. What is the going rate for a set of the inserts? And where do I look for them?

After all the responses about this bike , I'm really considering this bike. Like I said , I had my mind made up on the YZ 250 , but damn it , I already own a 250 2 stroke I like a lot. I originally planned to never own a 450 again because that damned 2012 Kawi 450 I had , with the full FMF and JD Jetting programmer was just to strong for what I needed / wanted. It turned me off from the 450's. Loved the freakin bike....but it was just to fast for me any more. Get myself in trouble when I'd ride tired.
I used a set of 11 forks not just the internals. SSS is just marketing term because other than set up they are the same as the 09-12 Kawasaki forks.
brimx153
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3/19/2016 1:53pm
most guys i know who have one dont like it . Not saying its a bad bike .just there Kawi guys . they loved the kawi because of the way it was , stear with the rear .loads and loads of power . really stable . The new bike is alot more like a honda or suzuki. So i am sure, for some people the bike is a huge improvement . but if ur a long term Kawi guy . it might not be all you loved about the old bike imo
The Oracle
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3/19/2016 2:19pm
I've ridden a '12, own a '13 and a '15, and I've had our shops demo '16 for a whole day by myself.

'12 felt like an anchor compared to the 13-15 models, and the new 16 is a whole lot lighter/easier than the 13-15s.

The key points I noticed while trying out the demo compared to my own last-gen KXF was how much lighter and easier it felt to ride. It kind of brought me back to my CRF450 2012 experience, which was a very good bike, and supereasy and fun to ride.

However, the Kawi '16 had less power off the bottom compared to my 15. This was with the original coupler mounted though, which I've heard some say is the weakest? The white coupler (race-coupler?) is supposedly more powerful.

As brimx153 says, if you love the last Kawasakis for how they stood out, don't get too eager. The bike did remind me of my '12 CRF, just with a lot better engine, handling and steering. Suspension was a bit weird for me, but I'm a heavy guy around 20kgs fatter than standard spring rates.

I'm sure you would not regret getting a 2016 Kawasaki, but keep in mind it isn't the same as previous models.
kiwifan
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3/19/2016 2:37pm
I didnt ride the 2015 model or below before my 16...all the attributes you state are true, suspension is ok but much better after a trip to the suspension shop...mine is very much modded but if you do add more HP then do the crank ...I made the mistake not to.
jeffro503
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3/19/2016 2:46pm
The Oracle wrote:
I've ridden a '12, own a '13 and a '15, and I've had our shops demo '16 for a whole day by myself. '12 felt like...
I've ridden a '12, own a '13 and a '15, and I've had our shops demo '16 for a whole day by myself.

'12 felt like an anchor compared to the 13-15 models, and the new 16 is a whole lot lighter/easier than the 13-15s.

The key points I noticed while trying out the demo compared to my own last-gen KXF was how much lighter and easier it felt to ride. It kind of brought me back to my CRF450 2012 experience, which was a very good bike, and supereasy and fun to ride.

However, the Kawi '16 had less power off the bottom compared to my 15. This was with the original coupler mounted though, which I've heard some say is the weakest? The white coupler (race-coupler?) is supposedly more powerful.

As brimx153 says, if you love the last Kawasakis for how they stood out, don't get too eager. The bike did remind me of my '12 CRF, just with a lot better engine, handling and steering. Suspension was a bit weird for me, but I'm a heavy guy around 20kgs fatter than standard spring rates.

I'm sure you would not regret getting a 2016 Kawasaki, but keep in mind it isn't the same as previous models.
I have ridden a 12' CRF450 myself and actually loved that bike as much , if not more than my 08' CRF450. So that's actually a plus. Sitting on the new 16' , I'm actually really liking that slimmer feel they have now. The traits that Brimx listed above were actually some of the things I disliked about the Kawi to begin with. Especially the part about it being more mellow that what my 12' was , or even the 15'.

I usually stay around 185lbs - 190lbs so I'm thinking I'll at least need to go up one spring rate in the back? I think anyways?
brimx153
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3/19/2016 4:05pm
The Oracle wrote:
I've ridden a '12, own a '13 and a '15, and I've had our shops demo '16 for a whole day by myself. '12 felt like...
I've ridden a '12, own a '13 and a '15, and I've had our shops demo '16 for a whole day by myself.

'12 felt like an anchor compared to the 13-15 models, and the new 16 is a whole lot lighter/easier than the 13-15s.

The key points I noticed while trying out the demo compared to my own last-gen KXF was how much lighter and easier it felt to ride. It kind of brought me back to my CRF450 2012 experience, which was a very good bike, and supereasy and fun to ride.

However, the Kawi '16 had less power off the bottom compared to my 15. This was with the original coupler mounted though, which I've heard some say is the weakest? The white coupler (race-coupler?) is supposedly more powerful.

As brimx153 says, if you love the last Kawasakis for how they stood out, don't get too eager. The bike did remind me of my '12 CRF, just with a lot better engine, handling and steering. Suspension was a bit weird for me, but I'm a heavy guy around 20kgs fatter than standard spring rates.

I'm sure you would not regret getting a 2016 Kawasaki, but keep in mind it isn't the same as previous models.
jeffro503 wrote:
I have ridden a 12' CRF450 myself and actually loved that bike as much , if not more than my 08' CRF450. So that's actually a...
I have ridden a 12' CRF450 myself and actually loved that bike as much , if not more than my 08' CRF450. So that's actually a plus. Sitting on the new 16' , I'm actually really liking that slimmer feel they have now. The traits that Brimx listed above were actually some of the things I disliked about the Kawi to begin with. Especially the part about it being more mellow that what my 12' was , or even the 15'.

I usually stay around 185lbs - 190lbs so I'm thinking I'll at least need to go up one spring rate in the back? I think anyways?
there the exact traits i did nt like on the old kx . i have nt rode a new one yet but id say i d like it more , as its a front end steer bike more so now. As i say tho, my kawi friends miss the old bike big time .
Liebs138
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3/19/2016 5:12pm
The 2016 450 is amazing! It turns sooo good. Mines bone stock and its incredible. Suspension is great, just takes some time to pinpoint for settings! A+
mxb2
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3/19/2016 5:15pm Edited Date/Time 3/19/2016 5:15pm
Get the 16,_remap, full pipe, fc suspension as good as 15 motor now, 8 lbs lighter. Your welcome.

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