Dear Kawasaki... (new bike pic)

user760a
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Dear Kawasaki,
I love the KX450F, and my new bike slush fund is doing fine. I could have easily bought a new 450. Instead I searched around on craigslist for a while until this gem popped up- a very low hour , nicely accessorized 12 model-a spring fork equipped 12 model. Good luck blowing out those air fork bikes at cost in the fall



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Beeby
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1/20/2017 7:31pm
Yeah I fear air forks are the 'mini disk' of this generation
APLMAN99
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1/20/2017 7:46pm
That appears to be a used bike pic......
APLMAN99
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1/20/2017 7:53pm
APLMAN99 wrote:
That appears to be a used bike pic......
It's new to him.
Yeah, but I don't think anyone is going to put up with a salesman trying to sell you a 2012 Ram truck with 35K miles on it as a new one simply because it's "new to him".........!

The Shop

mx836
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1/20/2017 8:30pm
I'll take my '16 with that shitty air fork. Wink
MX4EVR
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1/20/2017 8:43pm
mx836 wrote:
I'll take my '16 with that shitty air fork. Wink
Me to
Titan1
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1/20/2017 9:41pm
I love the air forks on my '15 KX 450. No complaints at all, and they just plain work great!
Flip109
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1/20/2017 9:48pm
Rode my buddys brand new 16 the first day he took it to the track. Hands down the best 450 I have ever ridden. And no idea what the suspension was set up for lol handled like a 250
Moto520
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1/20/2017 9:58pm
That bike was a beast....so much power and does everything good.
Travis_Hudson
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1/20/2017 10:02pm
APLMAN99 wrote:
That appears to be a used bike pic......
It's new to him.
APLMAN99 wrote:
Yeah, but I don't think anyone is going to put up with a salesman trying to sell you a 2012 Ram truck with 35K miles on...
Yeah, but I don't think anyone is going to put up with a salesman trying to sell you a 2012 Ram truck with 35K miles on it as a new one simply because it's "new to him".........!
You are really trying to piss in his Cheerios. Aren't you? Dizzy
rrjr
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1/20/2017 10:02pm Edited Date/Time 1/20/2017 10:12pm
As a person who has started threads that make some people think WTF? I hope you excuse me for asking WTF?

I'm not sure what your point is. Are you mad because new Kawasaki's have air forks? Do you want Kawasaki to revert to the 2012 specs for the next model year?

You bought a 5 year old bike that has the tech from the last generation of that model. If it suits your needs then it's the perfect bike and you'll be very happy.

As far as dealers having to blow out bikes at cost. It happens every year when the new models come out not because they have air forks.

Nice bike by the way and it looks very clean.
TeamGreen
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1/20/2017 10:07pm
mx836 wrote:
I'll take my '16 with that shitty air fork. Wink
Here's how crazy I am...

I'm changing out spring forks on a '17 CRF for PSF1 Kit Forks. I guess I didn't get the memo on Air Forks sucking.

But, that's just me.
1/20/2017 10:36pm
I'm a 250 pound rider and ride air forks on two different bikes and are pretty darn good, they will only keep getting better
jeffro503
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1/20/2017 11:37pm
mx836 wrote:
I'll take my '16 with that shitty air fork. Wink
MX4EVR wrote:
Me to
This X 1000. My 12' was a great bike , but it isn't any where near as good as the 16'. I actually liked my air forks better on my 16' than I did my spring fork on my 12'. Both were re-worked by FC.

BUT....congrats on the " new to me"......pay to much mind on what I wrote above , the 12' is an awesome bike. I just liked the 16' quite a bit better.
jeffro503
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1/20/2017 11:40pm
mx836 wrote:
I'll take my '16 with that shitty air fork. Wink
TeamGreen wrote:
Here's how crazy I am... I'm changing out spring forks on a '17 CRF for PSF1 Kit Forks. I guess I didn't get the memo on...
Here's how crazy I am...

I'm changing out spring forks on a '17 CRF for PSF1 Kit Forks. I guess I didn't get the memo on Air Forks sucking.

But, that's just me.
Spot on Manny! Since I have owned a newer bike with air forks and played around with them a lot , I'm actually a big fan of them. The new Kawis with the triple chamber forks have so many adjustments you can do to them at the track it's insane. I personally don't know one person who has ever blown a seal either. I know it happens , but I think it's pretty rare.
crf250pilot
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1/20/2017 11:43pm
mx836 wrote:
I'll take my '16 with that shitty air fork. Wink
TeamGreen wrote:
Here's how crazy I am... I'm changing out spring forks on a '17 CRF for PSF1 Kit Forks. I guess I didn't get the memo on...
Here's how crazy I am...

I'm changing out spring forks on a '17 CRF for PSF1 Kit Forks. I guess I didn't get the memo on Air Forks sucking.

But, that's just me.
They work great for desert goons Smile
1/21/2017 5:08am
if you want to change to the newer style front fender and number plate, you will need newer style triple clamps. '13-'15's. Just a heads up before you get some new plastic and have it not match up.
mx836
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1/21/2017 5:15am
mx836 wrote:
I'll take my '16 with that shitty air fork. Wink
TeamGreen wrote:
Here's how crazy I am... I'm changing out spring forks on a '17 CRF for PSF1 Kit Forks. I guess I didn't get the memo on...
Here's how crazy I am...

I'm changing out spring forks on a '17 CRF for PSF1 Kit Forks. I guess I didn't get the memo on Air Forks sucking.

But, that's just me.
Absolutely loved the PSF1 forks on my last KX450. Probably more than the Showa TAC.
mx836
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1/21/2017 7:01am
jeffro503 wrote:
Spot on Manny! Since I have owned a newer bike with air forks and played around with them a lot , I'm actually a big fan...
Spot on Manny! Since I have owned a newer bike with air forks and played around with them a lot , I'm actually a big fan of them. The new Kawis with the triple chamber forks have so many adjustments you can do to them at the track it's insane. I personally don't know one person who has ever blown a seal either. I know it happens , but I think it's pretty rare.
I've been on air for 4 years and never a single seal issue, although I don't put on as many hours as I'd like. Great thing about them for me is I can put a $120 shock spring on and have spring rates for me without having to take the forks apart right away. And the adjustability is endless. Download the Showa SSF TAC phone app for you guys that have them.
user760a
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1/21/2017 7:07am
My point here was that I can easily go and pay cash for a 17, no problem, but I prefer a mint low hour 12 due to the fork.

Sure, the new one is lighter. great. certainly the 12 will hold me back- how could it not, it is so outdated LOL Just look at Jerry Robin - proof positive that any bike over 6 months old is totally obsolete . or not

I already have a 13 and 14 in the garage and have spent time and effort sourcing spring forks for them, which worked out fine- but I am not jumping through that hoop again.

The WP air fork sounds like something I can live with but these japanese air forks (especially the first gen air forks) are total bullshit.
bvm111
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1/21/2017 8:56am Edited Date/Time 1/21/2017 9:01am
mx836 wrote:
I'll take my '16 with that shitty air fork. Wink
MX4EVR wrote:
Me to
jeffro503 wrote:
This X 1000. My 12' was a great bike , but it isn't any where near as good as the 16'. I actually liked my air...
This X 1000. My 12' was a great bike , but it isn't any where near as good as the 16'. I actually liked my air forks better on my 16' than I did my spring fork on my 12'. Both were re-worked by FC.

BUT....congrats on the " new to me"......pay to much mind on what I wrote above , the 12' is an awesome bike. I just liked the 16' quite a bit better.
And it will be new to me soon enough Jeff... I can't wait to try the air forks Whistling
mx836
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1/21/2017 9:15am
user760a wrote:
My point here was that I can easily go and pay cash for a 17, no problem, but I prefer a mint low hour 12 due...
My point here was that I can easily go and pay cash for a 17, no problem, but I prefer a mint low hour 12 due to the fork.

Sure, the new one is lighter. great. certainly the 12 will hold me back- how could it not, it is so outdated LOL Just look at Jerry Robin - proof positive that any bike over 6 months old is totally obsolete . or not

I already have a 13 and 14 in the garage and have spent time and effort sourcing spring forks for them, which worked out fine- but I am not jumping through that hoop again.

The WP air fork sounds like something I can live with but these japanese air forks (especially the first gen air forks) are total bullshit.
More power to you. Different strokes for different folks. You had to expect a little feedback! Congratulations on the new bike!
mx836
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1/21/2017 9:17am Edited Date/Time 1/21/2017 9:28am
Also, for about $500 plus springs you can make the Showa SFF TAC into a spring fork with Race Tech's kit.

Edit: You'll still save money over the other mfg's since you can get them for cost price blowout! lol
smoothies862
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1/21/2017 9:19am
I can buy a 450 cash..believe me.make spring forks great again.
I have no actual input to this thread. I just wanted to "trump" it up a little.
user760a
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1/21/2017 10:33am
mx836 wrote:
Also, for about $500 plus springs you can make the Showa SFF TAC into a spring fork with Race Tech's kit. Edit: You'll still save money...
Also, for about $500 plus springs you can make the Showa SFF TAC into a spring fork with Race Tech's kit.

Edit: You'll still save money over the other mfg's since you can get them for cost price blowout! lol
ha ha that is true- the leftover 15 kawasaki's are still out there,
but is the 15 better than the 12? not really
even at blowout prices it is way over twice what the 12 cost
scott_nz
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1/21/2017 10:41am
user760a wrote:
My point here was that I can easily go and pay cash for a 17, no problem, but I prefer a mint low hour 12 due...
My point here was that I can easily go and pay cash for a 17, no problem, but I prefer a mint low hour 12 due to the fork.

Sure, the new one is lighter. great. certainly the 12 will hold me back- how could it not, it is so outdated LOL Just look at Jerry Robin - proof positive that any bike over 6 months old is totally obsolete . or not

I already have a 13 and 14 in the garage and have spent time and effort sourcing spring forks for them, which worked out fine- but I am not jumping through that hoop again.

The WP air fork sounds like something I can live with but these japanese air forks (especially the first gen air forks) are total bullshit.
have you ever ridden an air fork?

had 12, 13, 14, and 15 kawis, I liked the air fork over the spring fork, and had 1 blown fork seal in all that time, which did not end my day riding,

i have gone to a spring conversion in the 15 when i turned it into a motard bike, as i could not get any settings for air fork in motard, and its pretty hard to test for motard over here,
user760a
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1/21/2017 11:42am
Even though I own a 13 and a 14 at the moment, I have never ridden the air fork. Not even once around the lawn, I changed the forks immediately and sold the air forks. I race GNCC type stuff for the most part in addition to motocross track days and etc. The first gen air fork is not suited at all for GP or GNCC type stuff.

My suspension guy tells me that in addition to the potential for catastrophic seal failure (lol), as the track deteriorates an hour and a half into a race, the air fork is actually gaining pressure due to heat buildup. he swears that in a two hour race the pressure can increase the equivalent of two spring rates. That is a beating waiting to happen.

I run my bars in the third most forward position. There is no physical way to remove the plug, thread in the adapter, attach the pump and etc to check pressure without removing the bars or popping for aftermarket stuff. It's a Total clusterfuck, made even more amusing by the fact that Kawasaki did not even include the pump with the bike in 2013. lol what a joke

.
jeffro503
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1/21/2017 11:44am
MX4EVR wrote:
Me to
jeffro503 wrote:
This X 1000. My 12' was a great bike , but it isn't any where near as good as the 16'. I actually liked my air...
This X 1000. My 12' was a great bike , but it isn't any where near as good as the 16'. I actually liked my air forks better on my 16' than I did my spring fork on my 12'. Both were re-worked by FC.

BUT....congrats on the " new to me"......pay to much mind on what I wrote above , the 12' is an awesome bike. I just liked the 16' quite a bit better.
bvm111 wrote:
And it will be new to me soon enough Jeff... I can't wait to try the air forks Whistling
Oh yeah brother....it's about as new as you can get for a used bike. You won't have to do anything to it really , unless you want to slap some bling on her!




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