What makes RMZ 450s so much heavier?

mxb2
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3/17/2015 7:54pm
kawy, ktm are close in weight to the rmz, only feels heavy putting it on the stand lol, on the track feels great. Great bike.
Spagina767
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3/17/2015 8:49pm
Love my Rmz. Does feel like a pig throwing it up on a stand though.
mark_swart
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3/17/2015 9:11pm
it's their huevos
/\ Haha, this has to be the winner!

Nah, I know they feel fine on the track, I had an 09 and loved it. It just seems odd that all of the bikes are so similar as far as components, but then the RMZ has 10 lbs of extra weight.

I'm thinking about picking up a very cherry '12....

The Shop

wpark89
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3/17/2015 9:14pm
You don't notice it until you go to throw it on the stand or in the back of the truck. The super good handling on the track more than makes up for it.

Funny that this bike hasn't had a major revamp since 08 and it's still the one that the top guys want to ride. It just works.
Bruce372
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3/18/2015 10:41am
Several mags did weights on the 2015 450s.

The ktm, kawi and husky450s are all heavier than the rmz.

The yzf450 was lighter by 1 lbs.

I think the heavy thing that people talk about is just carried over from the original2008 2009, but the weight has been creeping down year after year.

The yoshimura pipe from my 2009 fits my 2015 and drops it nearly 4 lbs lighter.

mark_swart
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3/18/2015 12:16pm
So here are the 2015 numbers from the manufacturer websites. And it's funny, because as much as MXA bitches about RMZs and KXs being so heavy, they don't actually list the weights in their tests or weigh the bikes themselves.

CRF: 243 curb weight
RMZ: 247 curb mass
YZF: 245 "dry weight"
KXF: 247.1 "wet"

2015 KTM 450: 235.4
2015.5 KTM 450 FE: 226.2 (?!?!)

Four pounds is certainly not the end of the world between the Asian bikes, but damn those KTMs are in a different league!
Bruce372
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3/18/2015 12:24pm
from dirtbike 450 shootout

2015 dry (no fuel)

Honda 234
Yamaha236
Suzuki 237
Kawasaki238

Sxf238
Fc241
mark_swart
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3/18/2015 12:31pm
Bruce372 wrote:
from dirtbike 450 shootout

2015 dry (no fuel)

Honda 234
Yamaha236
Suzuki 237
Kawasaki238

Sxf238
Fc241
We have a winner - thanks for digging those numbers up! 4 lbs... not a big deal!

I'd almost bet money that Honda's weight difference is from the Unicam design.
NorcalVet
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3/18/2015 6:26pm
I think it weighs at least heavier just because of the special spark plug it requires

$50-75 oem

Lol
greymachine
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3/26/2015 7:51pm
Sorry to go a little off topic, but does the RMZ450 really have cooling and other reliability issues like MXA says? Considering picking up a leftover '14 for a killer price but don't want an unreliable POS.
holverson34
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3/26/2015 8:03pm
What does mxa say about reliability issues? I just run engine ice in my 13 and it's been fine.
mark_swart
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3/26/2015 8:32pm
Sorry to go a little off topic, but does the RMZ450 really have cooling and other reliability issues like MXA says? Considering picking up a leftover...
Sorry to go a little off topic, but does the RMZ450 really have cooling and other reliability issues like MXA says? Considering picking up a leftover '14 for a killer price but don't want an unreliable POS.
I'm a Vet B rider and had an 09 a few years ago. I never had any issue with overheating. Rode it in Virginia and Texas during the summer time. I am very careful with all four strokes of any brand to not spend much time idling them, especially on the starting line.

That being said, I have a Vet A friend here who rides a stock 09 and says he does notice it losing power. His cooling system is also stock -- radiator cap, pump, everything.

I wouldn't have any big concerns about the '14 and cooling, spend the $20 for a 1.6 or 1.8 radiator cap if you are fast and think cooling will be a problem and you will probably be fine.

As for reliability, when I got my 09 the PO had run it until the valves were out of spec. I had the seats redone, replaced the valves with stainless, and ran it for over a season with no issues. They didn't budge after that. No other issues for me on that bike as far as reliability.

I know the early 08s had a tranny problem that was recalled, but it gave that model some headaches its first year. Not an issue on your '14.

I have another friend with a '12 and he just hit 60 hours, no issues and loves the bike. Also a fast (young) B rider.

FWIW, I just bought a '12 with 20 hours on it last night, so I'm obviously not too worried about those things : ) !!
Grizz
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3/26/2015 8:33pm
Sorry to go a little off topic, but does the RMZ450 really have cooling and other reliability issues like MXA says? Considering picking up a leftover...
Sorry to go a little off topic, but does the RMZ450 really have cooling and other reliability issues like MXA says? Considering picking up a leftover '14 for a killer price but don't want an unreliable POS.
No lol they over exaggerate everything.
Grizz
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3/26/2015 8:39pm
On topic: why is the seat so heavy? Who all makes lighter foam than Th1nk Technology? Kind of want one of those but $260 for a seat... ouch.
Bruce372
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3/26/2015 8:53pm Edited Date/Time 3/26/2015 8:54pm
Grizz wrote:
On topic: why is the seat so heavy? Who all makes lighter foam than Th1nk Technology? Kind of want one of those but $260 for a...
On topic: why is the seat so heavy? Who all makes lighter foam than Th1nk Technology? Kind of want one of those but $260 for a seat... ouch.
Grizz, I always run a tall seat, so when I got my bike I called up guts racing. They have a new phantom seat foam that is really.light, I think they developed it with pro.circuit.

Any how, that that time they were throwing in a free seat cover, so it was only a few bucks more to go this route, over the cost of a regular tall foam and.cover.

I think all OEM.seat foams are heavy, compared to these new foams.

It would take a ridiculous amount of money spent on ti bolts to make the same savings in weight.

With that foam , the yoshimura ti pipe and taking off a few bits and bobs that aren't needed the bike is only 3 lbs heavier than the new factory edition ktm.
Grizz
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3/26/2015 9:31pm
Grizz wrote:
On topic: why is the seat so heavy? Who all makes lighter foam than Th1nk Technology? Kind of want one of those but $260 for a...
On topic: why is the seat so heavy? Who all makes lighter foam than Th1nk Technology? Kind of want one of those but $260 for a seat... ouch.
Bruce372 wrote:
Grizz, I always run a tall seat, so when I got my bike I called up guts racing. They have a new phantom seat foam that...
Grizz, I always run a tall seat, so when I got my bike I called up guts racing. They have a new phantom seat foam that is really.light, I think they developed it with pro.circuit.

Any how, that that time they were throwing in a free seat cover, so it was only a few bucks more to go this route, over the cost of a regular tall foam and.cover.

I think all OEM.seat foams are heavy, compared to these new foams.

It would take a ridiculous amount of money spent on ti bolts to make the same savings in weight.

With that foam , the yoshimura ti pipe and taking off a few bits and bobs that aren't needed the bike is only 3 lbs heavier than the new factory edition ktm.
I am running the ti Yosh. What are the other bits and bobs?
Grizz
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3/26/2015 9:35pm
Grizz wrote:
On topic: why is the seat so heavy? Who all makes lighter foam than Th1nk Technology? Kind of want one of those but $260 for a...
On topic: why is the seat so heavy? Who all makes lighter foam than Th1nk Technology? Kind of want one of those but $260 for a seat... ouch.
Bruce372 wrote:
Grizz, I always run a tall seat, so when I got my bike I called up guts racing. They have a new phantom seat foam that...
Grizz, I always run a tall seat, so when I got my bike I called up guts racing. They have a new phantom seat foam that is really.light, I think they developed it with pro.circuit.

Any how, that that time they were throwing in a free seat cover, so it was only a few bucks more to go this route, over the cost of a regular tall foam and.cover.

I think all OEM.seat foams are heavy, compared to these new foams.

It would take a ridiculous amount of money spent on ti bolts to make the same savings in weight.

With that foam , the yoshimura ti pipe and taking off a few bits and bobs that aren't needed the bike is only 3 lbs heavier than the new factory edition ktm.
I am running the ti Yosh. What are the other bits and bobs?
Bruce372
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3/27/2015 9:23am
Grizz, I always take the disc and sprocket covers etc off every bike since I find they just pack up with mud (keep the case saverr)

Also, I swapped out the crank case breather with just a simple breather hose. Then a few aluminum washers on the radiator, i put all that stuff in a Ziploc and it weighed 1 lbs.
smoothies862
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Fantasy
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3/27/2015 2:42pm
Bruce372 wrote:
Grizz, I always take the disc and sprocket covers etc off every bike since I find they just pack up with mud (keep the case saverr)...
Grizz, I always take the disc and sprocket covers etc off every bike since I find they just pack up with mud (keep the case saverr)

Also, I swapped out the crank case breather with just a simple breather hose. Then a few aluminum washers on the radiator, i put all that stuff in a Ziploc and it weighed 1 lbs.
or take a healthyWhistling before you race grizz! thats about a lb. ill be watching for ya at the nationals. #402 suzuki right?
Bruce372
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3/27/2015 4:41pm
Bruce372 wrote:
Grizz, I always take the disc and sprocket covers etc off every bike since I find they just pack up with mud (keep the case saverr)...
Grizz, I always take the disc and sprocket covers etc off every bike since I find they just pack up with mud (keep the case saverr)

Also, I swapped out the crank case breather with just a simple breather hose. Then a few aluminum washers on the radiator, i put all that stuff in a Ziploc and it weighed 1 lbs.
or take a healthyWhistling before you race grizz! thats about a lb. ill be watching for ya at the nationals. #402 suzuki right?
There is no or, lol and take a Whistling last thing I do before I ride!!!!Sick
Grizz
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3/27/2015 5:04pm
Bruce372 wrote:
Grizz, I always take the disc and sprocket covers etc off every bike since I find they just pack up with mud (keep the case saverr)...
Grizz, I always take the disc and sprocket covers etc off every bike since I find they just pack up with mud (keep the case saverr)

Also, I swapped out the crank case breather with just a simple breather hose. Then a few aluminum washers on the radiator, i put all that stuff in a Ziploc and it weighed 1 lbs.
or take a healthyWhistling before you race grizz! thats about a lb. ill be watching for ya at the nationals. #402 suzuki right?
Hahahahaha, but yea I'm not dropping that stuff to save 1lb! Yep that will be me!
Bruce372
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3/27/2015 5:15pm Edited Date/Time 3/27/2015 5:16pm
LOL!

check it,
Grizz
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3/27/2015 5:25pm
Well yea I don't run the sprocket cover. Keeping the rotor guards though.

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