This may or may no be a dumb question?

DRPpromotions
Edited Date/Time 1/27/2012 12:09pm
Okay so I have a 2005 RMZ 450 that is in amazing shape and its a 4 speed I freaking love the thing. It handles amazing and because its a 4 speed I can put it in 3rd gear and NEVER shift its like a diesel lol after 7 pretty hard years of riding it still had the stock clutch! Unfortunately they did start slipping last weekend. But it is almost 7 years old I didn't want to sell it though so I decided I'd just pick up a newer 450 to have just in case. So I found a deal on a 2010 kawi 450 I couldn't pass up so I bought it but its a five speed and I'm not digging it after riding the 4 speed it feels like riding a 250f. So I'm wondering if theres a different gearbox or a gearbox mod I could use to convert the kawi into a 4 speed?
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mx757
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mx757 11/20/2011 9:51pm
11/20/2011 9:51pm
ummm you do realize a clutch plate kit is like $120 right? hell even if you were to change the whole thing (pressure plate, inner hub, basket and plates) youre looking at $600-700...
tobz
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tobz 11/20/2011 9:56pm
11/20/2011 9:56pm
If your that lazy with shifting, just gear the KXF way up and ignore 5th gear?
DRPpromotions 11/20/2011 10:10pm
11/20/2011 10:10pm
mx757 wrote:
ummm you do realize a clutch plate kit is like $120 right? hell even if you were to change the whole thing (pressure plate, inner hub...
ummm you do realize a clutch plate kit is like $120 right? hell even if you were to change the whole thing (pressure plate, inner hub, basket and plates) youre looking at $600-700...
Yeah I know that I already ordered the clutches but that bike has an assload of hours on the stock crank&piston and I don't see dumping that much money into a 7 year old bike.
DRPpromotions 11/20/2011 10:13pm
11/20/2011 10:13pm
tobz wrote:
If your that lazy with shifting, just gear the KXF way up and ignore 5th gear?
Man its honestly not even a lazy thing the 4 speed is just a completley different beast lol you'd just have to ride it to understand but I was just kinda curious as to wether you could convert it or not I'm not saying its something I would do but if it wasnt outrageously expensive to me it would be worth it

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NorcalVet
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NorcalVet 11/20/2011 10:14pm
11/20/2011 10:14pm
I miss my '05 also.... it was a beast. The 4 speed box was perfect 95% of the time. Could lugg 3rd gear all day.
- Re-valved suspension, HC piston, stage 1 hot cam, flex jet, 50 T rear, and full C/F RS-2



But now I moved on to an FI RMZ.... full yoshi & revised mapping---- sweet!


---- just put some seat time in, dial in your suspension. Go up a T or 2 in rear. Maybe add a pipe & alter your mapping for the type of tracks/ soil you ride/ etc...
jeffro503
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jeffro503 11/20/2011 10:34pm
11/20/2011 10:34pm
Honestly....I have ridden 4 speeds and 5 speeds.........you "Should" adapt to that 5 speed! What I'm saying is.....they went to 5 speed for a reason....for a more controllable type shifting , with more options for your gearing. If I was you....I would ride it a few more times and try to adjust. Once you do.....you will probably kick yourself for liking the 4 speed. Also....do what Tobz said.....play with the gearing a little. You'll find a sweet spot.
DRPpromotions 11/20/2011 10:35pm
11/20/2011 10:35pm
NorcalVet wrote:
I miss my '05 also.... it was a beast. The 4 speed box was perfect 95% of the time. Could lugg 3rd gear all day. -...
I miss my '05 also.... it was a beast. The 4 speed box was perfect 95% of the time. Could lugg 3rd gear all day.
- Re-valved suspension, HC piston, stage 1 hot cam, flex jet, 50 T rear, and full C/F RS-2



But now I moved on to an FI RMZ.... full yoshi & revised mapping---- sweet!


---- just put some seat time in, dial in your suspension. Go up a T or 2 in rear. Maybe add a pipe & alter your mapping for the type of tracks/ soil you ride/ etc...
Thats pretty damn funny almost the same setup on my 05 only difference is I have 1/4 turn throttle which is badass! And a wiesco piston I put in before I even rode the bike. But yeah I'm going to play with the kawi as much as I can to get it where I want the main reason for asking the question was more of a curiousity thing more than anything. I'm sure you could machine something up for a pretty penny I was just curious to if anyone had head of anyone do thing before
DRPpromotions 11/20/2011 10:41pm
11/20/2011 10:41pm
jeffro503 wrote:
Honestly....I have ridden 4 speeds and 5 speeds.........you "Should" adapt to that 5 speed! What I'm saying is.....they went to 5 speed for a reason....for a...
Honestly....I have ridden 4 speeds and 5 speeds.........you "Should" adapt to that 5 speed! What I'm saying is.....they went to 5 speed for a reason....for a more controllable type shifting , with more options for your gearing. If I was you....I would ride it a few more times and try to adjust. Once you do.....you will probably kick yourself for liking the 4 speed. Also....do what Tobz said.....play with the gearing a little. You'll find a sweet spot.
Oh yeah I mean I'm going to play with it a ton like I said I was just curious if anyone had tried it. But I had a 09 for a little while and its 5 speed it was really fast but I still like the 4 speed better haha I know why they did it its just a personal prefrence thing . I'm going to ride the suzuki as a practice bike until it breaks because I love it but after that it wont be too bad going back to a 5 speed. But if someone came out with a 4 speed conversion kit that didnt cost $10,000 you can guarantee id buy it lol. I heard stewart was running some sort of 4 speed gearbox in sx but idk how true that is
nytsmaC
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nytsmaC 11/20/2011 10:43pm
11/20/2011 10:43pm
The earlier KX450F's had 4 speed transmissions, did they use the same cases?
jeffro503
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jeffro503 11/20/2011 10:49pm
11/20/2011 10:49pm Edited Date/Time 11/20/2011 10:50pm
I don't know about the KX , but I know some KTM's had an optional 6th gear if wanted to put one in. With the KX.....I bet it is possible to just remove 5th gear....but what would be the purpose.....just don't use it is what i say. I think what the OP is after is a WR type ride ( wide ratio ) like what that older Suzuki was. All these newer bikes are setup with 5 speeds.
DRPpromotions 11/20/2011 10:51pm
11/20/2011 10:51pm
nytsmaC wrote:
The earlier KX450F's had 4 speed transmissions, did they use the same cases?
Yupp the 06 was a 4 speed and I actually wondered about that I may see if I can find a case for one cheap and see if they match up. I have a spare 09 case so I wouldnt even have to tear my motor down! Smile
Lightning78
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Lightning78 11/20/2011 10:51pm
11/20/2011 10:51pm Edited Date/Time 11/20/2011 10:58pm
jeffro503 wrote:
Honestly....I have ridden 4 speeds and 5 speeds.........you "Should" adapt to that 5 speed! What I'm saying is.....they went to 5 speed for a reason....for a...
Honestly....I have ridden 4 speeds and 5 speeds.........you "Should" adapt to that 5 speed! What I'm saying is.....they went to 5 speed for a reason....for a more controllable type shifting , with more options for your gearing. If I was you....I would ride it a few more times and try to adjust. Once you do.....you will probably kick yourself for liking the 4 speed. Also....do what Tobz said.....play with the gearing a little. You'll find a sweet spot.
For me not a chance in hell ..... One of the only 450's I ever like was the 03 yz450 because of the 4 speed gearbox imo the 5 speed is what ruined a lot of the bikes I rode and wished I had a 4 speed in all of them true I don't like 4 strokes in general but imo a 4 speed was the perfect combination for the 450 .....aside from sx I can't see why you even need 5 speed gearboxes with that close of a ratio its worthless .... Ferry's 426 had a 3 speed for sx and was rated one of the best works 4 stroke bikes of its time.

Not a jab at you I just don't feel 450's need a 5 speed granny with close ratios with the kind of power they put out you can easily get moving w a 4 speed. I was actually a lot faster with a 4 speed box due to the tractability, it put lose to the ground ..... If you think about it, works trannys usually have lower (longer) ratios to make use of the 60hp they are putting out ..... I still scratch my head as to why 450's have 5 speed close ratio trannys
Lightning78
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Lightning78 11/20/2011 11:00pm
11/20/2011 11:00pm
Whatever 450 I get as a play bike that I don't plan to drop a lot of cash on will be a 4 speed 450....what year were the rmz's 4 speed? Kx's only 06 and yzf's were 03 to ?
DRPpromotions 11/20/2011 11:06pm
11/20/2011 11:06pm
jeffro503 wrote:
Honestly....I have ridden 4 speeds and 5 speeds.........you "Should" adapt to that 5 speed! What I'm saying is.....they went to 5 speed for a reason....for a...
Honestly....I have ridden 4 speeds and 5 speeds.........you "Should" adapt to that 5 speed! What I'm saying is.....they went to 5 speed for a reason....for a more controllable type shifting , with more options for your gearing. If I was you....I would ride it a few more times and try to adjust. Once you do.....you will probably kick yourself for liking the 4 speed. Also....do what Tobz said.....play with the gearing a little. You'll find a sweet spot.
Lightning78 wrote:
For me not a chance in hell ..... One of the only 450's I ever like was the 03 yz450 because of the 4 speed gearbox...
For me not a chance in hell ..... One of the only 450's I ever like was the 03 yz450 because of the 4 speed gearbox imo the 5 speed is what ruined a lot of the bikes I rode and wished I had a 4 speed in all of them true I don't like 4 strokes in general but imo a 4 speed was the perfect combination for the 450 .....aside from sx I can't see why you even need 5 speed gearboxes with that close of a ratio its worthless .... Ferry's 426 had a 3 speed for sx and was rated one of the best works 4 stroke bikes of its time.

Not a jab at you I just don't feel 450's need a 5 speed granny with close ratios with the kind of power they put out you can easily get moving w a 4 speed. I was actually a lot faster with a 4 speed box due to the tractability, it put lose to the ground ..... If you think about it, works trannys usually have lower (longer) ratios to make use of the 60hp they are putting out ..... I still scratch my head as to why 450's have 5 speed close ratio trannys
Exactly! Lol that 4 speed was amazing especially with the 1/4 turn throttle tube I have its like riding a factory bike lol. The 3rd gear is just sooooooooooo long you could seriously take out every other gear and just leave it in 3rd. I do starts in 2nd then click 3rd and stay there the whole race I've never had the bike in 4th on a track. And I beleive the 05 was the only 4 speed but 06 may have been not 100% sure
Adam43
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Adam43 11/20/2011 11:16pm
11/20/2011 11:16pm
nytsmaC wrote:
The earlier KX450F's had 4 speed transmissions, did they use the same cases?
DRPpromotions wrote:
Yupp the 06 was a 4 speed and I actually wondered about that I may see if I can find a case for one cheap and...
Yupp the 06 was a 4 speed and I actually wondered about that I may see if I can find a case for one cheap and see if they match up. I have a spare 09 case so I wouldnt even have to tear my motor down! Smile
The '06 was a 4-speed, but even with the later versions they kept all the same ratios as '06 and just added a 5th. All KX450s have a fairly wide-ratio gearbox.

Learn to shift.
sbarrington314 11/21/2011 7:06am
11/21/2011 7:06am
if your that lazy, mx isnt for you.
DRPpromotions 11/21/2011 9:10am
11/21/2011 9:10am Edited Date/Time 11/21/2011 9:11am
sbarrington314 wrote:
if your that lazy, mx isnt for you.
You're obviously an idiot. Smile Like I said above its not even a fact of being lazy I have a rm 125 I ride more than the 450 that you are constantly shifting. I just like the tractability/torque the 4 speed has and was just curious if I could get that out of the kawasaki if I can sweeet if not ill ride the suzuki until something breaks and then adjust to the 5 speed just like I did when I bought my 09. Like I said unless you've ridden one I can't really explain it.

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