KX450 "Launch Control"

Moto_Geek
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Moto_Geek
Edited Date/Time 3/6/2012 12:51pm
Ok, lets hear the good and bad for this so call Launch Control on the new KX450. Anyone notice a difference on the starts? And do you use the suspension fork lock device with it still? On the fence on a couple choices for bikes for 2012 outdoor race season.

Emig sure looks good on his starts in the commercials.. Wink
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EvanR127
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EvanR127 3/5/2012 3:13pm
3/5/2012 3:13pm
I wouldn't buy a bike just for a ignition retard on the starts....
Torco1
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Torco1 3/5/2012 3:15pm
3/5/2012 3:15pm
Did you just call him a retard?? Tongue
sbarrington314 3/5/2012 3:24pm
3/5/2012 3:24pm
seems to work well for RV. and yes, he still uses fork lock launch control.
R-acer
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R-acer 3/5/2012 5:10pm
3/5/2012 5:10pm
I dont know if I want to give the "Launch control" all the credit or not, or it's just a fast bike overall, or his confidence is just high. It's probably a combintaion, but my son has gotten about 90% of the holeshots that he has lined up for, since getting the 2012 KX450F, and when he doesn't get the holeshot, he will be top 3. If you ask us, we'll say it's the best bike out right now.

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T-Fish
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T-Fish 3/5/2012 5:20pm
3/5/2012 5:20pm
R-acer wrote:
I dont know if I want to give the "Launch control" all the credit or not, or it's just a fast bike overall, or his confidence...
I dont know if I want to give the "Launch control" all the credit or not, or it's just a fast bike overall, or his confidence is just high. It's probably a combintaion, but my son has gotten about 90% of the holeshots that he has lined up for, since getting the 2012 KX450F, and when he doesn't get the holeshot, he will be top 3. If you ask us, we'll say it's the best bike out right now.
And we all know if and when that POS grenades, you'll be a Kawasaki hater.
neysbo
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neysbo 3/5/2012 5:21pm
3/5/2012 5:21pm
R-acer wrote:
I dont know if I want to give the "Launch control" all the credit or not, or it's just a fast bike overall, or his confidence...
I dont know if I want to give the "Launch control" all the credit or not, or it's just a fast bike overall, or his confidence is just high. It's probably a combintaion, but my son has gotten about 90% of the holeshots that he has lined up for, since getting the 2012 KX450F, and when he doesn't get the holeshot, he will be top 3. If you ask us, we'll say it's the best bike out right now.
this

we just got our 2012 Kaw 450 on Saturday and rode all day Sunday.

This bike is unbelievable in all aspects and the launch control and 3 different ignition plugs are just a bonus. The handling and power are unreal.
CocaineCrazy
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CocaineCrazy 3/5/2012 5:31pm
3/5/2012 5:31pm
i hear it works the proof is in the puddingWink
KMC440
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KMC440 3/5/2012 5:33pm
3/5/2012 5:33pm
Eat lots of bacon and cheese, wash that down with copious amounts of beer WALLLAHHHHH ! ! !

Traction control.

You're welcome, though it is hard to type when your lef arnm gozz numm
Deetsmx
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Deetsmx 3/5/2012 6:03pm
3/5/2012 6:03pm
Moto_Geek wrote:
Ok, lets hear the good and bad for this so call Launch Control on the new KX450. Anyone notice a difference on the starts? And do...
Ok, lets hear the good and bad for this so call Launch Control on the new KX450. Anyone notice a difference on the starts? And do you use the suspension fork lock device with it still? On the fence on a couple choices for bikes for 2012 outdoor race season.

Emig sure looks good on his starts in the commercials.. Wink
I put it to Emig on the start at the Transworld Industry cup on my yz250, I should have pulled off right after that cause it was the highlight of my day. The whole time I kept chuckling about the launch control commercial. As far as the bike, I rode one but it still felt big to me. I also rode an 11 Honda with MB1 suspension and I thought it was much better than the Kawi. The tracks I ride on are fairly tight so the lighter Honda felt much better IMO.
Moto_Geek
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Moto_Geek 3/6/2012 7:53am
3/6/2012 7:53am
Thanks for the feedback. I always like to hear real feedback before believing the hype. We all know where that goes.
zghosty
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zghosty 3/6/2012 8:44am
3/6/2012 8:44am
sbarrington314 wrote:
seems to work well for RV. and yes, he still uses fork lock launch control.
i dont think any of the kawi riders have it on their bikes, was at A1 this year noticed the H&H team didnt have it on the bikes. asked the mechanic why, straight up said with these guys they dont need it. the riders practice so many starts that all in all they are almost better then the launch control. noticed the same think on the pc 450.
88sdad
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88sdad 3/6/2012 8:52am
3/6/2012 8:52am
With all the controls this new KX450 has, does RV just hold it WFO the whole race?
Faceaz
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Faceaz 3/6/2012 9:13am
3/6/2012 9:13am
Funny they are cutting back the power to reduce wheel spin for better starts.

In no way can anyone compare RV's bike to the stocker for indication, especially when it comes to traction.
Temor a la Mancha 3/6/2012 9:37am
3/6/2012 9:37am Edited Date/Time 3/6/2012 9:37am
I have an '11 KX450 and I can confirm that tweaking the FI mapping can have a profound effect on the power characteristics of the bike. I race my KX450 mostly off-road and do a lot of single track stuff as well and the stock mapping had way too much bottom end hit. By modifying the FI mapping, I was able to tone down the bottom end so it was more controllable in tight, twisty stuff. In theory, the same can apply to starts, but I'm not convinced this needs to be done on the fly. With rigorous testing, you can find a sweet spot to satisfy a wide range of power needs.
TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 3/6/2012 10:12am
3/6/2012 10:12am
The '12 KX450 is the best bike out of the box.

Period.

Watching guys like Westin Peick, Ryan Clark and Austin Howell race VERY stock-based bikes is pretty damn convincing...
Big
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Big 3/6/2012 10:24am
3/6/2012 10:24am
You know it and everybody knows it! Everybody tries to follow Honda especially qualityside of it. If you pay with own hardearned money you buy them. Everybody else trying to justify bad choices. Pro? You tune it anyway. Weekend warrior? Perfect! Team that i support have 4 and i quit helping w money if they got KTMs or Yamas. Husky etc. Thats about it!
toofast413
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toofast413 3/6/2012 10:24am
3/6/2012 10:24am
There is no way those bikes are stock plenty of mods on them not factory but suspension, engine etc
R-acer
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R-acer 3/6/2012 10:36am
3/6/2012 10:36am
TeamGreen wrote:
The '12 KX450 is the best bike out of the box. Period. Watching guys like Westin Peick, Ryan Clark and Austin Howell race VERY stock-based bikes...
The '12 KX450 is the best bike out of the box.

Period.

Watching guys like Westin Peick, Ryan Clark and Austin Howell race VERY stock-based bikes is pretty damn convincing...
Absolutley

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MotoX85
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MotoX85 3/6/2012 10:52am
3/6/2012 10:52am
I bleed blue so we will start there, but we are sponsored by a Kawi dealer. I have rode a 2012 450 and to be honest could not tell the difference with the launch control. I am 6' 3" and my only complaints are with the girth and the "sit on top of the bike feel".

I have rode a Honda, Yamaha and Kawi (have not rode Suzuki or KTM) and I would definately say that Kawi is the choice. I'm still buying blue (cause I am) but the Kawi for the average size rider would definately be the better bike. I have no knowledge of durablilty.
TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 3/6/2012 11:01am
3/6/2012 11:01am
toofast413 wrote:
There is no way those bikes are stock plenty of mods on them not factory but suspension, engine etc
Austin has a set of Forks and a Shock from my 2008 Program: Very NICE Enzo stuff. A Piston, VP Pro-6, A Re-Programmed Ign, Yosh pipe, DT Air-Filters, Holeshot Device, Galfer Rotors and Pads (Tsunami 270), Chain/Sprkts, Grphcs, MX71s/51s, Renthal Bars/Grips and that's about it.

Ryan: VP Pro-6, Realved Suspension, Chain-Sprkts, Pro-Circuit Chain-Guide, Bars/Grips, MX71's, Leo Vince Pipe, Grphcs, Hole-Shot device.

Westin is a well built motor, Showa Suspension via Showa folks, PC Chain-Guide, FMF Pipe(I Think?)...and plenty of goodies from the after-market.

But, they are ALL store-bought bikes that ANYONE can build.

As for Howell's Suspension...you can get revalved Enzo that will be functionally the same.
toofast413
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toofast413 3/6/2012 11:33am
3/6/2012 11:33am
I agree with you 100% 2012 kaw is the best bike foe privateers
urbanlift707
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urbanlift707 3/6/2012 12:23pm
3/6/2012 12:23pm
TeamGreen wrote:
The '12 KX450 is the best bike out of the box. Period. Watching guys like Westin Peick, Ryan Clark and Austin Howell race VERY stock-based bikes...
The '12 KX450 is the best bike out of the box.

Period.

Watching guys like Westin Peick, Ryan Clark and Austin Howell race VERY stock-based bikes is pretty damn convincing...
Haha says the guy with "Team Green" as a user name. I just bought a brand new 12 kx450f, Bike feels awesome but that's a bold statement and way to broad. It could turn better and loose about 14 pounds. My Honda 450 can turn circles around this bike and feels like a 250f, unfortunately the motor also feels like a 250f. But the Honda also lacks the stability of the Kawi. Really depends on what you are looking for as a rider to determine what the "best bike" is
TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 3/6/2012 12:32pm
3/6/2012 12:32pm
TeamGreen wrote:
The '12 KX450 is the best bike out of the box. Period. Watching guys like Westin Peick, Ryan Clark and Austin Howell race VERY stock-based bikes...
The '12 KX450 is the best bike out of the box.

Period.

Watching guys like Westin Peick, Ryan Clark and Austin Howell race VERY stock-based bikes is pretty damn convincing...
urbanlift707 wrote:
Haha says the guy with "Team Green" as a user name. I just bought a brand new 12 kx450f, Bike feels awesome but that's a bold...
Haha says the guy with "Team Green" as a user name. I just bought a brand new 12 kx450f, Bike feels awesome but that's a bold statement and way to broad. It could turn better and loose about 14 pounds. My Honda 450 can turn circles around this bike and feels like a 250f, unfortunately the motor also feels like a 250f. But the Honda also lacks the stability of the Kawi. Really depends on what you are looking for as a rider to determine what the "best bike" is
If you compare a 12 K to a 12 H you'll have to give the Honda much more prop's; however, it still we be a lot more work to make the K's power or the "Outdoor" set-up work as well as the K's. The Kawi engine is fast and VERY CHEAP to make a helluva a lot faster (Piston, Fuel, Map, Pipe).

The Honda's still a cutch night-mare, too.

I think the Honda IS the "BEST SX 450"...

The Kawi? "Best all-around 450".

And, I reserve the right to change my opinion after I spend about 20 hours figuring out the 450FE Katoom...or...the KTM300XC for that matter...yes, I said it...

KTM...

...and...300...aka..."Smoker"!
Ing
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Ing 3/6/2012 12:51pm
3/6/2012 12:51pm
I'd have to say the KTM is the bike of the year.

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