2013 KX450f air forks?

shredder23 10/17/2012 11:50am
10/17/2012 11:50am
thanks everyone for the responses Smile
Mx_Pain
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Mx_Pain 10/17/2012 1:17pm
10/17/2012 1:17pm
5 hours on my KX450F with the new PSF forks..suddenly the bike felt low and weird in the front,
pulled in and i had about 8 inches clearence to my front fender.

Offcourse i did not bring the adapter for air filling too the track  
Got back home and checked the pressure, i had 8 psi in the right leg and 35psi (stock) in the left.

I could see a little leak of oil on the right. Filled it back up to 35.

Next day at the track i ran 10 minutes before the front sunk again.. worst thing is that when it starts leaking u also get air under the oil inside the leg also and creates a vacuum or something because the fork get stucked in a low posistion.

Guess the trick is too cleen ur fork legs between each moto and buy forksocks or get the old springs back

Worst part with this new PSF is that with a minor leak on the convectional spring forks u could still ride thru the day and have a good time. With PSF u can call it a day immediately  Sad

@ Thumpertalk there is stories that the same goes for the new CRF.
manering
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manering 10/17/2012 1:39pm
10/17/2012 1:39pm
spring conversion kits anyone
Adam43
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Adam43 10/17/2012 1:42pm
10/17/2012 1:42pm
What a piece of shit.

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bayodome
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bayodome 10/17/2012 1:52pm
10/17/2012 1:52pm
IceMan446 wrote:
Do the new Suzuki's run the same fork setup?
Nope. RM-Z's run the Showa SFF (Separate Function Fork), basically the same as the KX250F. One leg handles all of the compression, while the other handles all of the rebound, all with traditional style springs and oil...no air.
BigMX
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BigMX 10/17/2012 2:45pm
10/17/2012 2:45pm
IceMan446 wrote:
Do the new Suzuki's run the same fork setup?
bayodome wrote:
Nope. RM-Z's run the Showa SFF (Separate Function Fork), basically the same as the KX250F. One leg handles all of the compression, while the other handles...
Nope. RM-Z's run the Showa SFF (Separate Function Fork), basically the same as the KX250F. One leg handles all of the compression, while the other handles all of the rebound, all with traditional style springs and oil...no air.
Close. One leg handles the spring and one leg handles the damping= compression and rebound.
newmann
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newmann 10/17/2012 3:23pm
10/17/2012 3:23pm
IceMan446 wrote:
Do the new Suzuki's run the same fork setup?
bayodome wrote:
Nope. RM-Z's run the Showa SFF (Separate Function Fork), basically the same as the KX250F. One leg handles all of the compression, while the other handles...
Nope. RM-Z's run the Showa SFF (Separate Function Fork), basically the same as the KX250F. One leg handles all of the compression, while the other handles all of the rebound, all with traditional style springs and oil...no air.
I think you just described Marzocchi forks from the 90's.Smile
MX558
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MX558 10/17/2012 4:59pm
10/17/2012 4:59pm
I for one will not be buying a 13 with air forks anytime soon after hearing all the horror stories. That shit happens on the face of a jump and it's lights out.
mx317
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mx317 10/17/2012 6:30pm
10/17/2012 6:30pm
I have 8 hours on my 2013 KX450F with no problems. I check them at the beginning of each days ride using the recommended pump. Like anything mechanical there will be some that can tear up anything. One of the pictures shown has the clip blown out which makes me wonder if people are sticking the air hose from a compressor with 120 psi and screwing them up. These forks have an awesome feel and work better than any fork I've used.
Deetsmx
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Deetsmx 10/17/2012 8:19pm
10/17/2012 8:19pm
Imagine the ****storm if these forks were on a ktm.
newmann
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newmann 10/17/2012 9:24pm
10/17/2012 9:24pm
Deetsmx wrote:
Imagine the ****storm if these forks were on a ktm.
Funny you mention that. About 10-11 years ago MXA tested Georges Jobe's air suspension system on a KTM. The forks were converted and the shock replaced with his shock. Took ten pounds off the bike and they said it actually worked pretty well. I spoke with Jobe at the YROC race at Glen Helen back in '02 about it for my 250F lightweight project. Great times, the list of champions there that weekend was deep.
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TerryK 10/17/2012 9:59pm
10/17/2012 9:59pm
Back in the late 70s I ran Fox Airshox on the rear and an air fork conversion on my CR250, and it was by far the plushest suspension I had ridden on to that date. These were forks that were not designed to be run with air, yet they were fairly reliable. Not sure what the issue is with these forks since they are designed without springs and should work fine. Rushed to production maybe?
hartebreak
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hartebreak 10/17/2012 10:11pm
10/17/2012 10:11pm
shredder23 wrote:
so i bought a 13 kawi 450 this summer, and the air forks have been working nicely as far as accessibility goes. but one thing I've...
so i bought a 13 kawi 450 this summer, and the air forks have been working nicely as far as accessibility goes. but one thing I've noticed is that i lose about 1 pound or more of air every time i ride, and both fork legs will sometimes have different amount of air pressure. my question is, is this normal? or can anyone lay some information on me that might be helpful? haven't quite figured these out yet. any help would be appreciated
Big wrote:
That is a lot. So you start with a 50 forkspring and then you get tired and loosing speed you end up with a 46 spring...
That is a lot. So you start with a 50 forkspring and then you get tired and loosing speed you end up with a 46 spring? That's genius! Kaw thinks ahed of the box? Or is it that you loose weight and dehydrate extremly much? Maybe 40 pound or so? Get a aftermarketfork asap or older on e-bay. Kawa has stepped on a soap this year.
nytsmaC wrote:
Overreact much?

Use nitrogen, it doesn't escape as easily as air does.
say what??? Why in gods name would nitrogen not escape as easily as air?
CR500Rider
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CR500Rider 10/17/2012 10:42pm
10/17/2012 10:42pm
IceMan446 wrote:
Do the new Suzuki's run the same fork setup?
bayodome wrote:
Nope. RM-Z's run the Showa SFF (Separate Function Fork), basically the same as the KX250F. One leg handles all of the compression, while the other handles...
Nope. RM-Z's run the Showa SFF (Separate Function Fork), basically the same as the KX250F. One leg handles all of the compression, while the other handles all of the rebound, all with traditional style springs and oil...no air.
newmann wrote:
I think you just described Marzocchi forks from the 90's.Smile
And the WP forks on my 99' KTM 250SX.
BAMX
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BAMX 10/18/2012 7:06am
10/18/2012 7:06am Edited Date/Time 10/18/2012 7:07am
Does anyone know if this is the outer seal leaking or an inner which is causing the front end to drop? If it is the outer, I want to innvest in seal saver or whatever the companies name that makes the beer coozies for your forks. With the amount of times I get weeping seals from the dirt at tracks like Glen Helen or Pala, I can't imagine that they wont be a must have.


Better yet, maybe they will have to bring back fork boots.
nytsmaC
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nytsmaC 10/18/2012 7:55am
10/18/2012 7:55am
bayodome wrote:
Nope. RM-Z's run the Showa SFF (Separate Function Fork), basically the same as the KX250F. One leg handles all of the compression, while the other handles...
Nope. RM-Z's run the Showa SFF (Separate Function Fork), basically the same as the KX250F. One leg handles all of the compression, while the other handles all of the rebound, all with traditional style springs and oil...no air.
newmann wrote:
I think you just described Marzocchi forks from the 90's.Smile
CR500Rider wrote:
And the WP forks on my 99' KTM 250SX.
I read somewhere that it is one of the benefits of using nitrogen in your car tires. I not familiar with the molecular structures but I read this on the internets so it must be true.
newmann
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newmann 10/18/2012 8:26am
10/18/2012 8:26am
newmann wrote:
I think you just described Marzocchi forks from the 90's.Smile
CR500Rider wrote:
And the WP forks on my 99' KTM 250SX.
nytsmaC wrote:
I read somewhere that it is one of the benefits of using nitrogen in your car tires. I not familiar with the molecular structures but I...
I read somewhere that it is one of the benefits of using nitrogen in your car tires. I not familiar with the molecular structures but I read this on the internets so it must be true.
The tire store can't get away with charging you for air, but they can charge you for nitrogen.....

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Big
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Big 10/18/2012 8:32am
10/18/2012 8:32am
CR500Rider wrote:
And the WP forks on my 99' KTM 250SX.
nytsmaC wrote:
I read somewhere that it is one of the benefits of using nitrogen in your car tires. I not familiar with the molecular structures but I...
I read somewhere that it is one of the benefits of using nitrogen in your car tires. I not familiar with the molecular structures but I read this on the internets so it must be true.
newmann wrote:
The tire store can't get away with charging you for air, but they can charge you for nitrogen.....
And rear shock where it gets hot for real.
motodriller
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motodriller 10/18/2012 9:19am
10/18/2012 9:19am
Pssssssssssssssst is that air I hear leaking. When I first heard about these forks I thouht they were joking. It sounds sketchy. But maybe it will workout. Hope so,
Deetsmx
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Deetsmx 10/18/2012 9:28am
10/18/2012 9:28am
newmann wrote:
Funny you mention that. About 10-11 years ago MXA tested Georges Jobe's air suspension system on a KTM. The forks were converted and the shock replaced...
Funny you mention that. About 10-11 years ago MXA tested Georges Jobe's air suspension system on a KTM. The forks were converted and the shock replaced with his shock. Took ten pounds off the bike and they said it actually worked pretty well. I spoke with Jobe at the YROC race at Glen Helen back in '02 about it for my 250F lightweight project. Great times, the list of champions there that weekend was deep.
I remember reading that test and the positive reviews. Figured we'd be seeing airforks sooner than we have after reading that. That reminds me, my brother used to have a whole Jobe outfit from one of his last years, wonder where that went.
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Racerx930 10/18/2012 9:44am
10/18/2012 9:44am
I'm not the type of guy to say anything about Hondas but I have a buddy whose 13 forks collapsed on the first ride.
bh84
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bh84 10/18/2012 10:39am
10/18/2012 10:39am
I used to run the Fox Float setup on my ATV, ended up liking spring shocks better for cornering. WHen you check the pressure in them you always lose a few pounds with the air hose and the gauge, keep that in mind when you check them. obviously it seems that there are bigger issues here with the bike. sucks now that we have on sitting in our showroom and im hearing about all these problems. we only sell a couple 450s a year and this year we though the Kawi would be the one to go with. hopefully they do a recall. If it happens to you please contact your local dealer and have them get in touch with Kawasaki, thats the only way they'll resolve the issue. They have to know that customers arent satisfied or they wont change anything,I'll see if i can get in touch with my district rep and ask him about it
DrSweden
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DrSweden 10/18/2012 11:17am
10/18/2012 11:17am Edited Date/Time 10/18/2012 11:18am
Maybe they will figure these out? Seems few or none will be mounted at A1? At least on the factory bikes? If they do appear, one could suggest they have figured them out?

But just based on these few examples, I would hesitate mounting a pair on RVs bike. Imagine have a DNF, or injury based on a puncture? Why even consider it at this point?
BigMX
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BigMX 10/18/2012 11:57am
10/18/2012 11:57am
bh84 wrote:
I used to run the Fox Float setup on my ATV, ended up liking spring shocks better for cornering. WHen you check the pressure in them...
I used to run the Fox Float setup on my ATV, ended up liking spring shocks better for cornering. WHen you check the pressure in them you always lose a few pounds with the air hose and the gauge, keep that in mind when you check them. obviously it seems that there are bigger issues here with the bike. sucks now that we have on sitting in our showroom and im hearing about all these problems. we only sell a couple 450s a year and this year we though the Kawi would be the one to go with. hopefully they do a recall. If it happens to you please contact your local dealer and have them get in touch with Kawasaki, thats the only way they'll resolve the issue. They have to know that customers arent satisfied or they wont change anything,I'll see if i can get in touch with my district rep and ask him about it
If you use the pump with integral gage that kawi sells, you will not lose any air when connect or disconnect the pump. It has a valve specifically designed to avoid losing air. Perhaps some people are not using the proper equipment to fill/check their forks. I think perhaps it's a little early to be talking about recalls. I haven't heard of any of the magazines having problems, so maybe these are cases of operator error. Should KTM start recalling two strokes if a couple people run straight gas and blow them up?
Big
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Big 10/18/2012 12:10pm
10/18/2012 12:10pm
BigMX wrote:
If you use the pump with integral gage that kawi sells, you will not lose any air when connect or disconnect the pump. It has a...
If you use the pump with integral gage that kawi sells, you will not lose any air when connect or disconnect the pump. It has a valve specifically designed to avoid losing air. Perhaps some people are not using the proper equipment to fill/check their forks. I think perhaps it's a little early to be talking about recalls. I haven't heard of any of the magazines having problems, so maybe these are cases of operator error. Should KTM start recalling two strokes if a couple people run straight gas and blow them up?
Are they difficult to maintain? I mean can you really do something so wrong when filling air with a handpump? Just wondering waiting for -13 Hondas and probaly same issues?
BigMX
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BigMX 10/18/2012 12:29pm
10/18/2012 12:29pm
BigMX wrote:
If you use the pump with integral gage that kawi sells, you will not lose any air when connect or disconnect the pump. It has a...
If you use the pump with integral gage that kawi sells, you will not lose any air when connect or disconnect the pump. It has a valve specifically designed to avoid losing air. Perhaps some people are not using the proper equipment to fill/check their forks. I think perhaps it's a little early to be talking about recalls. I haven't heard of any of the magazines having problems, so maybe these are cases of operator error. Should KTM start recalling two strokes if a couple people run straight gas and blow them up?
Big wrote:
Are they difficult to maintain? I mean can you really do something so wrong when filling air with a handpump? Just wondering waiting for -13 Hondas...
Are they difficult to maintain? I mean can you really do something so wrong when filling air with a handpump? Just wondering waiting for -13 Hondas and probaly same issues?
Well, as someone else suggested, maybe they are not using the $50 pump ($40 on Ebay) that Kawi sells. The specific pump is pretty small and does not move very much air. I used it to air up my front tire 2 psi and it took probably over 100 pumps and was a huge PITA. This pump is tiny and the stroke is about 3" I am guessing. I usually pump it 2-3 strokes to add a couple PSI in one side. My point is that the proper pump is very precise and the volume of air involved is very small. I could see a problem if you tried to use a regular size pump or even compressed air. I am simply speaking from personal experience: I love these forks and have had zero issues. If I put 39 psi in them and it's 80 degrees, I can check them a week later and if it's 80 degrees they will both be exactly 39 psi. That being said, I still check them at least once a day. They may build 1-2 PSI as the day gets hotter so I have learned to start with 1 PSI less than desired and it seems to work well over the course of an entire day. Another potential issue is not checking the air after taking delivery from the dealer. My forks had 30 psi in one side and 20 psi in the other from the dealer. If I had just jumped on it and started hitting big jumps, I could see that being a problem.
manering
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manering 10/18/2012 12:50pm
10/18/2012 12:50pm
BigMX wrote:
If you use the pump with integral gage that kawi sells, you will not lose any air when connect or disconnect the pump. It has a...
If you use the pump with integral gage that kawi sells, you will not lose any air when connect or disconnect the pump. It has a valve specifically designed to avoid losing air. Perhaps some people are not using the proper equipment to fill/check their forks. I think perhaps it's a little early to be talking about recalls. I haven't heard of any of the magazines having problems, so maybe these are cases of operator error. Should KTM start recalling two strokes if a couple people run straight gas and blow them up?
Big wrote:
Are they difficult to maintain? I mean can you really do something so wrong when filling air with a handpump? Just wondering waiting for -13 Hondas...
Are they difficult to maintain? I mean can you really do something so wrong when filling air with a handpump? Just wondering waiting for -13 Hondas and probaly same issues?
i dont think maintenance is the issue, its just that if you ride in anything other than perfect weather conditions, and you get mud or sand under a seal you'll lose fork pressure and your ride is over.
they're going to have to totally redesign the sealing system of forks before air can be relied on to this degree. double seal system maybe (yikes stiction!!)
i'd like a 13 crf but i'll swap out my revalved 010 forks for the air ones.
dcg141
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dcg141 10/18/2012 1:04pm
10/18/2012 1:04pm Edited Date/Time 10/18/2012 1:52pm
Deetsmx wrote:
Imagine the ****storm if these forks were on a ktm.
Bingo...shit storm would not even cover it. KTM still has people freaking out over leaky fuel caps from 5 years ago.
watson
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watson 10/18/2012 1:06pm
10/18/2012 1:06pm
This was my first and only concern with air forks. Eager to hear about the Honda's but for now I'll gladly stick to changing my seals when they weep and the occasional fluid change/ revalve.

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