Who is a reputable KX450F cyl head porter....?

WileCyot
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WileCyot
Edited Date/Time 3/23/2016 11:24am
About to tear down my 2014 KX450F for a full rebuild. I figure while I'm in there I may as well have the head ported, drop in a high comp piston, perhaps a Web grind cam or Pro Circuit, have the head ported and new titanium valves with a 5 angle valve job. Once new seats are installed it makes sense to have it ported and then the seats cut.

Anyway, back to my initial question, who do the top guys go to? I'm not looking to make a blistering fast 70hp supercross bike but want to reduce restriction in the head as much as possible.
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Riesenberg448 3/17/2016 7:20am
3/17/2016 7:20am
(pre-warning you, I am extremely biased, so please put on your best infomercial voice and read out loud, haha.)

Did you know Race Tech has an engine department offering machining services to quite a few reputable engine builders and that you can also go straight to RT for your porting/valve job/other machining services?

Did you also know that VitalMX forum members receive a discount from Race Tech on parts and labor?

(remember, stay in character with your infomorcial voice)

And that isn't all folks, Race Tech's work is 100% guaranteed to exceed even your highest expectations and comes complete with dyno and flow bench data!

(---end infomercial man---)

Haha, sorry, it is early and for some reason I had the itch to do that. In all seriousness, I would love for you to choose RT, you can check out some info here on the Engine Services page of the website, and if you hop over to the @racetechinc instagram you'll see a good bit of our work. I deal with the dealers/riders to get feedback after the sale and the feedback has been top notch. The work is done with the best equipment in the industry by technicians with a ton of experience and we provide the tightest tolerances you'll find in the motorcycle industry.

Shoot me an email to chris@racetech.com if you want more info or to get setup with pricing with the VitalMX discount or feel free to call the shop and talk to Andrew who runs the engine services department with any questions. And thank you if you read this far after my infomercial stunt!

mjr119 3/18/2016 11:39am
3/18/2016 11:39am
TLR in Florida. He builds lots of Privateer bikes.
MxKing809
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MxKing809 3/19/2016 3:07pm
3/19/2016 3:07pm
I've heard that Mitch dude is pretty good with Kawi's
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WileCyot
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WileCyot 3/20/2016 8:56pm
3/20/2016 8:56pm
I'll reach out to Racetech tomorrow. Not sold yet but interested.
ianhendry46
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ianhendry46 3/21/2016 5:05am
3/21/2016 5:05am
IMO, a good company like Race Tech or TLR. Also, Proven moto builds great motors that a lot of teams run. There are tons of options. I have found that working with a smaller motor builder instead of a big company like pro circuit, you get better results. pro circuit more or less uses cookie cutter port specs. So if you and a buddy both sent them a head, chances are y'all would both get back the same thing.
MxKing809
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MxKing809 3/21/2016 8:00am
3/21/2016 8:00am
ianhendry46 wrote:
IMO, a good company like Race Tech or TLR. Also, Proven moto builds great motors that a lot of teams run. There are tons of options...
IMO, a good company like Race Tech or TLR. Also, Proven moto builds great motors that a lot of teams run. There are tons of options. I have found that working with a smaller motor builder instead of a big company like pro circuit, you get better results. pro circuit more or less uses cookie cutter port specs. So if you and a buddy both sent them a head, chances are y'all would both get back the same thing.
And that's a bad thing? I'm guessing their cookie cutter porting has a lot of R&D and dyno time to support it. On the other hand, smaller guys don't have the volume to try 300 different profiles....
mjr119 3/21/2016 9:07am
3/21/2016 9:07am
I vote again for TLR. Not just for performance but reliability! Todd keeps that factor in mind.
WileCyot
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WileCyot 3/21/2016 9:13am
3/21/2016 9:13am
mjr119 wrote:
I vote again for TLR. Not just for performance but reliability! Todd keeps that factor in mind.
A ported head isn't going to degrade reliability.... smh.... the ecu calibration and compression ratio will affect the reliability. Better air flow will make the engine breath easier. A ported head and mild tune will yield a rock solid reliable engine but an aggressive tune will trade reliability for power. Im not an idiot when it comes to making power. I just don't have the tools nor time to port this head.
mjr119 3/21/2016 11:33am
3/21/2016 11:33am
mjr119 wrote:
I vote again for TLR. Not just for performance but reliability! Todd keeps that factor in mind.
WileCyot wrote:
A ported head isn't going to degrade reliability.... smh.... the ecu calibration and compression ratio will affect the reliability. Better air flow will make the engine...
A ported head isn't going to degrade reliability.... smh.... the ecu calibration and compression ratio will affect the reliability. Better air flow will make the engine breath easier. A ported head and mild tune will yield a rock solid reliable engine but an aggressive tune will trade reliability for power. Im not an idiot when it comes to making power. I just don't have the tools nor time to port this head.
You're right but he can give you advice on cams and valves for a good set up. I don't know who is tuning your stuff, but I would just send the engine to TLR. Or if you are building it yourself, send the head and purchase his cams and valves that he has made for his specific applications.

I wouldn't create a smorgesboard of parts and then send it off to someone to get dyno tuned. You may see unexpected results. Maybe not. All I am saying is my set up from TLR has been great! I have TLR cams, valves, OEM piston, TLR tuned ecu and porting.

mjr119 3/21/2016 11:36am
3/21/2016 11:36am
But like you said, you don't need a monster. Just do whatever you want then, not like any of us could ride a 450 to even 1/2 it's full potential.
ianhendry46
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ianhendry46 3/21/2016 12:14pm
3/21/2016 12:14pm
ianhendry46 wrote:
IMO, a good company like Race Tech or TLR. Also, Proven moto builds great motors that a lot of teams run. There are tons of options...
IMO, a good company like Race Tech or TLR. Also, Proven moto builds great motors that a lot of teams run. There are tons of options. I have found that working with a smaller motor builder instead of a big company like pro circuit, you get better results. pro circuit more or less uses cookie cutter port specs. So if you and a buddy both sent them a head, chances are y'all would both get back the same thing.
MxKing809 wrote:
And that's a bad thing? I'm guessing their cookie cutter porting has a lot of R&D and dyno time to support it. On the other hand...
And that's a bad thing? I'm guessing their cookie cutter porting has a lot of R&D and dyno time to support it. On the other hand, smaller guys don't have the volume to try 300 different profiles....
I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but with a smaller company, especially one like TLR that knows his stuff, he will be able to move the power around to your liking and would be a little more willing to work with you personally.
Ghostrider145 3/22/2016 8:53am
3/22/2016 8:53am
Lots of great options out there. I'm sure Race Tech is on par with most. I just remember they attempted motor stuff in the 90's. Seemed to move away from that @ some point. The fact that they have offered services and to make you a believer in them on a public forum is cool.
Other Options:
-E10 Mods
-Proven Moto
-TLR
-Tom Morgan Racing

Just to name a few. Good luck!

Ghost
slipdog
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slipdog 3/22/2016 9:58am
3/22/2016 9:58am
Ghostrider145 wrote:
Lots of great options out there. I'm sure Race Tech is on par with most. I just remember they attempted motor stuff in the 90's. Seemed...
Lots of great options out there. I'm sure Race Tech is on par with most. I just remember they attempted motor stuff in the 90's. Seemed to move away from that @ some point. The fact that they have offered services and to make you a believer in them on a public forum is cool.
Other Options:
-E10 Mods
-Proven Moto
-TLR
-Tom Morgan Racing

Just to name a few. Good luck!

Ghost
I'm pretty sure in the '90's their "motor work" was just sub'd out to Varner who's shop was in the same complex at the time. My guess would be that that ended when FMF hired Varner to work in house for their motor department in the later '90's.

I really don't know for sure, but I think Race Tech has all of their own equipment and do the work in house now.
SmoothOperator 3/22/2016 4:50pm
3/22/2016 4:50pm
Just out of pure curiosity, what are these shops charging for cylinder head work?
MxKing809
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MxKing809 3/22/2016 5:41pm
3/22/2016 5:41pm
Chad Watts wanted 750+ to do my CR250.....
rocketsocks26 3/22/2016 6:42pm
3/22/2016 6:42pm
Tlr, chad watts, dh1, jbonemotorworks, provenmoto, im not big on the big aftermarket shops like pc maybe its better if your local but they did a horrible job on a yz250 i had done
SmoothOperator 3/22/2016 8:20pm
3/22/2016 8:20pm
Just looked up some engine building prices. I need to convince the old man to dust off the cobwebs in the machine shop and hook some of you knuckleheads up. He's retired and needs something to do hahaha. We use to build some nasty unlimited kart and speedway motors in that shop. Big valve conversions, multi angle seats. welded and reworked heads, welded and reground cams. He's set up to do it all.

Pit Row

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WileCyot
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WileCyot 3/22/2016 8:28pm
3/22/2016 8:28pm
Would he want to sell off his equipment?
SmoothOperator 3/22/2016 8:38pm
3/22/2016 8:38pm Edited Date/Time 3/22/2016 8:39pm
WileCyot wrote:
Would he want to sell off his equipment?
Probably not. He's your typical old school gearhead / packrat. Its hard for him to get rid of anything.
He "might use it someday".
WileCyot
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WileCyot 3/22/2016 8:42pm
3/22/2016 8:42pm
WileCyot wrote:
Would he want to sell off his equipment?
SmoothOperator wrote:
Probably not. He's your typical old school gearhead / packrat. Its hard for him to get rid of anything.
He "might use it someday".
Everyone has his price Smile
jsmx97
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jsmx97 3/23/2016 11:01am
3/23/2016 11:01am
DASA Racing was doing the cylinder heads for TwoTwo Motorsports, and in the past for Yamaha of troy and other teams...so probably a good option there. There a lot of good grinders out there, you probably won't be disappointed by any of the big names.
SmoothOperator 3/23/2016 11:24am
3/23/2016 11:24am
jsmx97 wrote:
DASA Racing was doing the cylinder heads for TwoTwo Motorsports, and in the past for Yamaha of troy and other teams...so probably a good option there...
DASA Racing was doing the cylinder heads for TwoTwo Motorsports, and in the past for Yamaha of troy and other teams...so probably a good option there. There a lot of good grinders out there, you probably won't be disappointed by any of the big names.
Dasa does killer work.

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