Let's see/review those 2019 kx450s

MDana87 wrote:

Picked up a new ‘19 a week ago. Read thru all 62 pages of this thread (whew ?) and thought I’d contribute a little since there...

Picked up a new ‘19 a week ago. Read thru all 62 pages of this thread (whew ?) and thought I’d contribute a little since there is so much good info in here.

Disassemble & re-grease everything! Pic’s attaches of my steering head bearings. All of my swingarm and linkage bearings had even less grease in them. Dry pivot bearings could be contributing to the problems reported earlier in this thread with regard to setting sag. ?




Also, drain and refill the fork oil. Manual says 310ml is the stock spring chamber amount. My LH was about 225 and my RH was about 280 (see pics). Both were drained using the same process.




I wish I had the time to go through more of the bike, but off to a race this weekend. Still, my issues are inline with what was noted in this thread. Sounds like the engines & shocks have been good. Hopefully that continues. I’m thinking these issues are final assembly line defects and I’d imagine the engine is completed off a different line, same with the shock. Perhaps final assembly oiled the forks too. I could see Showa supplying the forks oil-less.

Anyway, thanks for all the info in here. Maybe one of the better (helpful) Vital threads of all time!?!?!?

lumpy790 wrote:

Get rid of the stock fish oil in both the forks and shock after breaking the bike in.

Should be done on every model.

MDana87 wrote:

Picked up a new ‘19 a week ago. Read thru all 62 pages of this thread (whew ?) and thought I’d contribute a little since there...

Picked up a new ‘19 a week ago. Read thru all 62 pages of this thread (whew ?) and thought I’d contribute a little since there is so much good info in here.

Disassemble & re-grease everything! Pic’s attaches of my steering head bearings. All of my swingarm and linkage bearings had even less grease in them. Dry pivot bearings could be contributing to the problems reported earlier in this thread with regard to setting sag. ?




Also, drain and refill the fork oil. Manual says 310ml is the stock spring chamber amount. My LH was about 225 and my RH was about 280 (see pics). Both were drained using the same process.




I wish I had the time to go through more of the bike, but off to a race this weekend. Still, my issues are inline with what was noted in this thread. Sounds like the engines & shocks have been good. Hopefully that continues. I’m thinking these issues are final assembly line defects and I’d imagine the engine is completed off a different line, same with the shock. Perhaps final assembly oiled the forks too. I could see Showa supplying the forks oil-less.

Anyway, thanks for all the info in here. Maybe one of the better (helpful) Vital threads of all time!?!?!?

lumpy790 wrote:

Get rid of the stock fish oil in both the forks and shock after breaking the bike in.

Should be done on every model.

dmm698 wrote:

The “fish “ oil you speak of is a new super spendy showa blend oil....

seth419 wrote:

Has anyone noticed either their brake fluid reservoir or clutch reservoir weeping at the top cap? I tried new bars and hated them and switched back...

Has anyone noticed either their brake fluid reservoir or clutch reservoir weeping at the top cap? I tried new bars and hated them and switched back between motos so both levers were hanging off for a few minutes and they were visibly leaking. Bolts were tight on both and then noticed more weeping when I was cleaning my bike. I figured the reservoirs would need to have a good seal on them but maybe its just from letting them hang?

jeffs wrote:

Mine are doing the same thing. Almost every time I ride I notice a little bit of weeping.

seth419 wrote:

Maybe its something in the air around here?? Im planning on riding on Saturday (and not messing with bars) and will keep an eye on them...

Maybe its something in the air around here?? Im planning on riding on Saturday (and not messing with bars) and will keep an eye on them and report back. Could it be a bad casting batch we got on the central coast?

jeffs wrote:

Here’s what my rear brake is doing. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2019/05/17/348169/s1200_7F7ED3FE_F300_48A2_A85A_155659A042E0.jpg[/img]

Here’s what my rear brake is doing.

jeffs wrote:

Here’s what my rear brake is doing. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2019/05/17/348169/s1200_7F7ED3FE_F300_48A2_A85A_155659A042E0.jpg[/img]

Here’s what my rear brake is doing.

SLAPAHO wrote:

have you taken that cover off? bolts look like they've been removed, looks like the diaphragm is maybe not seated correctly?

jeffs wrote:

I thought that might be the problem and I removed the cover and the diaphragm is seated correctly.

lumpy790 wrote:

Get rid of the stock fish oil in both the forks and shock after breaking the bike in.

Should be done on every model.

dmm698 wrote:

The “fish “ oil you speak of is a new super spendy showa blend oil....

lawson34 wrote:

Yup.. heard it's best on the market and not cheap at all

lawson34 wrote:

A lot of guys grease everything as soon as they got it home, I would ride on the stock fork oil until break in

SLAPAHO wrote:

finally getting rid of the bazooka. i had the Yosh a couple months ago, but i swear it was bigger than the stocker. i sent it...

finally getting rid of the bazooka. i had the Yosh a couple months ago, but i swear it was bigger than the stocker. i sent it back. ended up going with the fmf instead. are you guys remapping for your exhaust? think i'm just going to run it as is...

datkin128 wrote:

Are u noticing any performance/sound differences or just going for pure aesthetic?

FortyHat wrote:

I have the same system, and have only run the stock map. While I liked how the low end smoothed out a bit, I felt like...

I have the same system, and have only run the stock map. While I liked how the low end smoothed out a bit, I felt like it lost a little too much low end / liveliness compared to the stock exhaust. I tried it without the insert in the muffler first, and the difference was very dramatic, and it also lost a lot of engine braking, to the point where I was blowing through ruts/turns. SUPER loud too. I put the insert in and some of the low end came back, along with engine braking, and obviously the sound came down a bit. I still missed the low end from the stock exhaust, because I got used to being able to lug the motor a bit, or short shift out of a turn and just pull my way up to bigger jumps without needing to click into 3rd close to the face.

So, I decided to try the other/newer FMF header, the SX-style one, which has a low-boy shape closer to the stock header. It just showed up today and I got it installed. I won't be able to try it until next weekend though. Whichever header I like least, I'll sell. I'll post back here some feedback on it after I get a chance to ride it.

jeffs wrote:

Here’s what my rear brake is doing. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2019/05/17/348169/s1200_7F7ED3FE_F300_48A2_A85A_155659A042E0.jpg[/img]

Here’s what my rear brake is doing.

SLAPAHO wrote:

have you taken that cover off? bolts look like they've been removed, looks like the diaphragm is maybe not seated correctly?

jeffs wrote:

I thought that might be the problem and I removed the cover and the diaphragm is seated correctly.

lawson34 wrote:

A lot of guys grease everything as soon as they got it home, I would ride on the stock fork oil until break in

FortyHat wrote:

I didn't touch a thing until the bike was broken in. Raced with stock fork oil twice too. Leaky left fork seal and bottoming issues forced...

I didn't touch a thing until the bike was broken in. Raced with stock fork oil twice too. Leaky left fork seal and bottoming issues forced me to change the oil no matter what though.

And like everyone has said, there was almost no grease anywhere. Swingarm pivot had the most.

mxb2 wrote:

Pro carbon on my fmf,. Looks clean, saves the pants and boots

Titan777 wrote:

Can you upload some pics? Thanks man!

lawson34 wrote:

A lot of guys grease everything as soon as they got it home, I would ride on the stock fork oil until break in

FortyHat wrote:

I didn't touch a thing until the bike was broken in. Raced with stock fork oil twice too. Leaky left fork seal and bottoming issues forced...

I didn't touch a thing until the bike was broken in. Raced with stock fork oil twice too. Leaky left fork seal and bottoming issues forced me to change the oil no matter what though.

And like everyone has said, there was almost no grease anywhere. Swingarm pivot had the most.

lawson34 wrote:

What did u do for the bottoming? Was it low on fluid?

FortyHat wrote:

So I finally got to try the new header (FMF Megabomb SX version) today, and I dig it. It's more like the stock header, stronger low...

So I finally got to try the new header (FMF Megabomb SX version) today, and I dig it. It's more like the stock header, stronger low end, and whatever I lose on top I can just lug the next gear. Which is actually how I like riding a 450 coming off of a screaming YZ250 and YZ125. Long story short, if you like the power on the stock header, don't buy anything to replace it unless you just want to make your bike lighter or look cooler. I'm in that group of idiots, but not everyone is.

I'm selling my other Megabomb on fleabay.

Moto520 wrote:

Any of you use the Xtrig Rocs handlebar holders woth the stock triple clamps? Kawasaki always has a little more flex on the handlebar holders than...

Any of you use the Xtrig Rocs handlebar holders woth the stock triple clamps? Kawasaki always has a little more flex on the handlebar holders than i want. Anyone use this setup?

Moto520 wrote:

Any of you use the Xtrig Rocs handlebar holders woth the stock triple clamps? Kawasaki always has a little more flex on the handlebar holders than...

Any of you use the Xtrig Rocs handlebar holders woth the stock triple clamps? Kawasaki always has a little more flex on the handlebar holders than i want. Anyone use this setup?

jeffs wrote:

I thought that might be the problem and I removed the cover and the diaphragm is seated correctly.

SLAPAHO wrote:

nothing some silicone sealer can't fix... but seems strange that would happen without ever removing the cover before the leak started... now i gotta go check...

nothing some silicone sealer can't fix... but seems strange that would happen without ever removing the cover before the leak started...
now i gotta go check mine lol

jeffs wrote:

I thought that might be the problem and I removed the cover and the diaphragm is seated correctly.

SLAPAHO wrote:

nothing some silicone sealer can't fix... but seems strange that would happen without ever removing the cover before the leak started... now i gotta go check...

nothing some silicone sealer can't fix... but seems strange that would happen without ever removing the cover before the leak started...
now i gotta go check mine lol

jeffs wrote:

That did the trick. I applied a small amount of grease to the diaphragm rim and no more leaking.

DB97 wrote:

So I got my first real ride yesterday with the new xtrig clamps and the engine mounts. I noticed the Xtrigs turn farther then the stock...

So I got my first real ride yesterday with the new xtrig clamps and the engine mounts. I noticed the Xtrigs turn farther then the stock clamps it was hitting my hour meter when the stock did not. I tried the 10mm risers and took them off quickly it was to high. I put the bar mounts in the middle hole like I used to do on the 16 and it was better for me. It's hard to tell if it's the clamps or the engine mounts but now the bike wants to turn even better which is crazy lol. I've been checking the static sag on the shock and even if I change springs it's at 54 so I'm lost. the stock is 5.5 and I put my 5.2 on still the same. The 5.2 felt good though so I guess it doesn't matter. The motostuff caliper is sick as well. It has a softer feel but it's super progressive you can really get on it allowing great feel.

lawson34 wrote:

Rode for about a hour yesterday and after clean up the pipe stayed the same [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2019/05/19/348568/s1200_20190518_202213.jpg[/img]

Rode for about a hour yesterday and after clean up the pipe stayed the same

lawson34 wrote:

Rear caliper?

Garrett314 wrote:

Finishing up the graphics on mine (not completely done). Completely greased up, going to change the fork oil in 5-10 hours. Waiting on on pc ti-6...

Finishing up the graphics on mine (not completely done). Completely greased up, going to change the fork oil in 5-10 hours. Waiting on on pc ti-6 to come in.