Let's see/review those 2019 kx450s

stax199 wrote:

Well finally got the 2020 450 on dirt. Have not ridden anything since my 17 kxf450 last november.. man this thing is fast! The noise in...

Well finally got the 2020 450 on dirt. Have not ridden anything since my 17 kxf450 last november.. man this thing is fast!
The noise in the finger follower is very noticeable. Im assuming that was the slight ticking I would hear...Brakes, clutch, suspension were all the best Ive had on a KX in while. I am a kawi rider forever so maybe the rear wasnt noticeable or im used to it but had no rear brake issue. I can feel the forks could be stiffened was riding a slow out of shape pace and they were good for that! I am every bit of 200 lbs and 6 ft but only got 1.2 hrs in before I was toast. So have to break in the springs a bit more, but I was not unhappy at all. I did have to grease the steering stem etc, it was bone dry and add bunch more grease to the linkage. Turned and cornered great, again unlike any kawi ive had and been on kawi since 04!! No more of that loose wash out feeling up front. Went to reach for the kickstarter twice then forgot I ever kicked a bike in the past! Any other info please share. Also goofed and got KYB fork protectors saw Elis bike when i was looking up decals.. so loosing sleep about that ahaha

datkin128 wrote:

Where did u ride? Excellent bike right? I have no problem with the rear brake btw...

stax199 wrote:

Well finally got the 2020 450 on dirt. Have not ridden anything since my 17 kxf450 last november.. man this thing is fast! The noise in...

Well finally got the 2020 450 on dirt. Have not ridden anything since my 17 kxf450 last november.. man this thing is fast!
The noise in the finger follower is very noticeable. Im assuming that was the slight ticking I would hear...Brakes, clutch, suspension were all the best Ive had on a KX in while. I am a kawi rider forever so maybe the rear wasnt noticeable or im used to it but had no rear brake issue. I can feel the forks could be stiffened was riding a slow out of shape pace and they were good for that! I am every bit of 200 lbs and 6 ft but only got 1.2 hrs in before I was toast. So have to break in the springs a bit more, but I was not unhappy at all. I did have to grease the steering stem etc, it was bone dry and add bunch more grease to the linkage. Turned and cornered great, again unlike any kawi ive had and been on kawi since 04!! No more of that loose wash out feeling up front. Went to reach for the kickstarter twice then forgot I ever kicked a bike in the past! Any other info please share. Also goofed and got KYB fork protectors saw Elis bike when i was looking up decals.. so loosing sleep about that ahaha

datkin128 wrote:

Where did u ride? Excellent bike right? I have no problem with the rear brake btw...

stax199 wrote:

Was able to get in some semi private ride time at the10th st MX club track. Im sure you can get a ride in.. the bike...

Was able to get in some semi private ride time at the10th st MX club track. Im sure you can get a ride in.. the bike is unreal!! im outta shape so couldnt give it hell but man i cant say anything bad and it was so nimble and electric feeling. Loved it!

mnomis484 wrote:

Any word on the 2021 model? Worth waiting for? My 19 is at 100 hours, will probably be around 140 once the new bikes are available...

Any word on the 2021 model? Worth waiting for?
My 19 is at 100 hours, will probably be around 140 once the new bikes are available and i do believe that i should do a full engine rebuild soon.... if the 2021 isnt that much different i might trade mine in for a leftover 19 or 20 now.

mnomis484 wrote:

Any word on the 2021 model? Worth waiting for? My 19 is at 100 hours, will probably be around 140 once the new bikes are available...

Any word on the 2021 model? Worth waiting for?
My 19 is at 100 hours, will probably be around 140 once the new bikes are available and i do believe that i should do a full engine rebuild soon.... if the 2021 isnt that much different i might trade mine in for a leftover 19 or 20 now.

mnomis484 wrote:

Any word on the 2021 model? Worth waiting for? My 19 is at 100 hours, will probably be around 140 once the new bikes are available...

Any word on the 2021 model? Worth waiting for?
My 19 is at 100 hours, will probably be around 140 once the new bikes are available and i do believe that i should do a full engine rebuild soon.... if the 2021 isnt that much different i might trade mine in for a leftover 19 or 20 now.

JohnnyD13 wrote:

I’m actually afraid of anything new coming out for this bike. I’m 38 with 3 young kids. Motocross is not safe, but i feel this bike...

I’m actually afraid of anything new coming out for this bike. I’m 38 with 3 young kids. Motocross is not safe, but i feel this bike is the safest bike made. Not the fastest, and I hate green. But it is more predictable then any bike I have ever ridden. I like a soft bike. So for some more aggressive faster guys, it probably needs to be stiffer, but man, the bike was made for a slow vet guy like me.

mnomis484 wrote:

Any word on the 2021 model? Worth waiting for? My 19 is at 100 hours, will probably be around 140 once the new bikes are available...

Any word on the 2021 model? Worth waiting for?
My 19 is at 100 hours, will probably be around 140 once the new bikes are available and i do believe that i should do a full engine rebuild soon.... if the 2021 isnt that much different i might trade mine in for a leftover 19 or 20 now.

JohnnyD13 wrote:

I’m actually afraid of anything new coming out for this bike. I’m 38 with 3 young kids. Motocross is not safe, but i feel this bike...

I’m actually afraid of anything new coming out for this bike. I’m 38 with 3 young kids. Motocross is not safe, but i feel this bike is the safest bike made. Not the fastest, and I hate green. But it is more predictable then any bike I have ever ridden. I like a soft bike. So for some more aggressive faster guys, it probably needs to be stiffer, but man, the bike was made for a slow vet guy like me.

FortyHat wrote:

Funny you say all that because I have the same mindset. Except I'm 45 with 2 boys that are in 9th and 7th grade next year...

Funny you say all that because I have the same mindset. Except I'm 45 with 2 boys that are in 9th and 7th grade next year that need to have pops around to pay for college in a few years.

I came off a 16 YZ250 smoker that I raced (and loved) and got hurt on several times. I jumped to the 19 KX450 and I could go faster on that than the YZ and was far far far less sketchy. The current Kawi is so solid and safe-feeling, if that's a thing. I jumped back on my YZ a few months ago at a track and was scared half to death.

And I also disliked the green so much that I took the time to black out the airbox (RIT dye and Krylon Fusion on top) so I could black the bike out when I bought it. But I started to add more green back in. It's growing on me. But it was 100% black at World Vets last year

(Photo from a motel in Utah en route)

StartedTooLate wrote:

50 hours on mine. Just did an upper end. Valve clearances were in spec. Everything else looked perfect. I have a full machine shop and Sunnen...

50 hours on mine. Just did an upper end.

Valve clearances were in spec. Everything else looked perfect.

I have a full machine shop and Sunnen bore gauges and masters, so I was able to inspect the cylinder in detail. It was +.0002" / -.0000" on bore. It was near perfect side to side, and high in the cylinder. The +.0002" wear was fore and aft, and low, as you would expect due to piston rock.

This is about 1/2 the wear I would see with a 250. I would expect the cylinder to make it to 120-150 hours before it needs to be re-plated. With a Yam 250, I would usually re-plate a cylinder by 60-80 hours

The clutch friction discs were cooked. Replaced them. The plates looked pretty cooked too, but I checked them on a granite plate, and they were flat. I took the glaze off them using fine abrasive pads.

I like the Kawi chain tensioner. Also, the finger follower upper end is good. Noisy...but I like it, mechanically. From what I have seen of the motor internals, this is a quality piece.

Moto520 wrote:

That's great to hear. The motor is noisy as fuck with this design but has been reliable on my end (50 hours)

lawson34 wrote:

Got anymore photo's? Sick!!

nadeauracing229 wrote:

Have a high pressure cap on my 2019 and keep boiling over anyone have any issues like this?

Cashmoney24 wrote:

Thanks. Wasn’t sure how the graphics would turn out, but I’m pretty pleased. Was going for the emig replica from the late 90’s but was having...

Thanks. Wasn’t sure how the graphics would turn out, but I’m pretty pleased. Was going for the emig replica from the late 90’s but was having trouble with the purples and the design overall.

Definitely helps me look faster than I’m actually going! The clutch work definitely paid off. Definitely like the feel of it better than before.

Premix wrote:

Got my brake disc cover from legacy carbon. Took about 3 weeks to come in. Perfect fit and finish. Also got my fork tubes coated. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/04/10/418705/s1200_52C1C494_1E8A_4185_B54D_EEB920EDF3DF.jpg[/img]...

Got my brake disc cover from legacy carbon. Took about 3 weeks to come in. Perfect fit and finish. Also got my fork tubes coated.

centralcalmx wrote:

Just got my disc cover but found the treaded insert for the axle is too small to bite. Did you have that issue? I emailed them...

Just got my disc cover but found the treaded insert for the axle is too small to bite.
Did you have that issue?
I emailed them but no response so far.

Thanks

JB479 wrote:

Anyone else had their front brake hose catch on the clutch cable hose fitting ( near the clutch lever) when the forks compressed ? Bit scary...

Anyone else had their front brake hose catch on the clutch cable hose fitting ( near the clutch lever) when the forks compressed ? Bit scary to be honest. Kinked my brake hose pretty bad.

centralcalmx wrote:

Just got my disc cover but found the treaded insert for the axle is too small to bite. Did you have that issue? I emailed them...

Just got my disc cover but found the treaded insert for the axle is too small to bite.
Did you have that issue?
I emailed them but no response so far.

Thanks

Premix wrote:

I epoxyed into the end of the axle

Daddyfatsac wrote:

I've gone with one 52 and one stock fork spring and set the oil 10cc above the factory recommendation, Comp 2 clicks in and rebound stock...

I've gone with one 52 and one stock fork spring and set the oil 10cc above the factory recommendation, Comp 2 clicks in and rebound stock. The thing is close to perfect around the track but I'm still bottoming more than I think I should be. What's the best way to address that without throwing other things off? Add oil, another 52 spring?

FortyHat wrote:

Add oil first and see if that fixes it. If you do the spring first, you might sacrifice comfort in the smaller stuff and still not...

Add oil first and see if that fixes it. If you do the spring first, you might sacrifice comfort in the smaller stuff and still not fix the bottoming.

FortyHat wrote:

Add oil first and see if that fixes it. If you do the spring first, you might sacrifice comfort in the smaller stuff and still not...

Add oil first and see if that fixes it. If you do the spring first, you might sacrifice comfort in the smaller stuff and still not fix the bottoming.

coastie44 wrote:

I found 330-335cc to work decent on the stock valving. 350cc was too much and just made it harsh.

FortyHat wrote:

Of the girl all blacked out? Not a lot, because I ran it with a green front for most of last year, but here's a couple...

Of the girl all blacked out? Not a lot, because I ran it with a green front for most of last year, but here's a couple.





This is gonna sound silly but I only took those photos because I'd just thrown on a bunch of ProTaper stuff I'd won from last year's PulpMX SX fantasy (9th), and they requested I post on social media. Lucky for me, I already run ProTaper (have for years) and didn't wind up with some other prize I couldn't use. Here's the loot:



And just in case you were wondering how she looked with makeup on at World Vets

JB479 wrote:

Anyone else had their front brake hose catch on the clutch cable hose fitting ( near the clutch lever) when the forks compressed ? Bit scary...

Anyone else had their front brake hose catch on the clutch cable hose fitting ( near the clutch lever) when the forks compressed ? Bit scary to be honest. Kinked my brake hose pretty bad.

rollin64caddy wrote:

I dig the graphics! Simple with the black flag logo. I just had some made similar with a motorhead logo for my tc.