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Only $10 for all 2026 SX, MX, and SMX series.
That's what I run.
A few impressions from me having about 5 rides/2 races after a long layoff.
Love the feeling of the bike, turns well enough, and very stable. Have the softest power coupler in and like it.
Hate the clutch. Still have yet to put a new lever on or bleed it, so I haven't done anything besides move it in on the bar, but the engagement is way too close to the bar, makes it almost useless with 2 fingers.
Air filter is a pain to get out without scraping dirt into the airbox.
I love how far it revs, I've always been a "lugger" and preferred to use 3rd in most corners, but 2nd gear is so usable because how smooth the power goes through the range. Still might go 1 tooth up to get more "lug" out if it though, 3rd is a bit tall for most corners here.
I like my suspension on the soft side, so after break in I was questioning going stiffer in the fork like most suggested, but I'm definitely noticing it sags down pretty far in the front end, and the big hits it blows through the stroke pretty fast to a violent bottom out. I'll try the extra oil first, but the race last weekend convinced me I'll probably have to at least try one stiffer spring in the front so I can use the first half of the stroke more than the 2nd half.
What gearing is everyone running on there 450?
iv had 13/51 since I got it due for new chain an sprockets so just seeing What other people run
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13-51 works good on the 450 SR. Corners great in 3rd.
I cut vinyl siding J channel to fit over the sub frame rails where the seat rubs on it to protect the sub frame if you care? Works great! Lol
I just put a piston and rings in mine at 90 hours as preventative maintenance. Everything still looked great inside the engine. One intake valve was starting to get snug, but I could still fit the feeler gauge in there. I’ll check it again in another 20 hours.
I had the valve cover powder coated for $40
Coated with what? That looks cool.
Yup. 13/51 allows you to pull 3rd through nearly any corner.
I just took it to a local powder coated in Fresno with a patch of green tape on it and they did it.
The guy that bought my last couple Kawi’s has used them so they knew what color sample to use.
Changed the lever and bled the clutch with Motul rbf600 and noticed virtually no change, has anybody gotten the engagement to be further out?
Stupid question but did you try adjusting the stock lever?
I moved the lever in on the bar and adjusted it out just a touch, but any further out and it would be uncomfortably far away from the bar. Just sucks the 1st half of the pull does nothing to the clutch. Just did a quick lap down the street with the new lever and the bleed to make sure the clutch worked, but I'll be racing on it tomorrow so I guess I'll get a better idea.
Clutch pack stack thickness can have an effect on the clutch lever actuation point. There was a bulletin on the stack height. Bleeding the clutch correctly is difficult. Fasten the lever to the bar/pulled in overnight with the grip pointed up. In the morning undo the lever and give it a couple flicks. Any trapped air will push to the top of the master. I use the arc lever with the chip to adjust engagement but have used the stock lever without issue.
A great upgrade to the clutch is the Rekluse Torque drive kit.
Ok, what did I do wrong? Bled it last night, made it through practice and 2 motos today with it working fine, and this last moto all the free play suddenly went out of it and it started slipping like crazy. Did I overfill it and the fluid finally got hot enough to expand? I bled a little pressure off and now I'm back to shitty engagement point but not slipping.
I messed up my stock oem muffler. Found a drd slip on but it rubs the shock spring. If anyone has an old slip on or stock that want to sell for a fair price let me know. Not looking to spend a fortune as I have my eyes on a 24.
Pit Row
There's nothing like new bike day! Congrats
Here she is for now.
Thanks to
Vert mx graphics, Motoseat, and CambrMX for helping complete the appearance.
Graphics went on nice, motoseat always provides quality, and Cambr MX killed the vented front plate. Cambr is also who does Karnows plate. Great work there.
The teal ribs on my seat and ribbons on the plate is for my goddaughter #loveforleighton and the disease she has, Batten Disease.
Sheeeeesh. Looks so good. Have you ridden it yet? You're gonna love that thing.
Not anywhere other than the yard. Last weekend was too wet. Lol
Brought her home the other day and should have the graphics by Friday. I might add a slip on to get rid of the potato cannon and otherwise run it as is.
Make sure you get one of the big name slip one. I tried to be cheap and got a drd one that literally doesn’t fit without rubbing the spring. Took it off and it’s a quarter inch larger than the oem one where it connects to header pipe.
Thanks for the heads up! I've always liked the DRD products but for sure want one with rubber mounting for this bike.
Picked up a ‘23 a few weeks ago. Last time I owned a Kawi was 2001 (kx65)!! Price was too good to even consider another bike. Overall, I’m really liking it so far. Chassis is amazingly plush in the small chop. But coming from a Honda I do wish it didn’t have so much bog off the bottom when riding a gear high. Even with the 51t sprocket it doesn’t seem to pull as well from low rpm.
To me the chain adjustment spec also seems super tight (48-54mm) compared to other bikes I’ve owned (65-70mm). Anyway, made a dummy proof chain slack tool to make sure my adjustment is correct. Could make some more of these things if there’s any interest.
That tool is pretty sweet! Definitely a market for that I bet.
That sluggish feeling is what scared me while riding my buddies regular kx. This sr feels much more lively. Id recommend a remap and a pipe and aside from the sr porting, i suspect youll be closer and happier. Again, ive only ridden this thing in the yard and down the road. Hoping the same feeling translates well on the track. Looks like the next two days are solid rain so im not sure I'll get to find out soon.
How much for a slack tool?!
Probably around $20.
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