2024 Kawasaki KX450 and KX450X

crmx105
Posts
618
Joined
5/7/2016
Location
Dunnellon, FL US
1/28/2024 8:47am
Sandusky26 wrote:
I drilled the air box, removed the exhaust baffles, and added the smallest amount of 110 VP to my fuel. Bike runs much better, pulls 3rd...

I drilled the air box, removed the exhaust baffles, and added the smallest amount of 110 VP to my fuel. Bike runs much better, pulls 3rd gear better, and feels like less vibration with the exhaust baffles removed.

I’m picking mine up this week.  What did you have to do to remove the baffles?

Sandusky26 wrote:
Remove end cap and use long needle nose pliers to rip the 2 screens out. Their about midway down the baffle. I used a socket to...

Remove end cap and use long needle nose pliers to rip the 2 screens out. Their about midway down the baffle.

I used a socket to open up the baffle in the end cap. Once you look at it you will understand. 

You're gonna trip once you get the air filter in your hands.

I carried on about the air filter like a lunatic before and after getting the bike so glad it's not just me! Lol Waiting for the Power Flow kit but thinking it's not going to be cheap.

1
alycium102
Posts
145
Joined
11/14/2017
Location
USA, MN US
1/28/2024 9:43am
Sandusky26 wrote:
I drilled the air box, removed the exhaust baffles, and added the smallest amount of 110 VP to my fuel. Bike runs much better, pulls 3rd...

I drilled the air box, removed the exhaust baffles, and added the smallest amount of 110 VP to my fuel. Bike runs much better, pulls 3rd gear better, and feels like less vibration with the exhaust baffles removed.

I’m picking mine up this week.  What did you have to do to remove the baffles?

Sandusky26 wrote:
Remove end cap and use long needle nose pliers to rip the 2 screens out. Their about midway down the baffle. I used a socket to...

Remove end cap and use long needle nose pliers to rip the 2 screens out. Their about midway down the baffle.

I used a socket to open up the baffle in the end cap. Once you look at it you will understand. 

You're gonna trip once you get the air filter in your hands.

How much louder does it become?

crmx105
Posts
618
Joined
5/7/2016
Location
Dunnellon, FL US
1/28/2024 10:02am

I’m picking mine up this week.  What did you have to do to remove the baffles?

Sandusky26 wrote:
Remove end cap and use long needle nose pliers to rip the 2 screens out. Their about midway down the baffle. I used a socket to...

Remove end cap and use long needle nose pliers to rip the 2 screens out. Their about midway down the baffle.

I used a socket to open up the baffle in the end cap. Once you look at it you will understand. 

You're gonna trip once you get the air filter in your hands.

alycium102 wrote:

How much louder does it become?

Gets louder but not horrible. Have some extra packing on hand. Some aren't packed that great. Moose sells the loose stringy packing.

1
Sandusky26
Posts
3385
Joined
7/28/2021
Location
Eastern, NC US
1/28/2024 10:11am
Sandusky26 wrote:
Remove end cap and use long needle nose pliers to rip the 2 screens out. Their about midway down the baffle. I used a socket to...

Remove end cap and use long needle nose pliers to rip the 2 screens out. Their about midway down the baffle.

I used a socket to open up the baffle in the end cap. Once you look at it you will understand. 

You're gonna trip once you get the air filter in your hands.

alycium102 wrote:

How much louder does it become?

crmx105 wrote:

Gets louder but not horrible. Have some extra packing on hand. Some aren't packed that great. Moose sells the loose stringy packing.

Yep filter is a horrible design. My DT1 filters and grease seem to be sealing good. My exhaust was packed nicely.

2

The Shop

1/28/2024 10:25am
alycium102 wrote:

How much louder does it become?

crmx105 wrote:

Gets louder but not horrible. Have some extra packing on hand. Some aren't packed that great. Moose sells the loose stringy packing.

Sandusky26 wrote:

Yep filter is a horrible design. My DT1 filters and grease seem to be sealing good. My exhaust was packed nicely.

I bet you picked up some grunt just repacking the muffler.  People don’t understand how important back pressure is.  Sounds like that zero turn will be put off for a year.  Good for you!

Sandusky26
Posts
3385
Joined
7/28/2021
Location
Eastern, NC US
1/28/2024 11:51am

No zero turn, just moved and found out rental company takes care of the yard. I did buy a grill though. Have a kid otw so I felt guilty buying a new bike. After the last ride I did feel okay with the investment.

1
Smith246
Posts
416
Joined
1/21/2024
Location
Jerramungup , WA AU
1/28/2024 2:03pm
Smith246 wrote:
Being a first time kx owner just wondering how good the stock clutch is on these things?  Coming from a 23 yz450f I'm finding myself having...

Being a first time kx owner just wondering how good the stock clutch is on these things? 

Coming from a 23 yz450f I'm finding myself having to use the clutch a fair bit to carry 3rd gear through corners.  

How do u compare it with the 23 yz450? I’m curious cuz the yz has like the best motor in the class, do u like the...

How do u compare it with the 23 yz450? I’m curious cuz the yz has like the best motor in the class, do u like the kx better or the yz?

The yz was a great bike but I sold it cos after 30hrs I was still playing with settings and not completely comfortable with it. It was very hit and miss, some days it was awesome others not so. The motor was the best part about the bike and probably what I miss the most.

The kx is almost completely opposite to the yz, comfortable compliant chassis with a very mellow usable poweband. With only 6hrs on it I already feel more comfortable and my lap times are as good or better than yz.

If your a super fast pro guy or just want the most powerful 450 then the yz would be the better choice. But I believe for most others the kx will probably be the better choice. 

Happy to answer any other questions you have.

3
Brent
Posts
5797
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Party in Temecula, CA US
1/28/2024 2:28pm Edited Date/Time 1/28/2024 3:28pm

FYI My oil pump gear broke today.IMG 0508 Gear is behind the clutch basket and broke today after 10 hours on the bike, and scattered metal shrapnel through the engine. 

changed the oil and filter every 2 hours using Maxima  synthetic, 

motor is trash and needs cases split, upper and lower bearings replaced.

oy vey.

1
Sandusky26
Posts
3385
Joined
7/28/2021
Location
Eastern, NC US
1/28/2024 2:40pm
Brent wrote:
FYI My oil pump gear broke today. Gear is behind the clutch basket and broke today after 10 hours on the bike, and scattered metal shrapnel through...

FYI My oil pump gear broke today.IMG 0508 Gear is behind the clutch basket and broke today after 10 hours on the bike, and scattered metal shrapnel through the engine. 

changed the oil and filter every 2 hours using Maxima  synthetic, 

motor is trash and needs cases split, upper and lower bearings replaced.

oy vey.

Dammit man, I don't know what to say.

Munson'd
Posts
399
Joined
8/19/2019
Location
Madison, WI US
1/28/2024 2:43pm

Fuuuuuuck

1/28/2024 7:48pm
Greenguy wrote:

Hangtown was deep today. PC pipe, Jkop filter cage, and 51 tooth sprocket. Night and day from stock. 

Smith246 wrote:
Are you just running stock mapping with PC pipe? This bike feels like it wants more fuel, especially once air box is opened up. I'm getting...

Are you just running stock mapping with PC pipe? This bike feels like it wants more fuel, especially once air box is opened up.

I'm getting detonation whenever temps over 30°c and that's with a map with more fuel. Can get it to stop by removing timing but then bike is slower than my 350.

Vortex tuned ECU and Pro Circuit full system is $$$

Greenguy
Posts
128
Joined
9/1/2016
Location
Placerville, CA US
1/28/2024 8:35pm
Greenguy wrote:

Hangtown was deep today. PC pipe, Jkop filter cage, and 51 tooth sprocket. Night and day from stock. 

Smith246 wrote:
Are you just running stock mapping with PC pipe? This bike feels like it wants more fuel, especially once air box is opened up. I'm getting...

Are you just running stock mapping with PC pipe? This bike feels like it wants more fuel, especially once air box is opened up.

I'm getting detonation whenever temps over 30°c and that's with a map with more fuel. Can get it to stop by removing timing but then bike is slower than my 350.

Vortex tuned ECU and Pro Circuit full system is $$$

ECU was on my Honda, so just a remap isn’t too bad. Otherwise I would run the stock one, which seems pretty good. 

1/28/2024 9:15pm
Smith246 wrote:
Are you just running stock mapping with PC pipe? This bike feels like it wants more fuel, especially once air box is opened up. I'm getting...

Are you just running stock mapping with PC pipe? This bike feels like it wants more fuel, especially once air box is opened up.

I'm getting detonation whenever temps over 30°c and that's with a map with more fuel. Can get it to stop by removing timing but then bike is slower than my 350.

Vortex tuned ECU and Pro Circuit full system is $$$

Greenguy wrote:

ECU was on my Honda, so just a remap isn’t too bad. Otherwise I would run the stock one, which seems pretty good. 

Sorry....I meant it is money, like this combo is amazing.........although, yes....it is expensive.

1
Smith246
Posts
416
Joined
1/21/2024
Location
Jerramungup , WA AU
1/28/2024 9:42pm
Greenguy wrote:

ECU was on my Honda, so just a remap isn’t too bad. Otherwise I would run the stock one, which seems pretty good. 

Yeah I really think these new adjustable ecu's can give most of us all we need. I was able to get what I wanted from my yz with a bit of tinkering and hopefully be the same with this kx.

Nystrom7
Posts
282
Joined
8/17/2018
Location
SE
1/28/2024 11:35pm
Brent wrote:
FYI My oil pump gear broke today. Gear is behind the clutch basket and broke today after 10 hours on the bike, and scattered metal shrapnel through...

FYI My oil pump gear broke today.IMG 0508 Gear is behind the clutch basket and broke today after 10 hours on the bike, and scattered metal shrapnel through the engine. 

changed the oil and filter every 2 hours using Maxima  synthetic, 

motor is trash and needs cases split, upper and lower bearings replaced.

oy vey.

I haven't recieved my bike yet and my dealer said it could be delayed due to a recall.

I thought it was bs but maybe this is the reason?

RCMXracing
Posts
889
Joined
8/10/2011
Location
N., TX US
1/29/2024 8:10am
Brent wrote:
FYI My oil pump gear broke today. Gear is behind the clutch basket and broke today after 10 hours on the bike, and scattered metal shrapnel through...

FYI My oil pump gear broke today.IMG 0508 Gear is behind the clutch basket and broke today after 10 hours on the bike, and scattered metal shrapnel through the engine. 

changed the oil and filter every 2 hours using Maxima  synthetic, 

motor is trash and needs cases split, upper and lower bearings replaced.

oy vey.

Nystrom7 wrote:
I haven't recieved my bike yet and my dealer said it could be delayed due to a recall. I thought it was bs but maybe this...

I haven't recieved my bike yet and my dealer said it could be delayed due to a recall.

I thought it was bs but maybe this is the reason?

Same bottom end as previous gen… have not heard of this before. Lesser quality part crept in, poor factory assembly job, or just bad luck?

Nate_Z
Posts
206
Joined
12/9/2018
Location
Prior Lake, MN US
1/29/2024 9:02am
Brent wrote:
FYI My oil pump gear broke today. Gear is behind the clutch basket and broke today after 10 hours on the bike, and scattered metal shrapnel through...

FYI My oil pump gear broke today.IMG 0508 Gear is behind the clutch basket and broke today after 10 hours on the bike, and scattered metal shrapnel through the engine. 

changed the oil and filter every 2 hours using Maxima  synthetic, 

motor is trash and needs cases split, upper and lower bearings replaced.

oy vey.

Nystrom7 wrote:
I haven't recieved my bike yet and my dealer said it could be delayed due to a recall. I thought it was bs but maybe this...

I haven't recieved my bike yet and my dealer said it could be delayed due to a recall.

I thought it was bs but maybe this is the reason?

RCMXracing wrote:

Same bottom end as previous gen… have not heard of this before. Lesser quality part crept in, poor factory assembly job, or just bad luck?

On my 21 the same thing happened to me, but I was the one that caused it.  Was swapping out the clutch basket and didn't do a good enough job engaging all of the gears.  Assuming Brent had never touched the clutch basket, I would guess there was some initial damage done during factory assembly.

2
Brent
Posts
5797
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Party in Temecula, CA US
1/29/2024 11:45am
RCMXracing wrote:

Same bottom end as previous gen… have not heard of this before. Lesser quality part crept in, poor factory assembly job, or just bad luck?

Not sure about the same bottom end, some parts such as the crank and other internals have a different part number. 

waiting to hear back from Kawi to see if they care…
 

2
Brent
Posts
5797
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Party in Temecula, CA US
1/29/2024 11:46am
Nate_Z wrote:
On my 21 the same thing happened to me, but I was the one that caused it.  Was swapping out the clutch basket and didn't do...

On my 21 the same thing happened to me, but I was the one that caused it.  Was swapping out the clutch basket and didn't do a good enough job engaging all of the gears.  Assuming Brent had never touched the clutch basket, I would guess there was some initial damage done during factory assembly.

 Clutch was not opened yet since I got the bike…

alycium102
Posts
145
Joined
11/14/2017
Location
USA, MN US
1/29/2024 12:04pm
RCMXracing wrote:

Same bottom end as previous gen… have not heard of this before. Lesser quality part crept in, poor factory assembly job, or just bad luck?

Brent wrote:
Not sure about the same bottom end, some parts such as the crank and other internals have a different part number.  waiting to hear back from...

Not sure about the same bottom end, some parts such as the crank and other internals have a different part number. 

waiting to hear back from Kawi to see if they care…
 

Please let us know if they do or not 😆 

2
1/29/2024 12:52pm
RCMXracing wrote:

Same bottom end as previous gen… have not heard of this before. Lesser quality part crept in, poor factory assembly job, or just bad luck?

Brent wrote:
Not sure about the same bottom end, some parts such as the crank and other internals have a different part number.  waiting to hear back from...

Not sure about the same bottom end, some parts such as the crank and other internals have a different part number. 

waiting to hear back from Kawi to see if they care…
 

alycium102 wrote:

Please let us know if they do or not 😆 

This.

1/29/2024 12:54pm
Brent wrote:
FYI My oil pump gear broke today. Gear is behind the clutch basket and broke today after 10 hours on the bike, and scattered metal shrapnel through...

FYI My oil pump gear broke today.IMG 0508 Gear is behind the clutch basket and broke today after 10 hours on the bike, and scattered metal shrapnel through the engine. 

changed the oil and filter every 2 hours using Maxima  synthetic, 

motor is trash and needs cases split, upper and lower bearings replaced.

oy vey.

Nystrom7 wrote:
I haven't recieved my bike yet and my dealer said it could be delayed due to a recall. I thought it was bs but maybe this...

I haven't recieved my bike yet and my dealer said it could be delayed due to a recall.

I thought it was bs but maybe this is the reason?

It is BS.  I just checked with my dealer and there is no recall on the bike.  I'm picking mine up Wednesday.

1
1
TooTallJason
Posts
626
Joined
11/10/2020
Location
Denver, CO US
1/29/2024 12:55pm
Brent wrote:
FYI My oil pump gear broke today. Gear is behind the clutch basket and broke today after 10 hours on the bike, and scattered metal shrapnel through...

FYI My oil pump gear broke today.IMG 0508 Gear is behind the clutch basket and broke today after 10 hours on the bike, and scattered metal shrapnel through the engine. 

changed the oil and filter every 2 hours using Maxima  synthetic, 

motor is trash and needs cases split, upper and lower bearings replaced.

oy vey.

Nystrom7 wrote:
I haven't recieved my bike yet and my dealer said it could be delayed due to a recall. I thought it was bs but maybe this...

I haven't recieved my bike yet and my dealer said it could be delayed due to a recall.

I thought it was bs but maybe this is the reason?

It is BS.  I just checked with my dealer and there is no recall on the bike.  I'm picking mine up Wednesday.

Yeah, I ran my VIN through the Kawasaki recall check system and didn't get anything. 

FGR01
Posts
6002
Joined
10/1/2006
Location
AZ US
Fantasy
1/29/2024 1:06pm

Notice poster with the recall post is in Europe.   Recalls vary in different world markets.

2
Nystrom7
Posts
282
Joined
8/17/2018
Location
SE
1/29/2024 1:17pm Edited Date/Time 1/29/2024 11:14pm
FGR01 wrote:

Notice poster with the recall post is in Europe.   Recalls vary in different world markets.

Yeah thats true, Sweden. Atleast that is what my dealer told me i'll ask again what the recall was for, 

But i got the feeling that it was something they said because they didn't recieved the bike yet. But who knows.

Brent
Posts
5797
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Party in Temecula, CA US
1/30/2024 11:03am

So, our motor guy pulled the crank and noticed it was manufactured with no free play on the connecting rod- it appears that the crank journals were pressed too tight. On the right is a Honda 450 crank - it has spacers and some play, and the crank on the left is from my Kawi 450- notice zero tolerance between the crank and the rod.

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