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Trying to compare a 20-year-old bike and tech to a new machine is a stretch.
A bike that is light and feels light are totally different. Look at the Stark, heavy but feels light when moving.
The old Husaberg had the crack super-high and the cylinder pointed forward, yet it felt really light once it got rolling.
The location of the spinning mass is often what make a bike feel light or heavy. The less spinning mass, 250cc or 350cc 4T, feel lighter than a 450cc 4T. Almost the same weight, yet lighter crank and less spinning mass. The Stark does not have a heavy spinning crank or clutch. (for example) Also the location of the heavier spinning masses, which is the crank and the clutch, make a huge difference.
Not sure for certain, yet it appears the counter balancer could be located on the bottom of the engine, which also moves a spinning mass more toward the center of the motorcycle.
The new KX has a higher crank and the clutch appears higher in the chassis, maybe they centralized spinning mass to help give the bike a lighter feel, especially with a big-bore 327cc smoker, which is 75cc more than old school 250s 2Ts.
All of this change the gyroscopic effects of the bike when changing direction and in the air.
Also, if you look close, the bottom cradle is not the same as the 450F chassis.
Only time will tell if Kawasaki hit it out of the park, it’s just another motorcycle or they missed the boat?
No matter what, it’s still cool and I want to ride one.
Kawi is in cahoots with the restyle plastic kit companies.😁
There is wiring going to under the crank, likely to the starter motor...
The bulge behind the crank is likely the counter balance...
If only JS7 had one of these back in the day
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Well using the far from highly technical method of putting a ruler to a known 'measured' item - in this case, the 21 front wheel, and then using that ( not wildly accurate ) formula, with that pictures low Countershaft relationship to the Swingarm pivot, and projecting a straight line through those 2 centers, that makes the tightest point of the chain, around 8 inches above the center of the rear axle pictured.
You'll find that the vast majority of those points on bikes, , make for a rough 4/5" sag to the rear the center line of all 3 points when forming a straight line.
This, as it is, would make for a Very pronounced torque pulling the swingarm down / raising the rear end.
Just compare this geometry, to the pictures of the 450F., or, any other bike.
Unless Kawasaki have decided to make a bike with such a distinct / unique suspension geometry (and I'll be buggered that it would be a back end that worked well - though, it may be hailed as a 'revolution'), I think we've yet to see pictures of the actual bike.
Looking at these pictures, they look more like CG ones, than actual, made, production bike pictures .
Understand, All Of You - In NO WAY is this observation of mine meant to Imply that the bikes does not / will not exist - I just don't think these are Actual pictures of a made bike.
And im not far from you , so I will come for a test ride once you buy it. 🤣
From the PR guy --- more KX (different displacement) models are coming in the future. Kawasaki intends to become very competitive in the off-road market.
I can’t remember any other production bike with an aluminum frame having an engine cradle made from round tubing. Maybe this has been covered somewhere… but there’s been so much chatter about the new KXs that I simply haven’t had the ability to read through it all.
So glad to hear this!!
You have physical packaging constraints and torque limits of the components, but on top of all that the 2T has another important factor. You have an optimum port height for timing, and an optimum port volume. Unfortunately if your go too wide on the port to get your desired volume, your ring will catch. This constrains your bore to stroke ratio.
Its a hybrid. KxPrius
The trans pacific weight defies physics.
I like the X model - think it would be a better fit for my program -
Drink system.
I'd get the X.. more versatile for what I ride these days.
I sure hope Kawasaki is making enough of these puppies to go around. My local dealer said there will be some unhappy faces with returned deposits.. they only expect to get one of them
Pit Row
I wonder if Rich Taylor will sue Kawasaki when they build the EKX
That's where you keep your beer.
Well, I did hear that it's Pride Month.
Buuuuaaaaaaahhhhaaaaaaa!
I told my chick about this and she couldn’t believe it
The “moment” is affected by other spinning mass…other than just the crank, that is. The clutch assy, counter-balancer, transmission pieces…etc. and the starter has some mass, too, tho…only spinning at times that don’t play into this. They stack the gears and shafts differently in modern 2Ts.
I’m just guessing here; but, compared to the 4T, I’m guessing this has a potentially lower cg & MOI and they played with that during testing.
It’s just trying to identify as a “Real Motorcycle”. 🤣
Indeed. The gyroscopic effect of that mass can harm handling characteristics, I.e. turn in.
Still, I’m thinking it’s waaaaay less than a 450…?
Without a doubt. 450s cams spinning up high in the bikes CG, will want to make it stand up straight. Was more referring to my own experience when I went to the dark side for a while. Coming right off a two stroke, the four banger was harder to throw around.
A lot of "theory" here. New everything leaves a lot of room for possible hiccups, and opens the door for something pretty amazing. I look forward to reading about how it actually feels on track. Any news on when media might get to ride this thing? I thought RV2 indicated he could be riding around this time?
I can't believe that there hasn't been a single leak of the actual prototype bike after more than a year. This has to be the best kept secret in the industry ever.
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