2013 Kx 450 Vs. 2008 Kx 450

NP301
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NP301
Edited Date/Time 8/25/2012 5:18am
Ok, so my friend has had a 2008 and just bought a 2013, well I ride his 08 pretty frequently and love it. I rode that for awhile then he let me he try his knew bike. So here's the break down:

Suspension: The 08 felt like it skipped on top of the bumps and didn't absorb anything, while the 13 had amazingly plush suspension and work very well even though it was too stiff for me.

Chassis: Like I said about the suspension, the 08 frame did not have a lot of flex if any. While the 13 had excellent chassis felt flex and plushness which made for a nice ride.

Ergonomics: The 08 felt more roomy then the 13, but I felt that everything was in the perfect place for me, so I loved the 13's egro's

Engine: I HATED the 13's motor, HATED it with a burning passion. The only way I would ever want a motor so smooth is if I have been riding for 3 hours straight and couldn't hold on. It had NO bottom end what so ever compared to the 08. That was with the aggressive mapping, I didn't even want to try the others, needless to say It was very disappointing. The 08's motor on the other hand had incredible power in the bottom, I loved it and wanted more, the only thing about the motor I like about the 13's motor is that it revved more.

Etc: I love the 13's style, looks very attacky and aggressive compared to the awkward look 08. But I hated the bars on the 13, very very small length compared to the 08, I hated that, and got a little head shake because of it. and the brakes were better on the 13's by a significant amount.


Thanks for viewing this..........now only if I can make this as my Racetech test rider entry hmmmmmm.....
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smrscott
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smrscott 8/23/2012 6:24pm
8/23/2012 6:24pm
You missed the boat if you only tried the aggressive map - try all three than come back and comment. The stock map hits like a brick and feels like full-mod 450. The mellow map gives the bike more bottom but takes some of the hit and top away but is more user friendly and takes less energy to ride. The best is to run the aggressive race map that you can run if you have the Kawasaki software. Or build your own from there - 20 minutes of work and a laptop.

That is why they offer three different settings - three different engines. As for the fork - they are so adjustable - did you try changing the air pressure on the fork - that is a 3 minute adjustment and it makes a HUGE difference. In less than 10 minutes you can test three different spring rates.

The 13 is better than the 12 - way better than the 11 and 10 and heaps better than the 08.
newmann
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newmann 8/23/2012 6:27pm
8/23/2012 6:27pm
I'm looking forward to seeing the air suspension get refined over the next few years.
ML512
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ML512 8/23/2012 6:30pm
8/23/2012 6:30pm
Im gonna answer with a no way, the 13 has way more bottom by far, remember it is EFI and it hits so much earlier and carries so much better it feels soft but by far isn't. Its severely deceiving, the manufacturers are setting them up more like the race bikes. Talked to a few guys that have rode villo's bike for different tests and all answered one way, it doesnt feel like it has bottom... till you start realizing how easy you can get over stuff and outta corners ect...
ML512
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ML512 8/23/2012 6:33pm
8/23/2012 6:33pm
After riding all the kawi 450's since 07 on and the efi since 09. interestingly i thought the 09 hit harder than the 10 or 11, they kinda got it back in 12 then went past the 09 for 13... A few team green riders and others were putting the 09 (i believe it was intake cam) in the 10s and 11s.

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NP301
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NP301 8/23/2012 6:49pm
8/23/2012 6:49pm
smrscott wrote:
You missed the boat if you only tried the aggressive map - try all three than come back and comment. The stock map hits like a...
You missed the boat if you only tried the aggressive map - try all three than come back and comment. The stock map hits like a brick and feels like full-mod 450. The mellow map gives the bike more bottom but takes some of the hit and top away but is more user friendly and takes less energy to ride. The best is to run the aggressive race map that you can run if you have the Kawasaki software. Or build your own from there - 20 minutes of work and a laptop.

That is why they offer three different settings - three different engines. As for the fork - they are so adjustable - did you try changing the air pressure on the fork - that is a 3 minute adjustment and it makes a HUGE difference. In less than 10 minutes you can test three different spring rates.

The 13 is better than the 12 - way better than the 11 and 10 and heaps better than the 08.
Well I tried the original too but It wasn't one of the special ones, but the 08 was by far the hardest hit on the bottom.
Deetsmx
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Deetsmx 8/23/2012 7:16pm
8/23/2012 7:16pm
I rode a 12 and thought it was pretty melow, especially compared to the 08 crf i rode it back to back with.
smrscott
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smrscott 8/23/2012 8:05pm
8/23/2012 8:05pm
Just because Rocco hits like a brick shit house does not make him a great boxer. The hit you people are talking about does not make for a better motorcycle or faster lap times. Fun for a few laps but after you ride an EFI bike for a spell and realize there is often bottom and pull even if it doesn't have the Bark hit that pulls your elbows of of the socket. (I think the stock 13 KX barks a little too hard in the mid on some tracks) They have tuned the engines to run smoother and still pull hard, which makes for a more manageable power curve and less insta-wheel-spin. The 13 KX is a powerhouse and unless Villopoto or Weimer gets on this board and starts to say they need more - it should mark the end of this thread. The 13 KX is more than anyone on this board needs unless you are a factory star - and if you are a factory star - what the heck are you doing here reading this garbled minutia.
Bulldog Racing 8/23/2012 8:17pm
8/23/2012 8:17pm
Loved my 08 450f, I was one of the last 2 stroke hold outs and the 08 was my first 4 stroke.

The first race on it was at Kentwood MX in Louisiana. The start was pretty long and I can honestly say after racing MX for 30 years that was the first time a bike actually scared me. The power was unreal!

The bike felt a little big, and didn't corner as well as I liked. If you stall it during a race forget about restarting it. I lost 2 races that I had a serious lead and a stupid little stall cost me the race because I could start the damn thing.

Looking forward to the 13, can't wait to ride it!
mx317
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mx317 8/23/2012 8:30pm
8/23/2012 8:30pm
I find it funny you liked the 08 handlebars and not the 13 when they both came with the same 971 bend.
Hando
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Hando 8/23/2012 8:44pm
8/23/2012 8:44pm Edited Date/Time 8/23/2012 8:44pm
havent rode either of these bikes but im willing to bet that the 'weak' bottom end the 13' kx450 has actually means ALOT of traction.

P.s unless you're a national level pro any stock 450 is more than enough power
Harry_Gray
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Harry_Gray 8/23/2012 8:52pm
8/23/2012 8:52pm
Nah, it needs to be pushed out to 520cc's and the engine built by PC before it's "rideable" Wink
jeffro503
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jeffro503 8/23/2012 8:59pm
8/23/2012 8:59pm
Rode a new 2012 KXF450 a couple weeks ago with the "mid-power " switch on it......felt very strong and very fast. The guy who owns it is a pretty damn fast Vet racer who actually prefers the "mellow-power" switch compared to the mid and high. Definitely a different feeling bike. I will be riding it again in a few weeks when the track is still good and moist......when I rode it , it was at the end of the day on a beaten track , dry with marbles every where. Looking forward to trying it again.
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FGR01 8/23/2012 11:05pm
8/23/2012 11:05pm
Hando wrote:
havent rode either of these bikes but im willing to bet that the 'weak' bottom end the 13' kx450 has actually means ALOT of traction. P.s...
havent rode either of these bikes but im willing to bet that the 'weak' bottom end the 13' kx450 has actually means ALOT of traction.

P.s unless you're a national level pro any stock 450 is more than enough power
The part about any stock 450 having more than enough power for anyone who is not a National level Pro is complete BS.

Have you ridden the 2011 or 2012 CRF450? With the stock muffler and mapping it feels like an enduro bike. Seriously slow. The muffler has a 25mm core and outlet and measures at 91.7db... and the fuel mapping is ultra-lean to match. So you can guess it's not exactly a rocketship. Feels more like a 250F than a 450. I am not a national level Pro but I can easily use more power than this bike has.
tobz
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tobz 8/24/2012 12:54am
8/24/2012 12:54am
Perved on a '13 KXF at our local shop today, still doesn't look as thin as a 2010 CRF. The forks turn me on, but thats about it, still looks like the pig of a KXF that my 2009 was. I'm afraid that bike has ruined me for any KXF purchases for the near future.
NP301
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NP301 8/24/2012 7:03am
8/24/2012 7:03am Edited Date/Time 8/24/2012 7:04am
mx317 wrote:
I find it funny you liked the 08 handlebars and not the 13 when they both came with the same 971 bend.
Well to me they felt very small, and he may have changed the bars on the 08 but we measured them and the 13's were 1 inch shorter. It made a big difference too me.
jeffro503
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jeffro503 8/24/2012 7:22am
8/24/2012 7:22am
mx317 wrote:
I find it funny you liked the 08 handlebars and not the 13 when they both came with the same 971 bend.
NP301 wrote:
Well to me they felt very small, and he may have changed the bars on the 08 but we measured them and the 13's were 1...
Well to me they felt very small, and he may have changed the bars on the 08 but we measured them and the 13's were 1 inch shorter. It made a big difference too me.
Nate....the stock Kawi bars are the same bars that come on the stock Hondas as well. H971 is on a Honda and the K971 ( I think it's a letter "K"? )......anyways.....same exact bar , which is basically the RC Bend. I'm wondering if maybe your buddy might have cut them down or something. I am 6-1" and those bars , at stock width feel pretty comfortable. Of course now that you mention it......I do remember sitting on someone's older KX ( 07' I think ).....but he had pro-tapers on there to replace his stock bars.....and those things were ape hangers......as in really wide.
NP301
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NP301 8/24/2012 7:29am
8/24/2012 7:29am Edited Date/Time 8/24/2012 7:30am
mx317 wrote:
I find it funny you liked the 08 handlebars and not the 13 when they both came with the same 971 bend.
NP301 wrote:
Well to me they felt very small, and he may have changed the bars on the 08 but we measured them and the 13's were 1...
Well to me they felt very small, and he may have changed the bars on the 08 but we measured them and the 13's were 1 inch shorter. It made a big difference too me.
jeffro503 wrote:
Nate....the stock Kawi bars are the same bars that come on the stock Hondas as well. H971 is on a Honda and the K971 ( I...
Nate....the stock Kawi bars are the same bars that come on the stock Hondas as well. H971 is on a Honda and the K971 ( I think it's a letter "K"? )......anyways.....same exact bar , which is basically the RC Bend. I'm wondering if maybe your buddy might have cut them down or something. I am 6-1" and those bars , at stock width feel pretty comfortable. Of course now that you mention it......I do remember sitting on someone's older KX ( 07' I think ).....but he had pro-tapers on there to replace his stock bars.....and those things were ape hangers......as in really wide.
Jeffro, the measuring tape doesn't lie!! But I may just feel more comfortable on the other bars.
tmauto769
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tmauto769 8/25/2012 4:45am
8/25/2012 4:45am
mx317 wrote:
I find it funny you liked the 08 handlebars and not the 13 when they both came with the same 971 bend.
I was thinking the same thing. Unless someone changed the ones on the 08, which in 5 yrs, you would think so.
machine
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machine 8/25/2012 5:18am
8/25/2012 5:18am
ML512 wrote:
Im gonna answer with a no way, the 13 has way more bottom by far, remember it is EFI and it hits so much earlier and...
Im gonna answer with a no way, the 13 has way more bottom by far, remember it is EFI and it hits so much earlier and carries so much better it feels soft but by far isn't. Its severely deceiving, the manufacturers are setting them up more like the race bikes. Talked to a few guys that have rode villo's bike for different tests and all answered one way, it doesnt feel like it has bottom... till you start realizing how easy you can get over stuff and outta corners ect...
I have a 12 and to me the power is perfect. He may have put the "Hard" plug on it, a lot of people get confused thinking it means "hits hard", but is means hard ground, more traction. The "Soft" plug means aggressive hit.

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