2016-2018 Kawasaki 450, Holding up ?

sebastianer
Edited Date/Time 9/8/2018 11:46am
Sooner or later is the new season here and am looking for a new bike and there is a lot of 16-18 kawis with low hours or new leftovers with good pirce. and my question how does the motor hold up? forks i know sucks ive had an 2015 kawi, probably going with the Ohlins RXF forks. has anyone been closer to the 200 hours mark with there engines ? im not going to buy a new 19 kawi.
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mxb2
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mxb2 9/8/2018 11:53am
9/8/2018 11:53am
sebastianer wrote:
Sooner or later is the new season here and am looking for a new bike and there is a lot of 16-18 kawis with low hours...
Sooner or later is the new season here and am looking for a new bike and there is a lot of 16-18 kawis with low hours or new leftovers with good pirce. and my question how does the motor hold up? forks i know sucks ive had an 2015 kawi, probably going with the Ohlins RXF forks. has anyone been closer to the 200 hours mark with there engines ? im not going to buy a new 19 kawi.
Great bike. Buy a new 2018. 6k,. Spring kit in it , spring rear shock. Rip it.
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Nystrom7
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Nystrom7 9/8/2018 12:02pm
9/8/2018 12:02pm
Had 163 hours on my 16 when i sold it, only mx track riding. Change piston around 84 hours and the clutch arm seal and thats all i did on the engine. Bulletproof i would say?
sebastianer 9/8/2018 12:16pm
9/8/2018 12:16pm
mxb2 wrote:
Great bike. Buy a new 2018. 6k,. Spring kit in it , spring rear shock. Rip it.
yes thats kind if my plan. want a bike that is stable and can turn.
sebastianer 9/8/2018 12:18pm
9/8/2018 12:18pm
Nystrom7 wrote:
Had 163 hours on my 16 when i sold it, only mx track riding. Change piston around 84 hours and the clutch arm seal and thats...
Had 163 hours on my 16 when i sold it, only mx track riding. Change piston around 84 hours and the clutch arm seal and thats all i did on the engine. Bulletproof i would say?
sounds awesome thanks. thats what i has been thinking hasen´t seen many problems with them.

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Nystrom7
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Nystrom7 9/8/2018 12:22pm
9/8/2018 12:22pm Edited Date/Time 9/8/2018 12:23pm
mxb2 wrote:
Great bike. Buy a new 2018. 6k,. Spring kit in it , spring rear shock. Rip it.
sebastianer wrote:
yes thats kind if my plan. want a bike that is stable and can turn.
I did put a k tech spring kit in mine but removed it after 2 practices, it made the front feel weird and heavy. Mx tech tac R and SKF Glide kit made it good but it makes the oil dirty quick due to kawis bad fork coating so i ended up with a KYB akit Psf1.
DB97
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DB97 9/8/2018 12:29pm
9/8/2018 12:29pm
I had 96 hours changed piston around 60 everything looked mint. I had the clutch arm seal leak as well. Never had any problems beside not liking the forks.
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yz133rider
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yz133rider 9/8/2018 1:11pm
9/8/2018 1:11pm
Brand new 18 for 6k plus spring kit for forks at over 7k already. I think a 19 with the springs already and other updates would be my choice!
sebastianer 9/8/2018 1:34pm
9/8/2018 1:34pm
yz133rider wrote:
Brand new 18 for 6k plus spring kit for forks at over 7k already. I think a 19 with the springs already and other updates would...
Brand new 18 for 6k plus spring kit for forks at over 7k already. I think a 19 with the springs already and other updates would be my choice!
yes but the 19 is new and will probably have some first year bugs, and i will not be any faster on an that bike. ive always told myself to not buy a first year totaly new bike even if i really think the 19 kawi is the best 450 right now.
bvm111
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bvm111 9/8/2018 3:14pm
9/8/2018 3:14pm
yz133rider wrote:
Brand new 18 for 6k plus spring kit for forks at over 7k already. I think a 19 with the springs already and other updates would...
Brand new 18 for 6k plus spring kit for forks at over 7k already. I think a 19 with the springs already and other updates would be my choice!
sebastianer wrote:
yes but the 19 is new and will probably have some first year bugs, and i will not be any faster on an that bike. ive...
yes but the 19 is new and will probably have some first year bugs, and i will not be any faster on an that bike. ive always told myself to not buy a first year totaly new bike even if i really think the 19 kawi is the best 450 right now.
That's exactly why I am keeping my low hour 2016 for another year!

I just ordered the PC Spring conversion kit for the TAC forks, I have a "decent" setting and they are ok but there is just something about those air forks that for some reason only provide a vague at best feeling through the corners. I have roughly 30 hours total on my motorcycle and I really like the power, the way it feels over jumps is very neutral and easy to move around on. Normal wear and tear items, chain guide and rollers and the clutch are the only things that stand out to me, I found a Rekluse Torque Drive in the Bazaar for a great price and it is AWESOME!

I do not have any hesitation recommending the motorcycle at all!
NeedMoto
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NeedMoto 9/8/2018 3:32pm
9/8/2018 3:32pm
yz133rider wrote:
Brand new 18 for 6k plus spring kit for forks at over 7k already. I think a 19 with the springs already and other updates would...
Brand new 18 for 6k plus spring kit for forks at over 7k already. I think a 19 with the springs already and other updates would be my choice!
sebastianer wrote:
yes but the 19 is new and will probably have some first year bugs, and i will not be any faster on an that bike. ive...
yes but the 19 is new and will probably have some first year bugs, and i will not be any faster on an that bike. ive always told myself to not buy a first year totaly new bike even if i really think the 19 kawi is the best 450 right now.
Gonna have to roll with you on this^^^ Good choice!

A few buddy's of mine that have the 19 KX's are struggling to find basic parts. If they do become available, they sell out quickly and then are on back order.
Justin345
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Justin345 9/8/2018 3:41pm
9/8/2018 3:41pm
Scoop up a leftover or low hour 16-18 and buy a used spring A kit. There are so many used A kits for kawi’s in the $2k range it’s insane. You’ll have a ridiculously awesome bike! The motors are solid as a rock. When you’re done with it, sell the A kit for what you bought it for. Win-win.
nolookpass
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nolookpass 9/8/2018 10:25pm
9/8/2018 10:25pm
I have a 16 KX450 and it's holding up fine. Had FC re-do the suspension and it's way better. Seems to like to eat chain sliders though, but that's about it. Internals held up well, and I did a top end at 100 hours.
jsmi33966
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jsmi33966 9/9/2018 4:07pm
9/9/2018 4:07pm
No hour meter but ive had a lot of seat time in 6 months and raced a little too. I only adjusted the valves one time. The chain guide destroyed right away. I blew the fork seals right away and went with an enzo revalve for totally different handeling?. Its been a great bike and over all I got a great deal and am having a blast every weekend. I feel like the 18 ktm is faster the cr and yz felt like a pig to me but yea with a suspension revalve I think the bike is faster than the cr and the yz. The power falls off on top and I put a fmf system it helped a little but I am more concearned with suspension. The forks are unpredictable I think heat is a factor as long as you check your pressures consistently it can handle as good as the yz.
dmm698
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dmm698 9/9/2018 6:50pm
9/9/2018 6:50pm
I'm selling my 16, and will be listing the spring A kit forks /clamps/shock I was using on it for sale separately if you're interested. Bike was unreal with this setup.

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