Newer KX 450 durability

geeZ177
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geeZ177
How has the durability been on these newer KX 450s? Slow vet rider here thinking about going 4 stroke for the first time. Currently on a 22 sx 250. Don't want to do a 250f due to high revs and low durability. Also Im Too heavy for one. Anyways how is the overall engine, clutch and so forth on these bikes holding up? Also how is overall chassis/ bike reliability? Any major concerns or wear points? I'd probably prefer to stay on ktm for parts that are interchangeable, but the KX can be found for quite a bit cheaper. Thanks for the input.
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50dippin
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50dippin 5/28/2022 2:03pm
5/28/2022 2:03pm
I got one of the first 2019s when they came out. Bike has been bulletproof mechanically. Never touched the battery and it still fires right up. Some of the bolts are junk, and I did have the lower skiplate bolts somehow fuse into the frame and I had to drill them out. No major issues tho.
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geeZ177
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geeZ177 5/28/2022 2:59pm
5/28/2022 2:59pm
Yeah I did read somewhere about some of the bolts being steel into an aluminum nut. Wonder if the bolts were replaced off the get go with a different type if this would be a non issue going forward. How many hours do you have on your bike dippin?
Mr. Afterbar
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Mr. Afterbar 5/28/2022 3:52pm
5/28/2022 3:52pm
I’ve been on KX 450’s since ‘13. Nothing other than routine maintenance. My next will likely be a Kawasaki as well.
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spimx
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spimx 5/28/2022 4:33pm
5/28/2022 4:33pm
it's better than KTM
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joe846
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joe846 5/28/2022 5:06pm
5/28/2022 5:06pm
2021 KX450 with 80 hours. Only thing negative worth noting is the exhaust hanger and how it mounts to the subframe. Crashing will bend it and it will break, which is pretty lame.

Looks worn out quickly for some reason compared to other manufacturers. Rims and bodywork get beat up quickly, but it’s just aesthetics.

Other than that I haven’t lost a bolt, am on stock battery, original top end, valves haven’t moved, and I even have the stock chai slider and rollers 😮

Pretty shocked at how well it’s out together after years of racing KTM’s.
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Cenracer87
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Cenracer87 5/28/2022 9:31pm
5/28/2022 9:31pm
2019 KX450 with 70hrs. No issues other than normal wear items like chains/sprockets, chain sliders, tires, and rear brake pads. The battery went bad at 40hrs so I replaced it with a firepower battery. Still on the original clutch but I only weigh 155lbs. Haven't touched the engine. Checked the valves at 50hrs and they were still in spec. Its a great bike!
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cwel11
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cwel11 5/29/2022 2:31am
5/29/2022 2:31am
Not to discourage the kawi but have you considered a 350? I went from a 2018 tc250 to a 21 fc350 and the transition was really seamless. 350 just has some more torque/traction. If you’re a slow vet a 450 may be too much to hold onto. I’m an intermediate vet and a 450 just wears me out and gets me in trouble. Something to think about maybe.
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cwel11
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cwel11 5/29/2022 2:34am
5/29/2022 2:34am
If you would be interested in a 350 my 21 is actually for sale. I’m in pa but NY isn’t far ha!
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geeZ177
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geeZ177 5/29/2022 4:14am
5/29/2022 4:14am
cwel11 wrote:
Not to discourage the kawi but have you considered a 350? I went from a 2018 tc250 to a 21 fc350 and the transition was really...
Not to discourage the kawi but have you considered a 350? I went from a 2018 tc250 to a 21 fc350 and the transition was really seamless. 350 just has some more torque/traction. If you’re a slow vet a 450 may be too much to hold onto. I’m an intermediate vet and a 450 just wears me out and gets me in trouble. Something to think about maybe.
I have thought about one for sure but price and availability are thr two big things. I am only considering this as I seen some below msrp, and just looking for the right deal. So I am gearing up with information incase that deal is there.
quadzrulebro 5/29/2022 4:50am
5/29/2022 4:50am
My 19 that I bought in the spring of 20 has given me no problem at all. It has 70 hours on it, and all I’ve done are normal maintenance (oil and filters). I checked the valves at 60 hours and everything was in spec. It has been a great bike that earned me a championship last year.
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bh
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bh 5/29/2022 5:01am
5/29/2022 5:01am Edited Date/Time 5/29/2022 5:02am
I put 160 hours on my 19. Really the only problem I had was steering stem bearings going bad. I maintained it to a T though, top ends every 50 hours and bottom at 100 hours. Oil every ride and filter every other.

That being said it looked like it had been though ww3 at around 120 hours. The fasteners had the coating coming off (only used shout for washing) is was just all around clapped out despite my best efforts to keep it clean and maintained.

If I where to keep a bike that long again it would have to be a Honda, Yamaha, or maybe a Suzuki. Maybe it’s an east coast thing and the dirt is just super rough on bikes. But if you generally keep your bikes till about 80 or so hours it’s a fantastic bike and you have nothing to worry about besides steering stem bearings.
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DB505
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DB505 5/29/2022 7:07am
5/29/2022 7:07am
I had a 2020 , but kept hearing & reading about another bike that was supposed to be awesome, so I sold the KX to get the other, I wish I hadn’t done that! Probably Goin back to KX this year, can get good deals right now,
Or maybe a CRF , in all my 45 yrs of racing I’ve never had a Honda, maybe this time , Maybe
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Yeti831
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Yeti831 5/29/2022 7:54am
5/29/2022 7:54am Edited Date/Time 5/29/2022 7:54am
I can’t speak on personal experience but it seems to be a popular choice locally.

The ONLY bad I’ve heard is the muffler mount issue and meh exterior hardware. Everyone I’ve chatted with has said a total bulletproof motor. Highest hour at 112-115hrs, adjusted valves once, rings/bore/compression still in spec.

And that seems to be the consensus here too: get it setup for you, rubber mount the muffler, change the oil every 5-10hrs, rinse & repeat.
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Zycki11
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Zycki11 5/29/2022 9:08am
5/29/2022 9:08am
Man, I used to test my bikes down every winter to check the engine specs, grease everything, clean the frame, replace plastics, replace fasteners and call it a day. My bikes always looked brand new snd it gives you piece of mind knowing everything is functioning correctly. I hope you find the deal your searching for!

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