2013 Kawasaki KX450F Review

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2013 Kawasaki KX450F Review

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[Duken4evr]

Kawasaki seems to really be at the forefront when it comes to technology and tunability. Would love to see this kind of thinking hit the off road world. Being able to change power characteristics while out on the trail via popping in different couplers would be sweet. My current bike, a Husaberg FE450, has a "map switch" which changes the ignition curve from mild to aggressive. Even that comparatively primitive system makes a nice difference. Being in Colorado, I just leave it on aggressive setting, but when I rode it in Tennessee, I went to the standard setting as it was a bit hard to hold onto set to aggressive at the low elevation!

The air fork fascinates me. Showing my age, but I recall the fox air shocks back in the 70s. They came and went pretty fast. If one really wanted to be trick, I suppose the forks could be filled with nitrogen. No moisture and less heat expansion than air from a hand pump. Wondering how Kaw is getting around the "spring rate" change that comes from expansion of air after it gets hot.

450s are cool - the power, even on my comparatively mild enduro oriented bike, is like a drug.

[Kevin_Duke]

Originally Posted by Duken4evr

The air fork fascinates me. Showing my age, but I recall the fox air shocks back in the 70s. They came and went pretty fast. If one really wanted to be trick, I suppose the forks could be filled with nitrogen. No moisture and less heat expansion than air from a hand pump. Wondering how Kaw is getting around the "spring rate" change that comes from expansion of air after it gets hot.

Good question. Our man Pomeroy didn't have a problem with that. I suppose nitrogen might work better, but nitrogen-recharging stations are pretty rare out on the trail!