My KLX 450 review short and sharp

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Old 08-19-2009, 02:38 AM
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Default My KLX 450 review short and sharp

ACE!!!!

Ok now to the real stuff. As most of you are aware i ditched the 250 in favour of a 450 after my employer gave me some extra cash for four years of work, then booted me out the door lol.

I took delivery of the bike approx two weeks ago. After the initial 24 hours of staring at it in fits of joy, i decided to remove the ADR headlight and put the US one on, removed the pea shooter butt plug and then proceeded to set the spring sag for my tubby weight. The sag lowered the bike a bit more to my liking (which i'm still thinking about bringing it down an inch just so i can have my feet firmly on the ground when in the bush). I also took the seat foam off and hollowed out the insides where my butt usually sits and used a memory foam insert. The seat has still kept it's firmness but is oh so cushy on my butt.

Anyhow on to the ride report. What can i say, it's a whole new ball game. I jumped on the bike for the first time and just went for a nice leisurly putt around a paddock after getting used to the way the bike starts . This soon turn into a faster trott and then a gallop as the confidence grew. I took it over a few jumps and i was impressed with the way the bike handled itself.
The dunlop ed03/4 are coming off after feeling like you were on ice when the power was applied.

I am overall happy with the bike bar a few problems i encountered.

Charging. It sucks. Lucky it has a kick start. I also disconnected the headlight as that helps and i only ride in the day.

It has a tendancy to have a high idle and not return to it's idle circuit unless i load up the motor. The bike shop says thats normal but i believe otherwise and i'm open to thoughts on this cause it will become a problem when i'm trying to walk the bike down a hill.

The gearing is good but i need to go down a tooth in the front (12) for my applications.

And finally my chain guard went walkabouts haha two loose screws. (replaced under warranty)

Apart from that i'm a happy boy. Especially with the weight difference.


Nick
 
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Old 08-19-2009, 02:44 AM
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I'd say you would be happy

That bike is being recieved very well.
Power to the people.
 
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Old 08-19-2009, 04:29 AM
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Nice. I'd certainly look at one if they were road-legal over here grrrrrrrr!
Hope you get another job soon, mate.
 
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Old 08-19-2009, 04:54 AM
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Originally Posted by thommo77
Nice. I'd certainly look at one if they were road-legal over here grrrrrrrr!
Hope you get another job soon, mate.
+1 to both those points.

Grah!
 
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Old 08-19-2009, 04:56 AM
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Originally Posted by 3L4NS1R
+1 to both those points.
Not street legal in NZ
That is a surprise given it is here.
 
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Old 08-19-2009, 09:55 PM
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Thanks guys, i forgot to mention i walked into another job an hour later after losing my current one, that was the reason why the 450 is mine lol.

Where's vfrpilot, i'm guessing he might have an answer to my idling issue
 
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Old 08-20-2009, 04:44 AM
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pics or ban!
 
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Old 08-20-2009, 04:47 AM
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Glad to hear about your new purchase, mate.
 
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Old 08-20-2009, 05:10 AM
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Old 08-20-2009, 09:24 AM
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Originally Posted by neilaction
Not street legal in NZ
That is a surprise given it is here.
Yeah, hard to believe given we are virtually a state of Aussie!
Not surprising, though, given the PC red-tape clowns who run this country.....
 


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