tell me what you guys think

[bdr450r]

Quote: Originally Posted by AZkfx450rider

bdr, haha yes az desert is rough! haha i cracked my factory swing arm skid so im running naked for the time being, lol so there is alot of rock dodging haha

I lost the skidplate somewhere on the way to Martinez cabins I was so glad to be out of that rocky stuff back onto the more open trails, clutch was getting hot and my hand was getting tired crawling over stuff.

Quote: Originally Posted by Slaytanic454

You don't run a 2 bolt main 350 if you want to get 600 HP out of it. It will break.

Mine hasn't broken yet after nearly 6 years 520 hp at the crank then a 200 shot of nitrous weeeee Do have a good set of rods though along with main studs.

[mike127]

very good replys

[nkeen07]

One thing everyone needs to remember...racing tears the crap out of our quads. If they aren't maintained properly, stuff will break...it happens.

That being said...I bought the first one of the showroom floor in Central IN in 07 (fyi---late 07's are 08 models...not 07 like you mentioned) and have only had an issue w/the tip-over sensor going out. Easy fix there. Never had fan problems, electrical problems, over-heating issues, connecting rod breaking...or anything of that nature. I don't ride my quad easy either. It's my practice quad for XC as of right now...and we all know the beating that puts them through. I'm not saying this is a perfect quad...on paper it looks awesome...but in every shoot-out it gets its butt handed to it by more simple and proven atv's like the Honda. Kawasaki...I would agree...needs to get some stuff figured out from the factory...such as the twitchy front end (which can be slightly fixed by adjusting your toe), restrictive intake, weak steering knuckles (I always check mine after hard hits), somewhat limited travel, and EFI delay (as many XC racers know is an issue on starts). Will next years be improved? I hope so! Is the current model bad...NO! Every once in a while there will be sour lemons in the bunch...no matter what manufacturer they're coming from (maybe not Honda ), so to complain and say the atv overall is bad is wrong. We read about issues on here b/c well...the only time you need help w/stuff is when there are issues. Everyone else is out there on their Kawi 450 havin a good time...99% of them.

[Duster]

Sounds like what you have had all along is pretty simple...

A quad that has been running too hot from the start because of a bad fan motor.

When my fan kicks on it almost runs me off mine with the hot air flow if I'm not going fast.

I think that would easily explain your overheating and internal engine issues.

[nkeen07]

Forgot to mention earlier...it was 95 plus last weekend when I went riding here in WI. Ended up doing 230 miles in bout 5 or 5 and a half hours...only stopping for fuel twice. My quad's fan only came on once when I stopped for fuel...and I'm running a 50/50 mix...not even engine ice or water wetter. That's a testimate to these things takin a poundin and not over-heating. If you do the math...that's averaging 45 mphish for over 5 hours...in high heat weather. To make it better...the soil is prolly 80% sand up here...and it's wooped out everywhere. Never even had my temp light come on...and this is just a slight example of what this quad has been through. Shoulda taken it to the dealer originally when it was under warranty. Sorry you've had problems w/it man.

[Duster]

Moving fast, the fan will rarely come on.

It only needs the help of the fan for the hard pulls and the slow technical areas where you're not pushing any air through the radiator with movement.

[nkeen07]

Quote: Originally Posted by Duster

Moving fast, the fan will rarely come on.

It only needs the help of the fan for the hard pulls and the slow technical areas where you're not pushing any air through the radiator with movement.

Ya...I know this. I race XC so I experience it all the time. This has been the best quad I've ever had w/not over-heating. The only times my fan will come on are when getting stuck in bottle-knecks or sitting still. Even low speeds in very technical sections is rarely comes on. Like I mentioned tho...my riding that day was very sandy, hot, and technical...and even tho I had good speed and air flow...I know for a fact that previous quads I've raced/ridden would have had a fan kicking on a lot more.

[the KFX kid 450]

tell you what if you wanna bitch about it send me the quad ill ride the piss out of it in the dunes 4 u

[kfx3423]

The knuckles do suck. Look at them compaired to other 450's. I bent one, don't even know when or where I did it. I've never had my temp light come on but my fan does seem to run a ton. The major difference between the 09's is Kawi made the electrical harness area water tight, Resin-molded lead branch points, PVC cover over the connectors for regulator and TPS, Longer colgate tube for tail light leads. You can look it up on their website.

[mike127]

thank u greenthumb