[Sean K.]

Looking at the pics, the one thing that concerns me is the aluminum frame where the lower and upper A-arms attach. I work with a lot of steel and aluminum, and frankly, I'm a little hesitant as to the durability of the attachment points. Anyone have inside info as to how the lower A-arm attachment points are set up? Is Kawasaki using through holes with steel sleeves or are they heli-coiling the thread in bolts? What are they doing to make sure the upper A-arm brackets don't wallow out over time....steel inserts or ???

Personally, I'd have given up reverse (and the associated weight) to go with a traditional steel frame. Does anyone know what kind of policy Kawasaki will have if say after the 6 month warranty, you start having wallowed out frame holes, broken A-arm mounts, etc.? Will it just be the consumer's problem or will they step up and honor the product even though it may be slightly out of warranty?

I'm a little hesitant to buy a first year model with this radical of a departure.

Opinions?

Sean

 

[MXQuadRacer]

Your first year problems will be like any other machine released to the public...there is no way to know what problems will exist until they are truly mass-produced to thousands of people. At this point there is no telling whether the point you have brought up will be a problem or not, but I'm sure Kawasaki has thousands of R&D hours into developing the aluminum components. Something to keep an eye on no doubt

From what I've seen...Kawasaki Co's customer service is above and beyond, they will do what it takes to maintain satisfied customers.

 

[DMS]

On the lower aarm, that is a bolt that goes all the way through. Not a stud. There are pictures of the other side of the quad that only have a head on that side.

My .02 on the lower frame rail...

I'm going out on a limb. When you tap a tree or whatever the lower arm will bust the bolts before the frame bends or breaks. Designed as a give point. The question is, will it be too easy to break? Just speculation.

 

[DMS]

Here is the other side depending on who assembled the quad.

 

[racing66atv]

man idk about the aluminum either.

 

[speeddemon619]

i know i would rather hae abroken bolt then a mangled frame. I know how kawasaki is and i personally love their bikes, customer service, engines, everything. They have proboly put hundreds if not thousands of hours into testing and whatnot, they know what they are doin with these bikes.

 

[KFX 700]

The lowers are attached the same way alot of cars are with a strut rod. It seems to work well on cars.

 

[racing66atv]

yea but those cars arnt jumping

 

[XxGlamisDunerxX]

LT-R A Arms > KFX A Arms

 

[mosthad]

I have heard they have steel inserts...

 

[Sean K.]

i know i would rather hae abroken bolt then a mangled frame.[/b]

You could easily end up with both if the frame isn't sleeved. I'm not saying it's going to happen but as a potential buyer, it IS a concern.

Sean

 

[walty]

just asking....WHY buy a 370lbs quad with a unknown durability aluminum frame????when you can buy a steel frame (ex.LTR450) for the more or less the same weight????

 

[dyson]

Here is the other side depending on who assembled the quad.

[/b]

Yea i dont know about that alum. frame and how that bolts up like that. Looks like to me a bad deal!!! But that is why i ride the best. SUZUKI!!! lol

 

[aroracer72]

I wouldnt be surprised if some people grind off those lower stubs and weld on normal tabs like the upper a-arm mounting system.....it wouldnt be hard....
Chad

 

[simpsonsbug]

just asking....WHY buy a 370lbs quad with a unknown durability aluminum frame????when you can buy a steel frame (ex.LTR450) for the more or less the same weight????[/b]

Ill be buying it b/c of reverse.

 

[fatv]

Ill be buying it b/c of reverse.[/b]

As will ALOT of people......... I know Doug Roll had a hand in designing the frame. It looks to have more narrow pivot points then any other 450.


fuelatv

 

[Fasta$$ZRider]

I just want to ride it!

 

[simpsonsbug]

I just want to ride it![/b]

Same here. Right now ive got nothing to ride a couple hours ago I accedently went head-on on a trail with my brother now i have 2 footpegs that are bent at a 90 degree angle and a hole in the oil filter cover. Luckily I had my helmet on when I bounced off that tree.

 

[Sean K.]

just asking....WHY buy a 370lbs quad with a unknown durability aluminum frame????when you can buy a steel frame (ex.LTR450) for the more or less the same weight????[/b]

First, the KFX is supposed to be 4 lbs. lighter than the LTR. The reason for the aluminum frame? To offset the weight Kawasaki added by offering a transmission w/ reverse.

Personally, I could care less about reverse. I'd rather they'd used a proven steel frame and just deleted the reverse feature, but it will be a selling point for some people (I'm not one of them).

Having said all that.....I'm still planning to buy the KFX, especially over the LTR. Why? B/c frankly, the quality of the LTR in terms of fit and finish and machine work as well as welding is PISS POOR compared to the YFZ and the KFX (granted I've only seen close up pics of exhibit quality KFXs and compared it to the aluminum frame on the Kawi dirt bikes). I'm going KFX over the YFZ b/c of the fuel injection.

However, if I can't get a comparative deal on the KFX vs. an LTR or YFZ b/c of the demand, I'll probably wait a while.....that will also tell me whether or not the aluminum frame is going to hold up.

Sean

 

[Sean K.]

I wouldnt be surprised if some people grind off those lower stubs and weld on normal tabs like the upper a-arm mounting system.....it wouldnt be hard....
Chad[/b]

But wouldn't be a good idea either. There's an engineering reason why it's done the way Kawasaki chose to do it. My guess would be that even a somewhat exotic alloy aluminum like 7075 wouldn't hold up to the force the tabs would see....not to mention the elongation problems the steel bolts would cause in an aluminum tab.

Sean