New KXFs

[scott411]

a few updates and new features,

http://www.vitalmx.com/features/2013-Kawasaki-KX450F-and-KX250F,3276

[CHOPPA]

Forks look cool. Change of spring rate as easy as a few more pumps of air??

[raglanash]

Can you let us know what you think of the 450 forks scott? Still a heavy beast though eh

[scott411]

Can you let us know what you think of the 450 forks scott? Still a heavy beast though eh

yeah, the figures look worse than they did 5 years ago as they are quoting curb mass now, rather than dry weight, they are about the same weight that the 06 was, the fork has dropped the weight that the injection added,

will be interesting to see how the forks go, the motor is easily the best in the class and every magazine says it, the most comman mod that is done to them is to take HP out of the midrange

[CRF119]

The best looking green machine ive seen in years. I wonder how reliable those forks will be in years to come..... Makes sense dropping out the springs the mountain bike guys have done it for years. And those little hand pumps are cheap and can pump up to some crazy PSI readings.

What shocked me was this

http://www.vitalmx.com/photos/features/2013-Kawasaki-KX250F-and-KX450F,36876/KX450FDF-40001-D7-RGB-REAR-BRAKE,58709/GuyB,64

The old split pin in the axle trick i thought that was long gone.

[Crasherfromwayback]

, the motor is easily the best in the class and every magazine says it,

Sounding like your old man already mate!:bleh:

[Crasherfromwayback]

..... Makes sense dropping out the springs the mountain bike guys have done it for years. And those little hand pumps are cheap and can pump up to some crazy PSI readings.

.

I'm surprised to see them going to air forks. Mountain bike forks I'm sure won't get anywhere near as hot as a KX450's...and I would've thought with air expanding as it heats up causing a few issues. I can tell you from experience that Fox Air Shox do just that. Will be better if nitrogen is used....but who has that on hand?

[scott411]

I'm surprised to see them going to air forks. Mountain bike forks I'm sure won't get anywhere near as hot as a KX450's...and I would've thought with air expanding as it heats up causing a few issues. I can tell you from experience that Fox Air Shox do just that. Will be better if nitrogen is used....but who has that on hand?

any decent moto x shock that rebuilds shocks?

[scott411]

Sounding like your old man already mate!:bleh:

as much as i would have bitten to that comment for years, there is probebly worse people to sound like

[barty5]

I'm surprised to see them going to air forks. Mountain bike forks I'm sure won't get anywhere near as hot as a KX450's...and I would've thought with air expanding as it heats up causing a few issues. I can tell you from experience that Fox Air Shox do just that. Will be better if nitrogen is used....but who has that on hand?

i do as do most tyre shops these days

[Crasherfromwayback]

i do as do most tyre shops these days

And you're at the track with the gas? Free and avail for everyone to use?

[Crasherfromwayback]

as much as i would have bitten to that comment for years, there is probebly worse people to sound like

lol. Love yer work. He's not all bad.

[scott411]

And you're at the track with the gas? Free and avail for everyone to use?

its more to the point than it is a hell of a lot easier and cheaper to get than siffer/softer fork springs

the factory ones i have seen pics off had bladders that hold the air/nitrogen

[barty5]

And you're at the track with the gas? Free and avail for everyone to use?

there you new business venture for you $10 a go in a few years someone going to have to do it if they take off as im sure the maker of them will be hoping.

[CRF119]

The air we breathe is 78% Nitrogen anyway, it would be interesting to see how hot they get. They have a lot more cooling then mountain bike forks because they are a lot larger and the bikes are going much quicker.

Your other problem is what PSI do they run at, I was told that compressors struggle to pump up to what is needed in some shocks i know my hand held shock pump for mountain bikes pumps up to nearly 300psi according to the gauge.

[Crasherfromwayback]

the factory ones i have seen pics off had bladders that hold the air/nitrogen

So do 35 year old Fox Air Shox.


The air we breathe is 78% Nitrogen anyway, it would be interesting to see how hot they get. They have a lot more cooling then mountain bike forks because they are a lot larger and the bikes are going much quicker.

.

Whilst I know forks hold more oil to help with cooling than a shock, DK's rear shock used to get that hot that if you spat on the shock res after a moto it'd sizzle. I'm not by any means saying the forks won't be really good...but I'll be interested to see. Air caps were removed from forks years ago. Yes I know they had springs in 'em too.

[Ocean1]

So do 35 year old Fox Air Shox.



Whilst I know forks hold more oil to help with cooling than a shock, DK's rear shock used to get that hot that if you spat on the shock res after a moto it'd sizzle. I'm not by any means saying the forks won't be really good...but I'll be interested to see. Air caps were removed from forks years ago. Yes I know they had springs in 'em too.

I spent a fair bit of time messing with air / spring forks a long while ago. They offer a lot of advantages but their biggest disadvantage is the fact that they suffered from much more drag on the seals, which has to deal with that pressure through hours of abuse without losing gas.

Still, maybe seal technology is more advanced, now than I give it credit for...

[CRF119]

Whilst I know forks hold more oil to help with cooling than a shock, DK's rear shock used to get that hot that if you spat on the shock res after a moto it'd sizzle. I'm not by any means saying the forks won't be really good...but I'll be interested to see. Air caps were removed from forks years ago. Yes I know they had springs in 'em too.

There a alot of differnces between a rear shock at the front forks

No.1 It has to do a lot more work and is under a lot more pressure due to the leverage of the swing arm then the front forks so more heat is generated.

No.2 The super hot exhaust runs 10mm below it

No.3 Minimal air flow compared to forks

No.4 Less surface area for heat dispertion

[Crasherfromwayback]

There a alot of differnces between a rear shock at the front forks

No.1 It has to do a lot more work and is under a lot more pressure due to the leverage of the swing arm then the front forks so more heat is generated.

No.2 The super hot exhaust runs 10mm below it

No.3 Minimal air flow compared to forks

No.4 Less surface area for heat dispertion

Not about to argue with you there! My point being though...even on the Fox Shox of old (which have huge finning and don't work nearly as hard as a single shock), pressue build up was a rather large problem. So whilst I know forks won't be getting anywhere near as hot...I still think it may be an issue. Be glad if it's not, as the idea seems a good one!