kfx450r a "maitenance nightmare" - Kawasaki KFX450 Forum

NHRider · 08-06-2010, 05:37 PM

I was thinking of buying a kfx450r but some people I have talked to have said stay away from the 450s. I do mostly trail riding and the guy at a dealership said a 400 would be better because "the 450s in general are a maintenance nightmare" this has kind of got me second guessing this quad so I wanted to know does the kfx450r need alot of maitenance and what is involved. I can handle changing the oil, lubing the chain, cleaning airfilters, general maintenance but I dont want to be sinking money into having a dealer maintain this quad.

ayovan · 08-07-2010, 02:51 AM

I duuno who or why someone would tell you it's a "maintenance Nightmare". I have 3 quads and the 450 does not require any more maintenance than the other two. In fact...I have had less trouble with the 450 than the 400 I have, due mostly to the fuel injection vs a carb. I have rode the piss out of the 450 for 2 years, and still going strong. There are just a couple of things you need to do right off the get go like using dielectric grease on ALL electrical connections, and getting your TPS adjusted correctly. After that the KFX 450 is a sweet quad, and with a few bolt on mods it really comes alive.

NHRider · 08-07-2010, 11:37 AM

I wasn't really sure if the guy was right because it was the first opinion I got. But he mentioned that he had other 450's and he said he spent more money maintaining them then on aftermarket parts. He also said that you need to change pistons 25-50 hours depending on how you ride and that kind of got me a little hesitant. So I told him that I would only be riding it on the trails no racing and he said because the 450s are for racing the engines require ALOT of maitenance and parts. Im not mechanical enough to change pistons and stuff like that so do you know how often you have changed your piston or have you ever had to.

ayovan · 08-07-2010, 01:12 PM

Change the piston in 20 to 50 hours??? NOT!!! I have well over 250 hours on my 450 with out ever having to crack into the case for anything, not even the clutch. My quad is stock interanlly except for the cams. Maybe if you were running a high compression piston in a full race motor, and were full on racing it every weekend...MAYBE you would need to replace the piston in around 50 hours
I ride dunes and trails, never even been in the grandstands at a track. I would say the 450's make up 50% of the quad I see on the trail. Who ever you talked to at the stealership is a crack head.

The KFX 450 was designed as a track bike, but that doesn't mean it HAS to be riden on a track. Honestly I don't know why anyone, especially a salesman would try and talk you out of the 450, and into a 400 unless they had a 400 (that Kawie quit selling 3 years ago) they were trying to unload.

NHRider · 08-07-2010, 01:46 PM

The guy sounded like he knew what he was talking about but I guess not haha. Another dealer said that he recommended the suzuki LTZ 400 because he said it was built for trails. Since you have the two I am considering what one is better on the trails?

ayovan · 08-07-2010, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NHRider

The guy sounded like he knew what he was talking about but I guess not haha. Another dealer said that he recommended the suzuki LTZ 400 because he said it was built for trails. Since you have the two I am considering what one is better on the trails?

The 2 quads are completely different animals. If you want easy...then get the 400. It's easy to ride and a bit more cush than the 450. If you like to ride hard and haul ass the go with the 450. You can some DIY bolt on mods that will turn it into a beast. Not saying you can't mod the 400, but to get it to the level of a 450 with mods, would mean building the motor. What ever you want I guess, but my 400 is a buddy bike (for my buddies that dont have thier own to ride). I like my 450

NHRider · 08-08-2010, 11:11 AM

I really want to go with the 450 but still im hesitant. I just recently called some service department to tell me their honest opinion because they arent going to try and sell me anything. However im more confused then ever because some say just dont beat on the 450 and you shouldnt have any trouble but other guys say that if you get a 450 you will have to be meticulous with the maitenance or else it may cause problems and the MOTOR WILL BLOW!!!???? I don't know if that is right but why would they lie to me about that. Ive called about 9 places and 5 are saying stay away from the 450 and 4 are saying there is no problem with them. I dont know why there would be so many different views. Like you said I see alot of 450s on the trail so maybe I will keep asking.

ononewheel · 08-09-2010, 10:36 PM

first of all if you buy a new kawi they come with a 1year warrenty!so if you did ride the **** out of it during that time frame if somethin major let go youd be fine!as said above ive had mine for almost two years and have done the big three along with full suspension cams/dyno tuned and the bike rips no issues once so ever!now if your planning on getting a 450 and not planning on keeping up w/oil changes/cleaning your air filter then your gonna be in trouble!these kawis actually reccomend an oil change every 10hrs!normal things will ware!skid plates/chains/brakes/bearings/bushings/tires/rims etc!just depends how you ride take care of your ride and itll take care of you!personally if i was getting a 1st quad again i woulda went straight to the 450!and also i ride about 75percent trails!

NHRider · 08-10-2010, 11:57 AM

I plan on buying used because I dont have the money to buy new so it won't have any warranty. On my quad now I do the oil, chain and airfilters regulary. I like to keep them running and looking nice but like I said before I don't want to have this so called "race engine" and have to tear into the motor for different things (simply because I dont know how). I want a bike that rips on trails but if what some of these service departments are telling me is true then why take the chance and end up sinking tons of money into maintaining the thing. It seems like you agree with ayovan about the amount of maitenence? and if/when I get this quad I can do normal maitenance but maybe a little more often and it should be fine?

Dirtjunkie85 · 08-10-2010, 02:37 PM

To be honest, the "stealer" probably told you to buy a 400 because they are more maintenance than the 450. One of his ways to get you to come back for problems, parts, etc. I would trust the word of riders more than I would the local dealership.

08-06-2010, 05:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
NHRider Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 48	kfx450r a "maitenance nightmare" I was thinking of buying a kfx450r but some people I have talked to have said stay away from the 450s. I do mostly trail riding and the guy at a dealership said a 400 would be better because "the 450s in general are a maintenance nightmare" this has kind of got me second guessing this quad so I wanted to know does the kfx450r need alot of maitenance and what is involved. I can handle changing the oil, lubing the chain, cleaning airfilters, general maintenance but I dont want to be sinking money into having a dealer maintain this quad.

08-07-2010, 02:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
ayovan Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 56	I duuno who or why someone would tell you it's a "maintenance Nightmare". I have 3 quads and the 450 does not require any more maintenance than the other two. In fact...I have had less trouble with the 450 than the 400 I have, due mostly to the fuel injection vs a carb. I have rode the piss out of the 450 for 2 years, and still going strong. There are just a couple of things you need to do right off the get go like using dielectric grease on ALL electrical connections, and getting your TPS adjusted correctly. After that the KFX 450 is a sweet quad, and with a few bolt on mods it really comes alive. __________________ Black/White 08 KFX 450 PCIII FCI intake w/ air box 13" Dasa pipe KX cams 15/37 sprockets Elka front shocks 21x12x10 6 paddle extremes GNCC's on stock rims AC six pack rack Pro Armor nerfs Full chassis skid Swingarm skid Foot pegs extentions quad-tech hump seat HID's ODI grips Precision steering stabilizer Garmin etrex GPS FX garphics Black/White 08 KFX 700 9 paddle extrems Pro Armor nerfs ODI grips gripper seat HID's AC 6 pac rack White 06 Suzuki LTZ 400 Bone stock

08-07-2010, 01:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
ayovan Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 56	Change the piston in 20 to 50 hours??? NOT!!! I have well over 250 hours on my 450 with out ever having to crack into the case for anything, not even the clutch. My quad is stock interanlly except for the cams. Maybe if you were running a high compression piston in a full race motor, and were full on racing it every weekend...MAYBE you would need to replace the piston in around 50 hours I ride dunes and trails, never even been in the grandstands at a track. I would say the 450's make up 50% of the quad I see on the trail. Who ever you talked to at the stealership is a crack head. The KFX 450 was designed as a track bike, but that doesn't mean it HAS to be riden on a track. Honestly I don't know why anyone, especially a salesman would try and talk you out of the 450, and into a 400 unless they had a 400 (that Kawie quit selling 3 years ago) they were trying to unload. __________________ Black/White 08 KFX 450 PCIII FCI intake w/ air box 13" Dasa pipe KX cams 15/37 sprockets Elka front shocks 21x12x10 6 paddle extremes GNCC's on stock rims AC six pack rack Pro Armor nerfs Full chassis skid Swingarm skid Foot pegs extentions quad-tech hump seat HID's ODI grips Precision steering stabilizer Garmin etrex GPS FX garphics Black/White 08 KFX 700 9 paddle extrems Pro Armor nerfs ODI grips gripper seat HID's AC 6 pac rack White 06 Suzuki LTZ 400 Bone stock Last edited by ayovan; 08-07-2010 at 01:16 PM.

08-09-2010, 10:36 PM	#8 (permalink)
ononewheel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 408	first of all if you buy a new kawi they come with a 1year warrenty!so if you did ride the **** out of it during that time frame if somethin major let go youd be fine!as said above ive had mine for almost two years and have done the big three along with full suspension cams/dyno tuned and the bike rips no issues once so ever!now if your planning on getting a 450 and not planning on keeping up w/oil changes/cleaning your air filter then your gonna be in trouble!these kawis actually reccomend an oil change every 10hrs!normal things will ware!skid plates/chains/brakes/bearings/bushings/tires/rims etc!just depends how you ride take care of your ride and itll take care of you!personally if i was getting a 1st quad again i woulda went straight to the 450!and also i ride about 75percent trails! __________________ 2009 monster energy kfx 450r dasa/pc3/fci/kx cams/fox floats/elka rear/hydrolic clutch/lsr stem+carrier+adjustable axle/houser mgc +2.25 a arms/hids/itp hd tires/hiper tech 3's front/rear/pro armor swingerskid+nerfs+heal /guards+footpegs/odi grips/asv levers/ims3.7gallon gas tank/cv4 green hoses/alba case saver/tag polyurithane belly skid/15fs 36 rs

08-10-2010, 02:37 PM	#10 (permalink)
Dirtjunkie85 Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 88	To be honest, the "stealer" probably told you to buy a 400 because they are more maintenance than the 450. One of his ways to get you to come back for problems, parts, etc. I would trust the word of riders more than I would the local dealership. __________________ What do you ride? In style, or on a pile?

08-07-2010, 11:37 AM	#3 (permalink)
NHRider Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 48	I wasn't really sure if the guy was right because it was the first opinion I got. But he mentioned that he had other 450's and he said he spent more money maintaining them then on aftermarket parts. He also said that you need to change pistons 25-50 hours depending on how you ride and that kind of got me a little hesitant. So I told him that I would only be riding it on the trails no racing and he said because the 450s are for racing the engines require ALOT of maitenance and parts. Im not mechanical enough to change pistons and stuff like that so do you know how often you have changed your piston or have you ever had to.

08-07-2010, 01:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
NHRider Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 48	The guy sounded like he knew what he was talking about but I guess not haha. Another dealer said that he recommended the suzuki LTZ 400 because he said it was built for trails. Since you have the two I am considering what one is better on the trails?

08-08-2010, 11:11 AM	#7 (permalink)
NHRider Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 48	I really want to go with the 450 but still im hesitant. I just recently called some service department to tell me their honest opinion because they arent going to try and sell me anything. However im more confused then ever because some say just dont beat on the 450 and you shouldnt have any trouble but other guys say that if you get a 450 you will have to be meticulous with the maitenance or else it may cause problems and the MOTOR WILL BLOW!!!???? I don't know if that is right but why would they lie to me about that. Ive called about 9 places and 5 are saying stay away from the 450 and 4 are saying there is no problem with them. I dont know why there would be so many different views. Like you said I see alot of 450s on the trail so maybe I will keep asking.

08-10-2010, 11:57 AM	#9 (permalink)
NHRider Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 48	I plan on buying used because I dont have the money to buy new so it won't have any warranty. On my quad now I do the oil, chain and airfilters regulary. I like to keep them running and looking nice but like I said before I don't want to have this so called "race engine" and have to tear into the motor for different things (simply because I dont know how). I want a bike that rips on trails but if what some of these service departments are telling me is true then why take the chance and end up sinking tons of money into maintaining the thing. It seems like you agree with ayovan about the amount of maitenence? and if/when I get this quad I can do normal maitenance but maybe a little more often and it should be fine?

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