KX Riders
Maintenance & Technical => KX450F / KX250F => Topic started by: ID KX500 on February 03, 2010, 03:32:34 PM
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I have wanted a Christini since I read about it 3 or 4 years ago. Today I sinched the deal. I'm like a kid at Christmas, can't wait for it to show up. Here are a couple of articles.
http://www.dirtrider.com/reviews/dirt_bike/141_0905_torture_test_2009_kawasaki_kx450f_awd_christini/index.html
http://www.motorcyclingmag.com/2009_Christini_AWD_Kawasaki_KX450F_Motorcycle_Test
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Still a little rich for my blood, but would be awesome for the snowscramble races! Christini + trelleborg tires= unstoppable :-D
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Looks pretty sweet. Please post a ride report after you get it hooked up.
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:-D
oohh....When I hit the Lotto....
Congratulations! Lot's of us will be waiting to hear all about that Baby.. :mrgreen:
Tuck\o/
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Looks pretty sweet. Please post a ride report after you get it hooked up.
I sure will, I guess I might be able to get into the high country earlier. Also anxious to see how well the EFI works at changing altitudes. If I don't like the four joke,,,in goes a KX500.
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Nice one, looks great.
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:-D :-D :-D
Well the bike arived today! More fun than a human should be allowed!
I only rode about 45 min,,, but first impressions are 1- plows through deep snow great, hard crusted stuff that you'd be stuck in with other bikes is no sweat and easy to handle,,,without reverse I didn't really put it to the test cause I wasn't in the mood to get stuck. 2- ice still not good with regular tires. 3-dumped bike over climbing,,,EFI is a gift from the Metal Gods for old overweight guys,,,no flooding,,,started on first or second kick even laying down for 3-4 minutes. 4-kills easy may consider Rekluse if my clucth to throttle ratio doesn't improve. 5-climbing is a kick in the pants fun,,,not enough today though to really get a feel of it.
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Congrats. Now go post some video.
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wow what did she cost if you don't mind me asking?
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A Christini all wheel drive setup is $4000-4600. It does work.
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Its not often I see a new bike I feel envy over (seriously) but I'm feeling a pang of it now.
Looks great, any problems with the system you have noticed so far?
How does it get drive down to the front wheel?
Pleased for you.
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Its not often I see a new bike I feel envy over (seriously) but I'm feeling a pang of it now.
Looks great, any problems with the system you have noticed so far?
How does it get drive down to the front wheel?
Pleased for you.
Here's the website http://www.christini.com/awd-technology.php
I was in Bliss today riding. Bliss, Idaho that is,,,but the other bliss also,,,on the new bike.
I got a chance to ride today,,,I had to drive 3 hrs there and 3 hrs back,,, but worth it to me. There were lots of hill climbs,,, sandy and gravely,,,the ground was nice and wet so the traction was already good. Sorry my camera crew was off today so no pics. I'm still getting used to the 4 stroke,,,very impressed with how easy it is to start,,,my K5 luggs around at practicaly idle which the 450 can't do but it is just a different horse. 2WD is like 4 wheel drive in a pickup,,,how often do you need it,,,but boy howdy when you do you feel impowered. Think I will try a winter snow ride later this week ,,,I'll try to get pics.
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I've had a chance to ride the Christini KX450F in the snow, it is a whole new experience with a front wheel pulling instead of being pushed. Where the snow was too deep for ATVs, (an ATV will highcenter and get stuck) this bike diggs in and goes. I hope to be able to post some of the video I have when I get my computer to camcorder figured out.
Oh also a good word again about the KX450F EFI,,,,EFI has been sweet,,,,too bad the EFI isn't on a 2Stroke KX500,,,,but no complaints on the motor right now.
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look nice with an expansion chamber on it.....
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I had a problem with the all-wheel-drive a while back,,,riding through snow trying to get to my buddies cabin. The drive stopped working and was grinding inside. When I took it apart it needed a clip that never was installed from the beginning. I emailed Steve Christini he was on it that morning getting me the new parts at no cost under warranty. Christini is one of those on the ball, honest, get it done right now guys, excellent service, above average, well I hope you get the point. While it was down I changed a sprocket on the front drive from a 16 down to 15,,,I was of the opinion that the back wheel had to spin too much before engadging,,,I like the change it is driving the front wheel at a closer ratio to the rear wheel. Not a lot of chances for real testing of all-wheel-drive on my recent rides the trail conditions are wet and the rear hooked good anyway.
Impressions of the KX450F for trail riding,,,,I love it,,,,the four stroke for down hill is nice with the engine drag,,,only wish there was a compression release for the real steep inclines,,,I always used my compression release on the XR600 like a jake/brake. No major altitude yet but from 5000ft to 7000ft the EFI is sweet. I thought I might want a Recluse but I never ridden one and wouldn't think I'd like it if it clutches going down hill,,,I really like the drag it has right now.
Pics of Chinese Peak by Pocatello, ID
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More snow riding in Idaho's back country. I rode from Challis, ID to Custer City on the Yankee Fork of the Salmon. Some of the scenes from Pale Rider (Clint Eastwood) were shot in the area. It is old mining country and there are still modern mines running.
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ID, what kind of mining was going on there? are the newer mines still mining the same stuff? awesome stuff in those pics. looks like a fun ride. i'm tempted to drive over to idaho and ride up there with you sometime. maybe we could do that when i'm driving back home from st. A next year. i could just take the route thru driggs and over to jackson hole up through yellowstone and over to home. hmmm, i'll have to think on it.
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ID, what kind of mining was going on there? are the newer mines still mining the same stuff? awesome stuff in those pics. looks like a fun ride. i'm tempted to drive over to idaho and ride up there with you sometime. maybe we could do that when i'm driving back home from st. A next year. i could just take the route thru driggs and over to jackson hole up through yellowstone and over to home. hmmm, i'll have to think on it.
Maddoggy, There is mostly gold and silver still comming out of the mine. I'm glad you mentioned a trail ride there are a few options of great trail systems not too far from St.Tony's. South of Rexburg is a good place. If anyone wants to do that I will host. If you get over here this year let me know.
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The climbing was a kick in the pants.
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Hey ID,
Looks like a great time, Wish'in I was there! I hope more folks could actually get out and enjoy more of those kind of adventures. Take Care & Keep us updated!
Tuck\o/
P.S. Live Free Or Die!! :-D
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That middle pic looking over the tank,,,it is hard to see how steep and high the climb is,,,but the all wheel drive didn't slip hardly at all. I like climbing it on the KX500 too,,,about three years ago,,, as I was going up on the K5,,, a Mountain Goat ran in front of me,,,I had to go around it,,,they don't see well,,,don't know how they don't fall off the rocks.
This hard climbing reminds me of how nice the K5 power is,,,but the EFI on the KX450F is the bomb moving from about 6500 to 10,500 elevation not a sputter, choke, or cough.
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Riding on Scout MT on the Christini by Pocatello, ID.
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I've been thinking about changing some of the gears in my 09' KX450F. With the all-wheel-drive traction is rarely an issue, but being a motocrosser 1rst gear is off to the races so to speak,, in the trails with steep grades or technical riding I'd like to be slowed down a little in 1rst,,,about walking speed. I want to still have a top speed that is around 80-90 mph which is what it is right now. So I'm wanting to come up with wide ratio tranny.
I'm thinking maybe like KLX450R,,, or if the gears work maybe a KDX200/220 tranny might be sweet,,,but do the gears fit? Anyway if anyone has a stewart 5th gear they'd part with I might only need to change it and drop down on my drive sprockets.
Suggestions welcome,, I know there is some Kawi expertise on here. Thanks
(http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg546/scaled.php?server=546&filename=fromph081011816.jpg&res=medium)
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Now that's a point, I assume you mean changing the internal casing (before the output shaft) gearing? Just as a matter of interest, is there any options for changing the gearing after the output shaft?
There's obviously sprockets under the cover that runs from the output shaft but are there any gearing options?
I can see that the front and rear wheel gearing would both need to be the same as well so it would take a bit more working out.
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Yes internal gear change. It looks like most Kawasaki transmissions are running on the same shaft size with variations in gear teeth numbers. I'm looking to go lower on first and taller fifth so wheel and engine sprockets can't get me there. A real pain to go to this much trouble, but will also change piston in the process. I've found some good used tranny parts on eBay.
I plan to report here when complete.
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lets have a climb off!
(http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k581/joeswatland/rokon/S5001114.jpg)
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lets have a climb off!
(http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k581/joeswatland/rokon/S5001114.jpg)
Sounds like fun ,,, I'm down for it.
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Haha, my relic couldn't compare to your ride. Thats a really nice machine, i can only imagine the stuff that would go up and through.
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Haha, my relic couldn't compare to your ride. Thats a really nice machine, i can only imagine the stuff that would go up and through.
Thanks for letting me off the hook ( I'd have more to lose). I figured you probably have a sleeper there with a turbo and some shots of NOS as needed.
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Went riding Tuesday great weather and not the snow we had last year.
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/2cjpolatis/Chris%20pics/IMG_20120410_153332.jpg?t=1334111064)
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/2cjpolatis/Chris%20pics/IMG_20120410_171647.jpg?t=1334113407)
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/2cjpolatis/Chris%20pics/IMG_20120410_170803.jpg?t=1334112850)
I got a Rekluse clutch installed on the Christini,,,big difference in stalling and control.
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/2cjpolatis/Chris%20pics/IMG_20120410_155915.jpg?t=1334112269)
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/2cjpolatis/Chris%20pics/IMG_20120410_154232.jpg?t=1334111187)
I'm really loving this bike!
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Great ride pics... following along.
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That thing just looks like a riot! Looking like I might need one for the cabin! Great buy
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(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/2cjpolatis/Chris%20pics/2012-06-07_12-20-14_204.jpg?t=1339114377)
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/2cjpolatis/Chris%20pics/2012-06-07_14-36-44_838.jpg?t=1339113846)
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/2cjpolatis/Chris%20pics/2012-06-07_13-59-25_550.jpg?t=1339113460)
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/2cjpolatis/Chris%20pics/2012-06-07_11-55-03_689.jpg?t=1339110443)
I was invited to go atv riding but my clutch on the 4 wheeler is crapped out right now. So I dug out the Christini knowing it would be gnarley. The first five miles was the toughest with 4-5 inches on a very rocky section up hill. Half way was clay goo mud that stuck to the tires,,,the all-wheel-drive and Rekluse were the only thing that could make this trip possible without the atv.
Great ride and excellent company,,,pictured above is "Trigger" and "Rig" good old boys.
Hey Motorrad this was all new snow,,,old snow was all gone on the trail which was over 9700ft in places.
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I still have the 09' KX450 Christini. Since installing the Rekluse clutch I've thought a lot about a left hand brake. So I got a a hand brake for a SkiDoo Rev with a brake lock. I don't know if I'll ever need it in the future but I sure could have used on in the past. The KX rear brake cylinders do not work with the kits that are sold to make a left hand brake. I went to my bone pile and found a CRF450R rear brake cylinder.
Phil at Moto-Heaven lined me up with the right brake lines and cylinder block off unit,,, they arrived so fast it made my head spin,,, called him on a saturday and they arrived monday.
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/2cjpolatis/IMG_20140112_112633_371_zpsjw2zm4ve.jpg)
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/2cjpolatis/IMG_20140112_112703_185_zpsmxst97dt.jpg)
It didn't bolt right on so I ordered a WorksConnection brake guard. Drilled a hole and game on.
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/2cjpolatis/IMG_20140208_145954_566_zpso7skg9br.jpg)
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/2cjpolatis/IMG_20140208_145937_956_zps3pd9ngvj.jpg)
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/2cjpolatis/IMG_20140208_145919_334_zpsq6zkx1g4.jpg)
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/2cjpolatis/IMG_20140208_145839_673_zpsautciaab.jpg)
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/2cjpolatis/IMG_20140112_114056_994_zps29yxckw3.jpg)
Made a home made mount to have the hand clutch just above the left brake.
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/2cjpolatis/IMG_20140208_175920_282_zpshw03i8bi.jpg)(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/2cjpolatis/IMG_20140208_175913_913_zps6bht2ivw.jpg)
Also I had a small problem with the part that slides inside of the brake cylinder to convert it so that it has no reservoir,,,the O-ring kept hanging up where the level glass is located and cutting the O-ring up,,,I finally tried putting the o-ring in alone then followed with the plastic insert to block off reservoir.
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/2cjpolatis/IMG_20140208_150035_438_zpsdepj56of.jpg)
Hope it was worth the trouble.
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Is there a check valve in there? That's the only way I can think it would work. And if so how the heck do you bleed it??
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Those are two very good questions "M",,, I don't know for sure. I will get back to you.