[Is Kawasaki Kfx450 Good In Dunes?] - ATV Riders Forums - Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Polaris, CanAm, Arctic Cat, Kymco ATVs

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Is Kawasaki Kfx450 Good In Dunes?
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Posted by: Egypt Rider

Is It Good In The Dunes ?

Posted by: woodsZrider

i don't know about the dunes...
but they are great in the woods...

Posted by: feature05

I haven't had any problems in the dunes.

Posted by: Atving4Christ

Why wouldn't they be good in the dunes? Now if you wanted to know if the 300ex was good. That would be another subject. I'm joking. Their great.

Larry

Posted by: offroadhunter

Been to glamis a few times this season..was awesome & had a blast

Posted by: 04CAVForce

Oh ya! It is fun in the dunes.... then you add the big three upgrades (intake, exhaust, programmer) and then its on

I love riding Glamis, Gordons Well, and Buttercup!

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n135/rogue1970/Rides/200705%20Buttercup/100_1902.jpg
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n135/rogue1970/Rides/200711%20Glamis/IMG_4776.jpg
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n135/rogue1970/Rides/200801%20Gordons%20Well/IMG_0034.jpg

Posted by: KoyukKFX

I came all the way from Northwestern Alaska to buy a KFX and ride it at Ogilby.
This is me in Mid-January '08 on my 100% stock KFX.
It Rocks!

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u266/DuneMoose/eskislide.jpg

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u266/DuneMoose/eskiroost.jpg

Posted by: 04CAVForce

Sweet... that is a very nice shot of you. Looks very professional! So you came down from Koyuk, Alaska...... ha small world. I was born in Soldotna, Alaska.

I'm heading out again this Friday - Sunday to Glamis.... probably camp around Wash 5 or so.

Posted by: bustedknuckle

OK ,Call Me Stupid,IM From ,PA .Why Do People Ask This Question? Not Trying To Funny ,I Would Think Any Quad Would Be Ok .Just A Dumb Northerner.....Please Explane

Posted by: 04CAVForce

Your right any quad will be 'OK' in the dunes... but you need lots of power to be great in the dunes.

With a 450, you have tons of power on tap and you should not have to work the engine as hard as say a 300cc or 400cc quad.

Paddle tires in soft sand give the quad unbelievable traction. If your quad is running 100% all the time, it could over heat easily and/or have an engine failure.

My first quad was a KFX700. Lots of power out of the V-Twin, but also lots of weight (automatic, shaft drive quad). I had ITP Sand Stars and they did 'fine' in the sand. BUT, I would never start at the base of a powder razor back and try to climb it.

Fast foward a few years to my KFX450. I have the big three mod (intake, exhaust, programmer) and it flat out screams. Since I had a screaming quad, I wanted some of the best paddle tires I could buy. Sand Tires Unlimited Padla Brats Comp Cut on Douglas .125 rims. Each of my rear tires mounted to the rim weights about 10 lbs. Yes, 10 lbs. My Sand Stars mounted on .190 rims were 18 lbs each. 8lbs difference of rolling mass weight is HUGE.

Now, with these straight paddle super light tires, with enough engine to get them spinning quick... I can climb the steepest powder Razor back from the base with no problems.

Again, most quads do 'OK' in sand dunes. I should think that everybody should start out on a lower powered quad with 'OK' tires, so when they move into a high performance quad, they can see the great advantage(s) that the extra power gives them.

Wow, sorry about the novel. Hopefully it answered your question.

Oh, ya.... I'm ADDICTED TO SAND !!!!!

Posted by: offroadhunter

quote:
Originally posted by bustedknuckle
OK ,Call Me Stupid,IM From ,PA .Why Do People Ask This Question? Not Trying To Funny ,I Would Think Any Quad Would Be Ok .Just A Dumb Northerner.....Please Explane

No! not so...my wife's Trailboss sucks in the sand! I'd think utility ATVs without 4wd would be equally as bad..

Posted by: 04CAVForce

When I say 'OK' in the sand with about any quad, I'm not talking about racing up the competition hills or doing deep duning. The lower bore / smaller quads (they still can still be very heavy) can go on what I call the 'kids' rides.

I have two kids 7 & 9 that both ride 90cc quads. Now these things are about 250 lbs each. My kids can ride up and down the little hills going to Patton Valley from Gordons Well, but that is about it. Rider skill plays a huge roll in this too. My wife riding a stock z400 with stock tires also made it (only getting stuck once) out to Patton Valley from Gordons Well a few times, while some other guy on a 300cc Honda, struggled to get up every hill. Now these hills out to Patton Valley are 5-10 feet tall.... or very small.

I also took out a 650 4x4 out at night in Glamis and it was A LOT OF WORK (602lbs dry). I had to get a run at hills, make sure my lines were ultra smooth, and ALWAYS park facing down hill.

Another time I was out in a group and somebody had a 360 4x4 (605lbs dry). After watching this quad not make it up a not-so-steep 30 foot sand hill (stock tires), it sold me on the fact that I would NEVER buy a quad like this. I sold my KFX700 (~700 lb quad with full skids) as I didn't want my wife (115 lbs) riding this tank around. It had plenty of power but WAY to heavy for her.

If you want to ride any/all sand dunes, you have to get a large bore quad (400cc+) and have paddle tires.

Later,
Larry