The Start of the 2006 KLX450r has begun! UPDATED W/ PICS GOT MOTOR

[3Razors]

That is going to be a VERY tight squeeze into a tecate as they dont have much room to work with.

[250rmanfmf]

Any suggestions on where to look for engines??? Ebay and some Kaw sites are the only ones I can think of right now

Tyler

[69HemiGTX]

There's a seller on Ebay that parts out bikes all the time. Their name is keepitroostin, and they're from Faith, NC. They have a KX250F engine for sale right now, but they do run across some late-model 450s. I haven't seen a KX450F from them yet, but you might contact them and let them know you're in the market. There was a brand new KXF450 engine on there a couple months ago, but I don't know if it sold or not. I do know it wasn't cheap.

[250rmanfmf]

thanks for that info, I was guessing the engine will not be cheap but it should be worth it

Tyler

[oldskool83]

eliteatv.com gets motors in all the time...he is on ebay also under eliteatv...you may just want to get a honda or yamaha motor and put it in there since they have had 450's out for 4 years now...trying to find a kawasaki 450 motor when the bike has not even been out a year my be hard yet...and you will pay top $ abou 2,000 for the motor alone...KXF400's are way cheaper.

[250rmanfmf]

well I have been doing more research and I am trying to figure it out and go with it. Here are my options, they are pretty similar motors size wise so if later down the road I can swap if I want to

Heres my options

KFX450r engine cost $2000 just for engine and probably another $1K for injection system with electrical. and wait time to get a motor

Total $3000

or

KX450F Engine cost $1500 just for engine and another $800 for carb and misc. power work and electrical.

Total $2300

or

KFX400 Engine- Cost of engine $300, 490cc Stroker big bore- $650, Cams $350, Valve terrian $300 Clutch $100, Edlebrock carb $425 and electrical $50

Total $2200

those are the order of my 1st threw 3rd choice but it will end up what it will be when I find a motor.

Tyler

[250rmanfmf]

that kfx400 motor is a motor that I can buy now with a busted case.

Tyler

[oldskool83]

buy bown up kxf400 or z400 since they are the same and just rob all you want...this way you can steal the swingarm and shock set up rear axle and stuff aand modifiy it or have a custom set up made.

hreatv.com would literly build you want you want from ground up for a price...but hes good just as deathman...we both have been dealing with him.

[NOS_350X]

I woudnt even mess with the kxf450, underpowered and too new.

The kx450f is a bad ass bike, the engine is a powerhouse. AND carburated, MUCH BETTER THAN THE CRAPPY EFI. No e start to run into problems with, simple. If the engine is wider than the spot in the swing arm just remove a section of the swingarm so it will fit. and line up the chain.

[HaggLE]

I dont know much about these motors but from what i have read i think you should get a 400 motor and then work it, you will probably end up with more power and you know exactly whats in it cos you will rebuild it yourself.

As for the swinger, you should give it a go to build it yourself, cut the front off a late model quad swinger and then change it and make it fit the Tecate. it probably wont take much work, just get your welding mate to help you.

btw, why do you guys like the long swingers so much? Over here in oz we like em shorter so you can ride on tracks and take the turns fast....

well thats my opinion on all that anyway...

[OZQUAD44]

I think now that a CR450F and a YZ450F motors have been put into Honda and Tri-Z frames, then its about time a KX450F motor was slotted into a Tecate.

The KFX400 and Z400 motors are good motors and cheap but they aren't the ducks nuts are they! Besides they are really Suzuki donks. I think you should keep it mostly Kawasaki where you can.

Don't bother with fuel injection, additional nightmares, not to mention cost makes this too much of a heartache. Try finding a used KFX450R motor anyway, impossible.

Go find youself a KX450F motor. All the bike mags rave about these engines, you won't need to modify it at all. All you need is a good runner. Remember that the Tecates are very light. A KX450F equiped Tecate will eat just about anything in standard form.

As for the swing arm. I'm going through that nightmare at the moment. Best thing you could do is start from scratch. Once you have the motor fitted up, then you start on the swingarm. Make the engine end of the swingarm from the gaps left between the new motor and the frame. The back of the swingarm should be made to accomodate a common round house bearing carrier, Honda, Yamaha, or whatever.

HaggLE, as for the longer swingarms. It's just to keep the pesky front end down when your trying to put power on the ground. If it means slowing the steering down a tad to keep on the juice, then so be it. If you go back to some of the articles written on the 86/7 Tecate from the eighties, It was recommended to run a +2" swinger even for trail riding.

[NOS_350X]

btw, why do you guys like the long swingers so much? Over here in oz we like em shorter so you can ride on tracks and take the turns fast....

well thats my opinion on all that anyway...

My shee has a -2, and the 450 will have a -2 soon also. I race flattrack so its a must. depends on the riding, when in the dunes most go with the extended swinger. I keep it lowered with the shortened swinger and it launches like crazy. With the extended swinger its harder to get the traction for a goodlaunch.

[HaggLE]

My dad used to race flat track in the day and he used to run shortened swingers too to give that faster turn and better launch. Another thing he used to do to get a good launch out of the gate was to increase the rear rebound dampening right up so that when the suspension dived at takeoff it would stay down for longer giving better weight transfer.

We ride on the sand and dont really get wheel stands that bad because the area we ride and the high quality newcastle sand is soooooo soft that you want traction more than stability.

p.s. sorry for hi-jacking your thread.

This sounds like a very interesting thread and I agree that you should run a kawasaki powerplant now.. so its like the project would be like a modern trike if they made one.

[OZQUAD44]

I aggree with you to an extent Haggle, shortend swingarm for flat track is the way to go. But more in so far as getting good drive(bite) in the turns and quick turn in. If you have lots of traction launching with a shortend swingarm can be a bit tricky.

For general trail riding on a Tecate with its snappy power delivery and quick steering, Id go a +1" to +2" anyday. I've lost coun't of the times my Tecate (when runnning properly) has has tried to claw the sky without warning. I've found the 250R is pretty good as standard so for general trail riding I wouldn't alter a 250R swingarm. If you've ridden a 250R with a -1" swinger (from a TRX250R) thats what a standard Tecate feels like, now add a snappier motor.

Its all about tuning the machine to perform its best in the role its used most. Horses for courses.

P.S. I probably didn't help matters with the Hi-Jack. If at all possible I'll stop waffling on swingarm length and concentrate on the future KXT450F

[250rmanfmf]

no problem guys. Luckely I have a few parts headling my way to where now I just need the motor to really start the customizing.

you guys all have great ideas and hope to put the kx450F engine in cause of its simplisaty and for it being a true Kaw. motor. I might look to see how similar the mounting points on the KFX400 motor is to the kx450f to where I might be able to start the project with a KFX400 motor until a 450 comes for sale.

But I need your guys help with finding a motor. I will be doing some calling around this week and hopefully in the next few weeks I can have a motor coming my way

thanks for all the great tips, please keep them coming as this is a project for you guys too and want to make a BADASS Tecate

Thanks
Tyler