february 2012 - Wiseco

56 www.motocrossactionmag.com

We RideWISECO’S 70THANNIVERSARYKAWASAKIKX450FFEBRUARY 2012 / MOTOCROSS ACTION 57

KX450FIn celebration of their 70thyear in business, Wisecobuilt MXA a 2012 Kawasakirace bike. Better yet, theyaddressed key problems onthe green steed.What is it about a project bike that makes theMXA wrecking crew drool like kids in a candystore? Maybe it’s the endless possibilities.Perhaps it’s the list of trick components that litter thebike. Maybe it’s the allure of testing one company’svision of the perfect motocross weapon. Regardless ofthe reasoning, we’re always eager to sling a leg over apurpose-built project bike.In recent years, Wiseco has provided plenty ofexhilaration for the MXA gang. Not only have theycrafted race steeds for our review, but we have evenspent time at their home offices in Mentor, Ohio, doingsome testing. Exactly two years ago to the day, MXAtested Wiseco’s race-ready Yamaha YZ450F. One yearago, we made the pilgrimage back to Ohio to sling a legover their 2010 Honda CRF450.It’s no secret that the MXA wrecking crew doesn’t liketo test motorcycles outside of our controlled climate inSoCal. Not only does Southern California have perfectweather for testing, but we are so familiar with the layof the land at Glen Helen, Piru, Gorman, Racetown,Cahuilla and Competitive Edge that we can tell fast fromslow within a couple of laps. These tracks are our dirtdynos. So when Wiseco buttoned up their projectKawasaki back in Ohio, we weren’t looking forward tododging airport security, wearing long underwear to rideand freezing our appendages in the cool Ohio winter. Asluck would have it, Wiseco didn’t really feel the need tohave us run wild through their production facility andworked out the logistics to deliver a freshly tuned 2012Kawasaki KX450F to MXA’s palatial headquarters inValencia, California.Wiseco didn’t go overboard on the engine. They did, however,install a long-lasting clutch kit to handle the rigors of riding.58 www.motocrossactionmag.com

Wiseco’s 70th anniversary KX450Fwas a culmination of severalaftermarket companies putting intremendous effort to develop abulletproof bike. Test riders weresatisfied by the results.FEBRUARY 2012 / MOTOCROSS ACTION 59

educed friction and increased service life. They alsoadded their unique Fuel Management Controller (FMC).Designed to act like a carburetor, the FMC can adjust theair/fuel mixture for more precise tuning.(5) Chain guide. The KX450F eats through the chainguide and buffer pad faster than Joey Chestnut at abarbecue. Knowing the dangers of the chain wearinginto the swingarm and through the chain guide, Wisecotapped T.M. Designworks to take care of these reliabilityissues. T.M. Designworks installed their Baja Endurancekit, which includes a chain slider, lower roller and chainguide. These are the same parts that we’ve used on ourstock KX450Fs for years.(6) Brakes. If you have a lot of horsepower, then youhad better have a lot of stopping power. The stockbrakes are weak (particularly the front brake). Moto-Master contributed their oversize Flame front rotor.Thanks to a larger clamping surface, the KX450F is nolonger a runaway locomotive.Several other companies contributed to the WisecoKawasaki KX450F bike build. Works Connection offeredup their engine plugs, Elite clutch perch, brake cap, hourmeter and mount, skid plate, and oil-filler plugs. Renthalprovided TwinWall 997 bend bars, a gold chain andsprockets. Twin Air contributed the filter, while CV4 tookcare of the high-pressure radiator cap, silicone radiatorhose kit and thermal gas-tank barrier to keep the fuelfrom overheating. A Hammerhead rear-brake pedal (alongwith a large aluminum brake tip) and shift lever wereused, as were Kal-Gard oils, Hann Racing sleek titaniumfootpegs, DeCal Works custom graphics, Bridgestone403/404 tires, and a Guts factory gripper seat cover withtraction strips.TEST RIDE: MAKINGMOTORCYCLE NOISESThe MXA wrecking crew was excited to test theWiseco Kawasaki KX450F because it was an honestattempt at solving the various bugaboos on an otherwiseoutstanding bike. And, since Wiseco knows the way toour hearts, we were appreciative of the awesomeBridgestone 403/404 sneakers and 997 bend RenthalTwinWall handlebars (two favorites among the vastmajority of testers). Obviously we felt right at home onthe Wiseco KX450F. Wiseco sweetened the deal byallowing us as much time on the bike as we wanted.We’re sure that if we really pushed, we could have keptthe bike forever. Greed, however, is not a virtue, and wehave a steady stream of bikes waiting in the queue to betested.The most outstanding improvement on the WisecoKX450F was the clutch. Typically, the KX450F eats thestock clutch pack as an appetizer and moves right intothe clutch basket. That’s not the case with the Wisecoclutch. Brutal as we were to the clutch, it was fade-freeand consistent throughout the test. Even the worstclutch abusers couldn’t wear down the plates. TheWiseco clutch is a good buy for any year model KX450F.Yoshimura’s RS-4D titanium/carbon fiber exhaustsystem looked trick and received a lot of attention fromlooky-loos in the pits. Most MXA test riders prefer thesingle-hole muffler design, claiming that the two-holeexhaust improves low-end response but tamps downmidrange and top-end power. The RS-4D beefed up thetorque curve and tamed the midrange hit slightly. That’snot a bad thing, considering the KX450F powerband canbe too much for less skilled riders.We’ve had success with Wiseco’s Fuel ManagementController in the past and appreciated how easy theinstrument was to use. Wiseco hid their FMC under theTest riders were pleased to discover that the KX450F came with astronger front brake, aftermarket exhaust and bulletproof clutch.seat on the KX450F. By removing the seat bolts, wehad instant access to the air/fuel mixture. It was abenefit at high altitudes and in colder conditions wherea few minor tweaks to the system boosted engineperformance. The FMC doesn’t increase the amount ofhorsepower, but enhances fuel delivery for a crisperrunningengine. It’s a very cool accessory, especially fortechnology geeks.As mentioned previously, Factory Connection handledthe suspension duties. F.C. essentially gutted thesuspension and started from scratch. They do impressivework, but apparently our signals got crossed for this biketest. Why? Factory Connection set up the suspensionway too stiff. Initially, we dialed back the clickers andmessed with the sag, but the suspension wasn’t asforgiving as we would have liked. It took a ham-fistedrider with a general disregard for safety to get theFactory Connection suspension to work properly. Wesent the forks back for a revalve.CONCLUSION: WHAT DO WE REALLY THINK?We commend Wiseco and its cadre of aftermarketcompanies for taking a shot at resolving some of thetroublesome issues on the 2012 Kawasaki KX450F. Forthe most part, they succeeded. We appreciated thatWiseco targeted specific areas without going overboardon a bike that doesn’t need a total make-over. They triedto resist tacking on useless gadgets that would only raisethe curb appeal. And, we’d be lying if we said that weweren’t happy to test the bike in sunny SoCal instead ofon ice in Ohio in winter. Most of all, we’d like tocongratulate Wiseco on 70 years of business!For more information, visit Wiseco online atwww.wiseco.com. ❏FEBRUARY 2012 / MOTOCROSS ACTION 61