Kawi KX450F as a Dual Sport?

[Bedlam]

I have a chance to pick up a 2013 KX 450F so I am wondering if a light kit is supported and how this would handle as a dual sport?

Any input on this bike?

[Blackdiamond]

Bedlam wrote:
I have a chance to pick up a 2013 KX 450F so I am wondering if a light kit is supported and how this would handle as a dual sport?

Any input on this bike?

Look at Baja Designs to see about the light kit. It might need a stator rewind to power the lights. IMHO, it is useable but not best choice, 5 speed trans, it is a track bike so it won't be suited for low speed trails, or high speed roads. Does you state allow conversions of an off road only bike to get a plate, many don't?

[boogie_4wheel]

It doesn't have enough stator to run halogens. It has enough output to power a Rigid Dually pod on the front, bit that's about it. A friend had a fuel injected kx450. I rode it in the mountains, it sucked; out of its element. Stiff suspension, tired of kicking it.

As for the bike itself, it will be just like any other 450. Maintenance is the hard part. You will get more life out of it trail riding, but it won't live as long as a bike with a more mild tune. We took a crf450r to Moab, what a handful, and that was on Kane Creek Trail. Unless you are riding a lot of sand and climbing a lot of hills, I'd hunt for something else.

I'm old school... I ride an XR650L. Maintenance is stupid easy, it does better in the tight stuff than my XR400 did. Electric start is the greatest thing ever. My riding buddy and I both used to do motocross and desert races a good amount, we are in our early 30s now, he got a DR650 last year and we are having an absolute blast on the old technology. We can outride the bikes in the desert; wishing for more power and better suspension tuning, but having more fun just exploring.

What type of riding do you plan on doing?