Villopoto, Weimer to Debut 2012 KX450F at Unadilla
Thursday, August 11, 2011 | 10:50 AM
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PrintIRVINE, Calif.- Monster Energy Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto and Jake Weimer will debut the 2012 Kawasaki KX450F on Saturday at the AMA Motocross Championship at Unadilla in New Berlin, N.Y.
The 2012 Kawasaki KX450F features many upgrades to an already championship-winning bike including improved chassis performance and enhanced ergonomics. The Monster Energy Kawasaki race team was able to make the switch to the newer bike since the release of the new model came out in early June.
"We could tell right away that the guys were comfortable on the bike and after successful testing over the break, we decided to go ahead and race it," said motocross team manager Mike Fisher. "Having the option to go to the 2012 KX450F gives us an advantage over our competition to utilize the latest technology that has been provided to us by Kawasaki."
To see all the latest technology the 2012 Kawasaki KX450F has to offer, check out the info page here:
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I am wondering, what would the 2012 KX450 offer that their Factory 2011 KX450 race bikes dont already have? Is all PR stuff or what?
@Trend Killer. Because of the production rule, I believe that the Factory bikes have to maintain the chasis that are built in production and factories are limited to the extent that they can upgrade their bikes. Having said that, the '12 450f has much lighter chasis than the '11 so it should be an advantage.
Trend killer pay attention its the commercial that is out the bike is totally different, handlebars and foot pegs adjust for different size of riders launch control witch is the first ever, skinner frame skinner gas tank, and three different settings on the engine by switching pins most advanced bike out there.
Wow, Kawi is seriously hyping this bike up. The name of the game is sales! Too bad all this new technology on bikes comes with such a steep price tag. I not sure about anyone else but due to the economy, my company has not been able to give a pay me increase since 2008. Yet bike prices go up every year! And they wonder why bike sales have gone down so much in the past 10 to 15 years. I was never involved in this sport in its hayday so I can only speculate. But, man, I wish I had been involved then....
Sounds like a little bit of a gamble to me when RV has the points lead. Seems like they have a good thing going with the 2011. The new bike is sweet, but it can take more than a few weeks to really get a feel for a bike. Especially one that's got so many differences from the previous model.
This is not RV2 's first rodeo, with a 1 point series lead he would NOT be making this switch if they did not feel/know, mechanically the bike would not have issues, RV was as or more comfortable on the new chassis and the lap times said it was a good move. Factory Kawi would not demand a switch if it was not a good move on the threshold of a championship.
The stop watch doesn't lie!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stay tuned
Bring it home RV2!
haha pretty sure factory teams already have all that stuff adjusted for the riders
Yeah you said that right MX117... Dungey is all over Villipoto and they're putting him a new bike?
Too bad for Kawi as KTM has the market now. The days of jap bike domination are over.
thanks for the info... I wasnt up to par with all the production rules and figured RV would have been on a 2012 set up already for the most part.....Will we see RV use the launch control feature???
I am sure RV has had pleanty of seat time on the 2012....I thought " why not stick to what is working ".... but maybe the 2012 will work better.....
thes new kawasaki, thes is the good one. Narrow frame and stuff. Those up and down pegs are too much fluff for my $$$ I think. Handlebar mounted launch control will be nice. Nice and troublesome when you get a little too muddy. Just my opinionated opinion. I have seen lots of moisture trouble with the last few years of Kawi electronics.
We are consumers. An updated YZ250 would sell in mass quantities snarksnark i'm a conehead.
Shifting, I haven't exactly come across any sales data that says KTM MX bikes are out selling the big four, but I don’t think that is the case. I wouldn't doubt it in the off road market though (EXCs & EXC-Ws beating out the WRs, Xs, KLXs, and DR-Zs).
khamann75, the factory bikes certainly have all of the bells and whistles you’ve listed. Those setup options are par for the course nowadays. All of the EFI bikes have custom ignition maps, and I wouldn’t doubt that most have a launch control option. However, these are huge gains for the everyday consumer.
Anyone here old enough to remember McGrath racing Hondas back in '93 to '96, I think it was? Honda advertised a new bike every year but as we all know now is that Jeremy was riding the same bike for 4 years. I doubt Ryan is riding a 2012 450 this weekend.
How is it this is legal? Don't the rules say you have to ride a 2011 in the 2012 series? If I recall correctly Yamaha had to use their one time works exemption when Langston won the title. Is this what Kawi is doing or have they changed the rules?
oops.........2011 in the 2011 series. Freudian slip!
I think is was 2007(?) when Langston went with the 2008 bike (frame change) mid season. He loved the change, turned his results around and ended up winning the championship. Plus, we can be sure RV has been testing in parallel since probably before the season started. Given how much of this is mental, if he thinks it's better, it is. I wouldn't change my fantasy picks on it.
How smart is this move at this point in the season?? RV has the points lead, unless he has been testing this bike for a while and loves it.
The new KTM 250SX is out and its got 50 horsepower, love the 2-stroke. And it is $2000 less than the 450 4-stroke. Gotta love it.
This is bullshit!!! There was a privateer at either Milville or Washougal that had to borrow a 250 2 stroke because he wasnt allowed to race the new 2012 KXF450 he got. The AMA and Racer Productions need to quit allowing the Factory Teams to break the rules. The production rule is bogus, lets go back to allowing full blown works bikes, I dont think much would change as far results for everyone.
If they pull this one off it will be something.. To make a change now, RV must like the bike. I mean to switch now to the 2012 from pressure from Kawisaki. I thought they were already running them..:s
The new KX is a great machine! Imagine how that Gem handles with all the factory unobtainium attached. If I was Reed and Dungey...I'd be alittle worried!
It is the Chassis that we are talking about, thats it, the chassis! Factory teams don't care about all the stock doo dads, adjustable bars, pegs, new suspension, ignition mappings etc, they already have all that dialed. If the chassis feel is better, they can make it handle better. Feel and handle better = Faster
Faster = RV2 Championship.
I vaguely remember several years back when I thought there was both a mid season Supercross and Motocross bike change involving Reed and Stewart, Yamaha and possible Kawasaki? I don't think it was the same year but it seems like this has happened a couple of times?
Sanity says that just because of a press release - a press release that is banking on RV winning the title on a 2012 Kawi and then influencing 2012 sales - well, sanity says that there is going to be nothing different about RV's race bike at Unadilla other than what is normally different from one race to the other. You boys understand? It's all bells and whistles from the marketing folks. I'd even go so far as to say that RV has had the choice to run a pre production frame that is similar to the 2012 since his first week or two at kawasaki japan - 2009 maybe. Read the Mike Fischer story.
Now someone will retort with "the rules."
Crap,Villo is probably going to start kicking a$$.He'll have that modern chassis instead of that antique that he's been riding.
@ wait a minute,Yamaha used up their one time works bike deal with Doug Henry on that prototype 4 stroke a hundred years ago.
Here it is:
4. Early Model Homologation Requirements
When a manufacture intends to homologate an early model release (I.E. a 2011 model released towards the end of 2010 and competing in the 2010 season), the following
applies:
The homologation application, supporting documents and conformation of all
control parts must be received by AMA racing no later than 15 days prior to the
first event that the model will compete in.
Minimum quantities which must be available through US dealers:
All Manufacturers – 400 units per model.
The model must be available through US dealers at the time of the homologation
application. Importation quantity requirements must be completed within 90 days
of the homologation application date.
Manufacturers must maintain availability of models homologated to any AMA prolicensed motocross competitor until August 1st of the model year. This applies unless the manufacturer can supply documented proof that the units imported to the US as the minimum requirement were sold to North American customers before June 1st of the model year. US distributor team motorcycles are counted as part of the required units up to a maximum of 8 units. Notarized Bills of Lading and Applicable Invoices must be supplied to AMA Racing for verification of importation quantities. Upon investigation, if this information is not deemed adequate, AMA Racing may require other supporting information.
WOW bold move.
It appears to be legit. I do wonder if Kawi did their do diligence on all the requirements or did the AMA pencil whip the homogolation. Hmm......?
As long as you can buy one RV can race it. Thats the rule. They need to have 400 or 500 shipped to be able to race it.
Stewart has a couple in his garage.....
Please....it is his 2011 factory bike with 2012 graphics. Such sheep in this room.
All the hype is on RV, me being an RV fan I enjoy reading all these things about it. What about Jake Weimer will this make him more of a contender? Probably not but it's a thought.
Chad Reed disliked his Kawasaki so much he quit, made up some illness, and opted out of the second year of his contract. And look how much better he is on Hondas now.
The sheeple will be watching Villopoto this weekend on a real 2012. It wouldn't suprise me at all if RV just gained a few seconds a lap.......
So, I'm confused! On a "Factory" Kawasaki not a Pro-Circuit Kawasaki, who's suspension (front and rear) are they allowed to run. Never quite understood how PC-Kaw's fit into the mix with the "real" Factory bikes. I should know this but I have been looking for a half hour and can't find it on the net.
First time caller, I'll take my answer off the air, Thanks!
Everytime I go riding, theirs at least 2 brand new ktms out at the track. Ktm, is owning the market right now.
Maybe this is what RV has been waiting for!!! Maybe..just maybe he has been running and testing the 2012 bike during he week only to jump on the 2011 on race day....Now that he can race it, he can come out and drop the hammer and put in some of those 1-1 rides we have been waiting for and take this championship!!
I should preface that by saying KX450F bike not a KX250F, realizing the 450 is not a Mitch Payton toy-box item. Don't understand the fine line between Pro CIrcuit and Kawasaki KX450F's...
Its funny guys saying this might be what RV needs, like they forget he is leading the points right now. Its almost like he is exspected to win both motos at every race. Its not that RV is riding that bad, just Dungey is fast too. Faster than he gets credit for.
@caseypons-- Lets see if this helps. Pro Circut is a 250 class race team only. No 450's on that team. RV rides for Moster Energy Kawisaki. Its the name of the factory Kawasaki 450 team.
BD200 - I dont think RV "needs" anything tand in no way do I think he is riding bad, not at all. They are all shredding......But to me, the last few weeks I have seen that Suzuki pull that Kawaski on the straights and they (KAW) have been making tweaks every week....so maybe this switch will give him that edge he needs to get that elusive 1-1.....Only Reed has gone 1-1 this entire outdoors via a Dungey DNF....so Yes, many folks expected RV to pull a few 1-1's out this year....and now is a good time to start!!
DON if it is you can tell very easy by the frame so my guess is your don't know what your talking about.
@bd200,pretty much everyone on here expected RV2 to kill the outdoors.I truely thought he would win 20 out of 24 motos.Reed proved that his bike is not as good as the other two contenders bike.Reed bailed on his Kaw deal.RV Kaw has been long in the tooth for a couple three years.Also RV seems to be more tired at the end of the motos.He lost a lot of weight for this year as well.I for sure think the new chassis will help him out.We'll see on sat.
@bd200...Thanks for the attempt however, You have two teams named Monster Energy Kawasaki. I knew Mitch is not allowed to play in the 450 class for some contractual reason. Are the two teams supported by both Monster/Kawasaki, I am going to say yes. Now, as stated in my main question is... who's suspension parts are the 450 class team allowed to run? Can they not run (any) Pro Circuit mods and or parts? Do they have only Kawasaki parts? I don't think so.
So, I am still confused based on my original question.
RV is tired at the end of motos because he is running with RD5 and CR22 with a ill handling green dino. RD5 has the best handling MX bike on the line.
My inner Nostradamus tells me that when Villopoto gets spanked again, you people proclaiming he'll win the championship with this new bike will be crying that he didn't have proper testing time on it. Just watch...
We will find out at Dilla if the 2012 is an advantage. As far as the rules, as you all know privateers are effed in this industry and thats just how things are with AMA and many other sports
the 2012 was not homologated at the time the privateer tried to race it
the 450 team could run pc but they use khi spec factory kyb suspension ,not available to anyone.the 250 team runs showa pro circuit components that seem to work just as well as the factory/works units.pc does sell their suspension if you have the cash.
Are you people that stupid! Why do think RV can't win the second moto when the track is ruff. That 2011 bike does not handle outdoors, he can't hold on to it. It looks like a pogo stick out there. I hope the 2012 is better.
@factory suspension; The picture is starting to become considerably clearer. I realize there is much more to the big picture than I am privy to. Which is as it should be. The PC team has proven it's dominance in the 250 class not only through a technological business plan but, Mitch has proven he has the full meal deal when it comes to a (total) applied package. One would think that if the 2012 450 Kawasaki (factory) team has motivation to market their product and maintain AMA rules and regs without jeopardizing RV2 and his slimmest of margins going in the last 8 motos of the season. I just know this 2011 Outdoor National series is proving to be as competitive as the recent Supercross season and the three candidates who can and will top that podium are three well deserved individuals as well their manufacturers and equally important... their teams and team work. And we, as fans are the benefactors of their efforts. I can't wait till the weekend... every week. Ride hard, ride clean and good luck. Thank You.
You people are ridiculous. I seem to recall Villopoto winning the second moto at Red Bud in convincing fashion on the 2011 you claim is such a hindrance. Give Dungey some credit, he's been better at the last few races than Villopoto. Since Villopoto isn't dominating, you morons claim it's the bike. It's sad.