 THE
NOST CUBE--AUG
17
Our initial test
on a modified
big-bore KXF250
was the first
track time on
the RPMs Ice
Cube. And while
it made bigger
bottom power and
packed a
substantial mid
surge, it was
quite honestly
harder to start
and lacked
friendliness.
Our buddy Rex
Halepeksa called
us saying that
we ‘had to’ ride
his KXF. It
featured a newer
version of the
Ice Cube 276
kit, Novation
Suspension’s
latest
suspension
technology plus
a host of
goodies that
helped tune the
Kawa four-stroke
into a Vet
rider’s ultimate
cheater bike.
THE BOINGERS
There’s no doubt
that the stock
KXF suspension
is adequate,
absorbing
trackside litter
with a decent
appetite. But it
tends towards
harshness when
pushed, and then
lacks the
overall ability
to make it plush
and stiff enough
in the same
sentence.
Novation (NOST,
or Novation
Off-road
Suspension
Technologies)
suspension works
at welding the
two worlds of
plush and stiff
enough together
in its SS valve
for the fork and
the all-new
triple adjuster
shock valve
system. The
Novation shim
design for the
fork produces
and controls
both low and
mid-speed and is
actually able to
blow off under
high-speed
square edge
hits. The goal
with the
mid-valve and
base valve is to
give it control
and increased
adjustability.
With the shock,
Novation fit its
new APDS, triple
adjuster system.
With it you can
adjust low speed
for really slow
damping; the
mid-speed
adjuster holds
the shock up in
jump faces and
deep whoops or
G- outs. The
High-speed
adjuster is a
separate circuit
that has
superior
bottoming
control with no
added spike.
On the track you
feel an
immediate
difference in
the suspension’s
ability to
react. It feels
plush enough,
not wallowy or
spongy, but
sucks on the
stutters and
square edged
hack like it’s
an appetizer.
Both ends are
happy the harder
you push them,
though in
reality the
plush factor
rates high with
us. To be honest
we didn’t monk
with the
adjusters that
much, feeling
that they pretty
much nailed the
damping and
spring rates.
THE MOTOR
The KXF motor
received an RPM
276cc Ice Cube
kit, which ups
the bore to 81mm
(or 276cc). It
adds mass to the
cylinder, plus
improves cooling
via increased
capacity. The
kit comes with
two 81mm Wiseco
pistons and two
gasket kits.
Carburetion
stays stock,
though jetting
is slightly
modified to work
with the new
cylinder
arrangement. A
full titanium
Leo Vince X3
exhaust system
compliments the
motor package.
What a
difference a few
cc makes! The
RPM Ice Cube
engine kit gives
the KXF newfound
bottom power,
enhances the
mid-range and
only the top end
appeal retains a
‘standard-issue,
type feel. The
Leo Vince
exhaust
complements the
engine, the roar
is subtle, the
power smooth.
Overall this is
the full cheater
bike (or better
yet a great Vet
wagon) with
superior bottom
to mid power,
which allows for
easy short
shifting and a
laissez faire
attitude when
jumping. With
substantially
more low (see
roll-on), the
RPM motor pulls
harder, earlier
and conquers
tricky MX tracks
with style. She
starts as easy
as stock and we
never had an
issue with the
power, or lack
of it.
THE LITTLE
STUFF
Rex equipped the
KXF with FBN
Triple clamps,
with a standard
offset. The
clamp features
enhanced
ergonomic
fitment, plus
adds a cool
factor.
Handlebars were
Renthal Fat
Bars, CR-Hi,
along with
Renthal half
waffle grips,
sprockets and
chain. Braking
Wave rotors were
installed fore
and aft, and a
Dirt Tricks
water pump cover
made for real
world oil
changes. Stomp
body grip,
nubbed leg
traction device
was stuck to the
frame for
increased leg
bite and
Sik Industries
powder coated
the hubs and
provided the
rims.
CHEATER OR
CHEATED
This is a great
Vet mxer, or a
stunning cheater
bike. With
far-reaching
gains in both
suspension
compliance and
the ability to
gargle with
brutal circuits
mated to a motor
that chugs,
snarls and barks
out of the
corners, you
have a machine
with an appetite
for moto. And
the great news
is that you
leave the table
with a smile on
your face.
Nost Pro
Suspension
package $600
NOST SS Fork
Valves $279.95
RPMS Ice Cube
276 Kit includes
cylinder,
2 pistons, 2
base gaskets,
2 O/rings
$1220.00
Braking front
wave rotor
$129.95
Rear wave
$129.95
Renthal Fat Bars
$79.95
R1 Chain $81.95
Rear black
sprocket $64.95
C/S pro $32.95
Leo Vince X3 Ti
Factory
Race System
$864.95
Stomp body grip
kit $31.95
Dirt Tricks
water pump cover
$119.95
FBN Triple
Clamps $349.95
Sik Industries
Powder coating
hubs $125 per
pair
Rims $125 per
pair any color
All Parts
distributed by
Western Power
Sports (800)
999-3388 call
for a dealer
near you.
NOSTsuspension.com
(509) 879-3751
Leo Vince (888)
610-4242;
Dirt Tricks
(775) 782-2014;
FBN (408)
938-8685;
Sik Industries
(408) 496-6363. |
