*🔥Vortex ECU Test 🔥 - 2022 Kawasaki KX450 Dirt Bike! 🔥* First Ride, Is It Worth It? 😱🤑🔥

First ride with the brand new Vortex ECU I just installed on my 2022 Kawi KX450 with my initial impressions/opinion on the ECU after the test rip!!!
The Bike -
I bought my KX new from the dealer a few months ago bone stock and then built the bike into what it is now! I am extremely happy with the outcome and have no regrets as far as the bike and parts, I will say that I am a Honda guy all day long and this bike is my first Kawasaki Machine that I've owned ever. I decided to try something different this year and went for the 2022 KX450 and man am I glad I did because the new KX's are off the charts! I did a lot of researching and watched video after video on 2022 450cc Dirt bike Shootouts/reviews and after all that I thought the KX was the most interesting bike and it was highly regarded by riders in most of the shootouts and placed high on the list in the shootouts it didn't win outright. So that's a little back story on my bike and and a summary of why I went with the brand new Kawasaki in 2022 and not a Honda or European bike! I haven't really transitioned to the European machines yet or felt the need to I suppose, I've been riding nothing but Japanese machines of all types since I was 4 years old starting out on a 1979 Honda ATC 110 three wheeler! I'm sure I will eventually venture into a KTM or Husky but for now I feel that my KX is a pretty solid option for anything the way I have it set up and this new vortex ECU only makes it better!!!!!
Thank you for watching OFFROAD REVOLUTION, check out my other Channel ATC REVOLUTION and do yourself a favor and hit that subscribe button on both channels! Thank you for the support and I appreciate you as always, take care and I will see you in the next one! ❤️🔥👌

[@OFFROAD-REVOLUTION]

Leave me a comment if there is anything else you guys want to see in a video!! The Raptor 700 will probably be the next machine I do a video on because I just received the custom Long Travel PEP shocks for that front and rear and will be installing them any day here. Thank you all for watching! If you enjoyed then consider subscribing, lots more coming to the channel so stay tuned! I apologize for my voice being terrible, I’m finally over Covid but my voice is still coming and going lol… see you in the next video and take care!

[@OFFROAD-REVOLUTION]

For those that are interested in watching the 350x ride around the compound before I upload the video here, check out my main KZbin channel ATC REVOLUTION for early access! The trike video is live on the other channel now. Here is the my main channel URL/Link to copy and past into your web browser - kzbin.info P.S. Thank you for visiting Offroad Revolution and I hope you enjoyed the video! Consider subscribing to both channels if you enjoyed the content, also do yourself a favor and hit the notification bell to see my latest videos when I upload them! Thank you for all the support and I am looking forward to make more content and try to grow and reach a broader audience on this platform. I am setting a goal to make it to 1000 subscriber's on both channels so I am able to put out even better quality content and would like do to a giveaway of some kind to show my appreciation of your support and help in reaching the 1000 Sub goal! More info on the giveaway will be announced when the channel is within 50-100 subs away from hitting 1000. This is not my full time job so if I can get some monetization after 1000 subs it would go a long way to help improve on my equipment, get a good mic for better audio, better editing software that will allow me to splice multiple 4K UHD video clips together so my content is all 4K and I don't have to attempt to make a video in one cut to upload it in the full 4K quality it was originally recorded in, etc. It would allow me to do more refined/professional quality content that will be better for the viewer so I would really appreciate it if you were are able to subscribe to help keep the channel moving forward! That is how Monetization works on this platform, you need 1000 subs and also a total of 4,000 watch hours to be eligible for it. Everything I do now is all on my own dime out of the passion I have for riding and the machines! #SAVETHESPORTQUAD'S #LONGLIVETHEATC #DIRTBIKE'S #SUBSCRIBE!!!

[@ATCREVOLUTION]

That is a nice 350x! Looks familiar!

[@two-up]

Hi great material very nice motorcycle ;)

[@OFFROAD-REVOLUTION]

Thank you!!! Appreciate the comment and compliment!! I will be making more content on this bike soon after I get to put a few more hours on the bike with the new ECU. So far it seems to be worth every penny and basically turned my KX into a monster that will rev to the moon since the ECU raises the Rev Limit with noticeable power increases right off idle up to the rev limiter with the Vortex set to the most aggressive tune in combination with all the other mods I’ve done to the bike. It’s very enjoyable to ride now for sure 👍 Been a Honda guy my whole life and never owned a Kawi until I bought this 2022 brand new in May. I just seen the bike at the dealer when I went for something else and really liked it after I looked it over and tested it out. The KX is definitely an awesome platform to build and so far I have absolutely nothing to complain now that the bike is built to my liking. They are nice in stock from as well but I can’t leave anything alone… 🤷‍♂️

[@stephenwolinski4651]

I just got the xring triple clamps and I noticed that you had the locking nut under the top triple clamp, I thought my instructions and the guy I got it from off of moto locker said you didn’t use that ? Just a question before I install mine in Connecticut still to cold out , Thank you, Steve

[@OFFROAD-REVOLUTION]

I used everything that came with the XTRIGG triple clamp kit and XTRIGG ant-vibe bar mount system and assembled it all onto the bike according to the instructions that came from XTRIGG. Went together nice and smooth and only took about 1.5-2hrs tops for me. I’ve done that same process several times with different bikes and trikes I’ve had over the years and have electric impact’s to make it quicker. With dirtbikes I just pull the front end off with it on a stand resting on the frame with the tires off the ground. Then when you put it back together you can reposition the chassis on the stand to be at a good angle to put the forks back in when your ready for that. The XTRIGG kit I got a was literally a complete assembly ready to swap on and I didn’t use anything off the OEM triple clamps. The XTRIGG clamps came loosely assembled in the box the way they were supposed to go on the bike according to the instructions so that’s what I went with. Tightened up perfect with no play in the steering head or neck bearings, rock solid but still turned freely like it should. Maybe they changed something? I ordered the XTRIGG triple clamps and bar mounts like 2 days after I got the bike home from the dealer back in April or may of last year.

[@OFFROAD-REVOLUTION]

I even conveniently loosely assembled the whole OEM triple clamp assembly that I removed from the bike and put it in the same box the XTRIGG triple clamp kit came it to store it without loosing anything. I think I remember when I ordered mine seeing some kits that where a couple hundred dollars cheaper on eBay but I got mine right from a Kawasaki Dealer selling on there and it was the most expensive option at the time and had the Kawasaki labels right on both of the boxes for the triple clamp kit and then the anti vibe bar mount kit. Not sure how you received your parts but everything was packaged up pretty fancy in nice XTRIGG boxes with the Kawi labels on them from the dealership.

[@OFFROAD-REVOLUTION]

I’m not sure what advice to give you to be honest other then whatever the instructions say, that’s what I did. I hope you can get it together smoothly! Were you able to see exactly how mine is put together in the video? I don’t want to steer you in the wrong direction so I’m trying to understand what you mean fully. Are you talking about the lower locking ring for the bearing?

[@stephenwolinski4651]

Mine has a different set up on the top triple clamp hope I got correct one🥹any suggestion on who did your revalue on your forks or are stock

[@stephenwolinski4651]

Yes I hope it all goes together good also ! Thank you

[@JosephGiles-sb6or]

I have a vortex ecu on my kxf 250 2019 came with the bike wen purchased it does eny 1 no wat best setting is as mines on 555 map 5 but bike seems sluggish compared to my old kxf 250 that i px for the 2019

[@OFFROAD-REVOLUTION]

The 5, 5, and 5 is your fuel trim adjustments for low end, mid range, and top end. That is a what the fuel trims come set at from Vortex so you have adjustment both ways but in most cases you really don’t have to touch them. You could turn them all up 1 position and see how it feels as I believe +1 adds 2.5% more fuel to whatever fuel trim you are adjusting. I had those turned up to the max to run in my 2023 KX450SR factory edition but in my 2022 KX450 I got the ECU for it was perfect with the trims all on 5 and I believe the hottest map is either 0 or #1 which is what mine came set on from Vortex. I can look on the ECU at the X10 map switch and let you know for sure what map should be the most performance, I will reply to your comment again with the answer after I look on the ECU! Hope this helps with the fuel trip switches and I will get back to you ASAP about the X10 map switch and what to set it on. Thanks for the comment!

[@OFFROAD-REVOLUTION]

I just made a new video all about the vortex for you to check out, map number 1 on the X10 switch is highest performance! I cover it and the fuel trim switches in the new upload I just posted about the Vortex. Hope this helps you and thanks for watching!!

[@JosephGiles-sb6or]

@OFFROAD-REVOLUTION OK cheers I will try it

[@Factoryphoto]

Question for you- I just bought a kx 450, coming off a 2020 yz 450 and I gotta say the motor on the kx is disappointing, on the yz I could ride sand tracks and loam in 3rd gear, the entire track with no problem, I rode the kx for the first time a few weeks back before the storms and could not pull out of corners in 3rd the way I wanted to, 3rd on the kx feels like 4th on the yzf, I did put a tooth larger sprocket but I have not got to ride due to rain. I've had a vortex on a few bikes years ago but not on a kawi, how much did it pick up on torque? I can't hear you in the video, sounds like 2nd gear most of the time due to the slippery conditions, how is 3rd ,can you really feel the difference ? Still happy with it? Thank you

[@OFFROAD-REVOLUTION]

The Vortex was well worth it on the KX and it is very noticeable way beyond what I ever expected, I don’t think I could ever reverse it now and run it with the stock ECU again. I’m extremely happy with the Vortex and in my opinion makes the KX perfect, I never even change tunes on the ECU, I leave the Vortex set to the Hottest map and it works good for me for all riding situations. I gained power throughout the entire rev range so the bike has great bottom end & mid range power and absolutely screams on the top end like it doesn’t ever want to stop pulling more MPH in 5th gear pinned If you never let off lol. 3rd gear is awesome with the Vortex with the gains in bottom end and midrange if your not used to the KX with the stock ECU. When my bike was all stock and OEM ECU I remember the motor was more of a mid-top end so you had to run it at a higher RPM to be in the power. I like to ride that way and really liked the snappiness of the KX engine as it hits hard in the mid to top end instead of 100% smooth power delivery. I’m 5’8” & 175lbs without riding gear on, the bike carried me around awesome I thought even stock out riding in loose terrain lugging it. I have also lowered the gearing swapping sprocket sizes plus I put an 18” wheel set and 18” rear tire on my bike and that’s how I ran it for a year before I ended up getting a Vortex and I really didn’t experience that. I would definitely play with the rear sprocket size first and then order a Vortex if you think you need too. In my case I only bought the Vortex ECU for the fact that I’ve never had one in anything before and had been hearing a lot of hype about them so I just wanted to test it for myself and see if they are what they are cracked up to be and the KX was all I had to stick one in. I have no regrets and the machine is an animal now! I always ran VP110 in the KX for fuel as well since I got it brand new with the rare exception of a 50/50 mix of VP110/92 octane non ethanol in a pinch. For the most part I run straight VP110 and I’ve changed the coolant to engine ice, installed a pro circuit super impeller and water pump cover, universal E-fan kit, and more or less everything on the bike has been that way long before the ECU and I loved it before and didn’t think it could get that much better but the new ECU just impresses the hell out of me and it’s better then I could of hoped for. After owning/riding a CR500AF and experiencing that animal I’m glad I got the vortex for the Kawi because it makes it more fun to ride for sure. I tell you what when I got the KX home from the dealer I thought 1st gear felt like 2nd gear, 2nd gear felt like 3rd, and so on because everything else I had been riding was geared lower so I had to get used to it but it didn’t take long at all. The full Pro Circuit T6 exhaust and twin air filter really woke my bike up quite a bit and the stock system isn’t very impressive so I would recommend the T6 and a good flowing filter as well with the S/A removed from the Pro circuit and she will bark! I have done a pile of stuff to this bike other then the Vortex alone and I built it pretty much as soon as I got it and then it took like 8 months for the ECU to show up after I decided to get one to try out. I’m sure all the other mods I have done previously just make’s the Vortex work even better now so I’m not sure how much it would help on an all stock bike since mine was basically already the way it is now when I swapped in the New ECU. Thanks for the comment!!!!

[@OFFROAD-REVOLUTION]

I also strictly run only the white DFI coupler on the KX and never use the green or black couplers… the bike should only come with the white one lol. That was one of the first things I did when I got it home, throw the white coupler on. I’ve tested the Green and Black and they are disappointing even compared to the white coupler with VP110 and stock ECU…

[@Factoryphoto]

@@OFFROAD-REVOLUTION Thanks for the reply, I am going to order the vortex and let it rip. ride on brother

[@OFFROAD-REVOLUTION]

@@Factoryphoto Vortex still working perfect, this is a recent riding video on the KX and the first ride of 2023. It performed flawlessly after sitting over the winter! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpezm6SIq8d8pa8

[@evanmiller1642]

The sr is 60hp and gets there mostly with ecu tunning. I do beleive the kx will wake up alot but i also dont see that its power is dissapointing. I rude snow on a 22kx itl pull with or out pull all tge cr yz ktms i ride with. I will say most these guys are 100lbs heavier than me. Ive also noticed guys that ride dirt are often 250 300lbs that pick 450s. But yes the kx rips. If your a 300lber lose some weight or build some more ponies in the easy riding kx

[@OFFROAD-REVOLUTION]

Thanks for watching everyone! Drop me a comment with any video requests or input, like, and subscribe to the channel to be a part of the community and help it grow into a more professional channel as this isn’t my job and it’s all on my dime/free time. I get zero payments or sponsorship and that “Paid Promotion” only appears at the start of my videos because of name brand products obviously in all of my content so I have to show that either way and if I do get monetized in the future that has to be shown at the beginning of all the video’s that are eligible for ads before ads are placed. I select the paid promotion bar to appear so I don’t have to go back and do it later and can avoid any strikes or issues with YT so I just want to be clear on that. I am not paid to ride and everything you see, I actually paid for/acquired/or built myself so my impressions and opinions are genuine and not influenced by anything other then my 30 years of riding background to come up with my opinion about anything to do with riding, different machines, and testing different parts on this channel and that’s it. You get real, raw, honest content here and I will tell you exactly how it really is with no outside influences or limitations! Anyways Thank you for all the support and views my fellow OFFROAD-REVOLUTION community members, I appreciate it all more then you will ever know and would love to start paying it back to my subscribers here if the channel makes it to 1000 subs in order to get monetization I can use for improving my film/editing quality and to be able to start some giveaways, etc for my subscribers, it’s free to subscribe takes one click and I don’t ask for money/anything , I’m passionate about this sport and all things powersports/action sports, riding has always been a HUGE part of my life and I put in a massive amount of time and dedication to it and strive to ride as much as I possibly can since I first started 30 years ago.. I enjoy sharing my passion here on KZbin so as long as people continue to watch the content it’s worth it for me and hope I’m able to help a few people out and maybe get more middle aged men and the small percentage of women that watch my content inspired to keep going and ride on because if your not doing what you love your wasting your time, so please stay inspired and keep on riding everyone!!! Peace ✌️ ❤

[@camarov5456]

Damn looks like it rips way harder than my 04 crf i’ll tell ya that

[@OFFROAD-REVOLUTION]

Thanks!!!! That KX is wicked for sure!!!

[@edsimon3754]

I just got one ..cold starts are horrible? Yours bad also still?

[@OFFROAD-REVOLUTION]

Cold starts were horrible the first few initial start ups after the install. I ended up doing the homing procedure for the throttle fully closed to WOT and that helped but it gets better the more it runs and the ECU has time to learn all of the sensors, etc. I was a bit discouraged at first but I have worked as an industrial CNC electrician and robotics for years in the past as well as having my own Powersports repair business so I just gave it a little time and then the start ups are easier then with the OEM ECU now. Another thing that REALLY helps with these Kawasaki’s no matter what ECU your running is to cycle the fuel pump before starting, tap the start button for a second and let go and you will hear the fuel pump turn on and prime the system. Try just bumping the start button real quick without firing the machine up, let the fuel pump run until you hear it stop, then hold in the start button until it fires up and it may be all you need to do to help fix that issue. If not try the throttle homing procedure, then cycle the fuel pump, then start. Also there is a manual choke on the throttle body you can pull out, I haven’t had to use that much at all but it may help with starting as well. From what I’ve seen the rough starting is pretty common with a fresh Vortex and I didn’t really get too concerned over it because the more I rode it the more things sorted themselves out until it just works perfectly for cold starts. To home the throttle you need to pull the clutch in, have it in neutral, hold down the killswitch button will simultaneously holding down the start button with the throttle fully closed and then as it is cranking open the throttle ALL the way open until it stops for a sec and then let it return to closed, then let off of the stop/start buttons. Then cycle the pump, and try to start after homing the throttle positions. The ECU will figure out the throttle limits by just riding the bike but the proper way is to do it like I just explained about before riding.

[@edsimon3754]

@@OFFROAD-REVOLUTION did tps reset , warm engine great was with the choke/fast idle pulled. Sent it back to the tuner to get looked over/reflashed

[@OFFROAD-REVOLUTION]

@@edsimon3754 yeah that usually works out so if you have tried EVERYTHING already it could be an issue with the ECU itself. The ECU paired with this 2022 KX450 pretty easily, only the first 3-4 start ups where a bit off so then I repeated the TPS homing and that pretty much did the trick after a good ride. I had to adjust some of the slack out of my throttle cables as well and that helped with idling. I set it for minimal play before the throttle body starts opening and made sure it closes all the way, for whatever reason there was a lot of slack in the cables from the factory. I even took this Vortex and put it in my 2023 KX450SR, turned all the fuel trims up to 9 on the hottest tune and that thing fired right up and ran great but it performs better with the SR ECU so I went back to that. I will have to send the ECU back and have them load the 2023 KX450SR tunes in the ECU for it to make any improvements in my newer bike. This is a build I did with a brand new basic 22’ motocross 450 and put all the custom stuff on it to make it close to a factory edition and handle Offroad and MX no problem at all. I have cooling fans and coolant reservoir bottles on both bikes with engine ICE 🧊 and I can trail ride all day without overheating and constantly loosing coolant. These bikes are awesome with the right parts on them, the factory edition is pretty much perfect other then the cooling, I have a pro circuit billet water pump and super impeller, with silicone hoses, and temp gauge radiator cap on that as well so I can monitor the temp while riding and they have been holding up amazing. The works Radiator braces hold it more heat so the universal cooling fan kit and coolant overflow, etc, was a must after putting the braces on. It would still overheat before but the braces definitely makes it hold more heat so it happens faster when on slow technical trails. Now I don’t have to worry about any of that and the Vortex is a must on the stock bikes for sure so I hope you get it working!!!

[@OFFROAD-REVOLUTION]

@@edsimon3754 I never had to use the choke hardly at all, I can only remember two times using it and that was after I got the bike just to try it out and it made it harder to start and ran a lot worse when it did so I have just been ignoring the choke, cycling the fuel pump once and it lights right up as soon as I hit the start button the second time. The second time I used the choke was over winter when the battery was a bit weak, it started fine with the choke when it was about 15 degrees Fahrenheit that one time but other then that I have keep battery tenders on them all since so never had that problem again. Seems like the choke is only really necessary/useful for winter COLD weather startups being fuel injected so that would a last resort thing for me. It’s got to be an issue with the tunes or ECU, that’s really unfortunate and I hope you didn’t wait over 8 months to get the ECU like me because that is awful if you had to wait all that time for an ECU that wouldn’t work… I hope the lead time for a reflash isn’t that horrible, that’s why I haven’t sent mine back yet to get the SR tunes because I’m worried it will take a year even though they claim it is a quick service on the website..

[@OFFROAD-REVOLUTION]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/noO2nqFveZWKq7s&feature=sharea