Factory Bike Friday: Ryan Villopoto’s Monster Energy Kawasaki

Villopoto's green meanie Supercross slayer...

By:

Factory Bike Friday: Monster Energy KX450F

Story and photos by Shan Moore

Villopoto's KX450F is one of a kind.

It takes more than an incredibly talented rider to win a Supercross title. It helps to have an equally capable bike, as well as a competent team behind you. At this point in the season, perhaps no other team has it all together more than Dan Fahie’s Monster Energy Kawasaki squad. From the team driver, right down to the fabricators and mechanics, Fahie’s crew provides Ryan Villopoto with a motorcycle that is up to the task.

Michael Williamson turns the wrenches on Villopoto's bike.

Villopoto’s mechanic Michael Williamson has been with the Monster Energy Team since the James Stewart days and he gives us a few details on Ryan’s KX450F. “Obviously, we are on the 2012 bike, which we finished the outdoors on,” says Williamson. “We raced it at the Monster Energy Cup race and got some experience on it. We actually learned a lot from that race as far as its characteristics, and made some good changes on it. It gave us a direction was far as testing, and for Supercross we improved the engine. And as far as the new sound rules – max – we had to find more power out of the engine to compensate. We felt like we met our goal as far as that goes, plus we shed about two lbs. off the total weight of the bike with some lightweight engine parts and just miscellaneous stuff all over. As far as the suspension, we’ve just been tweaking it, and I think we did a good job with the time we had and we’re happy where we are at.”

The triple clamps are built in-house.

The factory triple clamps specially made in-house to accommodate the larger-diameter factory fork. The team has several options as far as various rake/trail dimensions available to the rider.

Villo's bike has Nissin stoppers up front.

The magnesium Nissin front brake caliper is the same one the factory has been using for years.

Nice platforms for Villopoto's boots.

The gnarly looking footpegs and mounts are built in-house, and to Vtllopoto’s liking, they sit further back than stock.

Related Posts:

Comments

carter Mccarthy
January 23, 2013 7:29 am

hey Ryan your my favorite racer in supercross and I’m doing a paper on you so I was wondering if I could interview you call me at

402 497 3546 thanks

your #1 fan carter

Scuddy
November 25, 2012 10:16 pm

these magnesium nissins are harder too find than Rocking horse shit!
please advise

jonathan cohic
October 2, 2012 6:24 am

moto factory

Jared Cooper
March 27, 2012 10:58 pm

check out this moto video! https://vimeo.com/39320210

juan david pabon
March 24, 2012 2:09 am

I like that bike I want to be your motocross team plis I’m good fichais

Add a Comment

By submitting a comment you grant Motocross.com a perpetual license to reproduce your words, name and web site in attribution.
Comments may be removed at an administrators discretion. Your email is used for verification purposes only and will never be shared.

Fantasy Corner