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Third year participating; I think Kove is doing a good job at making waves and progressing. P1 in yesterday’s stage says a lot. Especially with nursing a sore wrist.

The Christi is a great bike and the two wheel drive system works great with little to no maintenance necessary. Where the bike falls short is in performance. You can’t avoid that it’s a knockoff Honda CRF with reduced suspension travel. If your trail riding or dual sporting the bike, it’s fantastic. If you try to ride it hard, that’s even you can feel the weight and suspension shortcomings. I’d be glad to answer any other questions about the Christi, Shoot me a dm on insta or FB.

@@DirtByk I think you've answered everything. I'm not a fast hard rider offroad, more like fair to middling. About 400,000 miles on motorcycle, and 1/4 of that on dualsports, rest on sporty streetbikes or sport-tourers. I'd just be using the Christi for dual sporting, trail riding, exploring ghost towns, some light adventure travel, and based in Arizona. When I ride, I get where I'm going without drama, but nobody puts video of me doing so online. When I've read about the Christini in Cycle World and elsewhere, it sounds like a good fit for my skills and riding style. It's a bit of a stretch for me financially, but it's also something I've been eyeing for the past 20 years. I'm age 62, skipped the whole midlife crisis thing, so I figure I can do this. YOLO, right? Time's a'wasting.

@ love it man!! Get one and enjoy life! Where in AZ? I’m based in Tucson now and we’re in prime riding season.

@@DirtByk Tempe. I lived in AZ in 1981-85, attended MMI in Phx, worked in moto dealers, and learned photography there. Went back to Ohio to get a degree in mechanical design, but really wanted an art degree. So now I've transferred what credits would transfer, and have completed my first semester at ASU in Tempe. I'm bicycling from Detroit (where I live now) to Tempe in a human-powered streamliner in May, before serious heat begins, flying back to Detroit, and moving family in July. Perhaps that is my midlife crisis, having toddlers at age 60. FWIW, my TH-cam channel is traffic stops in the streamliner, for speeding, on car roads. Some annoying, some humorous.

I know July will suck for moving to AZ, but that is the window I have open between 6yo son's end of school year here, and start of school year in AZ / Mesa / Tempe. I've missed 9 months of nice riding weather for decades. When I lived in AZ, I didn't own a car, and commuted to MMI in north Phoenix from a ranch in Mayer / Cordes Junction from June to October, before moving to the valley and completing MMI courses. 55F leaving ranch early in the AM, and 110F and rising when I left MMI to return to ranch. 50-50 odds of monsoon rains catching me on the way to ranch. So yeah, I'm familiar with the place. Related tangent: Have been back quite a few times to visit, including guiding a couple 3-week raft trips through Grand Canyon, one in May 2011 and other in Dec. 2012. December trip was more interesting, COLD and empty, fresh snow on the rim above every morning.

100%. There’s less perceived engine braking with the 230 tune and seems to rev up faster

Thanks for the invite and the opportunity to ride something new!

Posting? Watching? Racing? Or just simply existing? All good questions. Thanks for taking the time to elaborate!

Thank you! It’s just a GoPro 10.

Ditto

Be cautions on this one and be prepared. It’s relentless.

Yeah, I’m not sure why it was addressed CR.

AXP is FRANCE.

@@jean-patktm9243 yes. But their factory is in CR.

@@naegelip I confirmed. They are located in France. R&D, marketing, headquarters is in France. They produce them in CR.

Thanks a lot for the update, i will certainly order one of these skidplates, original one is to fragile IMO. keep up the good work and happy riding!

You’re very welcome!🤘

Nice!

100%. I’m always thinking redundancy on top of contingency with these bikes without kickers. There obviously was one present at one time on this motor with the blank casting spot still present.

@DirtByk Yep, I'm pretty sure the Zongshen 450 engine had one on the gpx fse 450r. And it's disappointing that these ship without it. If these damn things are supposed to be Dakar bikes, then they need redundancy. Like you said.

if starter fails, you can always bump start it?

@ granted there is a hill or someone to push you

@@DirtByk just run with it for couple meters?

This ride was the week prior to the bike not starting. The bike not starting was Saturday. I’ve been in touch with Gary and hope they will resolve the issue without too much $$$ on my part. I was illegally on reservation land and am always fearful of posting self incriminating information.

Kove has been good to respond to any known issues. Hoping this is the same. They reportedly have an upgraded starter clutch piece.

I disconnected the kickstand switch a long time ago. There’s still the clutch switch but in neutral that shouldn’t matter.

Appreciate that, thanks for the support!

Thank you. Am willing to take a look at the video and give it a try.

I assume it’s the same issue. I remember it happening with your bike from the SF250. Then Gary calling me before the 1000 making sure we were aware of the issue was the indicator this may happen to others. Hopefully Kove will cover the part.

Will definitely share.

Fallowing

It’s a wheel chock anti theft to prevent someone from just rolling my bike away when my children or wife forget and leave the garage wide open.

@ LOL, thanks

I put foam inserts between the dash screens to block any reflection.

@@DirtByk Makes sense, thanks.

Once the couple issues were addressed, they were rock solid. I found they really help with wrist and shoulder fatigue. Good alternative to the real flex bars.

@@DirtByk thanks trying to decide between the 2 bars

SKDA! They were custom when none were available but they have a bunch of cool sets now.

I usually run a Kenda Parker DT in the rear and a tusk T 45 up front.

@DirtByk thanks I think this brands are only available in USA no in EC....

It’s one of the first things I do to a bike. I stand a lot, but when you get a chance to sit, it’s much much better. The stock is good for what it is, better than ktm oem seats but still nothing is like a good old Seat concepts.

Very minimal. I weighed the whole setup and it was roughly 280 lbs. Tight technical terrain, your vision is slightly inhibited right in front of your tire. Besides that, it is a light adv/rally weapon.

Yeah for sure! It’s a fantastic desert and all good around tire. Reasonably priced, decent wear life, dot, great sand and rock traction. To me it’s a go to! Yeah, I also initially ran one bc of JL! Good ol Jimbo.

Thanks man! I’m glad you enjoyed seeing my perspective. So, I’m holding out hope that Tacomoto has good results with the Power commander. He said that he’s able to adjust timing based on rpm and not just a blanketed 4deg advance. I also am not 100% satisfied with the slow speed low throttle input characteristics. My idle hunting has disappeared so that’s a plus. If riding the bike as it’s intended; higher speed double track blasting or open desert, the bike is fantastic. No issues with fueling in those situations. My combo right now is UW Ti system, timing MOD and 230.1 tune. I’ve noticed some increased backfiring when engine braking which is annoying. It wasn’t doing that before but I’ve noticed it my friend’s Pro does it often too. The Pro exhaust is much throatier than my exhaust. I’ve just installed the DB killer and will be doing some butt dyno testing with it this weekend to see if the riding characteristics are suitable as I’m planning a long trip and would rather have a quite bike on a longer trip. Thanks for taking a second to drop a message!

@@DirtByk My buddy Mark in ID got a Pro about a month or so ago. He's been dealing with massive shotgun backfire after coming to a stop. We're thinking it needs an acclimatization cycle for his area and a proper warm up before taking off. Not sure, still working on it. Joe showed me the PC6 & software hooked up to another bike. Looked pretty straightforward, might be the way ahead. Looks like the other vendors have dropped their interest. A bit chilly here in northern UT. Awesome to see you out enjoying your Kove.

@@meder07 well we just had our winter (summer) and I’m so happy to be in prime riding season now! The ONLY bad thing is the days are short. I don’t think vendors have dropped interest in making aftermarket products or ecu options. I feel it’s only just beginning! Tacomoto also hinted at an ecu like get or vortex coming in ‘25.

100%. Feeding my bike addiction and suits my riding perfectly.

I totally agree!! Most people cringe at the thought. This stock 300 tpi with a HC head went well over 250 hours screaming 75-90 mph to the trail +\-20 miles away from home and then 60 miles of rough AZ trail, and the same slab back home. The bike never skipped a beat.

This is a Gen1. The 450 ex is the gen 2 model. The only people that have the 450 EX thus far are factory Kove riders. There’s only a few in the US and they’ve all been air freighted in.

It’s Kove USA and the Kove Rally team themselves who are responsible for the different maps.

The tower is from Uncle Wang’s shop. The lights are the same that are on aliexpress but they have cut a specific bracket to fit this tower.

Thank you for your opinion. You’re right. I’m just trying to get better at editing and it’s a work in process.

Totally agree. She’s a beaut!

That’s a good question! I would have to check the amps on the lights but a year running the trail tech, driving lights and the tower lights through the box without issue. It’s held up great. I wish it was water proof but it’s up high and unless submerged, it should be fine.

​@@DirtByk Thank you very much for your reply. And the box works perfectly. I'm going to install one on my bike!!

Thank you! I use the wrong language or term often. 😁

The fuse came out week one of ownership. 😄

Thank you! 🙏

Thank you! A testament to the quality.

The best go to off-road moto gps: Trail Tech Voyager Pro

Thank you! Was a dream to be down there and involved.

Those stock graphics, especially those second edition ones, peel very easy. Aftermarket graphics are much better quality.

Glad you found me on here! You guys jumping in to help was so cool and is the spirit of Baja. The fix held up the rest of the race so thanks again🙏

@DirtByk There is nothing to thank friend, blessings in all your careers.🤙🏽🫂

In Arizona it’s not an issue. We can plate a two stroke and rip the street to the trail without issue here. God bless Arizona!

@ I had no issues plating my Beta 300 in IL which was surprising. It’s going up for sale and I’m hopefully buying a Kove soon. I sold my Africa Twin also and just want one bike to do it all. You’re the guy who would know. Is there a quiet core for the Titanium pipe that you know of?

@@bergoff not for the oem race exhaust but the Uncle Wang’s Ti exhaust has a DB killer and sounds a lot like stock with it in. I’ve heard The Coober is quieter and has good performance.

Roger that on the music. I’m still trying to get better at editing and making content so I appreciate the criticism.

@@DirtByk nah man, you do you. You want music do the music. You provide great content it is what it is, keep up the great work!

You can do it man! It’ll change your life! lol