[Bryce]

Just wondering opinions on cams. My current state of fitness isn't agreeing with the stage 2 hotbcam im.running currently when I'm in really tight terrain.

[JAWS]

I don't know what year of 450x you're riding, but I have an 05 that I put the Stage 1 in and love it in tight terrain AND in the desert.

[JimDirt]

That is what i run as well , Stage 1 HotCams along with 13/52 gearing , the cam (and gearing) is good about anywhere except open desert where you want top end speed , your top speed will be limited to about 75 mph with the 13/52 , but for the tight stuff it is perfect , its not too low to make you have to run in 4th gear all the time , but its low enough that you can crawl thru areas without struggling with the bike , i have tried from 13/51 (stock) to 13/54 , and 13/52 works the best overall for running semi open stuff but still allowing you to do real slow tight stuff

To me , the Stage 1 cam was almost like adding a flywheel weight , it makes stalling really hard (if your jetted properly) and puts the majority of your torque and power in the lower to mid rpms , where they are needed in slower , or tight riding , but you can still haul when you need to , and the bike will just lug around when you want it to , the Stage 2 is more like a 450R cam , its more for mid to top end , not really great for low end stuff

If you want to add to the torque , just do the Pink Wire Mod along with it , and put it on a switch so you can change the mapping on the fly , i use a KTM Map Switch , just run the Pink wire thru the switch and to the normal plug it goes to , so when the switch is "off/open" your in a more responsive mode with a 500 rpm increase and the pink wire is unplugged , when its "on/closed" , or secondary position , your back to stock mapping and the pink wire is plugged in , what this helps with is when your riding in more open areas where you want some snap , you flip the switch and it gives a boost so to speak , when you need finesse you go to stock mapping and the bike will have its normal smooth throttle response

[Bryce]

Hadn't thought of a switch on the pink wire. Might have to try that. I'm pretty happy anywhere it is at all open, just super tight technical stuff makes it feel a bit violent.

Is there a noticeable change with the pink wire connected? I may have ridden the bike twice with it connected and that was 10+ years ago.

[JimDirt]

When you run a cam other than the stock X cam , yes it is noticeable , like i said , when in tight technical you go to the "stock" setting and it smooths out the power delivery , for everything else you have it bypassed

Again , the Stage 1 is for low to mid power/torque , but its not as nasty as a Stage 2

From their site:
Stage 1: single-cam motor. Excellent bottom-end and midrange increase. Improved throttle response. Uses stock auto-decompression mechanism. Uses stock valve springs.

Stage 2: single-cam motor. Excellent midrange and top-end increase. Improved throttle response. Uses stock auto-decompression mechanism. Uses stock valve springs.

If those are too snappy for you , then you might just be happier with the stock X cam again , its way smoother than any of the HotCams or R cams

Another option would be adding a Flywheel Weight or a weighted flywheel , they make them up to 35 oz. , the heavier the flywheel/weight the less snap the engine will have , i run a 35 oz. on my 450R , , also going to a Steel Clutch Basket instead of the Aluminum one will also act somewhat as a centrifugal weight and help remove some hit , if your wanting to keep the performance gain the HotCams gives but lessen the hit , then this would be your best bet

[Bryce]

I'm not unhappy with the hit 95% or more of the time.

I added.a.map switch today, I'll have to see if that makes it more manageable.

[JimDirt]

All i can say is i run a HotCams Stage 1 which has more bottom end hit/punch than the Stage 2 and i can definitely feel the difference in hit when the switch is used , it will help , and as mentioned , you can add a flywheel weight to take away even more hit , without it affecting the top end power

[jsnotech]

I was under the impression that the pink wire mod was just a way to get rid of the rev limiter?

[jsnotech]

Nevermind, I re-read my post called "Typical cam question" That post/replies had the answer to my (hard headed) pink wire mod question again.

[JimDirt]

It does not eliminate the rev limiter it simply bumps it up 500 rpm , as you most likely found out from your prior post replies , it also changes the mapping to give it more of a R feel , a snappier bottom with only the flick of a switch (or wire) to instigate the change , and it can be done "on the fly" , so if you want R or X mapping the majority of the time , and encounter a area where one or the other is needed , you just flip the switch and put it back when completing the area , its really a nice option to have , KTM has been doing it for a while now