Let’s cut straight to the chase—the 2016 Kawasaki KX450F is an improved motorcycle. How do we know? Because we just returned from High Point Raceway in Pennsylvania where Kawasaki held its national press launch of the all-new motocrosser and got the chance to spin some laps on it. PHOTOGRAPHY BY DREW RUIZ
The KX450F was already a fantastic motorcycle with its powerful motor, stable chassis, impressive suspension and adjustable ergos, but, as good as it was, it wasn’t perfect, so Kawasaki focused on all of its weaknesses and we got the chance to see if they got it right.
The KX450F has always been a little on the heavy side, so the KX got on a major weight-reducing plan. When all was said and done, the bike shed more than seven pounds and went from being one of the heaviest bikes in its class to one of the lightest. And you certainly feel that lighter weight on the track. The KX450F is more agile and flickable than ever before. The difference from the ’15 to the ’16 is significant. It takes far less effort to make line changes and to make it do what you want in the turns and in the air.
Adding to the bike’s agility is its much slimmer profile, which partly has to do with the KX’s new bodywork. You notice it as soon as you throw a leg over the bike, and not only is it slimmer in the middle but also farther forward where the radiators stick out. A new radiator design keeps things narrower between your legs as you slide up on the tank. Throw in the KX’s adjustable footpegs and handlebars (carried over from previous models) and you can really feel at home on this bike right away.
The KX450F still has one of the best suspensions in the business, despite neither the shock nor the Showa SFF-Air TAC fork taking on major changes. What changes they did get were mostly to compensate for the bikes lighter weight and frame/swingarm changes. Like last year, the KX’s air fork has mega adjustment possibilities. Right out of the crate, though, the fork is set up pretty damn good.
The KX450F has always been known for its very powerful and explosive motor—perhaps too explosive. For 2016, Kawasaki toned down that down just a bit with the intentions of making the bike easier to ride and less taxing on the rider. Kawasaki engineers hit their mark. The KX is still extremely power—that, of course, is not an issue—but it’s now delivered in a much more civilized manner. There’s more torque and usable power at lower rpm than before. Often times when that happens, you loss power on top, but the exact opposite is true with the new KX. It hasn’t lost any high-end performance at all but it did gain more over-rev! Nice. Plus, there seems to be less vibration, which is a bonus. Another bonus is that the bike is noticeably quieter. They say that’s because of the redesigned resonator in the exhaust pipe.
As before, engine mapping can be quickly changed via three pre-tuned couplers, but Kawasaki is now offering a new power tuner, so you can adjust the KX’s mapping even further. Actually, you could do that in the past, too, but the new handheld KX FI Calibration Kit is far easier to use and works with previous fuel-injected KX models.
So what is our first take on the 2016 Kawasaki KX450F? So far, so real good! We will have more on the new KX in an upcoming issue of Cycle News magazine.
SPECIFICATIONS
2016 Kawasaki KX450F
MSRP: $8,799
Engine Type: 449cc liquid-cooled DOHC 4-stroke; 4 titanium valves
Bore x Stroke: 96.0 x 62.1mm
Compression Ratio: 12.8:1
Fuel Delivery: DFI with 43mm Keihin throttle body
Ignition: Digital DC-CDI
Transmission: 5-speed; multi-plate wet clutch
Final Drive: Chain
Front Suspension: 49mm Showa SFF-AIR TAC separate function fork, DLC lower tubes, 12.2-in travel
Rear Suspension: Uni-Trak linkage, Showa rear shock, 12.4-in. travel
Front Brake: 270mm Braking pedal-style disc w/two-piston caliper
Rear Brake: 240mm Braking pedal-style disc w/single-piston caliper
Front Tire: 80/100-21 Bridgestone 402
Rear Tire: 120/80-19 Bridgestone 404
Seat Height: 37.8 in.
Wheelbase: 58.9 in.
Ground Clearance: 13.6 in.
Fuel Capacity: 1.66 gal.
Claimed Wet Weight: 239.6 lbs.
Color: Lime Green
MSRP: $8799