I’d always heard that the Kawasaki KX450F was a ‘Hulk’ of a machine; big, heavy, brash and loud with plenty of fear- inducing power that will rip you limb from limb so, to be perfectly honest, I was dreading riding this bike just because of its reputation. For 2016 though Kawasaki released an all-new KX450F that is as close to a factory race bike as you can get. New chassis, engine, suspension settings, and bodywork are just a few of the improvements.
Kawasaki’s goals were simple - shave weight and increase power. The engine internals include a new throttle body, piston, intake port, intake valves and camshafts, which were all put on the ‘Weigh-Less’ diet. Also new are the exhaust and cases, along with a revised airbox that allows more air to flow into the engine for added power… not that it needs it! Kawasaki says the improvements are aimed at increasing mid- to top-end power, whilst smoothing the power delivery.
The frame is also completely new. Apparently it’s slimmer by 6mm and weighs 1.5kg less than the previous one. That change alone is huge! Rider comfort and improved handling were the intended benefits. There’s also an improved swingarm with better torsional rigidity for increased rear-wheel traction. And, although the Showa suspension isn’t new, the forks have new settings to match the chassis and new thinner inner tubes that save weight and increase rigidity.
Enough of the techno mumbo jumbo because none of these changes will amount to anything if the package doesn’t work, or, if the rider is sent to hospital because the bike is an ill-tempered superhero type that likes to smash for no good reason, like the Hulk.
Well, in my opinion, the big green Kawasaki KX450F can be made into a Bruce Banner, AKA the Hulk’s mild mannered persona, making the bike almost perfect for a ham-fisted novice like myself. I’ll admit we (thanks Carlo) needed to change a lot of the settings to suit me, i.e. moving the handlebars forward, footpegs back, mild engine map (Hulk is lurking in the aggressive map setting!), softer rear shock settings and stiffer on the forks… that’s how incredibly adjustable this bike is.
The weight reduction is very noticeable everywhere on the track because this new Kawasaki KX450F now weighs less than the anaemic Honda CRF450R. And the bike is covered in all new plastics, which you don’t notice while riding, as they now stop you snagging your boots or knee-braces on the edges of the bodywork.
As for the improved engine, let’s just say its power comes on strong right from the get go and continues to pull well into orbit. The weird thing is the faster the rider, the more the motor intimidates! Fast riders would come off the track and declare the bike insanely fast but, for me, the changes to the motor have given it a broader power, as well as an ability to rev. In short, the new KX450F motor is smoother, more powerful, and easier to control. I would ride the track in third and never felt the need to change gears, that’s how long the power band is. This kind of power makes you lazy, fast but lazy… I liked it plenty.
In time the R91,995 2016 Kawasaki KX450F will prove to be one of the best bikes in its class, offering solid suspension, predictable handling, and a very strong motor. This bike can be a Hulk and smash the competition, a pure bred race bike or, for weekend warriors like me, a docile, mild mannered Bruce Banner type MX bike. Either way it’s a winner.
Go to www.kawasaki.co.za to find your closest dealer.
