News & Features

January 4, 2016

MX Shootout

Kawasaki KX450F comes out tops in Dirt Bike Magazine.com shootout!

Dirt Bike Magazine.com has been busy over the Christmas period, publishing their findings after a shootout of the top six 450cc motocross bikes. In their analysis of the Kawasaki KX450F they encapsulated their findings thus: “Kawasaki took one of the Dirt Bike staff’s favourite bikes and made it lighter and slimmer, gave it more usable power and gave it a more aggressive look. For that, we thank them from the bottom of our hearts. It’s not perfect by any means, but neither are we.”

The bikes under review came from Honda, Husqvarna, Kawasaki, KTM, Suzuki and Yamaha. The all-new Kawasaki KX450F came out on tops, with the judges motivating their choice as follows: “The winner is Team Green! Kawasaki’s KX450F received huge changes, and the entire staff agrees it’s a better bike all around than the 2015 model. With the 7-pound weight loss and slimmer frame design, it handles better and is easier to manoeuvre in the air. The motor is easy to start, makes great power off bottom, pulls strong through the midrange without having a violent hit and still has good usable top-end revs. Adjustability is still key on the KX450F—being able to accommodate riders from 5-foot-5 and 140 pounds all the way up to 6-foot-4 and 200-plus pounds without making huge changes—and ranks high in our book. The handheld EFI calibration kit is also another bonus for 2016. The KX450F doesn’t do one thing amazing, but it does do everything well, making it top dog in the class. How about a handlebar upgrade for 2017, Team Green?”

For the full report click HERE.

by Gavin Foster.

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