It's official. Kawasaki has announced the off-road KLX450R, and even though it's a 2008 model, it should be at your dealer in February or March of 2007 - with the price to be announced most likely in January. The bike is not simply a KXF450 with a light, this bike has gotten a lot of changes that make this bike look like it could be just the ticked for off-road racing. We learned in this year's 24 Hour Torture Test that as good as the pure-motocross KXF450 is on the track, it needs some factory-based changes to make it a real off-road weapon.
We loved the motocross 450's ability to claw for traction, and it looks like Kawasaki plans to keep that trend, and even accentuate it, on the KLX. The engine has some tweaks to strengthen the low-end and mid-range power. We're eager to get on this bike to see if Kawasaki continues its trend for producing bikes that manage to put all of their power to the ground.
How does Kawasaki plan to do this? The bike differs from motocross version with revised cam lift and timing, and a flywheel with a claimed 100% increase in mass. The head pipe is longer, which not only helps low-end but makes the bike quieter. This is all matched to off-road specific gearing in a wide-ratio five speed gearbox. Most of us here are happy to see the five speed on the MX version, it is mandatory for an off-road bike to be versatile.
The best news for many off-roaders is that yes, the bike comes with the magic button - an electric starter. Most of us love this option, and those of us that don't are just slow learners.
The best news for California off-roaders is that this will be a green sticker bike, right down to being outfitted with a stock spark arrestor.
And since off-road bikes rack up more hours, typically, than their motocross brothers, the all-new KLX has a few mods to keep it running stronger for longer. The bike keeps the titanium intake valves of its brother, but gets steel exhaust valves. It also gets a radiator catch tank for those slow sections that heat up four-strokes and make them so susceptible to overheating. The bike also comes stock with an O-ring chain.
The bike uses the same suspension components as the MXer, as well. We like the Kayaba AOS fork, and Kawasaki has valved these forks to off-road settings. Their goal with the suspension was to give the bike light handling as well as the usual needs - plush suspension that doesn't bottom. The forks have low-friction seals, but will not come with DLC (Diamond Like Coating), as they do on the 2007 MX 450.
The goals with the chassis mimic the goals with the suspension. Kawasaki designed the bike to be nimble and maneuverable. We loved their take on track riding, and are eager to see how their philosophy translates to off-road. Other changes geared at comfort include a wider seat with gripper material on the top (but not the sides) and an 18" rear wheel that should help with both comfort and traction.