It isn't so easy to see how this KTM did so well in our test. It isn't modified yet it almost seemed purpose built for our conditions and requirements. It isn't exactly politically correct with everything going four-stroke and a two-smoker comes right in and ruffles feathers, if not downright kicking some ass in the process. And it wouldn't take much to make this bike shine even brighter with personalization for any rider. KTM provides you with a pretty adequate starting point even if it is pretty much finished. -Jimmy Lewis
Chart Legend
(red) #110 HONDA CRF250X
(orange) #111 KTM 250 XC-F
(pink) #113 KTM 300 XC-W(e)
(green) #114 KAWASAKI KLX450
(brown) #115 KTM CHRISTINI
(yellow) #116 HONDA CRF450X
(dark green) #117 KTM 530 EXC
(navy blue) #118 YAMAHA WR450F
(black) #119 HONDA CRF400X
 Radar Drag Race There isn't...  Radar Drag Race There isn't much of a surprise here, other than how fast and hard the CRF450X pulled in the middle of the run and how the WR450 ran so strong at the end. Both keeping even the KTM 530 honest. Where the lines turn down is the exact same distance from the start, meaning the Honda 450 got there fi rst and the Honda 250F would've been last. |  Radar Third-Gear Roll-On/Top...  Radar Third-Gear Roll-On/Top Speed The third-gear roll-on is a no-clutch twist of the throttle as fast as the bike will allow until it tops out. It shows top speed in third gear and how hard a bike pulls. Top speed was measured at the end of the drag race. | |
The Charts
You can learn a lot about the bikes with these charts. Every bike went through all the tests with a team rider and a Dirt Rider test rider or editor at the controls (except for EnduroCross where we didn't want to break the bikes by going for time, we just rode for an impression). Remember, some of the team riders were world-class pros, other times they were Average Joes. The DR rider was always the same guy for consistency. And after looking at the times, we feel our tester's times are very representative of how the bikes worked. Each rider only got one shot at each test, and there were no practice sessions, just like in the real-world of off-road racing. Penalties were accessed in EnduroCross for breaking the ribbon (one minute). The sound test was the standard SAE J1287 test at 20 inches and the ride-by was done wide-open in third gear at 50 feet, which gives you a good idea about how a muffler really works.
Charlie Flippen, Jason Schmigel,...
Charlie Flippen, Jason Schmigel, Destry Abbott, Ricky Dietrich, Tanner Harding, Jonny Weisman and Craig Adams.
#114 Kawasaki Team Green
Kawasaki KLX450
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Kawasaki did exactly what we asked, it brought us a race bike. A 100 percent certified, tried-and-true Destry Abbott WORCS bike with its whole Monster Energy squad there to back it up. Kawasaki said that this KLX is even a perfect trail riding bike, especially if you are one Destry Abbott. Who are we to complain? Critique, well yes, we can do that...
The KLX is the tamest of the 450 trailbikes in the real world. It doesn't take much to give them a little boost, but Team Green knows how to make them rock. With a Pro Circuit engine build list that covers the entire top end, the KLX takes on a very potent nature yet always remembers it's an off-road bike. It gets more power, yep, enough to be the outright fastest bike up our drag-race hill, giving some thanks to one very talented Damon Huffman. Off the bottom the bike has torque and steam but lacks hit. It's a bit on the fluffy side actually, but that allows the bike to pull from low-low rpm very smoothly. You can twist the throttle farther, be somewhat sloppy actually, without getting in trouble. And when it starts building steam it really goes. You feel the power strokes and you feel the bike trying to rip the knobs off the tire. It has great hookup and it pulls a long time. Riding a gear high is the best game, and you still fire out of the turns. The gearing was spaced perfectly, and the clutch allowed you to get away with this abuse. In fact, Keefer did the whole Escargot in third gear.
Where this race bike really makes an impression is in the prep and details it has put into it. Like the Precision Concepts bikes the Team Green ride has the touch of a factory mechanic and a lot of little signature marks. The stuff most riders don't take the time to do because we are out riding, not detailing a bike to the highest level. The parts list is only part of the equation; the love that went into the assembly is, as they say, priceless. And we won't forget to mention the fork, which was works kit material.