2013 Kawasaki Motocross Bikes - First Look

After months of speculation, the 2013 Kawasaki motocross bikes are finally here, and there are some interesting changes on the table. Kawasaki continues to innovate with a handful of revisions to both their 250 and 450 motocross machines, with the biggest news surrounding the KX450F’s new fork. For 2013, the Kawi 450 receives a Kayaba air fork that utilizes pneumatic technology to provide better damping and control, thus saving weight by doing away with the main fork spring. Along with the lighter weight come tuning benefits and reportedly better damping action, particularly near the bottom of the stroke. The bike also gets a handful of internal changes and still features Kawasaki’s Launch Control technology, and several Digital Fuel Injection maps are available and can be changed without the use of a personal computer.

The Dirt Rider shootout—winning KX250F will now feature an all-new exhaust system complete with a resonator that is said to boost power across the board and allow the bike to pull even higher into the revs. The KX250F's DFI settings have been revised, and the engine gets a few updates such as a thicker crank, revised connecting rod and updated cylinder plating. The Showa Separate Function Fork is still present on the bike, although the 2013 model sports a brand-new version of the same SFF design.

Check out the photos below for an up-close glimpse at both machines. We'll be riding both bike soon, so be sure to stay tuned to www.dirtrider.com for all the latest on the 2013 Kawasakis, as well as the newest offerings from the rest of the manufacturers!