Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1031651
2019 450 MOTOCROSS SHOOTOUT P102 SHOOTOUT it builds smooth, linear power all the way to its redline, without wanting to rip your arms off like in years past. Finding a bike with a powerband as broad as the KX450's is impossible in the current crop of big-bore moto- crossers. Kudos, Kawasaki. The Showa coil-spring forks earned respect from each of our testers as well, even named "best in class" by some. Suspension action at the front end feels plush as it tracks through harsh braking bumps or tackles the big hits on track, but not enough to struggle from excessive bottoming. There's no such thing as stiction or resistance in their action either, meaning the forks move freely and consistently throughout the stroke This is largelyt thanks to the special surface treatments applied to the outer fork tubes. We appreciate you, A-kit. Some of our faster and heavier test riders, however, felt that, as good as it is overall, the KX's suspension is tuned a little too soft right out of the crate. Still, couple the KX's top- shelf suspension package with its well-balanced chassis and the result is one of the best handling 450s on the market. The KX is nimble and begs to rail that inside rut, but not lively enough to take away from its straight-line stability at wide- open throttle. Testers also ap- preciated the ergonomics on the new Kawasaki, especially the widened footpegs and nar- rower bodywork, which helped riders lock themselves into the KX. When said and done, it was a number of small details that lost the new Kawasaki KX450 this year's shootout. Team Green em ployed its Digital Fuel Injec- tion engine map coupler system to the 2019 KX, which means the choice of three preset map- pings. But if you want serious customizability, you 're forced into buying the KX FI Calibration kit, which is a spendy $699.95— and let's not forget to add that Yamaha owners get this adjust- ability free via a smartphone app. One up for the YZ. Testers also unanimously agreed that some of the Kawasaki's fit and finish wasn't quite as good in com parison to the others, and a couple said that the new electric starter didn't feel as strong, either, which made some of us question its durability. But, in all fairness, we experience no mechanical issues with the KX's new starter assembly. Kawasaki delivered a damn im pressive motocrosser for the 2019 model year. It's certainly a step in the right direction for Team Green, and enough to help the KX rebound from last year's disappointing sixth-place finish back up to a runner up spot. Not bad, Kawasaki. Not bad at all.