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/1273286
2021 KAWASAKI KX450 R I D E R E V I E W P90 a hydraulic clutch with the engage- ment feel of a traditional cable clutch, yet still has the soft pull of a hydraulic system. It really is the best of both worlds. And, this de- sign has, in the past, shown to be more durable and consistent than the previous design. We'll see after we get more time on the bike. Besides the clutch, for perfor- mance, Kawasaki applied a dry film lubricant to the piston skirts. If I had ridden the 2020 and 2021 KX450s back to back, perhaps this addition could be felt, but drawing from memory, it seems the same. That's not to say it's point- less. Adding special coatings to these high-stress parts has been very common for years in all forms of racing, from MX to F1. Adding friction-reducing coatings to make the engine run more efficiently is fine with me, whether I feel it on the track or not. Finally, there is the 1-1/8-inch Renthal Fatbar Handlebar. Com- pared to the previous crossbar-style handlebar, the non-crossbar Rent- hal Fatbar, which tapers to a larger diameter in the center, is actually much more forgiving and comfort- able because there is now a certain amount of flex. And Fatbar does a better job absorbing vibration both from the engine and terrain. The bars are shaped a little dif- ferently, too. The new bend lowers grip position 19mm and puts it 8mm closer to the rider, making it easier to weight the front wheel. Regardless of bar design preference, having a 1-1/8-inch handlebar standard means you have 1-1/8-inch clamps standard. Therefore, you can choose your style of handlebar without having to purchase aftermarket bar clamps. The KX's clamps are still revers- ible, giving you 35mm range of adjustment—front to back—via four bar positions. Footpeg height is still adjustable, as well. So, after getting a total rebuild in 2019, the KX450 gets its first up- date since, and so far we've liked what we've seen, or should we now say felt. Getting a re-vamped clutch and new handlebars might not seem like a whole lot, but I can confidently say that these two seemingly "small" upgrades do in- deed make an already outstanding motorcycle even better. CN There are a lot of things to like about the KX450: It's light, has great power, excellent suspension, strong brakes, a lot of adjustabilities, and we love its side-access airbox. And, of course, its new clutch. 2021 KAWASAKI KX450 ($9399) ENGINE TYPE: .....4-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 4-valve, single DISPLACEMENT: ............................. 449cc BORE & STROKE: .............96.0 x 62.1mm COMPRESSION RATIO: .................... 12.5:1 FUEL SYSTEM: ........DFI w/Keihin 44mm throttle body IGNITION: ...........................Digital DC-CDI TRANSMISSION: .......................... 5-speed CLUTCH: .............. Hydraulically actuated FRAME: ................... Aluminum Perimeter RAKE / TRAIL: ................... 27.6° / 4.8 in. FRONT SUSPENSION: ........Showa 49mm inverted coil-spring fork, fully adjust- able, w A-Kit technology REAR SUSPENSION: ......Uni-Trak, Showa S P E C I F I C A T I O N S