VOL. 53 ISSUE 32 AUGUST 16, 2016 P103
SUBTLE CHANGES
The new 2016 engine remains
the same for 2017 but with new
mapping. The ECU now has
richer mapping aimed at elimi-
nating an annoying decel pop
some 2016 KX450Fs exhibited.
In the suspension department
the Showa SFF-Air TAC air fork
has new damping settings to
improve performance. Overall
recommended air pressure num-
bers are down and when using
the air valves on top, they are re-
versed from last year. A diagram
etched in the fork cap will help
you figure out which is the inner
and outer chamber.
The top triple clamp is new and
more beefy with additional ribbing
underneath, increasing rigidity.
The bottom triple clamp is also
one, as the changes offer up
slight improvements overall, but
nothing that will blow your socks
off. With richer EFI mapping,
bottom-to-mid power is a little
improved and some riders, es-
pecially those who don't use all
the power a 450 offers may not
notice any engine performance
change for 2017, except for the
disappearance of the decel pop.
We loved the 2016 KX450F
larger, stiffer and 2.5mm thicker
in the area where it clamps to the
fork tubes. The new triple clamps
are modeled after what the fac-
tory race team uses.
Out back, the pull rods in the
linkage are .5mm longer, pulling
on a more progressive rising-rate
bell crank. The shock spring rate
hasn't changed but the metal
is higher grade and the overall
weight is lower. The swingarm
has more clearance in the area
where the shock passes through,
helping to reduce the chance of
rocks and mud getting stuck.
The seat base is stronger to
combat cracking and the graph-
ics are in-molded for increased
durability.
LEAN MEAN GREEN MACHINE
If you have a 2016 KX450F and
desperately want to drop cash
on a 2017, by all means, get
engine; thankfully it is smooth,
plenty powerful and easy to
manage, making the bike easy
to ride. It is an engine that likes
to be ridden off the bottom and
thrives through the mid. Revving
out the KX450F and living in
the higher rpms isn't using the
engine to it's full potential. The
KX's power delivery appeals to
a wide variety of skill levels and
is quickly changed using the
provided optional mapping cou-
plers. Further mapping changes
are possible via the Kawasaki
tool if you still find issue with the
new EFI settings.
Previous to the all-new 2016
model, the KX450F was a bike
that was known for an unplanted
front end, requiring lots of rider
input to carve and negotiate
corners. The KX used to be
more of a rear-wheel steering
bike. The complete revamp
"Between three air chambers, 22
compression settings and 20 rebound
settings, the opportunity to really mess
up the fork action is endless."
