a great bike. It's not radi-
cally changed over the previ-
ous model, but that was to
be expected after the major
overhaul it got last year. The
most sensitive of riders will
notice the subtle changes to
the '17 KX450F, and all of those
changes did improve the bike,
albeit only slightly. But for most
of us, the 2017 KX450F will feel
just like it did last year, but there
is nothing wrong with that. CN
>>PROS
•Strong yet manageable
power delivery
•Solid chassis that's easy
to control
•Wide range of adjustability
>>CONS
•Complex forks
•Loud exhaust
•Fast wearing chain guide
and slider
VOL. 53 ISSUE 32 AUGUST 16, 2016 P107
2 0 1 7 K A W A S A K I K X 4 5 0 F
ENGINE TYPE: .....449cc liquid-cooled
DOHC 4-stroke; 4 titanium valves
BORE X STROKE: .............96.0 x 62.1mm
COMPRESSION RATIO: .................... 12.8:1
FUEL DELIVERY: .. DFI with 43mm Keihin
throttle body
IGNITION: ...........................Digital DC-CDI
TRANSMISSION: .....5-speed; multi-plate
wet clutch
FINAL DRIVE: ................................... Chain
FRONT SUSPENSION: .....................49mm
Showa SFF-Air TAC separate function
fork, DLC lower tubes
REAR SUSPENSION: ..... Uni-Trak linkage,
Showa rear shock
FRONT WHEEL TRAVEL: ..................12.2 in.
REAR WHEEL TRAVEL: ....................12.4 in.
FRONT BRAKE: ...............270mm Braking
pedal-style disc w/two-piston caliper
REAR BRAKE: ................. 240mm Braking
pedal-style disc w/single-piston caliper
FRONT TIRE: ......80/100-21 Bridgestone
402
REAR TIRE: .............................. 120/80-19
Bridgestone 404
SEAT HEIGHT: ............................... 37.8 in.
WHEELBASE: .................................58.9 in.
GROUND CLEARANCE: ...................13.6 in.
FUEL CAPACITY: ......................... 1.66 gal.
CLAIMED WET WEIGHT: .......... 239.6 lbs.
COLOR: ................................... Lime Green
MSRP: ............................................ $8849
S P E C I F I C A T I O N S
"Revving out the KX450F and living
in the higher rpms isn't using the
engine to it's full potential."
