Best Motocross: 2019 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards

The 2019 Bikesales Bike of the Year (BOTY) Awards recognise excellence across 11 separate motorcycle categories.

Let’s continue with that process by announcing the Kawasaki KX450 as the winner of our Motocross category.

Alongside the BMW K 1600 Grand America in Touring, the KX450 is the only other “carry-over champion” from the 2018 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards.

When our dirt man Shannon Warner first rode the KX450 – the ‘F’ suffix has now been removed from the four-stroke’s moniker – at the original Aussie launch, he was a big wrap for the interchangeable couplers, which allows a rider to unplug the standard green one and swap it with black (less aggressive power delivery) or white (more aggressive power delivery) options. It all depends on track conditions, your level of skill and/or bravery!

Those who want to really get their moto geek on can buy a Kawasaki FI Calibration Controller with seven pre-programmed ignition settings, plus you can further adjust the ECU maps for specific throttle position and rpm.

Advancements on the KX450 – and first for the company in the motocross sphere – include electric start, finger-follower valve actuation (a valve train designed by Kawasaki’s factory road racing engineers) and a hydraulic clutch.

With plenty of power, a flat torque curve, razor-sharp throttle response, a light-weight aluminium perimeter frame and tipping the scales at 110kg, the KX450 is akin to a racing thoroughbred horse being led to the start barriers. Congratulations Kawasaki.