First ride: 2013 Kawasaki KX450F

Name: First ride: 2013 Kawasaki KX450F
Brand: Kawasaki

With a heap of adjustment, performance and a new air fork, the 2013 KX450F will appeal to a broad spectrum of dirt hounds…

After proclaiming Kawasaki’s 2013 KX250F to be the best production four-stroke I’d ever ridden after testing it just a few weeks back, I was eagerly awaiting the opportunity to throw a leg over its big brother, the 2013 KX450F.

After seeing how much development Team Green had put into the new quarter-litre beastie in such a brief period (it seems like only last week we were raving about the 2012 bikes), I have to admit I wasn’t expecting too much of a revamp in the 450 – maybe just a few cosmetic touch-ups.

Upon arriving at the Mount Kembla (NSW) track and first laying eyes on the bike, I didn’t see anything to dispel those sentiments. The bike sports a fresh new look with updated graphics, a new white rear guard (to match the white side plates), a new front guard and new engine guards. However, it’s only after you hop aboard the machine that the new fork caps catch your eye.

The caps have the traditional compression adjuster in the centre but replacing the usual air bleed screw are rather large screw caps, which can be removed to reveal a Schrader valve. The latter allows you to pump in your preferred air pressure to suit your riding style and the prevailing track conditions.

Kawasaki has been setting the bar high lately, being the first manufacturer to release a production bike with a Separate Function Fork (SFF) in its 2011 KX250F, then backing this up with the introduction of dual fuel injection (the 2012 KX250F) and a Launch Control button (the 2012 KX450F). While everyone thought the 450 would follow in its little brother’s footsteps and also get the SFF upgrade for 2013, Kawasaki has decided to go one step further, being one of the first companies to release a bike with Kayaba’s new Pneumatic Spring Fork (PSF).

PROVEN POWERHOUSE

Kawasaki’s 450 engine is a powerhouse – when you twist that throttle the bike really gets up and dances. For 2013 the bike features revised fuel mapping for smoother power delivery as well as improved engine braking. The piston features a redesigned crown, which Kawasaki says offers improved performance without altering the engine’s compression ratio.

Kawasaki has changed the intake cam profiles, also reducing their lift by 0.4mm, as well as making slight changes to the exhaust and airbox to ensure the KX450F meets stricter noise limits. And for 2013 the KX450F is still the only production motocrosser to come with a Launch Control feature.

This works by holding in the button on the handlebars for three seconds until a red indicator light flashes. The button retards the ignition so the rider can get more power to the ground with very little wheelspin. Getting a 450 out of the gate on a slippery surface takes a lot of clutch and throttle control. With the Launch Control feature the rider can focus more on line selection and getting a good start, instead of trying to ease the bike out of the gate without fish-tailing down the start straight.

As soon as you click the bike up into third gear it automatically switches back to the normal engine map.

Just like the 2012 bike, you still have the ability to change the DFI couplers that are located at the right side of the steering head. The bike comes with the standard map fitted, but owners also have a choice of a harder or softer map. The harder map turns the 450 into a light-switch-responsive powerhouse. As soon as you touch the throttle the revs are picking up and the bike is away.

Given a choice I’m normally one for heading straight for the most extreme map, but in this instance the 450 was just too much of a handful on Mount Kembla’s hard-pack surface. Consequently I decided to give the softer map a go, and it immediately made the power so much more useable. The hard map would be great on a track with heaps of traction, or on a deep, sandy track where you could blow the berms apart. For these conditions, however, the softer map meant I could pull the throttle on without worrying about the back wheel spinning out of control. For the hardcore tuner, Kawasaki also has a FI Calibration Kit available, which allows you to tune the bike exactly how you want it.

UNDER PRESSURE

The big thing for the 2013 KX450F is the new PSF air fork. It’s something we’ve never seen before on a production bike and I’m sure it’s going to turn heads. There’s been plenty of hype surrounding this fork and I was keen to see how it stacked up. However, after the first few laps on the bike I was a little confused – I wasn’t sure if I liked it or not. I certainly couldn’t say I hated it but I was unsure about the feel of the bike’s front end.

Then, after stopping and playing around with the fork and pumping the air pressure up from 32psi to 39psi, I released how great it really is. Forget removing the fork and sending it off to a suspension tuner – in a matter of moments I was able to change the spring rate with nothing else but an adapter and a bike pump. They offer a heap of adjustability, too.

This fork definitely lends the ride a different feel and it took me a few laps to get confident with it, but once I had I was throwing the bike sideways and charging into deep ruts with abandon. One particularly prominent aspect is how nimble and light the front end is due to the absence of heavy fork springs. Only time will tell how this fork will stand up to extended harsh treatment and I bet some will try hooking it up to an industrial air compressor, only to blow the seals. Don’t be fooled – all you need is a standard bicycle pump to increase the pressure.

The adjustable footpegs and handlebar mounts have been carried over from 2012. Together, these options provide plenty of adjustment to cater for a broad spectrum of rider sizes.

THE WRAP

In the 2013 KX450F, Kawasaki has worked hard to produce a model with appeal for a wide range of buyers – from weekend riders to pros, and from short riders to taller types. It offers an amazing degree of adjustment, from the ergonomics to the engine characteristics to the suspension, all of which can be altered with a minimum of fuss. For these reasons, and because it packs in plenty of performance, the 2013 KX450F is going to win plenty of hearts in the months ahead.