2024 Kawasaki KX450X TESTED

[@OtisFlint]

The fact that they're still doing the close ratio 5 speed MX box, tiny fuel tank, no handguards, no skid plate, no dedicated mapping, etc in 2024 is astonishing. The only reason you buy the Kawi is the $3k discount at year end. I have Kawis, Yamahas, and Austrian bikes. The only reason to buy green is price and nostalgia, because i grew up on KXs. You'd be nuts to pay retail for one of these given the other options on the market.

[@SoCalMisfit712]

Crazy to pay any retail prices. The crf450 works edition kind of makes sense since it comes with all the bells and whistles but still pricey. Saw a 23 kx250x out near me new but left over inventory, 5000$. Marked down from 8900 is nuts.

[@scottdries1106]

Amen to that. I wanted a new bike for the mountains, I can afford one. Truth being the 1994 KDX 200 I just bought is a better bike for climbing mountain trails, period, for many reasons. I gotta freshen it up for spring but so far I have $2500 spent and trust me it’s better for this application

[@bryceridesbikes]

I’ve really enjoyed my ‘23 kx450x some of the weaknesses on paper don’t really matter in the end. the 5 speed is fine when you gear it for how you use it. I do all woods and no desert or other open stuff. A 6 speed wide ratio is nice but not having one isn’t a deal breaker. I’m fine with them leaving off hand guards and skid plate since I end up changing them for options with better protection anyway. Having a bit less power and snap than other bikes in the class means I’m not missing a special off road tune like I might be on something snappier like a yz450. It’s a good bike and fantastic bike when you can get one for several grand under msrp at the end of a generation.

[@Stinky_sack]

All bikes are too damn expensive

[@OtisFlint]

@@bryceridesbikes My point is, all of these issues (and then some) are addressed by other manufacturers out of the box, so if you pay retail you're nuts. Just look at the resale value difference between the green and blue bikes. I have a '21 KX450X, because it was a deal (Bought it last year for $3k with a bad rod bearing). I run a 52T rear sprocket to make it work in the woods, which it does but it eats chain guides. Wouldn't be an issue with a 6 speed. Big tank wouldn't be needed either, and i would also change the skid plate and handguards but they should at least come with some flag style handguards for the guys that run those. What would that cost like $3? Kawi is doing the bare minimum to call these cross country bikes, and at $11k that's not acceptable IMO.

[@UnsungThermidor]

I'm a bit confused on the mention of it not being tuned for off road. Kawasaki claims on their site that the engine mapping is optimized for cross country racing, vs their MX Model. Unless they just decided to throw that in for fluff, or it wasn't a noticeable enough difference.

[@jondoe4667]

I saw that on their site too. I think they were mostly trying to make it known that there is a mapping switch on the bars now instead of having those plug in chips

[@Sender76]

LET'S GO JETT

[@chugachocho]

Also needs a headlight to be an X

[@LuigiTheMetal64]

Two-strokes will always be great.

[@nick_nuge]

Release the yz450f exhaust shootout🙏

[@vlllntynn20]

That’s a nice phelan track

[@fikramkajilijili]

very nice motorbike ,😍😍

[@marcomodena8076]

Bella Bestia 👍🙋🏻‍♂️🤙

[@StayTunedMoto]

Kawi Wowi 💪🏻

[@andy5786]

Kawasaki KX45OX NICE BIKE GUYS Thanks For 😂me 👍

[@Sleepy.Time.]

perimeter frames and cross country fuel tanks do not really work out well

[@OtisFlint]

Yet several aftermarket options exist and they carry a gallon more than stock...

[@Sleepy.Time.]

@@OtisFlint yeah but it requires a tank that sticks up to your cross bar pad, when the KX500 ruled desert racing they ran like a 5 gallon fuel tank on them

[@OtisFlint]

@@Sleepy.Time. Sure, a carbed 2 stroke in the desert is going to absolutely guzzle fuel. A modern 4T about 2.5 gallons will get you through most events, at least here in the north. Out west in the desert, probably not. Regardless, the stock tanks on these Kawis are way undersized.

[@Sleepy.Time.]

@@OtisFlint Sand is what really saps the fuel, remember the factory Honda 450s running out of fuel at Southwick and that is only 35 minutes +2. A 500 two stroke gets pretty good fuel mileage since you are rarely wide open on one for very long. All the factory teams top off their 450s after the sight lap at the nationals if you have noticed.

[@LastFrog1]

So basically $200 kickstand over the 450

[@chongorlz9716]

Meh, seems pretty mid. Thanks for the review.

[@jongib6096]

Seems way outdated already

[@lanwickum]

Kawi should just make a 350 instead of trying to make a 450 feel like a 350. Honestly, my 350 will outpull a kawi 450.

[@reedgalbraith6508]

😂😂😂

[@stephennichols90]

Garb bike 😂