Worth The Hype? - First Ride on the 2024 Kawasaki KX450

Presented by O'Neal
We have officially taken delivery of the 2024 Kawasaki KX450, one of the most desirable bikes of the new year. The crew at Kawasaki invited us out to Glen Helen Raceway, this morning, to ride the all new machine. Press play to hear what SML test riders Pat Foster and Kyle Puerner had to say about the new generation Kawasaki!

[@dirtboy896]

Pat Foster is a class act

[@fox13z400]

Agreed

[@davidjames1800]

These guys are usually spot on, got a 24 yz450f and I’d say they’re review of it was spot on, including the sag settings etc

[@MX-CO]

I love the Retro version

[@dn059]

It looks sick. So much better to look at than years past. Thank god they fixed that header and muffler this one looks in proportion and much less cheap looking

[@cme982]

Take it with a grain of salt. If you watch David Pingree’s and MXA’s review they are on the complete opposite end of the spectrum. SML has always praise the Kawi. Not being bias, just being objective about what the MX reviewers are putting out there.

[@nathandowns369]

Pat looked like he was flying! Id like to hear from them after the track gets rough though. My honda feels amazing on a smooth track but scary in the rough.

[@RollForever88]

Team green baby

[@julianearle9726]

Looks sick

[@jasong5321]

Kyle is solid. He did a great job with his part.

[@steves5382]

Such a breath of fresh air from Orange or white.

[@MotoMatt418]

Sounds like a great bike. One of the reasons I got off Yamaha in 2022, which I loved, was due to how insane it was to ride. I was literally ripping the butt of my riding pants. Fun, but wore me out so fast. Loving my ‘23 KTM 350 now. Rideability is so important.

[@brutus6328]

On a '23 KTM 350 as well.......best decision I ever made. Vet guy, 50yrs old and riding for fun! The Goldilox of dirt bikes! (and it can still rip your arms out of their sockets pretty darn good...LOL)

[@adamrochester1]

Should of got the new 23 yz 😊 I had the 21 model and felt the same sold it waited to get the 23 or ktm … chose the 23 yz thing is amazing no vibration can make the mapping smooth and make it to like a 350

[@brutus6328]

@@adamrochester1 I follow someone with a '23 YZ 450 and he did just that and actually rides the bike tuned to what he believes a 350 would feel like. The best part is knowing IF for some reason you NEED (LOL) more, it's there. That's just an incredible feature to have!!! Still not a complaint in the world regarding my KTM SX-F 350. Here in Austin Texas there is a crazy wait list specifically for the 350. Maybe it doesn't make sense with that tuning ability, BUT I think Yamaha would be so wise to make a 350, I don't think they'd be able to make them fast enough!

[@adamrochester1]

@@brutus6328 who is that mx engineer? I’m keen to see I know mx engineer does and truth with the 350 they are great

[@brutus6328]

@@adamrochester1 WOW!!! Damn good guess!!! hahahahaha YEP! He's the one that I was referencing. Well, as you obviously know, he likes to set his YZ450 to what he calls his "350 map" (I actually don't know if he really calls it that, but it sounds right...LMAO). Pretty crazy.... out of all the dirt bike channels on YT, you actually guess correctly! LOL Crazy and scary! hahahaha

[@vintagetrikesandquads4012]

It's the best looking KX--especially the 90s retro version with the blue seat.

[@eddierobinson7651]

This is a REALLY good lookin bike, but I’m over the “ earth tone “ graphics, black rims, black triple clamps etc…Let’s bring back some more silver! The flo green seat and plastic pops and this bike has some really smooth transition lines from the radiator shrouds to the side plates.

[@dc_5sauce]

Looks good! 😎

[@patrikkagstrom2393]

You can ride in the rain 😂

[@danton94]

I just bought this bike and I am beyond stoked with how it feels. Although I haven’t rode it yet it’s been too cold. My first 450 so I’m actually happy with the smooth motor. Not sure if I’m just looking for a ton of these videos, or did Kawasaki pay all these guys to say good things to help sell this motorcycle?

[@Canyon_Shawn]

The bike does look very balanced.

[@jkell411]

It was going to win the '24 SML shootout no matter what, but I'm wondering if it will actually win other ones as well this year.

[@Scrubdaddy135]

Is that the rain I’m hearing 😂

[@someoneyouknow96]

I’ve watched about 5 reviews on this bike. It’s weird after 30 years of reviews do the bikes ever get worse? I think people need to be honest with others and realize 30 years of bike reviews they aren’t continuing to get better. It’s marketing 101. Don’t get me wrong there’s been massive improvements in lots of things over the years but year after year bikes are improved. It just doesn’t make sense.

[@ronmower3694]

the most truth in a post! they the same hp for 20y same evrything but here n there! i concur

[@someoneyouknow96]

@@ronmower3694 my 04 450 doesn't feel much different than my 22 for power. Suspension wise my 22 feels great but I rode the 04 last weekend and it felt good too.

[@ronmower3694]

@@someoneyouknow96 I agree bro

[@fabriziograziani2765]

💚💯

[@matthewtoes6433]

Fanning the clutch in first riding a 2 Stroke needs to be forgotten and change the your technique if things are done right then more speed into the corner use the tourqe to pull you out of the turn and your going way to fast down the next straight on a 450, Pat Foster needs to watch a video on Toni Caroli how smooth he is but has the fastest Lap time the Whole MOTO People who buy this new bike won't be disappointed

[@merrick255]

Song?

[@zr1zr167]

What is song

[@sludge86]

And you can get these for a low low price of $10.5K. Everyone has at least that much just laying around the house. Heck, I might just write a check and pay the whole thing off 😎

[@grecoconduris6716]

If you add a tooth at the back does it shorten your wheel base?

[@lampenracer]

If the chain stays the same you have to put the wheel a bit more forward with a bigger sprocket.

[@grecoconduris6716]

@@lampenracer yeah that is what I was thinking. I have no idea if it is much or would impact the handling of your bike. But was thinking it adds another variable.

[@coldsteeloffroad]

It will, as you'll have to slide the wheel fwd 1/8" or so. It will make a difference in handling & effect the sag/shock settings via less leverage on the swimgarm. Will have to take a few turns out to reset sag & open compression a couple clicks to get a similar feeling back to what you had before. Will also lose a small amount of stability but gain turning agility. It's not huge though.

[@charlesclapper8982]

I hurd power is more like a 350sxf this year ???

[@pauldavis509]

Go faster then you don’t have t gear it down

[@sdb92]

Disappointing! Bulky, heavier with that massive swingarm and fugly front fender and numberplate…’22 SR still probably better!

[@someoneyouknow96]

The swingarm is the same as the old one dummy.

[@jonmcdougal9334]

Moto guys scared of the rain. What’s new

[@jefferymentzer1240]

This is nothing more than a simple sales pitch… I think if you do some research you might not want an aluminum frame?

[@lanwickum]

The kawi fan boys are still fan boys. Nice bike, it is weak.

[@dylannederhood]

You got one?

[@davidmolyneux7284]

​@@dylannederhood has he balls. The loser can't afford one. Probably has a bmx with a coke can at back wheel to sound like a dirt bike

[@dbr-motocross345]

Sell that shit, buy a Honda! 😂

[@caydenthompson126]

Only if you want to tuck the front

[@jeremy_moto_192]

Kawasaki 450 have boring power curves There 250s are awesome Buy Honda or ktm 450

[@vwgtdturbo]

fake engine!!, with twostroke engine i would buy it.