New Bike Season: 2011 Kawasaki KX450F 1

Jeff Emig, showing the 2011 KX450F what's up.

If you loved last year's KX450F, we've got some good news for you...you'll probably like the 2011 edition a whole bunch as well. While the 2010 model received a host of updates, the list of changes on the 2011 is relatively small, and fine-tunes an already solid bike. Let's take a look at some of what's new.

The engine is the same basic setup as last year. A 449cc powerplant with dual overhead cams, 12.5:1 compression ratio, and Digital Fuel Injection and 43mm Keihin throttle body that feed a four-valve head. It's all mated to a five-speed transmission.

Not the longer muffler, and blue accents on the graphics. Those are a couple of the most visible changes to the new big-bore Kawasaki.

While last year the engine got a bridged-box-bottom piston similar to what the team uses, this year the design has been refined to work with the larger muffler and is designed to meet the AMA's 94db requirement. They also added long-fiber packing material to the muffler to help extend the time between repacking.

You'll also find that the the DFI's ECU now provides a hotter, longer-duration spark, in an effort to provide a little extra low-end grunt. Those of you using the optional Digital Fuel Injection's Calibration Kit software will notice updates there, as well as to the controller harness and connector, which have been redesigned for easier use.

Per usual, you'll find updated suspension settings on the Kayaba Air-Oil-Separate (AOS) forks, and they've still got the DLC coated sliders, and a Kashima coating on the interior surfaces. But now have some new blue damping adjuster caps, which match the color update on the 250F. The rear Kayaba shock features a 50mm piston, high- and low-speed compression adjusters, and once again gets the Kashima coatings, though with massaged settings, and new blue adjusters.

The KX450F has become one of the privateer tools of choice this year. Besides the performance, part of the reason is the Team Green support, and contingency dollars.

The chassis returns as relatively unchanged, with the aluminum construction, and a D-shaped swingarm for the Uni-Trak rear suspension. This year's bike gets a slightly more aggressive surface on the side of the seat, for extra grip. Everyone will be happy to note that the chain guide on the swingarm has been changed to provide much more durability than in the past. It's much thicker, and Kawasaki claims that it will last nearly three times longer than in the past.

Like always, we dig the details like the black alumite-coated rims, Renthal bars, and a matching look for the hubs, engine covers, triple clamps and other goodies that remind us of the Monster Energy Kawasaki team effort. Oh, and the graphics this year get a bit of a blue accent, though you'd better get a good look at it before they first ride. They don't last very long.

But enough of our jabbering. We'll let you check in with Jeff Emig, who put the bike through its paces for our cameras. Just watch out for that roost in the video...it's gnarly.

2011 Kawasaki KX™450F Specifications*
Engine: Liquid-cooled, four-stroke single with DOHC and four valve cylinder head

Displacement: 449cc

Bore x stroke: 96.0 x 62.1mm

Compression ratio: 12.5:1

Fuel Injection: 43mm Keihin Throttle body

Ignition: Digital DC-CDI

Transmission: Five-speed

Rake / trail: 26.7 degrees / 4.6 in.

Front suspension / wheel travel: 48mm inverted, Kayaba AOS with DLC coated sliders, 22-position compression and 20-position rebound dampening adjustment / 12.4 in.

Rear suspension / wheel travel: UNI-TRAK® linkage system and Kayaba shock with 50mm piston, 22-position low-speed and stepless high-speed compression dampening, 22-position rebound dampening and fully adjustable spring preload / 12.4 in.

Front tire: 90/100-21

Rear tire: 120/80-19

Front brake: Single semi-floating 250mm petal disc with dual piston caliper

Rear brake: Single 240mm petal disc with single-piston caliper

Overall length: 86.0 in.

Overall width: 32.3 in.

Overall height: 50.4 in.

Wheelbase: 58.3 in.

Ground clearance: 13.2 in.

Seat height: 37.8 in.

Curb weight: 249.9 lbs.

Fuel capacity: 1.9 gal.

Color: Lime Green

MSRP: $8,149

Wholesale distributor: Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.

9950 Jeronimo Road

Irvine, California 92618

(949) 770-0400
www.kawasaki.com