The more things change…

Edited Date/Time 12/22/2022 6:23am

The first two 2023 450 shootouts have been posted (SwapMoto Live and Dirt Bike), and a bike that has had nothing but different bars and a clutch since 2019 won them both.  Please don’t screw this up in 2024!

 
 

 

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1911
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12/21/2022 9:20pm

RMKICKSTARTARMY. 4 the win!!!!!!!!!Silly

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Dirt.Squirt
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12/21/2022 10:00pm

Maybe it’s just that good? Bigger changes don’t always steer a bike towards the better. 
 

im sure a steel framed bike will win the MXA shootout though

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12/22/2022 4:56am Edited Date/Time 12/22/2022 4:58am
1911 wrote:
RMKICKSTARTARMY. 4 the win!!!!!!!!!

RMKICKSTARTARMY. 4 the win!!!!!!!!!Silly

Not so much, but the platform is nearly as old.

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Dirt.Squirt
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12/22/2022 1:03pm Edited Date/Time 12/24/2022 11:19am

Edit:reading comprehension is hard 

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The Shop

steveloyer
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12/22/2022 2:18pm

Ummm its a really good bike dude

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Sandusky26
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12/22/2022 2:26pm

Edit:reading comprehension is hard 

Me and Quad are trying to get your hippy ass on team green.

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wrc777
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12/22/2022 3:14pm

Stable but still has steering. Engine power delivery is very manageable. Ergos are pretty good. Can buy it new cheaper than just about any other 450. The air box, resale value, lever shape, and plastics durability are probably the biggest issues. Other than the air box, none of that is particularly difficult or expensive to fix. The airbox isn’t that bad either. I hear the airbox on the 250 is worse because they made it smaller for some reason. 

Kevin852
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12/22/2022 3:35pm

Just got a new ‘21 at beginning of Nov.  Really liking it so far.  Does everything well nothing stands out as bad. All I have done is revalue the forks.  

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early
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12/22/2022 3:42pm

Does it still feel like a Harbor Freight bike as ARay pointed out? Laughing

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DB505
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12/22/2022 5:10pm

Like the reviews say, it’s not the best at anything! But it’s really good as a package!

Mr. Afterbar
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12/22/2022 5:15pm Edited Date/Time 12/22/2022 5:18pm
wrc777 wrote:
Stable but still has steering. Engine power delivery is very manageable. Ergos are pretty good. Can buy it new cheaper than just about any other 450...

Stable but still has steering. Engine power delivery is very manageable. Ergos are pretty good. Can buy it new cheaper than just about any other 450. The air box, resale value, lever shape, and plastics durability are probably the biggest issues. Other than the air box, none of that is particularly difficult or expensive to fix. The airbox isn’t that bad either. I hear the airbox on the 250 is worse because they made it smaller for some reason. 

The air box and plastics are non issues in my opinion. Changing a filter is no more difficult than any bike I’ve owned (I personally will never own a KTM) and I see no issue with the plastic. The levers do suck, but levers are fairly inexpensive. Resale value is slightly lower than the others, but they also cost less in the first place. A KX is the best buy in MX IMO unless you can get a smoking deal on a RMZ. The price difference wasn’t enough at the time of purchasing my KX for me to buy a RMZ, plus I love the stability of a Kawi. It does what I predict it will do every time. 

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12/22/2022 6:40pm

Edit:reading comprehension is hard 

The more things change, the more they stay the same.  All of the other bikes in the shootout (except the obvious) have undergone at least one generational change since the Kawasaki platform was introduced way back in 2019.  Even with all these changes, the venerable Kawasaki with it’s big rebate is still winning the shootouts.  Despite all the hype of new models and features, the fact of the matter is that nothing matters in the 450 class as much as comfort.  4 years later that same comfort is still winning shootouts.

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Dirt.Squirt
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12/22/2022 7:06pm

Edit:reading comprehension is hard 

Sandusky26 wrote:

Me and Quad are trying to get your hippy ass on team green.

Shit I’m already half way there 

Dirt.Squirt
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12/22/2022 7:07pm
The more things change, the more they stay the same.  All of the other bikes in the shootout (except the obvious) have undergone at least one...

The more things change, the more they stay the same.  All of the other bikes in the shootout (except the obvious) have undergone at least one generational change since the Kawasaki platform was introduced way back in 2019.  Even with all these changes, the venerable Kawasaki with it’s big rebate is still winning the shootouts.  Despite all the hype of new models and features, the fact of the matter is that nothing matters in the 450 class as much as comfort.  4 years later that same comfort is still winning shootouts.

So true. I misunderstood your angle my apologies 

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Sandusky26
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12/23/2022 2:00am
early wrote:
Does it still feel like a Harbor Freight bike as ARay pointed out? 

Does it still feel like a Harbor Freight bike as ARay pointed out? Laughing

ARay should learn how to ride a 450 correctly before he gives any reviews.

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TogaSet
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12/23/2022 2:54am Edited Date/Time 12/23/2022 3:10am

Kawasakis aren’t quite so pretty as others and their little bits like bolts, screws, plastics, chain guards are flimsier but out on the track where it matters their bikes are very competitive and fun to ride.   Times 2 if you’re a taller rider. 

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12/23/2022 5:33am
TogaSet wrote:
Kawasakis aren’t quite so pretty as others and their little bits like bolts, screws, plastics, chain guards are flimsier but out on the track where it...

Kawasakis aren’t quite so pretty as others and their little bits like bolts, screws, plastics, chain guards are flimsier but out on the track where it matters their bikes are very competitive and fun to ride.   Times 2 if you’re a taller rider. 

At 6’3”, I very much agree.

Dirt.Squirt
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12/23/2022 5:38pm
TogaSet wrote:
Kawasakis aren’t quite so pretty as others and their little bits like bolts, screws, plastics, chain guards are flimsier but out on the track where it...

Kawasakis aren’t quite so pretty as others and their little bits like bolts, screws, plastics, chain guards are flimsier but out on the track where it matters their bikes are very competitive and fun to ride.   Times 2 if you’re a taller rider. 

Exxxxxactly. Wich for me is fine. Every kawi I’ve ever owned has flat out made me want to ride as much as possible 

 

I do love my 2019 yz450 but it gets to be a little cramped at times and honestly am just getting a little bored with it

 

Had some major reliability issues with my 2012 kx250f but I’m ready to give the green bikes another shot  

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