2024 Kawasaki KX450 and KX450X

Main was epic from 10-Noon: Solid prep after rough Tuesday conditions from the GH crew. KeeferInc and company cut in some fun turn tracks after the rain, and I hit the Arroyo track from 2.30-3.30P as it shaped up nicely with some Mother Nature prep. Very few complaints on the suspension front, and those ODI lock-ons are way easier on the hands than previous design. Let the good times roll

I'm jealous - the main was just brutal yesterday after lunch, I'll bet the low rider count and the rain made that track perfect.

thanks for the bike review.

You probably saw me pulling off after every lap, making adjustments to my new forks. They went from feeling great to almost unridable in a very short amount of time, the main got pretty gnarly 

You need a 2024 RMZ

Suprised to hear the motor isn't packing more of a punch with all the changes they made. 

Do you think it’s something an aftermarket ECU map could fix or is it beyond that?

This might be inappropriate, but this news really makes my dick soft. 

Has everyone that has the bike removed the mud baffle in the air box?  

That sucks. They should've kept the motor the same and spent the R&D money on weight savings. 

All the media bikes at Glen Helen had the baffle out. Even with the weather, none of the Kawasaki representatives felt it necessary to reinstall. KeeferInc threw it in for a quick minute, rode a few sections of a parking lot turn track, and immediately removed it…Sounded even mellower with it in (on an already noticeably quiet bike/exhaust tone) and that’s not the direction the new bike needs for a majority of racing consumers!

Yeah well I still want one.

Somebody give me 6K for my 22 with 72 hours.

Appreciate everyone’s feedback, keep it coming! 

For now I’m not in a rush for a ‘24. I’ll wait til pipes are available, Twisted has a solid ECU setting for the Vortex, and Pro Circuit has had some time for suspension testing. 

Sounds like corner entry is improved with similar frame flex characteristics, which is intriguing. Just really wish they made this motor a monster. Damn it.  

Having tested the 2023 450, i do not understand what they have been thinking if they have made the engine mellower. It was already one of the nicer and "easier to ride" 450 out on the market. 

But going even further in the mellow direction sure does like a mistake to me. 

The air filter seems to have a lot less surface area than other bikes, and the two metal filter retention straps don’t appear to be robust enough to keep the air filter cage in place securely. I guess time and testing will tell.
 

IMO most bikes today really benefit from an aftermarket ECU, I’m sure it will be a month or so at least until they dyno test at twisted and XPR  to get maps figured out.
 

I’ll still be picking one up when the initial price comes down, a couple dealers in California are putting $1100 in ADM on the first models they received- I don't need one that badly…

I think the bike is awesome, Kawi did a great job with the new geometry! Front end has more traction and carves like the best now. Didn't feel any twitchyness, curious how it will feel with axle moved back. The impact absorption is still amazing. I rode a few other bikes that day and the Kawi is definitely one of the best for absorbing the initial impact, similar to the old bikes. Agree with others on the motor, not exciting but still good. This is the ultimate vet bike, carves and is super easy on the body. immediately felt comfortable like id been riding it for awhile! Great platform to build on.

After watching and reading a bunch of reviews it still sounds like a great contender. Everyone is raving about the chassis, very stable, compliant and it turns. Feeling comfortable right away.

The motor. Smoother and but feels a little down on power. Some even saying 350 like (just a little more). This can be a plus late in a moto.

That being said, if some feel they need more power that's an easier fix than trying to change a chassis.

Any word on the SR version coming out?

Thanks ML. Really good info in your post and video. 

Anyone know the actual horsepower vs. the outgoing model?  I’m bummed it’s down on power and would be shocked if the power actually went down.

"450s are too fast" -VitalMx

"We made our 24 450 a little more mellow" -Kawasaki

"The 24 KX450 is slow I dont want one" -VitalMx user who hasnt ridden one.

I'll pick up a 24 next spring when the snow melts.

There’s a lot of us who think 450s are the perfect all around bike and wanted more power out of the Kawi 450. 
 

Glad the bike suits your needs perfectly, why wait til next year? Go slap some cash down at the dealer! 

Sounds to me like aftermarket intake or air box is in order for this bike.

For those who owns this bike. How bad is that vibration they speak of?

One media ride day can't really tell you everything about this motorcycle.

  Sometimes people see these short videos and tend to over-react and judge the platform as un-worthy before anyone spends any time on them.   Last year it was the KTM being criticized for being too stiff, when all the bike needed was some more break in time than normal.  Now that bike is just an awesome, easy to ride dirt bike that is much better than the previous generation.

I also remember a couple years ago when Honda had its all new 450 with the ECU flame outs,  and a lot of people rushed to judgement.   Honda fixed it, and a lot of guys love and ride the CRF 450 now.

First year or new generation bikes can take some time to figure out. Just be glad that unlike Suzuki, these other OEM's are trying to push the limit of development and we get the benefit.

I agree with this sentiment. One of the reasons I like buying a 450 is that I don't need to mod it or run race gas in order to get the power I need. I'm also 220lbs with gear, and so I definitely feel like I use all the available power on certain sections of track here in SoCal.

I didn't feel any more vibration than any other 450.  I have ridden all the 2023 models and I think they are overstating this.  They make it sound like a CR500.