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KX450F Test |
2007 KX450F |
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MN Test - 2007 Kawasaki KX450F
2008 KLX 450R Model Details / First Ride | 2007 KX Model Details | 2006 KX Model Details
First ride review … with more to come
In three words – WE LIKE IT!
We’ve only spent one full day aboard the new 2007 KX450F, but we felt compelled to report on our findings so far. Rest assured, there will be more to report as we spend more time aboard this exciting beast of a machine.
When we first read the list of changes for the 2007 model, it left us quite excited to discover just how the new model would match up to last years machine in actual use. The changes announced by Kawasaki seemed right in line with what we would have put on our wish list.
We liked the powerhouse 2006 model, particularly the bikes handling through the rough and ability to take insane landings in stride, but it was clear to us there were some areas needing attention. First and foremost was the bikes turning ability which we’d rate on a scale from one to ten at a 4. After playing with the suspension and cheating the system, if you will, we got the big KX up to about a 6. Last seasons KX simply couldn’t turn on a dime nor could it hold its place easily in grooved or flat corners. Simply stated, it wouldn’t always hold its line and you couldn’t stuff it in a corner.
Our second contention was the 4-speed tranny and the ratio for first gear, but we won’t even get into that. If you’d like to read more on this, here’s the link to last seasons test. 2006 KX450F Test
For 2007 the big KX received new cam profiles and intake ports as well as a revised ignition, all to help provide increased low and mid-range power. The revised engine now exhales through a larger header pipe; power is delivered through a new 5-speed transmission featuring a higher, and now useable, first gear.
Suspension updates include a fork with larger damper cartridges (22mm to 24mm) larger compression pistons (27mm-30mm) and new fork seals and a black colored coating to reduce stiction. A revised shock works in conjunction with a more progressive linkage. The frame gains a bit of flex by way of a thinner downtube, and the rear hub has been lightened and made stronger. Foot pegs are no longer titanium.
After receiving the 2007 KX450F we eagerly headed to the track without making a single adjustment to the bike, Kawasaki is normally very good about test bike setup. After the first few easy laps we found the bike quite good but a bit harsh, particularly on landings. We softened the compression damping one click front and rear as a test and switched riders. Once we watched the bike on the track it was easy to see the rear wheel was riding too far into the suspension stroke – a clear signal that we had too soft a preload setting (or shock spring) on the rear shock. We looked around and noticed this trait with most of the newer KX models circulating the track as well. We also noticed there were simply a lot of Kawasaki KX models at the track. A quick preload measure told us the rear spring had 118mms of rider sag – way too much. After a rather quick, about 5 minutes, preload adjustment we settled on 108mm of static rider sag for the rear. We also set the front and back compression damping back to where the bike had been delivered so we would be at the same baseline.
Surprise, surprise, we hit pay dirt. With these simple adjustments we found settings liked by both of our riders, and most of the harshness we had been feeling subsided. (we’ll publish the suspension setting later). When a shock or fork is too far into the stroke it gets into the stiffer part of the stroke more easily and more often, which can be harsh – it’s like taking away the initial soft part of the suspension stroke. This left us to do one thing – ride. And ride we did, with only stops for rider changes and fuelling over the next six hours. It was fun be we (I) couldn’t walk the next day. Our out-of-shape bodies wore down, but the easy starting KX never missed a beat.
What did we learn? We learned that we really like the 2007 KX450F model, far better than we did the 2006 machine. We also learned this bike is rip snorting fast, fast enough to blur your eyes and pull your arms from there sockets. Much faster feeling than the 2006 model, which is saying a lot. When the upper mid range power comes into play you find yourself catching the riders in front of you, and fast, that's if you’re man enough to hold the throttle on – and let’s not forget that once you get this thing ripping down your favorite long straight you’re going to have to get the thing stopped.
Low-end power is abundant, as is mid range stump pulling power. This thing has so much power on tap, in fact, you simply need to ride one or even two gears higher than normal to navigate with confidence and to keep the rear wheel in some way hooked up to terrafirma. The power is so strong it brought back images of Pro riders like Chad Reed having his bike launch out from under him in one of this season Supercross races after getting a little out of shape in a slippery corner – these new 450s make power. With so much available power, it’s not hard to over jump an obstacle if you’re not paying attention. If you’re getting tired or just try to ride with a bit of wild abandon it could easily happen to you. This engine deserves respect, but this isn’t to at all say it’s not perfectly rideable. The KX demands your respect, but it rewards you with a very exciting ride. If you can get yourself to short-shift you’ll be set. One thing that absolutely makes the KX fun and easier to ride is the spot-on jetting. This thing idles about a well as a Kawasaki street bike, and it just doesn’t stall or hint at stalling – even when lugging the engine rpm down to about the nothing range. It’s pretty incredible that Kawasaki was able to get a stump-pulling 450 single to run so incredibly well – we couldn’t stop talking about it.
Stopping the 450F isn’t like stopping a 250, it just carries so much more speed and momentum. With this said, the 450F, so far, stops admirably if not better. The brakes are certainly strong, but like last year, we would prefer to achieve this braking power with less front brake lever pressure.
In the air the KX just feels better than last year, we can’t say why at this point. It’s a tall bike for sure, but it doesn’t remind you of this while circulating the track. Starting can easily be done in tennis shoes, though we of course don’t recommend it. Our bike started first or second kick all day long and never showed a single hint of a hitch, and it ran consistently as well. Like mentioned above, this thing is like a tractor and can be lugged down low with little fear of stalling the machine. About the worst thing we can say about the 2007 KX450F is that the kick-start lever is ridiculously high, even for us tall riders. We also missed more shifts from first to second gear than we’d like to admit; the jury is still out regarding this.
We have a lot more testing, fun, and shear excitement to be had aboard the KX450F. We particularly want to focus on how well the suspension package handles nasty whoops and such. We can tell you that the bike tracks very well under full power (when straight up) and soaks up the bumps very well while doing so. More to come, see you at the rack.
MN
2008 KLX 450R Model Details | 2007 KX Model Details | 2006 KX Model Details
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