NOVEMBER 23, 2005
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The all-new 2006 KX450F (front) and the redesigned 2006 KX250F (rear). |
By Danny Brault
Photos: Jason T. Griffiths
Kawasaki has made waves in 2006. Not only did they completely redesign their KX250F, but they have finally released their KX450F—the bike that Bubba is confident he can beat RC on. Having not spent much time on the green bikes, we were very anxious to see how the new Kawasakis stacked up against our current rides.
For 2006, the KX250F features an aluminum frame, Renthal handlebars, stiffer valve springs, increased compression ratio, thicker piston crown and slimmer radiators (for narrower shrouds) which feature tightly packed cores and a new fin design to help with heat dispersion. The bike also features a higher rev-limiter so power doesn’t abruptly cut out, works-style aluminum skid plate, and new-style brake rotors to help clean brake pads and provide more efficient braking performance.
Since the ’06 KX450F is a first-year model, everything is new. The 450 shares much of the same qualities of the 250F, but with a few differences, the biggest being the four-speed transmission. The KX450F also features a titanium exhaust, silencer and footpegs. Both KXFs have been outfitted with new plastics, and are easily the best looking Kawasakis to date.
The Weapon: 2006 KX250F and KX450F
CDN retail price: KX250F: $7,799, KX450F: $8,299
The unusual suspects, their riding abilities and their current rides:
Steve Beattie, intermediate (motocross) and pro (supermoto), CRF 450R
Kyle Thompson, pro, CRF250R and CRF450R
Location:
Petrolia, Ontario
Rider impressions:
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Even though Steve Beattie spends much of his time racing on the pavement, he still has some impressive skills in the dirt. |
Steve Beattie:
KX250F:
“Right off the bat, it was a very comfortable bike to get on. No problems there. I didn’t think, ‘Oh wow, that feels funky.’ My experience in motocross with a 250Fs is nil, so I can’t compare it to anything. I can say that overall, if I were to judge this bike on a scale of one to ten, I would give it a strong nine. I didn’t have any complaints with it. The bike runs well, starts easily, steers well, it's really light, just the positioning—everything. Overall it had a strong motor, and I can judge the motor against a race motor that I have in my Honda and I can say, ‘Yeah the Kawasaki felt pretty damn strong.’ It has pretty good roll on power, and as a guy that works with engines a lot, that bike must have some really good torque numbers. You don’t even have to rev it to make power. All around an A+, I didn’t have any complaints.”
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The KX450F made easy work of the monsterous jumps at Thompson's track. |
KX450F:
“The KX450F is a really good motorcycle, it’s a good 450 class bike. For maybe 85 percent of the guys that are going to buy that bike, it’s a great motocross bike. That 15 percent extra would be at the pro level. As a guy with a background from dirt track and supermoto, we’re constantly trying to get the most power and torque out of these things [large displacement bikes]. So a big hit ... something super-fast that is there to use it when you need it, I question whether it would cut it. When you’re looking for big power, it just feels a little bit tamer, a little bit more linear. However, in motocross trim, I would say it was awesome. It steers better than my ’05 Honda, the only thing I did notice is that the Honda brakes bite harder. It tracked really well and when you pointed it, it went that way. You don’t have to fight it to get back on line.”
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Kyle Thompson felt the KX250F was a great bike straight from the crate, with a motor that felt like it had already been modified. |
Kyle Thompson
KX250F:
“I’m used to riding Hondas and I rode Yamahas before, the KX250F power feels like a mod motor, right from the get go. It feels like there is a pipe on it and it feels fast. If you modify the KX250F, it could be really sick for a race bike. Suspension wise, both the bikes feel like a race setting. It’s stiffer for a heavier pro rider, and you could moto it right out of the box and feel comfortable on it right away. The Honda has softer suspension, and it doesn’t carry across the top of the bumps as well. But the Kawasaki felt like it could carry me over the bumps better and it felt like it could get me into the corner better. You can turn in and turn out of anything really fast, too.”
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Thompson loved the KX450F, but wasn't sold on the four-speed transmission. |
KX450F:
“The gearing was the biggest thing I noticed. I didn’t even notice it was a four speed until I got off the bike. When I was hitting the big jumps, I thought I was in third gear, but I was actually in second. It was just a huge difference; I have never raced a four-gear bike before. That was the biggest part; the gears are way broader. It’s [four-speed transmission] has its advantages and disadvantages. For a tighter track, I think I would rather five gears, but for the more open tracks, you can leave it in third gear and it feels good. For handling, it’s so similar to the KX250F, it’s crazy, and it would actually be really good to have that combo if you’re racing two classes because they both feel so alike. They’re both good, solid bikes.”
The Verdict:
Kawasaki may have built two of the best four-strokes, ever. Both bikes, the KX250F and 450F take less than a corner to get comfortable on, have strong, usable power, turn on a dime and track straight over whoops and out of corners. The 250F might be the fastest stock 250F we've ridden, and Thompson even suggested racing it with just suspension mods. The 450 featured broad, smooth, roll-on power, but riders said they sometimes felt between gears because of the four-speed transmission. We plan to get some more time on the bike to experiment with gearing changes for different tracks. Kawasaki deserves credit, even though they were the last to unleash a 450, it was worth the wait. There isn't an area that this bike doesn't shine, it handles as good or better than the Honda, has a buttery smooth power delivery and is just a fun, competitive bike to ride. For a complete list of technical details and information on the 2006 KX250F and KX450F and all of Kawasaki’s motorcycles, visit http://www.kawasaki.ca/.
