2024 · Motocross · Buyer's Guide
The Composed Big-Bore Racer
The 2024 KX450 is Kawasaki's flagship motocrosser, and this generation is built around an aluminum perimeter frame tuned for front-end feel and cornering accuracy. The fuel-injected 449 cc single makes 58 hp and 40 lb-ft. It favors tractable delivery over an abrupt hit, which keeps the chassis settled and puts the power into the dirt instead of into wheelspin. Traction control, ride modes and launch control come standard, and you tune the bike through smartphone connectivity. That makes it a modern racing tool without losing the straightforward, get-on-and-go character that Team Green buyers expect.
This bike pays off late in a long moto. Softer delivery means less arm-pump and fewer panic moments, and the fully adjustable fork and shock, with 12.0 in (305 mm) of travel up front, can take real punishment on hard landings and deep braking bumps. It's rugged, it has plenty of aftermarket support, and at 248 lb (113 kg) wet it's light enough to throw around. The honest caveat: if you're used to a 450 that tries to rip your arms off out of every berm, this one feels polite until you look at your lap times.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 58 hp (43 kW) @ 9,500 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 40 lb-ft (54 Nm) @ 7,000 rpm |
| Displacement | 449 cc |
| Engine | Single-cylinder |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 5-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 270 mm |
| Front tire | 80/100-21 |
| Rear tire | 120/80-19 |
| Wheelbase | 58.3 in (1481 mm) |
| Ground clearance | 13.6 in (345 mm) |
| Front travel | 12.0 in (305 mm) |
| Rear travel | 12.1 in (307 mm) |
| Seat height | 37.8 in (960 mm) |
| Wet weight | 248 lb (113 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 1.6 gal (6.2 L) |
| Top speed | 86 mph (139 km/h) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Safety
The first thing you notice is the height. At 37.8 in (960 mm), the seat leaves shorter riders on tiptoe at the gate, and you really feel that until the bike is rolling. Once it's moving, the KX450 shrinks underneath you. It sounds deep and crisp through the intake and exhaust, and the note lets you hear exactly where you are in the rev range without looking down. At 248 lb (113 kg), you can move the bike with your knees and boots instead of wrestling it with your arms, which is exactly what you want when you're standing through a rough section. The 5-speed box has one job, and on a motocross track it does it without asking for thought. After a full session my forearms still had something left, and on a 450 that says a lot.
Where this Kawasaki KX450 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the KX450 is actually built for.
This bike is made for you. The power is easy to use, the suspension is fully adjustable and launch control comes standard, so it's ready to race straight off the showroom floor and you'll still have energy left late in the moto.
Made for Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area · Fox Raceway at Pala · Glen Helen Raceway
The chassis and suspension will handle rocks and sand, and the smooth delivery helps on tricky climbs. But the 1.6 gal tank and tall seat make this a day-loop tool, not a multi-day desert machine.
Made for Bar M / Kane Creek · Imperial Sand Dunes · Johnson Valley OHV Area
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2019–2023