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.
Over the years I've collected a lot of KX450 talk: in the paddock between motos, over club-night coffee, in conversations with owners, and in the messages riders send me directly. For this generation the pattern is clear. Praise for cornering, brakes and easy upkeep far outweighs the complaints. The gripes that do come up are specific: a fork that goes soft at race pace, a top-heavy feel in flat corners, and a mismatched pair of levers.
Cornering comes up most often. Owners describe a chassis that lets them lean in and attack a turn, and some say the front end gives better feedback and traction as the track changes through the day. Riders call the bike nimble in tight, technical sections and easy to point through confined turns. Rough ground doesn't seem to unsettle it either. Riders report that it tracks straight and stays predictable going into ruts, with a planted feel. Others say moving the silencer forward gives the handling a firmer, more centralized feel. The catch comes where there's nothing to lean on. Without a berm or rut to bank against, riders notice a top-heavy sensation once the bike is leaned over in a flat turn.
Riders praise how smoothly the suspension soaks up bumps and rough terrain while keeping them in control. The complaint comes from the fast end of the gate. Riders who charge hard find the Showa fork tuned on the soft side, and they say it pushes deep into its travel on jump faces. On the motor, owners describe strong, responsive acceleration. Some say the revised intake, valves and exhaust porting brought more power at every throttle position. Riders who have built custom fueling and ignition maps in the Rideology app say it wakes the engine up, with more bottom-end torque and a snappier throttle.
The front brake gets some of the strongest praise. Riders describe strong stopping power, precise lever feel and useful reach adjustment from the Brembo caliper and master cylinder. They call the hydraulic clutch light at the lever and consistent in feel. Owners say the cockpit feels right straight away. The seat is long and flat, the pegs are wide, and the bodywork is slim enough to make moving around on the bike easy. One oddity does get mentioned. From the factory, a Brembo brake lever sits opposite a Nissin clutch lever, and riders say the pair feels odd in the hand. In the garage, owners describe routine upkeep as simple, with parts that are easy to reach and clean. A redesigned side cover also lets them get to the air filter without tools. The durability reports are positive too. Riders mention sturdy materials that hold up to aggressive riding and no early reliability problems.
No widely-reported issues on record.
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