KX Feel the Difference KAWASAKI GOES TO TOWN ON THE CLUTCH COOKER
Kawasaki dropped the F-word back in 2019 and everybody went “big deal, so what? Everyone knows it’s a Four-stroke, right?” But this radical move wasn’t just a way to save space on the Bold New Graphics, Kawasaki Heavy Industries was deadly serious about getting ahead in the 450cc motocross game.
Somebody high up in Kobe, said: “If the engineers don’t start lifting their game on our f---ing KX450 and KX250 they’ll get sent to Fukushima.” So the boffins didn’t just drop the F from the name but gave us electric start, a hydraulically-operated clutch, Showa A-kit-style suspension and a new engine with DLC-coated finger followers.
The hydro clutch was a first for a Japanese motocrosser and, right from the get go, the KX450 launch-controlled itself to the front of the pack, both in our 450 Motocross Shootout and overseas ones, plus it started winning on the track in what is arguably the most competitive series in the world, the AMA Supercross Championship, with star rider Eli Tomac.
The cylinder-head revamp had some no-hopers suggesting that Kawasaki was just following the European companies, but the truth KHI was using the technology in
