Kawasaki Launches KX450F & KLX450R Off-Road Motorcycles In India

Here’s some good news for aspiring motocross riders. Kawasaki India has added two new bikes to its already comprehensive off-road lineup. The Kawasaki KX450F and Kawasaki KLX450R are priced at Rs 7.97 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) and Rs. 8.49 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) respectively. Just like Kawasaki’s other off-road bikes, these motorcycles will be brought to India via the ‘CBU’ route. 

Since these bikes are not road legal they cannot be registered, and will only be restricted to closed off-road events and off-road trails. 

The KX series is known for its simplistic design which is targeted towards riders with mid to high levels of experience. The KX450F is the lightest machine in its segment, weighing just 108kg (kerb). This has been achieved via significant reduction in weight in the engine and chassis department. Powering the bike is a fuel-injected 450cc four-stroke single-cylinder motor.  The bike has a ground clearance of 335mm. 

As expected from a motorcycle of this calibre, the front suspension is inverted Showa SFF-Air TAC forks with Triple Air Chamber, DLC coated sliders, 22-position compression and 20-position rebound damping adjustment; while a Wheel Travel Uni-Trak linkage system and Showa shock with 19-position low-speed and 4-turns high-speed compression damping, 22-position rebound damping and fully adjustable spring preload at the back does the job. The bike employs a 21-inch spoke wheel at the front and a 19-inch one at the back, which should be suitable for most off-road tracks. Both the front and rear wheel have a travel of 304mm, making it a pure breed motorcross specialist. 

The KLX450R on the other hand has a single-cylinder 449cc liquid-cooled four-stroke engine. The motor has been optimized for maximum low and mid range performance. This off-roader has a wheelbase of 1480mm and a ground clearance of 320mm. Staying true to its pedigree the off-roader has a front wheel travel of 285mm and a rear wheel travel of 278mm. 

Suspension duties of the bike are handled by a 48mm inverted AOS type telescopic fork with 22-way compression and 20-way damping at the front; and a Uni-Trak adjustable monoshock with 22-way low-speed, 2 turns or more high speed compression damping, 22 way rebound damping spring load at the back. 

To tackle tough terrains, Kawasaki has employed lightweight 21-inch tyres at the front and 18-inch tyres at the back. Its 8-litre fuel tank is the largest among Kawasaki off-roaders.  

On the occasion of the launch, Yutaka Yamashita, Managing Director, Kawasaki India, said, “The culture and passion for off road motorcycle need be developed in India. Right now it is a niche market and we are happy to contribute in this segment by introducing KX450F.” 

The KX450F and KLX450R joins the already existing lineup of Kawasaki off-road motorcycles in India, which consist of the likes of KLX140 (Rs 4.06 lakh), KLX110 (Rs 3 lakh), KX 250 (Rs 7.43 lakh) and the KX100 (Rs 4.87 lakh). 

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