You’ll know you’re on a powerful ride from the moment you push the KFX®450R’s electric starter. Having a lightweight aluminum frame, long lower front A-arm suspension and a fully adjustable rear shock, this ATV offers track winning handling and confidence-inspiring stability to compliment its powerful engine.
Sharing engine features with the highly acclaimed KX™450F motocrosser, the KFX450R is ready to race. Equipped with titanium valves to keep reciprocating weight low, the engine is fitted with a highly responsive 32-bit digital fuel injection (DFI®) system that automatically compensates for temperature or altitude.
DFI enhances the KFX450R’s ability to translate its four-stroke power into outstanding thrust, with easily accessible torque in the low- and medium-rpm ranges. The fast and reliable KFX450R ATV also includes a lightweight reverse gear system integrated with its five-speed manual transmission. The KFX450R’s reverse gear allows riders to quickly and easily extricate themselves from first turn chaos, trail bottlenecks or any other on-track incident, using the normal shift lever, plus a convenient handlebar mounted lock-out lever.
Built to handle tough trail conditions and win races, the KFX450R’s lightweight all-aluminum frame has both incredible stiffness and significant strength. The high-tech chassis also provides a low center of gravity and excellent roll resistance for higher corner speeds and race-level handling.
The front suspension design utilizes long lower A-arms mounted to a single box-section lower frame tube, paired with dual-rate front springs for excellent rough-terrain handling. In the rear, an adjustable shock with low- and high-speed compression and rebound damping adjustability is mated to a cast aluminum swingarm that offers the ideal balance of flexibility and rigidity. Regardless of track surfaces or conditions, this race-oriented chassis makes the KFX450R ATV a potent weapon.
The KFX450R ATV is easy to work on, so owners can spend more time in the dirt than in the garage. The two-piece front and rear “lapped” fenders make it easier to customize the size of the fenders or quickly replace damaged sections. Even the headlight assembly is quickly detachable for closed-course races — this ATV looks just as aggressive with or without headlights. These features leave little doubt that the KFX450R was designed to be on the track and winning races as quickly as possible.
Owners can customize their KFX450R, using a full line of Authentic Kawasaki Accessories from their local Kawasaki dealer.
As with all off-highway vehicle recreation, Kawasaki encourages ATV riders to ride responsibly and to respect the environment. Kawasaki will pay first-time buyers of a new Kawasaki ATV $100 for completing an ATV rider safety course conducted by the ATV Safety Institute (ASI).
449cc Liquid-cooled, DOHC, Four-valve, Four-stroke single
• Lightweight forged piston reduces reciprocating weight
• Triple piston rings and a 21mm diameter piston pin help increase durability and reduce necessary maintenance
• Lightweight titanium valves and aluminum valve spring retainers reduce reciprocating weight and boost high-rpm reliability
• Asymmetrical high-acceleration cams yield high intake efficiency
• Electric starting facilitates quicker stall recovery and lowers rider fatigue
• Large-volume airbox contributes to both intake efficiency and sharp engine response. An air duct fashioned from polyethylene resists deformation caused by intake pulses and helps ensure stable engine performance• Advanced engine tuning provides a broad torque curve and an optimized power delivery for quick acceleration without excessive wheelspin
Digital Fuel Injection (DFI)
• 32-bit digital fuel injection system with a 42mm throttle body
• System measures coolant temperature, air intake temperature, air intake pressure, engine speed and throttle position, then automatically delivers the ideal amount of fuel to optimize power delivery
• Crisp engine response is especially advantageous for instant acceleration after landing from jumps
• Promotes trouble-free starting — a great benefit in races with engine off starts
• Fuel injection allows the use of a lighter throttle return spring, which reduces rider fatigue
Transmission
• 5-speed (one-down, four-up) manual transmission locates reverse below first gear
• Actuating the reverse-lock release lever when in first gear allows rider to shift “down” into reverse
• Compact reverse-lock release lever can be activated with the right thumb, allowing the reverse gear to be engaged while still keeping the front brake lever depressed
• The combined weight of the reverse gear system and the lightweight aluminum chassis is no heavier than a steel frame without reverse
Aluminum Chassis
• Highly rigid frame contributes to the KFX’s excellent handling and traction
• The aluminum frame’s high torsional rigidity enhances stability in corners and allows the suspension to be easily set up to suit course conditions
• Designed for high corner speeds, the KFX450R sits low to the ground, helping to reduce roll tendencies
• Mounting the battery and coolant tank ahead of the engine lowers the center of gravity, and helps weight the front wheels for increased traction
• Single box-tube lower frame contains the front A-arm attachment points. This narrower design enables the use of longer lower A-arms
Advanced Suspension Design
• Dual-rate front springs deliver progressive suspension travel for excellent rough-terrain handling
• Extra-long lower front A-arms minimize camber variations through the suspension stroke, maximize front wheel traction and boost stability
• Rear shock features both low
• and high-speed compression adjustability and adjustable rebound damping
• The curved lines and rounded edges of the cast aluminum rear swingarm help disperse stress, which along with its varied wall thicknesses equal a design that is both light and strong
• The swingarm’s high torsional rigidity contributes to excellent rear wheel traction
• The rear axle is tapered for less unsprung weight
Front and Rear Disc Brakes
• Dual front hydraulic disc brakes offer strong, consistent stopping performance
• Petal-type rear brake rotors reduce unsprung weight and help clean the brake pads for more efficient braking performance
• Integrated rear parking brake is designed to be easily engaged and released while wearing gloves. When engaged, the parking brake lever also prevents the clutch lever from being actuated
Improved Water Resistance on Wiring Harness• Resin-molded lead branch points
• PVC cover over the connectors for regulator and TPS
• Longer colgate tube for tail light leads