First Look: 2007 Kawasaki KX450F

Zaca Station MX (www.zacastationmx.com) in California's Santa Ynez Valley was the site chosen by Kawasaki to introduce their new KX450F. If it looks a little familiar, you may have recognized it from photos as the track used in Kawasaki's '07 catalog.

What's new on the bike, you ask? The easier answer might be what's not new, since there were over 50 items listed in their tech notes. But some of the biggies are the transmission, which jumped from a four-speed in '06, to a five-speed in '07. It also gets an improved ratched-type shift mechanism to improves shift smoothness and feel.

A host of changes were also incorporated into the engine in a quest for more ultra-low RPM power. Included were a revised intake (as well as new carb settings and a less-restrictive flame arrester screen), re-tooled ignition, new cams, a tapered titanium header pipe, and a redesigned muffler core.

Front suspension changes include a new set of Kayaba AOS cartridge forks which sport a larger diameter cartridge, and the inner legs also feature the same DLC coating used by the factory team on the lower legs, a first for a production MX bike.

In the rear, a new high-speed compression adjuster improves control and increases adjustability; as well as a new set of linkage.

The frame also received some attention, with a thinner downtube and revised spars designed to reduce torsional stiffness a bit.

Suggested retail is $6,899, and it should be available in mid-September.

For more information, be sure to check out the photo gallery and video.