Kawasaki KLX450R

great alrounder – this bike for the price is an awesome machine highly recommend it to anyone wanting something other than an expensive European bike great power great handling fast bought it From Mick Muldoon Motor Cycles In Bathurst with great service and fast bikes go hard on the green machine. came with hand guards

love this bike for to many reasons to list – i have the first 08 moldel klx450r.. its been a project bike of mine over the years.. ive enjoyed working on it and turning it into something very special.. such a shame kawaski wont update it so i just did it myself.. i trimmed all the fat of it and replaced the stock parts with better quility after market trick bits..

Feels good but the little things – Hey im a yamaha rider and i have just purchased a 2010 klx450r bike is good seat hieght is a little higher then the wrf but overall is a awsome bike to ride i wud think the klx450r would need to get the 6 speed transmission its gpt loads of power but u hit top speed so quickly on a stright the little things on the bike are its downfalls the choke behind the frame the header pipe covering the oil filter and all the room at the front of the bike they could off added another 2liters of the tank in there to hold more fuel once these things change bike will be brillant Frame lookstops and brkes and suspension work well The little things need to be fixed

Perfect Trail Weapon – I had the chance to take my mates KLX450 for a ride last year and I loved it. Ergonomically, very similar to a CRF450X (which I have only really sat on). The power delivery was sweet, to be honest, the initial throttle responce is probably about the same as my DRZ400, but the midrange is where is excels. The top signs off I felt earlier than the DRZ, but in the short ride I had I found it as smooth as the DRZ.

I admit, I felt very comfortable on the KLX (I had a 2001 KDX200R at the time), and by contrast it took me ages to get comfortable on the DRZ. The seat height of the KLX is quite managable and I felt in contact with the ground as well as the DRZ if not better as it is a slimmer bike.

What I didn't like was the front end. The bike needs suspension work to feel like the front end will go where you want it to, and the lack of a 6 speed gearbox will be the one thing that will forever annoy me about Japanese bikes.

I have heard nothing bad about the KLX450 in regards to reliability, and the valves rarely need to be adjusted (unlike the CRF). It is still towards the top of my shopping list, though when I sat on a 2011 KLX and WR 450 at the same shop a few weeks ago, the WR felt allot lighter...may have to ride one of those too (though the KLX was about a grand cheaper than the WR).

Still, if you shop around you can buy a new DRZ for $8000...is the KLX a $4000 better bike?? Unfortunately no. You could spend $1500 on the DRZ and probably make it faster than a KLX ($500 for a 440 big bore kit, and $600 for a pipe from the states).

Yes, the KLX will need money spent to win enduros, but so will all the other Japanese bikes (other than the RMX - not registerable in most states). But it is a great tail weapon and has around 10kg less pork than the DRZ.

Confused yet?? I own a DRZ now, and probably wouldn't sell it to buy a KLX, but if I decided to upgrade the DRZ (now 10 years old) a KLX would probably replace it. They are great value on the used market, and in my opinion, look better than the DRZ, are lighter than the DRZ, put out more power than the DRZ, and need bugger all more maintenance over a DRZ.

If you want a solid trailbike, ride the DRZ, KLX and WR. If you are a handy mechanic, throw in a CRF.

If you race, buy a Euro bike, if you ride the trails, buy Japanese. My advice. Looks, ergos, features, power delivery, price Skatey front end, 5 speed box.

Gearing? – Iv owned my klx 450 for about 3 months now just really starting to get comfy and getting the pace up . I find this to be a awesome bike i love it but im really finding the gearing to be a bit short first gear especially any ratio suggestions and is there a good pipe that clears the oil filter to save pulling the header pipe off Its go anywhere capabilities and reliability Gearing and header pipe its in the way for oil filter access and its not the best looking pipe getting round