Kawasaki KLX450R

Based on the highly capable KX450F motorcross machine, the KLX450R borrows a lot of design cues from the former. However, to make it street legal, Kawasaki has equipped the KLX450FR with a few features which are absent on the KX450F and enhance the practicality of the motorcycle.

At the front, gone is the white colored plastic cowl, and in comes a proper tiny headlamp surrounded by a sharply styled bikini fairing. However, the turn indicators are still absent on the motorcycle, whereas the high mounted green colored front fender is there to glorify its off-road appeal.

The side profile has been completely lifted off from the KX450F, which means that the KLX450R too comes with a slim stance with a thin design for the high mounted fuel tank and pointy cowls. The exposed aluminium frame has the same layout as that on the KX450F, and so is the big white colored plastic over the side mounted under-seat exhaust pipe.

The rear of the KLX450R too is exactly the same as that of the KX450F, with the pointy tail section and the absence of proper taillight assembly on the former. The flat and high-positioned single piece seat is good enough for only one rider at a time.

A big miss on the KLX450R, however, is a proper instrument console, which could have made it a bit more practical for daily urban usage. The flat handlebar with rubber mounting over the central position too has been carried over from the KX450F.

Like the KX450F, the KLX450R too comes with a sturdy suspension setup. It includes a pair of 48 mm upside-down AOS-type telescopic fork at the front and a unit-trak swingarm with fully adjustable monoshock at the rear. Both the front as well as rear suspension come with 22-way adjustments for compression damping and rebound damping.

The lightweight all-aluminum perimeter frame on the KLX450R has been shared with the KX450F, which already has gained a strong image for its sturdiness and compactness. Kawasaki has equipped the KLX450R with a set of 250mm petal disc at the front and a single 240mm disc brake at the rear.

The Kawasaki KLX450R comes with a four-stroke, single cylinder, liquid-cooled engine, which is quite different from that of the KX450F. Sharing the bore and stroke design with the KX450F’s engine, the engine of the KLX450R misses out on fuel injection.

Kawasaki hasn’t shared the power and torque numbers of the KLX450R as well, however, the light dry weight of just 115 kgs translates into a fact that it has got a tremendous power to weight ratio to boast of. The engine of the KLX450R has been coupled to a 5-speed gearbox.

Apart from the presence of disc brakes, Kawasaki has kept the KLX450R bare bones when it comes to safety equipment. In addition to the ABS, the KLX450R also misses out on the launch control which is there on the KX450Fon which it is based.

The KLX450R emerges out to be a slightly more practical option when compared to its range of focused motocross bikes. However, when it comes to daily usage, it still has a long way to go, courtesy the compromises made in terms of features, ride quality and pillion comfort. However, in terms of fun factor, both the performance as well as handling of the KLX450R is in the territory of serious dirt bikes, giving it an edge over the regular roadsters in the same pricing bracket. The suspension, which includes the lightweight aluminium frame as well as off-road ttyres, is sturdy enough to tackle rough roads with complete ease.

The KLX450R emerges out to be a slightly more practical option when compared to its range of focused motocross bikes. However, when it comes to daily usage, it still has a long way to go, courtesy the compromises made in terms of features, ride quality and pillion comfort. However, in terms of fun factor, both the performance as well as handling of the KLX450R is in the territory of serious dirt bikes, giving it an edge over the regular roadsters in the same pricing bracket. The suspension, which includes the lightweight aluminium frame as well as off-road tyres, is sturdy enough to tackle rough roads with complete ease.