Kawasaki inject big changes for 2009.
By TMX Archives on 18th Jun 08
IT'S all go at the moment with manufacturers now falling over themselves to get their 2009 models launched and in the public eye and this week, as Kawasaki weighs-in with its awesome KX250F and KX450F four-stroke MX challengers.
IT'S all go at the moment with manufacturers now falling over themselves to get their 2009 models launched and in the public eye and this week, page 3 is going green as Kawasaki weighs-in with its awesome KX250F and KX450F four-stroke MX challengers.
The big news for '09 is that the potent KX450F has gone down the fuel-injection route but as Team Green claim so much has been changed, the bike is effectively a new model.
The aluminium chassis has been revisited by the engineers and is now claimed to be lighter and stronger than ever before and a completely new rear suspension linkage is claimed to considerably improve traction. Topping the chassis off is completely new bodywork, plastics and seat, that is neater and slimmer and allows maximum rider mobility.
Kawasaki's DOHC motor claims a broad spread of power with instant urge available at all times, even after a hard landing from a jump and the fuel injection, coupled to the new rear linkage really ought to make a noticeable difference to the overall performance.
Meanwhile, the KX250F boasts an engine sporting a new cylinder head, cylinder, piston and crankcases fitted into a lighter, slimmer chassis plus the all-new bodywork to allow you a flying start into 2009.
There really has been a raft of 2009 updates to keep the Greenies right up there at the head of the pack with the 250 sharing the chassis updates with its big brother, including the rear suspension linkage designed to aid traction. The new Uni-trak linkage mounts the suspension arm below the swinging arm allowing a longer rear suspension stroke. The rear shock features revised damping internals to work in unison with the linkage.
Chuck-in features such as the Factory style graphics, Renthal Factory-style bars, new black coated rims, a rib-less rear hub, wider footpegs, new seat and cover, new tapered titanium exhaust front pipe and numerous other mods. With all this going we can hardly wait to test the 2009 KX250F and KX450F Kawasakis!