Special K
By Martin Craven on 16th Sep 11
KAWASAKI, with its long-standing Team Green philosophy, has always enjoyed a loyal following amongst the MX fraternity. But with its 2012 KX250F and KX450F models the green team is seriously going after a bigger share of the market...
KAWASAKI, like its Japanese competitors, is concentrating on its state-of-the-art four-strokes in 2012 and has ambitious high-hopes for its sprightly KX250F and powerful KX450F MX weapons.
Both have been scrutinised through a microscope at the factory and both have been individually developed with the specific MX1 and MX2 markets in mind.
There's no doubt that the 250 (MX2) sector is the real MX trade battleground these days. The power and performance of modern four-strokes suits the vast majority of riders, which of course also includes the upper years of the Youth classes, offering a wide audience for the
manufacturers to aim at.
No surprise then that Kawasaki has been right through its 250F model attending to the finest detail.
This isn't to diss the MX1 class, but the 450F market is much more specialised and specific, with the emphasis on experienced racers.
Kawasaki's aim has been to make going fast as easy possible to give green riders a performance edge.
FOR FULL TEST AND PICTURES SEE T+MX SEPTEMBER 16
SPECIFICATIONS
2012 model Kawasaki KX250F & KX450F
ENGINE
Type: Liquid-cooled, single cylinder four-stroke with four-valve DOHC
Bore x Stroke: 77.0 x 53.6mm/ 96.0 x 62.1mm
Displacement: 249 cc/ 449 cc
Compression: 13.5 : 1/ 12.5 : 1
Fuel injection: 43mm Keihin throttle body (and battery-less ECU)
Ignition: Digital CDI
Starting: Primary kick
Lubrication: Forced lubrication, semi-dry sump
Transmission: 5-speed, return
Final Drive: Chain
Clutch: Wet multi-disc, manuall
CHASSIS
Type: Aluminium perimeter frame
SUSPENSION
Front: (250F) 47mm upside-down Showa telescopic ‘separate function fork' with 22-way compression damping; 20-way rebound damping; and 60-way spring preload
(450F) 48mm upside-down Kayaba AOS-type telescopic fork with DLC coated liders 22-way compression damping and 20 way rebound damping
Travel: 315mm/ 314mm
Rear: (250F) New Uni-Trak with 13-way (low-speed) & 2-turns or more (high-speed) compression damping and 17-way rebound damping. Fully adjustable spring preload
(450F) New Uni-Trak with 22-way compression damping and 22-way (low-speed), and 2-turns or more 22-way (high-speed) rebound damping. Spring preload fully adjustable
Travel: 310mm/ 315mm
TYRES
Front: 80/100-21 51M
Rear: 100/90-19 57M/ 120/80-19 63M
BRAKES
Front: (250F) Single semi-floating 250mm petal disc and dual-piston caliper
(450F) Single rigid mounted 250mm petal disc and dual-piston caliper
Rear: Single 240mm petal disc and single-piston caliper
DIMENSIONS
Length: 2,170mm (250F)/ 2,180mm (450F)
Width: 820 mm
Height: 1,270mm (250F)/ 1,275mm (450F)
Wheelbase: 1,475mm (250F)/1,480mm (450F)
Ground Clearance: 330mm
Seat height: 945 mm (250F)/ 965 mm (450F)
Fuel capacity: 6.2 litres
Kerb Mass: 106.2 kg (250F)/ 113 kg (450F)
