The green machine maker, Kawasaki has recently expanded its dirt bike portfolio in the Indian motorcycle market with the launch of 2019 KX250, KX450, and the KLX450R bike. The KX250 has been priced at Rs 7.43 lakh, the KX450 retails at Rs 7.79 lakh while the KX450R is launched at Rs 8.49 lakh (all prices are ex-showroom).
Speaking on the launch, Yutaka Yamashita, MD, India Kawasaki Motors, said, “Our motocross models have been performing well in various national and global competitions. Motocross enthusiastic now will have more exciting experience with KX450 and KX250, and as far as Enduro enthusiastic are concerned, the KLX450R is a complete package with power performance, electric start and performance components.”
Both the KX450 and KX450R bikes run on the same engine platform which is a new 449cc, single-cylinder motor. The company hasn’t shared power figures on both the bikes but the engine will be working in a different state of tune on both the bikes, and the ‘R’ might pull out extra few horses from the same unit. The latter gets an LED tail-light and digital instrument console, and also features larger wheel travel of 305mm (front) and 315mm (rear) compared to its sibling.
The company has introduced a number of features such as finger-follower valve actuation (VVA), electric starter and a hydraulic clutch for the first time in its KX450 motocross bike. And in order to balance out weight the company has used a lighter and stiffer aluminum perimeter frame. Apart from new features and frame; brakes have also been updated on the bikes.