India Kawasaki Motors has expanded its product portfolio with the launch of the 2019 KX250, KX450 and KLX450R. The track-only motorcycles have arrived in the country via the CBU route, and thus they command a premium price tag. The 2019 Kawasaki KX250 has been priced at INR 7,43,000; the KX450 is available for INR 7,79,000 while the most premium model among the three, the KLX450R will set you back by INR 8,49,000 (all prices are ex-showroom, Delhi).
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Speaking on the launch, Yutaka Yamashita, Managing Director of India Kawasaki Motors, said:
Our motocross models have been performing well and KX250 especially continues to have great success 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.
The MY19 KX450 gets a new 449cc, single-cylinder, 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, fuel-injected engine, mounted in its leanest chassis to date. The feature list on the model includes finger-follower valve actuation, electric start and a hydraulic clutch, all firsts for a Kawasaki motocrosser. Except for the front fender and number plate, the bodywork gets a new design to facilitate rider movement.
Suspension duties on the KX450 are performed by ø49 mm inverted telescopic fork (305 mm travel) with adjustable compression and rebound damping at the front. At the rear is a Uni-Trak (307 mm travel) with adjustable dual-range (high/low-speed) compression damping, adjustable rebound damping and adjustable preload.
The MY19 KX450R also uses a 449cc, single-cylinder, 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC engine but instead of fuel injection, it gets the Keihin FCR-MX40 Carburettor. Extra equipment on the R badge model includes a digital instrument console, a headlight and a LED tail lamp. The digital instrumentation comprises a speedometer, twin trip meters, odometer and clock.
Suspension duties on the KX450R are performed by 48 mm inverted AOS type telescopic fork (310 mm travel) with 22-way compression and 18-way rebound damping at the front. The rear features Uni-Trak (315 mm travel) with 22-way low-speed, 2 turns or more high-speed compression damping, 22-way rebound damping and adjustable spring preload.
Lastly, the KX250 uses a 249cc single-cylinder, 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, fuel-injected engine. All three motorcycles employ a five-speed gearbox.
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The new motocross trio from Kawasaki will compete against the Suzuki RM-Z250 and RM-Z450 in India. Suzuki had launched the RM-Z250 and RM-Z450 in India at INR 7.1 lakh and INR 8.31 lakh respectively (both, ex-showroom Delhi).