The new Kawasaki motocross bikes are here. As expected, the KX450F gets minor refinements as the R&D team recovers from the massive overhaul in 2009, but the KX250F isn’t the big news we were hoping for. It still received a list of changes, but, I’ll go ahead and spoil it right here, it still has a carburetor. Thanks to slower sales and an abundant inventory supply of KX65 and KX100 models, both 2-stroke machines are on a production hold for 2010. Kids who want fresh greenery will have to look for the KX85 which gets aesthetic upgrades. Read on for the specifics of each Kawasaki dirt bike model.

2010 Kawasaki KX450F
Last year’s version blew the doors off with all-new fuel injection, but for 2010 the KX450F isn’t changed as radically. This burly beast is only refined for the new year with adjustments you can’t see from the outside. Inside the motor is a new bridged-box piston. It shaves seven grams and has a 6mm-shorter skirt. Kawi claims it increases performance at the top of the rev range. The intake cam timing is advanced two degrees and ECU settings are tweaked. Kawi says the piston design has been proven through use in the race team bikes along with a wedge-shaped crank which is already in use. By offsetting 60% of the crankshaft’s reciprocating weight, it acts as a counterbalance to smooth the engine delivery and vibrations.

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