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2007 Kawasaki KFX50 & KFX90 Mini ATV Press Intro
2007 Kawasaki KFX50 & KFX90 Mini ATV Press Intro

2007 KFX90 & KFX50
2007 KFX90 & KFX50
Temecula, CA - Kawasaki entered the youth ATV market in 2003 when Kawasaki formed an alliance with Suzuki to share ATV models, which gave birth to the KFX50 and KFX90. They were virtually identical to Suzuki’s LT50 and LT80 besides the green fenders, but as of 2007, Kawasaki and Suzuki decided to discontinue sharing and rebranding models, which left Kawasaki without a youth ATV model and little time to develop a brand new machine, so Kawasaki formed an agreement with Kymco, and the pair developed the all new four-stroke KFX50 and KFX90, which are loosely based on the Kymco Mongoose.

These entry-level minis are virtually identical units with the KFX90 and KFX50 sharing the same chassis along with many other components, but there are some distinct difference between the siblings. Of course the bore and stroke are different with the KFX90 having an 89cc displacement and the KFX50 coming in at smaller 49.5cc. They also are equipped with different automatic CVT transmissions to accommodate the different age classes for the two machines. The KFX90 is geared more aggressively for riders 12 years and older, and the KFX50 is geared with a maximum speed of 15mph for riders 6 years and older. Finally, each unit is equipped with different wheels and tires with the KFX90 coming with more aggressive, taller and wider, Maxxis tires with 18x7 in the front and 18x9 in the rear, which are mounted on 8 inch steel wheels. The KFX50 has a low profile Maxxis 16x8 tires in the front and rear and are mounted on 7 inch steel wheels, which reduces its ride height and center of gravity for the younger riders.

2007 Kawasaki KFX50 & KFX90 Mini ATV front fender
2007 Kawasaki KFX50 & KFX90 Mini ATV push button electric start
The front fender styling is very similar to the their big brother the KFX450 even the headlights are added, but are fake on the minis because they aren't allowed by law
Both ATVs come with push button electric start on the handlebars, and they also have a backup kick starters incase the battery would die during a ride

The Kawasaki KFX 50 proved to be a perfect machine for those riders 6 and up. With its 49cc air-cooled four stroke motor producing a user-friendly power that can be easily controlled by young and inexperienced new riders. It has a screw-type throttle limiter along with the CVT collar, which both limit the overall speed of the unit, so parents can limit the maximum speed while their youngster is still learning the basics, and once they have mastered the ATV they can gradually increase the throttle and easily remove the CVT collar without an extensive mechanical background, which allows the KFX50 to reach its maximum speed of 15mph. Another key safety feature equipped on the KFX50 is its rear grab bar mounted, Ignition-cutoff tether, which works like a kill switch, and stops the engine immediately, so parents can walk behind the machine and pull the tether in the event of dangerous situation. Finally, the KFX50 is equipped with floor boards to provide comfort for those long rides and also helps keep the rider from accidentally running over their feet.

2007 Kawasaki KFX50 & KFX90 Mini ATV safety features
2007 Kawasaki KFX50 & KFX90 Mini ATV safety features
ATV safety was certainly a top priority for Kawasaki as the KFX50 & KFX90 have numerous safety features, and one very important item is the keyed ignition system, which prevents the ATV from being operated without a key. Also, the KFX50 has a rear tether and leash to allow parents to walk behind the ATV and shut-off the engine by pulling the tether from the ATV.

The Kawasaki KFX90 is suitable for those riders who are age 12 and up. Like its younger sibling it has the user-friendly power that can be easily managed by younger riders, and with its larger 89cc motor, it is a little but more powerful for those riders who are more experienced. Just like the KFX50, it has the many of the same safety features including the throttle limiter, CVT Collar, and large floor board, but it doesn’t have the grab bar mounted safety tether, which isn’t a surprise with a top speed of 25mph.

2007 Kawasaki KFX50 & KFX90 Mini ATV oil dipstick
2007 Kawasaki KFX50 & KFX90 Mini ATV air filter & bttery
Both machines are also very easy to maintenance with the oil dipstick easily accessible from the side of the engine, and the air filter and battery are tucked away under the seat for easy accessibility as well

To debut their all-new youth ATVs, Kawasaki invited the media and some youth riders out to sunny California for a test ride, and to ensure a fun and safe ride, Kawasaki made sure that every child had the appropriate gear and had American Safety Institute instructors on hand to provide ATV safety training before hitting the trails.

KFX90 Mini ATV
The first quad we took on a test ride was the KFX50. The experienced test riders had no problem climbing some of the small hills as the KFX50 may only have a top speed of 15mph, but it is has plenty of torque, which was also evident while climbing over some of the rocks on the ride, and its 5.3 inches of ground clearance proved to provide ample ground clearance as our test riders could virtually go wherever they wanted on the rocky trails around the lake. Once they had enough trail riding, we headed to the track. On the track, the test riders found themselves searching for ways to turn the rolling whoops into small jumps, which was a perfect test for the suspension. Afterwards, they all felt the suspension worked great and wasn’t too harsh are soft, and one rider even asked if I saw him while he went through the whoops section pinned, and didn’t have a problem. After a thorough test session on the KFX50, they were ready to try out something a little bit more powerful, so the older kids grabbed the KFX90, and went back to the track.

KFX90 Mini ATV
KFX90 Mini ATV

The KFX90 performed just as well at the KFX50 through the whoops section, but the riders said that they noticed the difference in power between the two machines right away with the KFX90 having a stronger hit and higher top speed. After most of the kids where done racing each other we decided to head to the mountain of rocks, to see if they would be able to make it through as easily as the KFX50. Not only did they make it through, but they did it with ease, once they found a path around all of the huge boulders. The power difference between the two quads is very noticeable; however the handling is nearly identical, which isn’t a surprise with the pair sharing the same chassis. Also, the test riders were impressed with the brakes on both machines as they were able to bring the machines to complete stop in only a few feet at top speed. One of the test rider summed it up the best “It was just lots of fun”, which is exactly our thoughts on the Kawasaki’s new KFX90 and KFX50 mini ATVs.

KFX90 Mini ATV
KFX90 Mini ATV

Both the KFX50 and KFX90 are available in the traditional Kawasaki lime green as well as white. MSRP for the KFX 50 is only $1,749 and the KFX 90 MSRP is only $2,149, which are priced lower than comparable Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki models. With the reasonable pricing on Kawasaki’ mini ATVs, you could add either model to their Christmas list and still have money left over to take the kids on a weekend or more ride with the money saved, and feel confident with your purchase considering Kawasaki has been producing ATVs and Dirt bikes for over four decades, and have always had the slogan “Let the good times roll”.

Press Intro Video Clips

kawasaki sports and utility ATVs
www.kawasaki.com

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