Luke Cuenco 11.01.24
Working & Playing On the RFD-TV Ranch with the Kawasaki Brute Force 450
I recently had the opportunity to test drive the Kawasaki Brute Force 450 ATV at a media event hosted by Kawasaki and RFD-TV The Ranch. As soon as I received the invite, I was excited to see how this compact machine could handle both work and play on a sprawling ranch with diverse terrain. Kawasaki marketed this ATV as one that can handle the dual responsibilities of hard labor during the week and fun off-road adventures on the weekend or maybe both on the same day. After spending a day riding it, I can confidently say that it truly delivers on that promise. Today I’ll share some of my experiences with the Brute Force 450 to help give you guys an idea if it’s a fit for you and your lifestyle.
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On the RFD-TV Ranch with the Kawasaki Brute Force 450
Kawasaki had a comprehensive set of experiences set up for the media which included a stay at the beautiful hacienda located on the property. We were first briefed on the Brute Force 450 and had a chance to look at them close up and speak with Kawasaki engineers about what’s being offered. Kawasaki’s Brute Force 450 is an OEM update – a progressive series of improvements that focuses on the underserved mid-sized ATV market, providing customers with something that can get work done, and have fun too while looking stylish. 
And stylish it is. The Brute Force 450 even in its base configuration looks great in either Grayisyh Blue or White. The new styling of the machine gives it quite the aggressive and sporty look, but the rest of the features including its 443cc liquid-cooled engine, 4×4 differential lock system, included cargo racks, and its towing capacity clearly nod that this is an ATV meant for work.
The next day we started off with the work segment of the day which included loading up feed and other farm supplies to be delivered around the ranch. We had the opportunity to feed some Buffalo and a couple of other farm animals. The Brute Force 450 handles really well on loose gravel and pavement. I noticed that in comparison to some other ATVs I’ve been on, the Brute Force 450 feels a bit more comfortable to ride on rough roads – I think most of this can be attributed to its generously sized and cushioned seat pads which also cover the thighs.
While we were taking care of our short list of chores for the morning, we were encouraged to have a bit of fun running in between the various buildings in between tasks. The Brute Force 450 is a great middle ground between a less powerful machine purely meant for work, and something way more powerful and sporty like the Brute Force 750.
During the feeding runs, the Brute Force’s front and rear racks did their job, carrying bags of feed and some bales of hay. The front rack can hold up to 75 pounds, and the rear up to 150 pounds, which worked fine for the amount of gear I had that day. I loaded a few bags of feed and headed out, and while the ATV handled the weight well, it wasn’t exactly a heavy load. The suspension, with 7.6 inches of front travel and 7.9 in the rear, managed to keep things relatively smooth. The racks were sized just right for basic tasks, enough to get through the day without feeling overloaded or unbalanced. It got the job done, no complaints there.
Fun on the Trails: Switching to Play Mode
After wrapping up our morning chores and grabbing a quick lunch, we headed back out on the Brute Force 450s to ride the many trails of the RFD-TV Ranch and make a few stops along the way to try out some of the different features of the 450s including some limited use of its 4×4 features. The primary goal here was to just have fun with the Brute Force and this is where the 450’s appeal for versatility truly came through for me. Our group swapped out the feed bags, and hay bails for a quick 3 barrel clover leaf in the arena and then on open trails of the Ranch.
The Brute Force 450 feels lightweight and nimble, which translates into an impressive level of agility on the trails. Taking sharp turns was a breeze, and the machine responded instantly to any adjustments I made which included getting the tail to swing out on command thanks to the power of the 443cc engine. In straightaways, I was able to get up to about 65mph on some fence-side trails and the ride still felt stable, smooth, and most importantly, I felt in complete control the entire time.
We took our caravan of 450s up a few hills and through some muddy patches and rocky creek beds, and it handled each challenge with relative ease. I even tried a few of the more uneven rock climbs without the 4×4 on and was still able to get myself through the terrain without much effort. Though it’s not the most powerful ATV on the market, the 450 offers a perfect balance for those looking to enjoy the ride without focusing solely on speed or raw power. The lightweight frame and responsive controls made it easy to whip around open fields and navigate through narrow trails, and general, is just a nice and comfortable ride overall.
Conclusion: A Practical, Fun, Comfortable and Flexible Machine
The Kawasaki Brute Force 450 turned out to be a solid performer for both work and fun in my experience. I am not a rancher and I don’t own any large tracts of land but the 450 when decked out with some of its optional accessories like a winch, brush guard, and back storage container might just make for a very good hunting ATV. The upside here is that the Brute Force is also fun to drive if your hunt turns out to not go so well, but it does have the capacity to tow back an entire deer if the stars align. Its smaller size and lighter frame made handling chores around the ranch pretty easy, and when we hit the trails, it was nimble and smooth, which made the ride enjoyable without trying too hard. The Brute Force 450 may not be entirely new, and it’s certainly not meant to go up against the bigger, more powerful ATVs out there, but for what it is, it gets the job done and it does it for under $7,000. If you’re after an ATV that can handle everyday tasks and still be ready for a good time on the weekend, the Brute Force 450 fits the bill. It’s reliable enough for work but still light and fun when you want to let loose. It’s not a powerhouse, but for someone who needs a versatile machine that can do both, the Brute Force 450 is worth checking out for yourself.
