Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1479419
QUICKSPIN I 2023 Kawasaki KX250 P94 modulation for a hydraulic setup, and I never noticed any fade during our test day. No complaints in this department are equal to an "A-plus," as far as I'm concerned. Ergos are about as standard as they come. The KX250 feels like your typical Japanese motocrosser and is probably most equivalent to a Suzuki or Honda. Team Green equip their bikes with its Ergo-Fit sys- tem, which, in this case, allows users to ad- just the handlebar mount fore and aft and the footpegs down one position from standard. At 6'1," I prefer to run the KX's bars closer to me while leaving the footpegs where they come from the factory. The wider footpegs offered a solid platform for my size 11 boots and gave me that welcomed aftermarket feel. If I owned this bike, I'd make a few quick changes, however. For one, I'd ditch the handlebar levers right away. The KX's sharp blade-style lever was introduced on the 2019 KX450 and has come on every moto- cross model since. I'm not a fan, and I think most people aren't. In short, do yourself a favor and have your dealer throw in a set of aftermarket levers on your way out the door. Secondly, the exhaust. There's nothing technically "wrong" with the stock exhaust system; it's just overly loud for my liking. I'd seek out a quieter slip-on muffler. Until then, a pair of earplugs will have to do. Key changes to the latest KX are mak- ing this bike even more desirable than it already was. While the bike isn't all-new by any means, it is an improvement over the previous model. Kawasaki's engineers are showing that they aren't taking a back seat regarding mid-generation updates. The bike is stronger and overall easier to ride than it was just one year ago. As more and more 250cc four-strokes move towards torquier engine characteristics, it's clear that Kawasa- ki is putting brands like Yamaha and Honda directly in the crosshairs. CN SPECIFICATIONS 2023 KAWASAKI KX250 ($8499) ENGINE 4-stroke, single COOLING SYSTEM Liquid VALVETRAIN DOHC, 4-valve BORE X STROKE 78.0 x 52.2mm COMPRESSION RATIO 14.1:1 FUEL SYSTEM DFI w/44mm Keihin throttle body, dual injectors IGNITION Digital CDI TRANSMISSION 5-speed CLUTCH Wet, multi-disc, hydraulically operated FRAME Aluminum, perimeter FRONT SUSPENSION 48mm inverted telescopic fork, coil-spring, fully adjustable REAR SUSPENSION Single shock Uni-Trak, fully adjustable FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL 12.4 in. REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL 12.4 in. FRONT TIRE 80/100 x 21 in. Dunlop MX33 REAR TIRE 110/90 x 19 in. Dunlop MX33 FRONT BRAKE Single semi-floating 270mm Braking petal disc w/dual-piston caliper REAR BRAKE Single 240mm Braking petal disc w/ single-piston caliper RAKE / TRAIL 28.0° / 4.6 in. GROUND CLEARANCE 13.6 in. WHEELBASE 58.5 in. SEAT HEIGHT 37.8 in. WEIGHT (DRY, CLAIMED) 227.6 lbs. FUEL CAPACITY 1.64 gal.