VOLUME ISSUE NOVEMBER , P101
Suspension is another talk-
ing point. Thankfully, Kawasaki
fixed last year's bike's harsh
and unforgiving feeling with
new Showa components. The
49mm sticks offer much bet-
ter cushioning in the top part
of the stroke to absorb smaller
bumps at various speeds. They
also ramp up nicely with strong
bottoming resistance for bigger
jumps or flat landings. While
overall comfort out of the box is
good, I dropped the forks three
millimeters to gain stability on
the faster sections of the Wash
-
ougal track.
Along with that, we turned the
high-speed one-quarter turn in
the rear. This allowed the rear
end to stay up while putting
more traction on the front tire.
These changes were the same
ones I made to the KX450, and I
found that they complement the
chassis in both high-speed sec
-
tions and tighter turns.
The overall cockpit gets an
A-plus in my book. ODI grips
are heaven-sent, and the dual
Nissin levers offer a consistent
feel in all areas of the track. The
plastic design features minimal
2025 KAWASAKI KX250
($8999)
ENGINE TYPE 4-stroke, single-cylinder
DISPLACEMENT 249.9cc, DOHC
BORE X STROKE 78.0 x 52.2mm
COMPRESSION RATIO 14.0:1
COOLING SYSTEM Liquid
STARTING SYSTEM Electric
FUELING DFI with 44mm Keihin throttle
body and dual injectors
TRANSMISSION 5-speed, hydraulic
clutch
FRAME Aluminum
FRONT SUSPENSION 49mm Showa
coil-spring fork, fully adjustable
REAR SUSPENSION Uni-Trak Showa
single shock, fully adjustable
FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL 12 in.
REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL 12.1 in.
FRONT WHEEL 21 in.
REAR WHEEL 19 in.
FRONT TIRE Dunlop MX34; 80/100-21 in.
REAR TIRE Dunlop MX34; 110/90-19 in.
FINAL DRIVE 13T/50T
FRONT BRAKE Single Nissin 270mm disc
REAR BRAKE Single Nissin 240mm disc
SEAT HEIGHT 37.6 in.
GROUND CLEARANCE 13.4 in.
FUEL CAPACITY 1.64 gal.
WHEELBASE 58.5 in.
WEIGHT (WET,CLAIMED) 240.7 lbs.
SPECIFICATIONS
bolts and seams while maximiz-
ing rider contact points. I never
snagged gear or boots and felt
connected to the bike during
every riding session. Kawasaki's
Ergo-Fit system also allows rid-
ers to adjust their handlebar and
footpeg positions. At six-foot-
one, I rode the standard settings
all day with no complaints.
The new-gen Kawasaki KX250
has big shoes to fill, with its
predecessors paving the way to
victory lane. For 2025, they've hit
the nail on the big green head.
This bike is much easier to ride
and more user-friendly for a
wider range of consumers. Last
year's KX was high-revving and
seemed to make power only in
the top-end ranges of the rpm
curve. Now, this bike is one you
can ride all day without fighting
the high-strung engine or stiff
suspension. Further updates,
like the ECU cluster, are icing on
the cake and bring it up to par
with the rest of the modern-day
250 class, too. The KX name is
synonymous with winning in the
250 class, and with the new '25,
there will certainly be more of
that in the future.
CN
