P94
RIDE REVIEW I 2025 KAWASAKI KX250
are finally gone and replaced by a
handlebar-mounted control unit.
Here, riders get two maps: normal
(light off) and aggressive (light
on), which can be independently
tuned via Kawasaki's Rideology
App. These options are flipped
from the KX450, which features
the standard map as light off and
smooth as light on. The switch
also offers two levels of traction
control, weak or strong, corre
-
sponding to a solid (weak) or blink-
ing (strong) light. Launch control is
another option, with specific ECU
settings taking over until the rider
clicks into third gear.
All of these updates to the
KX250 result in a three-pound
increase over the previous model,
tipping the scales now at 240
pounds of wet claimed weight.
WASHOUGAL
TESTED
A perfectly prepped Washougal
track greeted us, and, of course,
so did beautiful shiny new green
bikes. The Kawi technicians
input a map tuned specifically for
the tricky PNW conditions, and
the bike felt ultra smooth and
controlled in the early morning.
Bottom-end power was notice
-
ably increased from before, and
the bike came to life much easier
than the prior year's model. On the
'24 model, you had to carry speed,
feather the clutch, and ride the
bike high into the rpm red zone if
you wanted to make any power.
Miss a shift or bog in a corner, and
you are in a world of hurt. With the
2025 model, clutch finesse is no
longer a prerequisite to wake up
the motor, as it feels upbeat with
improved torque off the bottom.
Power is better from bottom to mid with more low-end torque.
