VOL. 52 ISSUE 41 OCTOBER 13, 2015 P99
but it's how it gets you there
that makes the KX's motor so
good. And it still is.
Mapping/fueling can
again be altered via its three
available pre-programed
couplers, but Kawasaki has
developed an all-new hand-
held FI Calibration Controller
Kit accessory ($699.99) that
you can easily fine-tune the
engine's fueling even more.
Unlike its bigger brother,
the KX250F has not yet gone
the air-fork route. It still re-
tains its SFF (Separate Func-
tion Fork) Showa coil-spring
Type 2 fork design. With the
SFF design, the spring is
housed in the one leg, the
right leg, and the oil-damping
components in the other leg.
The SFF design has several
advantages over traditional
coil-spring forks that use two
springs (one in each leg):
the SFF design is lighter, has
less friction, and can facilitate
a spring preload adjuster,
which means you don't have
to change springs to adjust
preload.
The KX was the first to
feature this design and is
probably the best of all the
SFF forks that we've ever
ridden. It's a good all-around
fork that is simple to adjust
and maintain. Is it the best
fork out there? No (Yamaha's
SSS coil-spring is still consid-
ered the best by many), but
it's good. To be honest, we're
not sad that it hasn't gone air
yet.
Riding the 2016 KX250F
quickly reminds us just how
good this bike is, changes
or not. It still has very good
suspension and is a solid-
Look at the
bright side; the
MSRP didn't
change either
at $7,599.
