2017 KAWASAKI KX250F
FIRST RIDE
P90
PLETHORA OF CHANGE
Kawasaki made a lot of changes to the
all-new 2017 KX250F, and not all of them
were made to just the engine. The whole
bike got some attention. The KX250F
was already a fine motorcycle and there
wasn't too much to complain about,
really. But in the never-ending quest to
make motorcycles lighter, faster, better
handling and more comfortable, the '17
KX250F got a fairly significant overhaul.
The frame is 6mm narrower and
closely resembles the design of the 2017
KX450F frame. It now has a one-piece
forged down tube and narrower extruded
side spars for improved flex character-
istics. A new lower triple clamp compli-
ments the frame changes and is thicker,
offering more clamping surface. It is a
shared part with the KX450F. The new
frame, along with a new lower gas tank
(10mm lower at the gas cap) allows the
seat to be flatter where it meets the tank.
The swingarm is new and the same as
the 2017 KX450F, which means the dog
bones in the linkage are 0.5mm longer
and the bell crank is revised as well,
providing a more progressive ratio.
The most important component in
a 250F is the engine and Kawasaki
reworked the KX's engine with seven
degrees more cylinder offset for a more
direct line to the intake. The cylinder
now features plateau honing and journal-
type bearings instead of needle bearings
at the big end of the connecting rod. The
combustion chamber configuration is
also revised for more efficiency. A new
lighter race-based piston with bridged-
box bottom now has a molybdenum
coating on the outer surface, reducing
friction and as we all know, less friction
means more power. Titanium valves (very
