2018 KAWASAKI KLX250
FULL TEST
P96
The old KLX250's main
flaw was that it was notori-
ously cold-blooded when
starting, so it'd take ages
to warm up. The new fuel-
injection system fixes that,
and Kawasaki has also fitted
their Automatic Compres-
sion Release that lifts an
exhaust valve during crank-
ing, making starting much
easier via the little electric-start button on
the right bar.
The KLX's 250cc engine met foul with
the air-clean police a few years back (one
of the reasons it was put out for a three-
year holiday). The fuel-injected model
has been sold in Japan since 2008, but
as sales "weren't quite
there" for Kawasaki USA,
they had delayed the
engine making its U.S.
debut until now. As a
result, Kawasaki's fitted
a new stainless-steel ex-
haust system with a new
honeycomb catalyzer in
the muffler. It's a bit of
a pea-shooter exhaust, and does an
excellent job of making this one of the
quietest Kawasakis I've heard for a long
time.
Inside the engine itself, Kawasaki's
given the KLR 72 x 61.2mm dimensions
and a compression ratio of 11:1 for a ca-
pacity of 249cc, with the motor mount-
Camo edition looks the business.
Digital rev
counter can be
a bit hard to read
at times when
the sun is on
your back.
