Upgrade to enjoy this feature!
Vital MX fantasy is free to play, but Premium users receive great benefits. Premium benefits include:
- View and download rider stats
- Pick trends
- Create a private league
- And more!
Only $10 for all 2026 SX, MX, and SMX series.
Both options are good bikes but down on power compared to Yamaha, Triumph and KTM. Honda will take a step forward in power next year, the engine is holding it back in the shootouts. Swapmoto shootout idk if any rider mentioned the Honda.
the guys that are looking down on the KX because they switched to Showa are missing the boat. As a long time and current yamaha own, i also own a 24 Kawi with Showas. trust me the showas are good forks
Not what the test riders are saying. They all say sluggish power characteristics. The Showa forks internally are very similar to the KYB that were on there before.The chassis and suspension were actually what they did like about it. Source on the KX: Swapmoto and Vital MX 250 shootouts. Source on the suspension info: Ride JBI
Now we're making stuff up
The Shop
Free shipping: VITALMX
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
If you read the comments in the vital shootout there is kx owners saying its a rocket with a different silencer. So it seem to be the same case as with the 24 450 kx.
I will probably get my 250 kx this week. Will be interesting.
The term slow or sluggish is relative, but when you have to privilege of testing all of the bikes back-to-back as the shootout participants do, you can easily see what’s faster and what’s not. I could see that the KX could be choked up in stock form, however that doesn’t mean adding a different exhaust will make it faster than the competition though. I’m sure most people won’t fully utilize the power on any bike they get regardless.
Have you ridden any of these new bikes?
No, but what does that have to do with the price of tea in China? Last 250F I rode was a ‘23 YZ250F. I plan on scheduling a demo with Triumph soon though. I think they’re all probably good bikes, just some have a consensus of being more powerful and power is king in the 250 class. Leaning towards a ‘25 KTM 350 SX-F as my next bike, personally I’ve rode a couple 350’s.
I think there is Also a difference between feeling and Real power. This thing like "It Rev slow or fast" Can means various things. If the global ratio transmission is the same the engine who Rev faster have obviously more power. But if you put 2 bikes on a dyno and one IS more powerfull everywhere and Also Rev slower It only means that the transmission is "longer gueared".
Ya makes sense. I’m sure they can fool test riders with internal gear ratios, and front and rear sprocket gearing but ultimately they’re just comparing 7 bikes in stock form and how they feel on the same track trying to clear the same jumps. I think the Kawi and Honda will both improve in the engine department on the ‘26 models but all these bikes are so good now and someone still has to finish last now that they removed Suzuki from the shootouts in recent years.
I would say the honda, not because i'm a honda guy but also because kawi is just sorting out the new gen. People will figure out a lot of problems and stuff threw putting hours on the bike. Everybody said the 2022 250 honda was good at the beginning and then next year people say the frame is rigid. I rode the 2025 and i can tell they made some good updates on the bike and it feels better then previous generation. This generation of Honda has more experience than this generation of Kawi. Also green is ugly but yeah
Pit Row
Post a reply to: 2025 may be a hard decision for a new 250, Honda or Kawasaki