Kawasaki is bringing the two stroke back!

Andy7
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Fantasy
1/28/2025 2:40am Edited Date/Time 1/28/2025 2:41am
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1/28/2025 3:20am

Anyone else waiting for our fearless leader ML512 to provide some insight?

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Team403
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1/28/2025 5:22am

The OEMs need to make the sport more affordable for the everyday young adult who can’t afford 4S maint.  A KX125 would be a good place to start.  In a perfect world we would have a 125 and 350 night show.  The fact that 250Fs are matching 450 lap times makes no sense.  At this point they are pretty much the same class to the casual SX/MX fan.

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The Shop

burn1986
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1/28/2025 5:33am Edited Date/Time 1/28/2025 5:33am

DC, AMA, and the promoters are already clamoring to Honda to reassure them that they will not allow any two strokes in their programs.

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AVL28
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1/28/2025 5:41am Edited Date/Time 1/28/2025 6:40am

So much talk about whether it will be an MX or off road bike but wouldn’t it make most sense for them to produce both? Yamaha’s done it with the YZ and YZX. Even the current WR’s are just modified from the YZF platform. Just build a base platform KX that’s MX oriented that they can also mod for off road and enduro.


Wouldn’t make financial sense for them to setup all the tooling and production for only one model line.

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Spoonguy
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1/28/2025 5:42am

It could be possible to.make a 250 2T with enough power and the right king of power to compete with 450 4T, look at the 250 roadracers before they killed them off.

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holeshot413
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1/28/2025 5:49am
burn1986 wrote:

DC, AMA, and the promoters are already clamoring to Honda to reassure them that they will not allow any two strokes in their programs.

correct

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holeshot413
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1/28/2025 5:51am
Spoonguy wrote:
It could be possible to.make a 250 2T with enough power and the right king of power to compete with 450 4T, look at the 250...

It could be possible to.make a 250 2T with enough power and the right king of power to compete with 450 4T, look at the 250 roadracers before they killed them off.

unfair displacement rules, 400,426,450 and even unlimited for awhile. Then not allowing leaded race gas. That us humans run every weekend

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AMetts
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1/28/2025 5:55am
AVL28 wrote:
So much talk about whether it will be an MX or off road bike but wouldn’t it make most sense for them to produce both? Yamaha’s...

So much talk about whether it will be an MX or off road bike but wouldn’t it make most sense for them to produce both? Yamaha’s done it with the YZ and YZX. Even the current WR’s are just modified from the YZF platform. Just build a base platform KX that’s MX oriented that they can also mod for off road and enduro.


Wouldn’t make financial sense for them to setup all the tooling and production for only one model line.

Yes exactly, if they get the transmission spread right it will work fine for both. Sell one with a bigger tank, 18" rear an O-ring chain and a kickstand you are rocking and rolling.

That being said building a cross country and moto bike on the same platform is one thing but if they are wanting to build something to compete with the 300XC-W in the extreme enduro stuff that will take a bit more work but I dont think they are interested in that segment yet atleast. 

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1/28/2025 6:27am

Mini and Super Mini long overdue for a makeover. More of a chance for that.

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AVL28
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1/28/2025 6:35am

Mini and Super Mini long overdue for a makeover. More of a chance for that.

It’s been confirmed it’s a big bike, AC said so on the supercross broadcast this weekend.

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indy rider
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1/28/2025 7:19am

Mini and Super Mini long overdue for a makeover. More of a chance for that.

AVL28 wrote:

It’s been confirmed it’s a big bike, AC said so on the supercross broadcast this weekend.

Yes, AC definitely said he knew for a fact they have a big 2t bike in development. It sounded like he emphasized implying a single model and not plural, and I believe he also stated it's a woods bike. Someone said woods bike, maybe it was MC

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oldnescVet
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1/28/2025 7:27am

Mini and Super Mini long overdue for a makeover. More of a chance for that.

AVL28 wrote:

It’s been confirmed it’s a big bike, AC said so on the supercross broadcast this weekend.

indy rider wrote:
Yes, AC definitely said he knew for a fact they have a big 2t bike in development. It sounded like he emphasized implying a single model...

Yes, AC definitely said he knew for a fact they have a big 2t bike in development. It sounded like he emphasized implying a single model and not plural, and I believe he also stated it's a woods bike. Someone said woods bike, maybe it was MC

I hope you can plate it. My kdx 175 was awesome.  
Sorry California, no go

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1/28/2025 7:30am
burn1986 wrote:

Instagram? I didn’t know there was people asking Kawi to brink it back?

 

Highly unlikely Kawi is bringing back 2-st because of ig. Jimmy D,s  13 mil views of riding a cr125 got people excited about 125,s again.  But the biggest class at the races being the 125 class . Is hard to ignore the last few yrs.  

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1/28/2025 7:45am

Why would they pay to air the commercial during supercross on Saturday if they didn’t intended to follow through and produce a new two stroke? 

Don't feed the trolls

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1/28/2025 8:50am
mtb133 wrote:
Nothing wrong with fitting a two stroke engine in four stroke chassis. I did it to an RMZ and it handles way better than the steel...

Nothing wrong with fitting a two stroke engine in four stroke chassis. I did it to an RMZ and it handles way better than the steel frame I had a couple decades on PXL 20240720 163034463.PORTRAIT

Gorgeous!!

How is the vibration compared to the steel frame?

mtb133 wrote:

Thx. A little worse but mostly at the hands. The xtrigs fixed that issue.

Good info. Thanks!

GPrider
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1/28/2025 9:01am

I see it being a 300 off road bike. Yamaha is already working with Cody Webb. Yamaha may had been tipped off about Kawasaki building a new bike and hired Cody to help them develop one. I'm sure they have been working on it for at least a year or two. A moto bike, although cool, is not really the direction to go if you ask me. It would be a novelty bike for weekend racers. The 300 off road group is no joke. Plenty of customers out there. Also, they have moto bikes already, so why develop another one at this point. Off road is the direction to go with a new market to showcase their product. JMO.

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1/28/2025 9:20am
GPrider wrote:
I see it being a 300 off road bike. Yamaha is already working with Cody Webb. Yamaha may had been tipped off about Kawasaki building a...

I see it being a 300 off road bike. Yamaha is already working with Cody Webb. Yamaha may had been tipped off about Kawasaki building a new bike and hired Cody to help them develop one. I'm sure they have been working on it for at least a year or two. A moto bike, although cool, is not really the direction to go if you ask me. It would be a novelty bike for weekend racers. The 300 off road group is no joke. Plenty of customers out there. Also, they have moto bikes already, so why develop another one at this point. Off road is the direction to go with a new market to showcase their product. JMO.

300 with e-start, 18" rear wheel, and kickstand. What is an unknown is whether they use steel or aluminum for the frame. They could save costs reusing the KX-F frame but I think the off road crowd will want a more flexible steel frame.

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Steve125
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1/28/2025 9:29am

I think it's a 300 MX bike. With an "offroad" wide ratio bike to follow. The fact that McGrath was in the ad that aired, saying something like "Modern SX is great, but I miss the smoke", that would make sense.

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1/28/2025 9:40am
GPrider wrote:
I see it being a 300 off road bike. Yamaha is already working with Cody Webb. Yamaha may had been tipped off about Kawasaki building a...

I see it being a 300 off road bike. Yamaha is already working with Cody Webb. Yamaha may had been tipped off about Kawasaki building a new bike and hired Cody to help them develop one. I'm sure they have been working on it for at least a year or two. A moto bike, although cool, is not really the direction to go if you ask me. It would be a novelty bike for weekend racers. The 300 off road group is no joke. Plenty of customers out there. Also, they have moto bikes already, so why develop another one at this point. Off road is the direction to go with a new market to showcase their product. JMO.

I agree. Two strokes still dominate when in comes to numbers at off-road events. That and the casual rider and non racer (especially who grew up on two strokes) would likely be more likely to buy something like you mentioned. It's a huge market.

At the moto tracks, at least where I'm from, on any given weekend it's about 90% four strokes. 

That being said, a KX125 would sell no problem. That missing step transitioning from an 85 is missing for Kawasaki, and no doubt they lose a lot of customers because of it.

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indy rider
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1/28/2025 10:01am

I find the dream talk of it being steel framed silly. But wouldn't FI be likely if they want to sell them in Europe? 

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3strokemx
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1/28/2025 10:10am Edited Date/Time 1/28/2025 10:28am

It's a tactic by Kawasaki to hit KTM while they are down.  Show a teaser to give buyers a reason NOT to buy a discounted KTM in the coming months, without the cash flow KTM is in trouble.

It's a good assumption they do not have a bike close to production or else they would show it.

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JAKEDOWN492
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1/28/2025 10:21am
burn1986 wrote:

Yeah, I saw it was Instagram. I’m just curious if the messages were real. Doesn’t matter at this point, just curious. Baffling really

All Kawasaki have said is "We heard you", they haven't said they are going to sell a 2 stroke!

Why would they pay to air the commercial during supercross on Saturday if they didn’t intended to follow through and produce a new two stroke? 

The guy just likes to argue. Kawi is 100% releasing a 2 stroke big bike.

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AVL28
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1/28/2025 10:43am Edited Date/Time 1/28/2025 10:52am
I agree. Two strokes still dominate when in comes to numbers at off-road events. That and the casual rider and non racer (especially who grew up...

I agree. Two strokes still dominate when in comes to numbers at off-road events. That and the casual rider and non racer (especially who grew up on two strokes) would likely be more likely to buy something like you mentioned. It's a huge market.

At the moto tracks, at least where I'm from, on any given weekend it's about 90% four strokes. 

That being said, a KX125 would sell no problem. That missing step transitioning from an 85 is missing for Kawasaki, and no doubt they lose a lot of customers because of it.

Probably see mostly 4 strokes at the moto track because there’s only one Japanese 2 stroke still available and it’s been mostly untouched for 20 years, and the only modern 2t’s from the euros cost nearly as much or more than the Japanese 4 strokes. It’s just what’s widely available and closest to affordable.


More options and affordability for a modern MX 2 stroke may change that trend.

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byke
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1/28/2025 10:59am
burn1986 wrote:

DC, AMA, and the promoters are already clamoring to Honda to reassure them that they will not allow any two strokes in their programs.

All that would do is generate sales for Kawasaki, especially in the US where we all have a little rebel in us. You need the villain/heel of the sport to fuel excitement and DC/AMA/Feld are definitely taking that corporate villain role for many. "EVERY WHICH WAAAAAYS".

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1/28/2025 11:01am
I agree. Two strokes still dominate when in comes to numbers at off-road events. That and the casual rider and non racer (especially who grew up...

I agree. Two strokes still dominate when in comes to numbers at off-road events. That and the casual rider and non racer (especially who grew up on two strokes) would likely be more likely to buy something like you mentioned. It's a huge market.

At the moto tracks, at least where I'm from, on any given weekend it's about 90% four strokes. 

That being said, a KX125 would sell no problem. That missing step transitioning from an 85 is missing for Kawasaki, and no doubt they lose a lot of customers because of it.

AVL28 wrote:
Probably see mostly 4 strokes at the moto track because there’s only one Japanese 2 stroke still available and it’s been mostly untouched for 20 years...

Probably see mostly 4 strokes at the moto track because there’s only one Japanese 2 stroke still available and it’s been mostly untouched for 20 years, and the only modern 2t’s from the euros cost nearly as much or more than the Japanese 4 strokes. It’s just what’s widely available and closest to affordable.


More options and affordability for a modern MX 2 stroke may change that trend.

Kawasaki's news is certainly drumming up some excitement! We'll for sure see more 2 strokes out there.

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GPrider
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1/28/2025 11:36am

from the buisness side, it really makes no sense for Kawasaki to make a 125 or 250 2-stroke moto bike, why? Because they already have moto bikes. The investment to build a new 2-stroke has to be on a bigger scale, like the off road market. This is the direction they will go. A current void in the market for them. The top brass who green lights development doesn't give a shit about a 125 2-stoke. They want to expand their market share. They see KTM dominating off road and know this is the time to pounce. Same with Yamaha. 

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McG194
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1/28/2025 11:37am
GPrider wrote:
I see it being a 300 off road bike. Yamaha is already working with Cody Webb. Yamaha may had been tipped off about Kawasaki building a...

I see it being a 300 off road bike. Yamaha is already working with Cody Webb. Yamaha may had been tipped off about Kawasaki building a new bike and hired Cody to help them develop one. I'm sure they have been working on it for at least a year or two. A moto bike, although cool, is not really the direction to go if you ask me. It would be a novelty bike for weekend racers. The 300 off road group is no joke. Plenty of customers out there. Also, they have moto bikes already, so why develop another one at this point. Off road is the direction to go with a new market to showcase their product. JMO.

300 with e-start, 18" rear wheel, and kickstand. What is an unknown is whether they use steel or aluminum for the frame. They could save costs...

300 with e-start, 18" rear wheel, and kickstand. What is an unknown is whether they use steel or aluminum for the frame. They could save costs reusing the KX-F frame but I think the off road crowd will want a more flexible steel frame.

Yamaha is doing pretty damn well with the aluminum framed FX bikes, so I don't see a need to engineer a whole new chassis. 

3strokemx
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1/28/2025 11:42am

CF Moto sensed the pending KTM scale back and offered Kawasaki a deal for a few thousand GPX's with green plastic and pink graphics.

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