Kawasaki is bringing the two stroke back!

1/29/2025 1:54pm
I think it’s silly to think they’re going to come out swinging with a 300 off-road bike. Look at their current offerings(not play bikes), they ALL...

I think it’s silly to think they’re going to come out swinging with a 300 off-road bike. Look at their current offerings(not play bikes), they ALL are mx based bikes that have small changes to target the offroad market, just like KTM’s XC line. Not to mention KTM’s 300xc is based off a 250SX and has been for decades, just as the 125XC is based off a 125SX. 

And rumor is this all stems from their engineers attending Loretta’s and seeing a void in their brand in some of the classes? 

I believe will we see a KX125 first, as it’s the missing link between their 112 and 250F. I hope from there we see 250 and then a 300. I will snag if a kx250 if it happens..

That's why I say 125. You don't get old guys wanting 300's in the future without a 125 first. I think a 300 would be short sighted right now. Baby steps...

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byke
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1/29/2025 2:18pm Edited Date/Time 1/29/2025 2:19pm

Disagree. Kawasaki doesn't need to baby step anything. The 300EXC made for really good sales for the 40+ traildogs out there and KTM's willingness to be more modular with their engines/chassis' was a big part of why they blew up (before they popped). Something like a KX300X in the modern 450 chassis timed with an uncertain future for KTM, could be the chink in KTM's offroad armor that other mfr's need to get more market share. 

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1/29/2025 3:21pm

A KX250 two-stroke platform like the YZ250x would be amazing. 

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agn5008
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1/29/2025 3:40pm
I think it’s silly to think they’re going to come out swinging with a 300 off-road bike. Look at their current offerings(not play bikes), they ALL...

I think it’s silly to think they’re going to come out swinging with a 300 off-road bike. Look at their current offerings(not play bikes), they ALL are mx based bikes that have small changes to target the offroad market, just like KTM’s XC line. Not to mention KTM’s 300xc is based off a 250SX and has been for decades, just as the 125XC is based off a 125SX. 

And rumor is this all stems from their engineers attending Loretta’s and seeing a void in their brand in some of the classes? 

I believe will we see a KX125 first, as it’s the missing link between their 112 and 250F. I hope from there we see 250 and then a 300. I will snag if a kx250 if it happens..

That's why I say 125. You don't get old guys wanting 300's in the future without a 125 first. I think a 300 would be short...

That's why I say 125. You don't get old guys wanting 300's in the future without a 125 first. I think a 300 would be short sighted right now. Baby steps...

“You don’t get old guys wanting 300’s in the future without a 125 first.”

I don’t understand what you mean by this. (Honestly, I’m not being a dick). Do you mean it’s because you think a lot of older guys would prefer that Kawi works their way up from 125 technology to a 300 in the future? If so, I don’t really agree with that. We’re talking Kawasaki here, they’ve been around forever and know how to make make a dirt bike. I would have absolutely no concerns buying a new 300 from any of the Japanese brands. 

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Pirate421
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1/29/2025 3:43pm Edited Date/Time 1/29/2025 3:45pm

In my experience kids coming from 85s don’t want a 125 they all want 250fs. 125s are logical for older guys because that’s what they grew up on but 250fs are what the kids want. 

If you have kids who are obsessed with social media and dirtbikes you’ll notice the only people riding 125s are Carson brown for fun once in awhile and wheely kids in the city. Look at the reed kids and all the Loretta’s kids, 250s

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NSP139
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1/29/2025 4:08pm
Quick photoshop of how a new KX125 could look....how cool would it be?!

Quick photoshop of how a new KX125 could look....how cool would it be?!

26kx 0.jpg?VersionId=CaY1pdxHMPuO 5KmTmh .tUwPM9mvXO
Andy7 wrote:

Need a 250/300.... BAD

Team403 wrote:
For the most part didn’t the 125s and 250s share most of the same components and frames?  Seems like if you’re going to release a 250...

For the most part didn’t the 125s and 250s share most of the same components and frames?  Seems like if you’re going to release a 250 might as welll do a 125 too - no?

That would be a yes my 150 and my kids 250 share virtually everything except for the motor and back rim! Same suspension with a little different valving and spring rate!

spinyard
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1/29/2025 7:00pm

I don’t know man I’d rather buy a Yamaha cool hype but Yamaha never gave up on the two strokes and they’re more reliable anyways. I have owned many kawi 2 strokes over the years.

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soggy
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1/29/2025 7:06pm

The EMX 125 class needs more choices. Hopefully they do come out with a 125 that’d be badass. 

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Team403
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1/29/2025 7:17pm Edited Date/Time 1/29/2025 7:19pm

More than one amateur family broke AF because of the 250F transition 

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1/29/2025 7:42pm
burn1986 wrote:

We need some good photoshop pics 😎

If nobody has posted one by tomorrow i’ll mock something up…

Quick photoshop of how a new KX125 could look....how cool would it be?!

Quick photoshop of how a new KX125 could look....how cool would it be?!

26kx 0.jpg?VersionId=CaY1pdxHMPuO 5KmTmh .tUwPM9mvXO

Looks better than the rest. I would still buy a low hr 04 ovr that.  

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burn1986
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1/29/2025 7:45pm Edited Date/Time 1/29/2025 7:46pm
Quick photoshop of how a new KX125 could look....how cool would it be?!

Quick photoshop of how a new KX125 could look....how cool would it be?!

26kx 0.jpg?VersionId=CaY1pdxHMPuO 5KmTmh .tUwPM9mvXO

Nice Chuck! Let’s go!

Man, how cool would that be?!

1/29/2025 7:54pm
soggy wrote:

The EMX 125 class needs more choices. Hopefully they do come out with a 125 that’d be badass. 

They did in 21Koehn the hot shot mxgp rider & his brother raced the kx125 250f frame ktm engine bike.  There’s a Koehn yt vid of racing the kx 125.  Crazy fast and the bike looks good.  Too much talk of e start . People can start a 125 with 1 hand. IMG 1955 2

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KurtJ99
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1/29/2025 8:16pm

If it’s an MX bike I hope they recognize the opportunity to make a legendary intro. Like JS7. Or Adam showing at a Carson Brown video with an old KX and Adam roles up on the new bike. 

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1/29/2025 8:27pm
KurtJ99 wrote:
If it’s an MX bike I hope they recognize the opportunity to make a legendary intro. Like JS7. Or Adam showing at a Carson Brown video...

If it’s an MX bike I hope they recognize the opportunity to make a legendary intro. Like JS7. Or Adam showing at a Carson Brown video with an old KX and Adam roles up on the new bike. 

Adam would have to beat Carson!

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Timo
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1/29/2025 9:19pm

There's all these people saying they'd jump and buy a new bike just because it's a 2-stroke, when there's already bikes you could buy today 😂. Yamaha, Austrian, beta, Chinese... You can buy 125's, 150's, 200's, 225's, 250's, 300's, AF conversions, MX, XC, Enduro, trials, whatever the xtrainer is. Seriously, stop lying to sound cool, if you want a new 2-stroke just go buy one already. 

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soggy
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1/29/2025 9:24pm
Timo wrote:
There's all these people saying they'd jump and buy a new bike just because it's a 2-stroke, when there's already bikes you could buy today 😂...

There's all these people saying they'd jump and buy a new bike just because it's a 2-stroke, when there's already bikes you could buy today 😂. Yamaha, Austrian, beta, Chinese... You can buy 125's, 150's, 200's, 225's, 250's, 300's, AF conversions, MX, XC, Enduro, trials, whatever the xtrainer is. Seriously, stop lying to sound cool, if you want a new 2-stroke just go buy one already. 

Believe the hype!. This is the way it goes. When it comes out people will say I’d buy it if it was X, or if it had X, or if it was this or that color.   

Always kicking the can..

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oldnescVet
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1/29/2025 10:07pm

Looks better than the rest. I would still buy a low hr 04 ovr that.  

We know

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tylerpennell
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1/29/2025 10:15pm

100 pager by the time we get some pics ?

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oldnescVet
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1/29/2025 10:19pm
soggy wrote:

The EMX 125 class needs more choices. Hopefully they do come out with a 125 that’d be badass. 

They did in 21Koehn the hot shot mxgp rider & his brother raced the kx125 250f frame ktm engine bike.  There’s a Koehn yt vid of...

They did in 21Koehn the hot shot mxgp rider & his brother raced the kx125 250f frame ktm engine bike.  There’s a Koehn yt vid of racing the kx 125.  Crazy fast and the bike looks good.  Too much talk of e start . People can start a 125 with 1 hand. IMG 1955 2

I agree, no one needs electric start on a 125 for moto. Give me a 185lb 125 with lite wheel's, swing arm, axles, sprockets and chain. What’s the best bike for a starting point? 2018 KTM?

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CPR
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1/29/2025 11:19pm
wfopete wrote:

It would blow minds if JA came into the Glendale stadium for the rider introductions pulling a wheelie on a Kawi 2st 300!

The last Kawi 2st in opening ceremonies:

IMG 1039 2
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38special
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1/30/2025 3:58am
Timo wrote:
There's all these people saying they'd jump and buy a new bike just because it's a 2-stroke, when there's already bikes you could buy today 😂...

There's all these people saying they'd jump and buy a new bike just because it's a 2-stroke, when there's already bikes you could buy today 😂. Yamaha, Austrian, beta, Chinese... You can buy 125's, 150's, 200's, 225's, 250's, 300's, AF conversions, MX, XC, Enduro, trials, whatever the xtrainer is. Seriously, stop lying to sound cool, if you want a new 2-stroke just go buy one already. 

Correct. There's already a variety of high-tech Austrian EFI electric start models, and the good old YZ's.  If someone really wanted a 2 stroke, they'd put green plastic on one of those.

 

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ATKpilot99
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1/30/2025 4:30am

I heard it's going to be a race quad .

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EAmato88
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1/30/2025 4:39am

itll never be a 125 to launch first. No matter what vital says, the market isnt there. More and more kids are going straight to the 250F. This kawi 2 stroke is going to be aimed at the big bore market, probably the off road segment. Thats where the 2 stroke is wanted most.

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5
1/30/2025 4:52am
EAmato88 wrote:
itll never be a 125 to launch first. No matter what vital says, the market isnt there. More and more kids are going straight to the...

itll never be a 125 to launch first. No matter what vital says, the market isnt there. More and more kids are going straight to the 250F. This kawi 2 stroke is going to be aimed at the big bore market, probably the off road segment. Thats where the 2 stroke is wanted most.

Based on the sound of the original Kawi USA video, there's a good chance this thing is a big bore 250/300. But it's fun to speculate and dream until we get some more solid info. All we have so far is it's a 'race' machine (XC/MX) and full size, not a play bike.

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SonofThor32
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1/30/2025 4:53am

Not directed at anybody, but what does KTM sell the most of since they have both platforms?  MX? Offroad?  In this day and age, would they not want to start with what they would sell the most of for starters to make rekindling their 2-stroke brand make financial sense and see how it goes and branch out from there?

Being the commercial was aired during a SX race, it would lead me to think it is an MX bike, if that is the case, what would they sell the most of there? LOL.  I love my 125s..  But always thought it would be pretty awesome to have a 300 as an open class bike.  I doubt it would be a 250 as it is too 'in the middle', but the sound during the commercial sure didn't sound like a 125 to me.

AMetts
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1/30/2025 5:06am Edited Date/Time 1/30/2025 5:08am
Not directed at anybody, but what does KTM sell the most of since they have both platforms?  MX? Offroad?  In this day and age, would they...

Not directed at anybody, but what does KTM sell the most of since they have both platforms?  MX? Offroad?  In this day and age, would they not want to start with what they would sell the most of for starters to make rekindling their 2-stroke brand make financial sense and see how it goes and branch out from there?

Being the commercial was aired during a SX race, it would lead me to think it is an MX bike, if that is the case, what would they sell the most of there? LOL.  I love my 125s..  But always thought it would be pretty awesome to have a 300 as an open class bike.  I doubt it would be a 250 as it is too 'in the middle', but the sound during the commercial sure didn't sound like a 125 to me.

I would say they sell more bikes to off-road guys in general rather it be an MX or XC model, tons of guys at my local races are running SXF, they can get them cheaper than the XCF bikes and usually are putting a set of wheels and suspension from a previous bike and putting a bigger tank on them anyways. 

And yes they advertised on SX broadcast but tons of guys watch SX from all disciplines and its certainly the biggest audience, curious if we hear some advertisements on the GNCC live stream in a couple weeks. 

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1/30/2025 5:27am
EAmato88 wrote:
itll never be a 125 to launch first. No matter what vital says, the market isnt there. More and more kids are going straight to the...

itll never be a 125 to launch first. No matter what vital says, the market isnt there. More and more kids are going straight to the 250F. This kawi 2 stroke is going to be aimed at the big bore market, probably the off road segment. Thats where the 2 stroke is wanted most.

125 is the biggest class 24-34 on the gate. There’s 3 classes they can race 125 class, 125 jr, & 2-st.  Actually any class but 85cc& women’s if your  a male.  300 is too close to a 500 . Everywas bored watching 500,s race the nationals , after 6 laps there just crusing around. 125,s everyone ran to the fence to watch the 125,s. People pay alot of money & travel a long distance to watch. They want to here a racing engine screaming . Not a farting sound or a rev limiter to save a ovr priced  mod 250f. 

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Team403
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1/30/2025 5:35am

I bet Mitch is hoping for a 125

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Andy7
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1/30/2025 5:58am
Timo wrote:
There's all these people saying they'd jump and buy a new bike just because it's a 2-stroke, when there's already bikes you could buy today 😂...

There's all these people saying they'd jump and buy a new bike just because it's a 2-stroke, when there's already bikes you could buy today 😂. Yamaha, Austrian, beta, Chinese... You can buy 125's, 150's, 200's, 225's, 250's, 300's, AF conversions, MX, XC, Enduro, trials, whatever the xtrainer is. Seriously, stop lying to sound cool, if you want a new 2-stroke just go buy one already. 

I have a YZ 250, but the new frame, ergos, etc of the 4 strokes is simply way ahead when it comes to performance. That's why it would be so cool. I love my YZ, but 20 years of development do make a difference. If it is a KX 300 it will kick some serious ass.

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