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Only $10 for all 2026 SX, MX, and SMX series.
Never seen so much hype come from a 20 second clip with call outs and ring dinging noises.
No bike, no firm details; just page after page of fantasy and speculation.
2 stroke fans are desperate! for a fix.
The KTM fuel injection and mapping for 2-strokes was not successful. It was/is problematic and combined with electric start added about 10lbs to the bike. Maybe with time the bugs would get worked out. Hopefully Kawi doesn’t do the same.
Gonna be a lot of bummed dudes when Kawasaki rolls out the all new 65!
My money's on an updated KX85!
The Shop
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
What if it's ORANGE ?? I remember seeing Orange KDX's in mid 80s when I bought my 87 kx500. Unfortunately the KX's were only available in green or I would have choose orange cause I liked my 1980 Can-Am 400 color.
In 1984 and 85 Kawi offered the KDX200 in RED.
I have one.
You could get a KDX200 in white from 1988-1992.
We already have KTMs etc...... Yeah, because $11k 2 strokes are a great idea. NOT.
Yamaha has it dialed and it's been working for them for years.
Keep it cheap and simple.
You don't need the added weight, complexity on a motor you can start with your hand. Get real.
You don't need FI... learn how to jet a carb for cyring out loud.
Real world experience for the win ^^^^^^
I really hope this Kawasaki 'thing' does turn out to be the re-introduction of full sized, Competition level 2 strokes.
There's a gap in the market, that the Japanese Factories, baring Yamaha, and the retention, barely, of Minis by Kawi and Suzuki, have ceded to European manufacturers.
I remember, each time, with the first reports of both Beta and Sherco developing 2 strokes, those that said it would never happen - even when 1st pictures and videos came out of them. Well, it happened, and they expanded both companies production / horizons. TM , in their tiny way, have always been around, and Reiju, have kept the (original) Gas Gas 2ts going.
Logically, a 250 /300 motor is a good 're-start' for Kawi, being it's really, just the same module - just square up a 66 / whatever bored 72mm stroked engine, there you've got a 300, or, 'near abouts' for sweet buggerall effort. Though, I think that either Beta or Sherco have a '300' with a different configuration than the common 72 / 72. Note, 'Buggerall Effort', when considering the effort to develop a 4 stroke, and so bloody many variations of them, even in the same capacities, that factories have done since the '4 Stroke Revolution'.
I'd personally like to see what Beta are supposedly doing with their '350'. They have gone to a 73.6mm stroke, with a 78mm Bore , for 351.7mm capacity. That's less over square than my ancient CRE500, by the way. Now, the Beta 350 may or may not happen, though, it Is said to be coming mid '25, but the minimal extra stroke, could mean there is no need for new case castings, just a new crank, and top end / pipe.
So, such a 350 'solution' might mean a minimal increase in costs, when compared to the common, and, admittedly, incredibly cheap, squaring up of a 250 2T that has garnered Huge sales over so many years for 300s
Why a 350 - well, a 300 is too 'scary' a thing to be allowed to race with 450s, so, really, there's no official ( in MX / SX - I think E3 in Enduro GP does specify 300s, and up, with the over 450 4ts?) Class for a 300 , so, why not a 350? As, it's an 'Orphan' sized bike for many Series. I've always said, a Modern 350 / 400 / 450 2 Stroke would be an absolutely Wonderous thing.
Though, I doubt they - Kawasaki - will do a bigger than 300 2t - as the 'formula' for an "Open Class 2 Stroke", is so long established now, and so bloody easy, and profitable , to do.
I'd love to see a 125, and, a 200 - derived from a 125 base as the KTM 200 was. But, it's all just Fantasy Land, on All of our parts. Until whatever Kawasaki are up to, is shown.
Here's the Spec Board for the Beta 350, shown at EICMA last year, if any have not seen it:
I know. So does the Beta RE. I’ve been considering a Beta for a while now.
Keefer said it will be ”trail” related.
My bets?................KX 65
I’ll take that bet. $500 to Saint Jude’s?
Yes the 550 startet as a Sidecar Engine but back in 1985
What i heard some Americans put that Engine in a 500 Frame and the 550 was born , an Produced in small numbers as a 540 DXC and later 550 MXC
I build my own 550 MX with a very early 1986 Engine in a 1988 Chassis
New KTM suspension is awesome.
It’s been a huge success. No idea where you came up with that.
Pit Row
Back to the Kawasaki Topic, would be great to see a New Green Twostroke
Hope a Keihin Carburatet ,Kickstartet 250/300 or 500 KX
I know we are all just rumors and speculation, but did anybody actually listen to what the bike sounded like in the commercial? If it was a mini or a 125, they would have used a small bore 2 stroke in the video. It definitely sounded more like a 300 to me as well.
Correct on the 125. & 250 , but the 300”s are very good for a first generation effort…with a simple remap you can tune to your liking… if I could only afford 1 bike, it would be my 300SX… I can ride Mx and within 30 minutes, switch to woods/Gncc”s just by swapping to larger Xc tank and bark busters…Electric start & FI seem excessive on a 2T but once you have them, its easy to get used to… I don’t miss trying to jet my previous carbed 300”s, they were tricky to get right for different disciplines…
Do you guys think Kawasaki is going to spend all this time and resources to come out with a carbed, kickstart budget 250?
I would say there is a 95% chance its electric start and about a 90% chance its some kind of fuel injected. Companies don't put money and time into developing a new bike to come out with a "budget" bike.
125 guaranteed + maybe more
Mitch said that FI can’t compete yet with carb on the 2T…. But it will get there and I feel like Kawi will be part of the development. And max HP on an offroad bike isn’t top priority. So a focus on a wide power band 300 seems to support the possibility/likelihood of FI.
But yes, I demand a full on KX125SR effort from them!!!
MSRP on a 25 KTM 300 SX is $9600. Pricey but not $11k
Ready for an update...
Everyone blindly shits on KTMs cost but MSRP on a new YZ250 is 8,400, what looks like the better value?
The 2025 base model 300 XC-W is $11,599. I'm not sure why it's $2000 more, but it is.
Where are you seeing $9,400? MSRP is $8k but shop around or get an identical outgoing 2024 and you can easily come in under that. I think you’re confusing it with the KTM which does have a $9,400 MSRP.
I still think the best looking KDX was the 1979 KDX 175. I had one...bought it used less than a year old for $900. They were around $1,200 new BITD. Bring that back.
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