Kawasaki Releases 2026 KX85 | KX85 Big Wheel | KX112

oceantrav
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oceantrav 1/28/2026 6:10am
1/28/2026 6:10am Edited Date/Time 1/28/2026 6:16am
quadzrulebro wrote:

The MSRP is 2 grand less than the KTM.  I bet Mitch Payton could build a fire breathing engine for $2k.

Only problem is half the classes at the major races are stock/limited classes…..



A good kid can win mod classes on a stock ktm 85, doubt same can be said for the Kawi. My kid ran a $2500 2024 ktm 85 at mini o’s this past year, think he got 4 podiums. Doubt he could have done that on a 100% stock Kawi…..maybe I’m wrong though 


Hope the other brands get serious, I’m not a huge fan of ktm, but no other real options currently for 85’s

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Timo
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Timo 1/28/2026 6:13am
1/28/2026 6:13am

They can take the new suspension and make a free ride like 250 or 300! This style of bike is being slept on by the public and big manufacturers.

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MOTO13
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MOTO13 1/28/2026 6:17am
1/28/2026 6:17am

Well, this is kind of a bummer. Hoping for a 125. 

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TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 1/28/2026 7:08am
1/28/2026 7:08am
RDnutz wrote:

why do 85s need 43mm forks? Unless your kid is 240 lbs, seems like overkill to me.

Wandell wrote:

i remember when most 125s and 250s didnt have 43nn forks,

That’s because we’re OLD 🤣

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LowBidder 1/28/2026 7:56am
1/28/2026 7:56am
quadzrulebro wrote:

The MSRP is 2 grand less than the KTM.  I bet Mitch Payton could build a fire breathing engine for $2k.

oceantrav wrote:
Only problem is half the classes at the major races are stock/limited classes…..A good kid can win mod classes on a stock ktm 85, doubt same...

Only problem is half the classes at the major races are stock/limited classes…..



A good kid can win mod classes on a stock ktm 85, doubt same can be said for the Kawi. My kid ran a $2500 2024 ktm 85 at mini o’s this past year, think he got 4 podiums. Doubt he could have done that on a 100% stock Kawi…..maybe I’m wrong though 


Hope the other brands get serious, I’m not a huge fan of ktm, but no other real options currently for 85’s

Thought I seen you guys on Suzuki lately 

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CaptainOblivious 1/28/2026 9:25am
1/28/2026 9:25am
quadzrulebro wrote:

The MSRP is 2 grand less than the KTM.  I bet Mitch Payton could build a fire breathing engine for $2k.

oceantrav wrote:
Only problem is half the classes at the major races are stock/limited classes…..A good kid can win mod classes on a stock ktm 85, doubt same...

Only problem is half the classes at the major races are stock/limited classes…..



A good kid can win mod classes on a stock ktm 85, doubt same can be said for the Kawi. My kid ran a $2500 2024 ktm 85 at mini o’s this past year, think he got 4 podiums. Doubt he could have done that on a 100% stock Kawi…..maybe I’m wrong though 


Hope the other brands get serious, I’m not a huge fan of ktm, but no other real options currently for 85’s

IMG 3298 5
5
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mxrose3
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mxrose3 1/28/2026 10:00am
1/28/2026 10:00am
WestoftheElwha wrote:
THIS is the big update ? It looks like the same bike pretty much Wow , what a bummer . I thought it was gonna be bad ass...

THIS is the big update ? 
It looks like the same bike pretty much 

Wow , what a bummer . I thought it was gonna be bad ass .

mxrose3 wrote:

How do you know its not 'bad ass' with the refinements that Kawasaki has done to it?   Have you ridden one already?

kage173 wrote:
To be fair, there's a 50 page thread on the upcoming Kawi 2 stroke. The way Kawi did the promotion made it sound like an all...

To be fair, there's a 50 page thread on the upcoming Kawi 2 stroke. The way Kawi did the promotion made it sound like an all new bike was coming. This isn't even a new version of an existing bike. It's just a few chassis upgrades. 

Now fine, its good to see them do something considering they have completely lost the mini bike segment. And their is definitely an argument to be made about the KTMs being ridiculously priced. But, this isn't some huge renewed commitment to two strokes. 

I'm pretty sure the 300 is still coming.   It 'should' be all new when it finally comes out.   Now, if they re-release a 2007 KX250 with a big bore, updated suspension and such.... then people can whine about it.   But I still wouldn't.

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oceantrav
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oceantrav 1/28/2026 10:02am
1/28/2026 10:02am
quadzrulebro wrote:

The MSRP is 2 grand less than the KTM.  I bet Mitch Payton could build a fire breathing engine for $2k.

oceantrav wrote:
Only problem is half the classes at the major races are stock/limited classes…..A good kid can win mod classes on a stock ktm 85, doubt same...

Only problem is half the classes at the major races are stock/limited classes…..



A good kid can win mod classes on a stock ktm 85, doubt same can be said for the Kawi. My kid ran a $2500 2024 ktm 85 at mini o’s this past year, think he got 4 podiums. Doubt he could have done that on a 100% stock Kawi…..maybe I’m wrong though 


Hope the other brands get serious, I’m not a huge fan of ktm, but no other real options currently for 85’s

CaptainOblivious wrote:
IMG 3298 5

Those do look cool, and Probaly competitive. All though no one runs them at big races/Loretta’s, except like one kid I can think of. Assume they are expensive, and hard to get parts. If I need another 24 ktm 85, I can go on market place today and get one local in Florida for $2500. Also everyone at the track has parts to lend for ktm 

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oceantrav
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oceantrav 1/28/2026 10:04am
1/28/2026 10:04am Edited Date/Time 1/28/2026 10:04am
quadzrulebro wrote:

The MSRP is 2 grand less than the KTM.  I bet Mitch Payton could build a fire breathing engine for $2k.

oceantrav wrote:
Only problem is half the classes at the major races are stock/limited classes…..A good kid can win mod classes on a stock ktm 85, doubt same...

Only problem is half the classes at the major races are stock/limited classes…..



A good kid can win mod classes on a stock ktm 85, doubt same can be said for the Kawi. My kid ran a $2500 2024 ktm 85 at mini o’s this past year, think he got 4 podiums. Doubt he could have done that on a 100% stock Kawi…..maybe I’m wrong though 


Hope the other brands get serious, I’m not a huge fan of ktm, but no other real options currently for 85’s

LowBidder wrote:

Thought I seen you guys on Suzuki lately 

Not my kid, he did try  a basically new/stock rm85  a year ago at a local track, said it was sooo slow


No doubt they can be made fast though, chase brennan kills it on a rm85

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bluesmoke
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bluesmoke 1/28/2026 10:28am
1/28/2026 10:28am
Zoom wrote:

Kawasaki released the updated 2026 KX85 and KX112 along with a new model the KX85L (Big Wheel). Click on the link below to view. 

https://www.kawasaki.com/en-us/motorcycle/kx/kx-youth-mx/kx-85

Is that it? Aww man, all the hubbub, the gnashing of teeth and tearing of garments! No 250? No 300? Dammit!🙂

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Freakazoid
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Freakazoid 1/28/2026 1:09pm
1/28/2026 1:09pm
mxrose3 wrote:
I'm pretty sure the 300 is still coming.   It 'should' be all new when it finally comes out.   Now, if they re-release a 2007...

I'm pretty sure the 300 is still coming.   It 'should' be all new when it finally comes out.   Now, if they re-release a 2007 KX250 with a big bore, updated suspension and such.... then people can whine about it.   But I still wouldn't.

I’d be very happy with re-released 2007 KX125/KX250s with modern forks, new plastic design, and Kawasaki aftermarket 150cc & 300cc kits available. I Ioved the overall handling on those last KX 2 strokes with just an aftermarket linkage, and liked the engines a lot too. I’d personally run to buy a KX125 like that over a new YZ125 same price, just for nostalgia. 

I’m in the market for a sub-200cc two stroke. If Kawi only releases a 250+, I’ll be screwed in terms of riding green. Seems like most people want a 300, so at least I’ll be happy for everyone else. 

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