Kawasaki is bringing the two stroke back!

4/18/2026 11:48am Edited Date/Time 4/20/2026 9:02am

6 19It even has a license plate.



 

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XC706
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4/19/2026 7:54pm
XC706 wrote:
It may be real but we are not going to see it for a long time. Kawi has much bigger issues right now, and that is...

It may be real but we are not going to see it for a long time. Kawi has much bigger issues right now, and that is trying to figure out the reliablity on their bikes. Stu Bailor DNFed another race last weekend. For the last couple of years he DNFs about every 3rd or 4th race with bike issues. This has been a disaster - not a good look for Kawi. I mention this because if we ever do see a new 2T it will first and foremost be an offroad 300, that is where the sales numbers will come from.

dnolder15 wrote:
Have you heard Stew Baylor ride that thing? He’s on the limiter damn near everywhere and Camp Coker was very dusty definitely didn’t help. The 300...

Have you heard Stew Baylor ride that thing? He’s on the limiter damn near everywhere and Camp Coker was very dusty definitely didn’t help. The 300 will be seen within 3 months according to Ryan Villopoto 

LOL, Stew DNFed another race today with yet another mechanical on his Kawi. What a fucking disaster.

2
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CPR
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4/19/2026 8:21pm

Its been awhile so thought I'd check out the kawi 2t thread, only to find it's become a XR thread 😂

15
4/19/2026 8:58pm
CPR wrote:

Its been awhile so thought I'd check out the kawi 2t thread, only to find it's become a XR thread 😂

Is Honda bringing back the XR?

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1

The Shop

Inferno
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4/19/2026 9:57pm
CPR wrote:

Its been awhile so thought I'd check out the kawi 2t thread, only to find it's become a XR thread 😂

Is Honda bringing back the XR?

At this rate, it's easier to see a new XR than a two-stroke Kawasaki...

4
Kenny Banyan
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4/19/2026 10:04pm
CPR wrote:

Its been awhile so thought I'd check out the kawi 2t thread, only to find it's become a XR thread 😂

Is Honda bringing back the XR?

That would be cool.😎

3
dnolder15
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4/20/2026 8:14am
XC706 wrote:
It may be real but we are not going to see it for a long time. Kawi has much bigger issues right now, and that is...

It may be real but we are not going to see it for a long time. Kawi has much bigger issues right now, and that is trying to figure out the reliablity on their bikes. Stu Bailor DNFed another race last weekend. For the last couple of years he DNFs about every 3rd or 4th race with bike issues. This has been a disaster - not a good look for Kawi. I mention this because if we ever do see a new 2T it will first and foremost be an offroad 300, that is where the sales numbers will come from.

dnolder15 wrote:
Have you heard Stew Baylor ride that thing? He’s on the limiter damn near everywhere and Camp Coker was very dusty definitely didn’t help. The 300...

Have you heard Stew Baylor ride that thing? He’s on the limiter damn near everywhere and Camp Coker was very dusty definitely didn’t help. The 300 will be seen within 3 months according to Ryan Villopoto 

XC706 wrote:

LOL, Stew DNFed another race today with yet another mechanical on his Kawi. What a fucking disaster.

It was Electrical this time 

4/20/2026 8:19am

I’m not sure but was it Spud Waters or Walters… something like that.

Josh422 wrote:
76 pages about new kawi 2 strokes and it took an XR sidebar to make it worth checking in on

76 pages about new kawi 2 strokes and it took an XR sidebar to make it worth checking in on

IMG 7725 0

Who dat!?  Those ol' XR MX bikes hauled the mail but don't think they were that reliable, sorta the same problem the boys had with the XR600's in Baja with the tuned up ones.

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GrapeApe
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4/20/2026 8:29am Edited Date/Time 4/20/2026 8:29am

How's everyone doing in here, can I get you guys something while you wait? lol

I wanted an XR75 but my dad got me an XL75 which became my first "bike build" at 8 years old. I stripped of all of it's electrical and mounted a BMX number plate to the front.

 

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Kenny Banyan
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4/20/2026 8:31am
GrapeApe wrote:
How's everyone doing in here, can I get you guys something while you wait? lolI wanted an XR75 but my dad got me an XL75 which...

How's everyone doing in here, can I get you guys something while you wait? lol

I wanted an XR75 but my dad got me an XL75 which became my first "bike build" at 8 years old. I stripped of all of it's electrical and mounted a BMX number plate to the front.

 

Haahaa, I like that…. What did your dad say ?

2
Andy7
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What comes first, page 100 or the actual bike? Bets are on 😂

1
GrapeApe
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4/20/2026 8:47am Edited Date/Time 4/21/2026 3:43pm
GrapeApe wrote:
How's everyone doing in here, can I get you guys something while you wait? lolI wanted an XR75 but my dad got me an XL75 which...

How's everyone doing in here, can I get you guys something while you wait? lol

I wanted an XR75 but my dad got me an XL75 which became my first "bike build" at 8 years old. I stripped of all of it's electrical and mounted a BMX number plate to the front.

 

Haahaa, I like that…. What did your dad say ?

He was a gearhead, so, very proud. He had no interest in my football games or honors ceremonies but would drop everything to tinker on stuff in the garage with me.

Here's the XL/R, my first bike:

Scan2026-04-20 133914
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2
Kenny Banyan
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4/20/2026 8:54am
GrapeApe wrote:
How's everyone doing in here, can I get you guys something while you wait? lolI wanted an XR75 but my dad got me an XL75 which...

How's everyone doing in here, can I get you guys something while you wait? lol

I wanted an XR75 but my dad got me an XL75 which became my first "bike build" at 8 years old. I stripped of all of it's electrical and mounted a BMX number plate to the front.

 

Haahaa, I like that…. What did your dad say ?

GrapeApe wrote:
He was a gearhead, so, very proud. He had no interest in my football games or honors ceremonies but would drop everything to tinker on stuff...

He was a gearhead, so, very proud. He had no interest in my football games or honors ceremonies but would drop everything to tinker on stuff in the garage with me.

Here's the XL/R, my first bike:

Scan2026-04-20 133914

Nice…😊

1
dadofagun
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4/20/2026 10:40am

Haahaa, I like that…. What did your dad say ?

GrapeApe wrote:
He was a gearhead, so, very proud. He had no interest in my football games or honors ceremonies but would drop everything to tinker on stuff...

He was a gearhead, so, very proud. He had no interest in my football games or honors ceremonies but would drop everything to tinker on stuff in the garage with me.

Here's the XL/R, my first bike:

Scan2026-04-20 133914

Nice…😊

That sounds like my Dad to a T.  He built me my first mod pee wee (Italjet) in 79, and judging  by the way it looked when finished , you would have thought he hated me.  That bike looked dangerous, and was frightening fast for a 5 year old boy.  I'll try like hell to find a pic of it.....  If a child services worker had taken one look at that bike I probably would have been raised by someone else, but damn it was fun!  Miss you Daddy......

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1
4/20/2026 10:47am
soggy wrote:
I do think brands like CF and Kove, (less convinced by GPX)as they become more accepted may be able to provide a bike like what you...

I do think brands like CF and Kove, (less convinced by GPX)as they become more accepted may be able to provide a bike like what you are describing.  But consumers are going to be slow to adopt because of the stigma around Chinese made items. 

But if you look at some of the vehicles they are producing they are easily on par with Japanese and American made. 

The computer or phone you are posting from, made in China you didn't think twice about buying it either. 

6
kage173
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4/20/2026 2:37pm Edited Date/Time 4/20/2026 2:39pm
soggy wrote:
I do think brands like CF and Kove, (less convinced by GPX)as they become more accepted may be able to provide a bike like what you...

I do think brands like CF and Kove, (less convinced by GPX)as they become more accepted may be able to provide a bike like what you are describing.  But consumers are going to be slow to adopt because of the stigma around Chinese made items. 

But if you look at some of the vehicles they are producing they are easily on par with Japanese and American made. 

The computer or phone you are posting from, made in China you didn't think twice about buying it either. 

There is a difference between products made in China and Chinese branded products. Western brands sourcing from China generally have higher quality specs because they sell for a higher price while Chinese brands consistently target the affordable, lower quality segment of the market. The Chinese factories can crank out either one.

Thar being said, the Japanese are the perfect template for Chinese brands to follow in transitioning from low quality to high. They mastered it in the 70s

5
4/20/2026 4:07pm
soggy wrote:
I do think brands like CF and Kove, (less convinced by GPX)as they become more accepted may be able to provide a bike like what you...

I do think brands like CF and Kove, (less convinced by GPX)as they become more accepted may be able to provide a bike like what you are describing.  But consumers are going to be slow to adopt because of the stigma around Chinese made items. 

But if you look at some of the vehicles they are producing they are easily on par with Japanese and American made. 

The computer or phone you are posting from, made in China you didn't think twice about buying it either. 

kage173 wrote:
There is a difference between products made in China and Chinese branded products. Western brands sourcing from China generally have higher quality specs because they sell...

There is a difference between products made in China and Chinese branded products. Western brands sourcing from China generally have higher quality specs because they sell for a higher price while Chinese brands consistently target the affordable, lower quality segment of the market. The Chinese factories can crank out either one.

Thar being said, the Japanese are the perfect template for Chinese brands to follow in transitioning from low quality to high. They mastered it in the 70s

People buy Chinese branded items all the time on Amazon, nobody bats an eye.

If they make a quality product people will make purchases. Japanese bikes had an atrocious reliability and name problem before they became household names to everyone in the 70s. History looks to be repeating but with a different Asian country. 

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mxrose3
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4/20/2026 7:22pm

The computer or phone you are posting from, made in China you didn't think twice about buying it either. 

kage173 wrote:
There is a difference between products made in China and Chinese branded products. Western brands sourcing from China generally have higher quality specs because they sell...

There is a difference between products made in China and Chinese branded products. Western brands sourcing from China generally have higher quality specs because they sell for a higher price while Chinese brands consistently target the affordable, lower quality segment of the market. The Chinese factories can crank out either one.

Thar being said, the Japanese are the perfect template for Chinese brands to follow in transitioning from low quality to high. They mastered it in the 70s

People buy Chinese branded items all the time on Amazon, nobody bats an eye.If they make a quality product people will make purchases. Japanese bikes had...

People buy Chinese branded items all the time on Amazon, nobody bats an eye.

If they make a quality product people will make purchases. Japanese bikes had an atrocious reliability and name problem before they became household names to everyone in the 70s. History looks to be repeating but with a different Asian country. 

I agree.   China is chipping away at the Stigma that they have had in our industry...   Metal quality used to be one of the biggest problems, but it looks like they are getting better with it.    Quality control, and attention to detail still seem to be issues, but if they can get a grip on those things, they could be a major player at some point.

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soggy
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4/21/2026 6:18am
soggy wrote:
I do think brands like CF and Kove, (less convinced by GPX)as they become more accepted may be able to provide a bike like what you...

I do think brands like CF and Kove, (less convinced by GPX)as they become more accepted may be able to provide a bike like what you are describing.  But consumers are going to be slow to adopt because of the stigma around Chinese made items. 

But if you look at some of the vehicles they are producing they are easily on par with Japanese and American made. 

The computer or phone you are posting from, made in China you didn't think twice about buying it either. 

Yea, I’m not at much risk when I’m on my phone versus flying through the air on a bike where a part failure could cause serious injury. I guess my phones battery could explode..

but yes your point is taken. China is about to leave us in the dust over the next century imo. 

2
4/21/2026 7:34am
soggy wrote:
Yea, I’m not at much risk when I’m on my phone versus flying through the air on a bike where a part failure could cause serious...

Yea, I’m not at much risk when I’m on my phone versus flying through the air on a bike where a part failure could cause serious injury. I guess my phones battery could explode..

but yes your point is taken. China is about to leave us in the dust over the next century imo. 

It was a race to the bottom, for a few extra dollars at the top. By the time we as a country finally understand what happened, it will long be too late. Enjoy it while we can. 

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Gmyersdork
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4/21/2026 1:27pm
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BossWool2800
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4/21/2026 2:21pm Edited Date/Time 4/21/2026 2:22pm

Actually the smaller, simpler 4-strokes would sell better than the 2-strokes … if… they were all about 20lbs lighter.

*KLX140/230/300 

*CRF125F/150F/300F

*TTR 125/230

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6
4/21/2026 2:59pm Edited Date/Time 4/21/2026 3:00pm

Actually the smaller, simpler 4-strokes would sell better than the 2-strokes … if… they were all about 20lbs lighter.

*KLX140/230/300 

*CRF125F/150F/300F

*TTR 125/230

In what world is a 4 stroke simpler than a 2 stroke, other than the world where no one knows what a 2 stroke is

2
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NickoBrap
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4/21/2026 3:05pm

Actually the smaller, simpler 4-strokes would sell better than the 2-strokes … if… they were all about 20lbs lighter.

*KLX140/230/300 

*CRF125F/150F/300F

*TTR 125/230

In what world is a 4 stroke simpler than a 2 stroke, other than the world where no one knows what a 2 stroke is

I think he's saying that they are simpler in comparison to race bred 4-strokes.

2
Kenny Banyan
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4/21/2026 3:50pm

Actually the smaller, simpler 4-strokes would sell better than the 2-strokes … if… they were all about 20lbs lighter.

*KLX140/230/300 

*CRF125F/150F/300F

*TTR 125/230

In what world is a 4 stroke simpler than a 2 stroke, other than the world where no one knows what a 2 stroke is

NickoBrap wrote:

I think he's saying that they are simpler in comparison to race bred 4-strokes.

Yes he is and he’s correct. 💯

2
4/21/2026 4:33pm

Actually the smaller, simpler 4-strokes would sell better than the 2-strokes … if… they were all about 20lbs lighter.

*KLX140/230/300 

*CRF125F/150F/300F

*TTR 125/230

In what world is a 4 stroke simpler than a 2 stroke, other than the world where no one knows what a 2 stroke is

Maybe not simpler, but certainly simpler to maintain, less maintenance intensive and more reliable....I think a lot of folks forget back when we had "trail" 4T's like XR's, DR's and XT's....change the oil couple times a year, never worry about a top end for the life of the bike....sadly missing in todays world.  I'd take a simple motor like that in a modern frame today.

13
NickoBrap
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4/21/2026 6:38pm

Actually the smaller, simpler 4-strokes would sell better than the 2-strokes … if… they were all about 20lbs lighter.

*KLX140/230/300 

*CRF125F/150F/300F

*TTR 125/230

In what world is a 4 stroke simpler than a 2 stroke, other than the world where no one knows what a 2 stroke is

Maybe not simpler, but certainly simpler to maintain, less maintenance intensive and more reliable....I think a lot of folks forget back when we had "trail" 4T's...

Maybe not simpler, but certainly simpler to maintain, less maintenance intensive and more reliable....I think a lot of folks forget back when we had "trail" 4T's like XR's, DR's and XT's....change the oil couple times a year, never worry about a top end for the life of the bike....sadly missing in todays world.  I'd take a simple motor like that in a modern frame today.

When you say modern frame, do you mean a full race DNA frame? You can still get many of these bikes, but I wouldn't exactly call their frames modern. The simplicity is still there though. 

Gravel
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4/21/2026 6:54pm Edited Date/Time 4/21/2026 6:54pm

In what world is a 4 stroke simpler than a 2 stroke, other than the world where no one knows what a 2 stroke is

Maybe not simpler, but certainly simpler to maintain, less maintenance intensive and more reliable....I think a lot of folks forget back when we had "trail" 4T's...

Maybe not simpler, but certainly simpler to maintain, less maintenance intensive and more reliable....I think a lot of folks forget back when we had "trail" 4T's like XR's, DR's and XT's....change the oil couple times a year, never worry about a top end for the life of the bike....sadly missing in todays world.  I'd take a simple motor like that in a modern frame today.

NickoBrap wrote:
When you say modern frame, do you mean a full race DNA frame? You can still get many of these bikes, but I wouldn't exactly call...

When you say modern frame, do you mean a full race DNA frame? You can still get many of these bikes, but I wouldn't exactly call their frames modern. The simplicity is still there though. 

I’d like to see a near full race frame with a simple air cooled 4 stroke. Open chamber forks and slightly simpler shocks (double adjustments instead of triple),  250 and 400cc, basically a new XR400-250. I’m getting closer to the point where race bikes are too much, but I don’t want to quit trail riding. 

Oh yeah, maybe a 250-300 2 stroke would work for me too.. maybe one of the Japanese companies could build one? I heard a rumor about that a long time ago, but it must have been BS..

15
3strokemx
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US
4/22/2026 5:30am

Actually the smaller, simpler 4-strokes would sell better than the 2-strokes … if… they were all about 20lbs lighter.

*KLX140/230/300 

*CRF125F/150F/300F

*TTR 125/230

In what world is a 4 stroke simpler than a 2 stroke, other than the world where no one knows what a 2 stroke is

You don't have to mix the gas, that's a big math move for a lot of people.

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