Posts
7689
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Edwardsville, IL
US
Edited Date/Time
4/25/2026 6:52am
Has anyone else noticed the Kawi seems to sound very different from the other OEMS at the factory level? It is just an odd sound, almost like it lacks some compression and the timing is advanced. It’s been this way a few years and Febvre bike doesn’t sound like that
I have not a clue. Any thoughts on this? With all of the talk recently about the engine being “weak” it perked my ears up
To me the production bike when riding it sounds like it has a handful of marbles in the engine. They are obnoxious and vibrate more than any other jap bike by far.
You mean the 24-26 bike specifically or Kawis in general? My 23 sounds normal. The current generation bike was choked down for sound. I've ridden a few and they sound normal to me.
Have you listened to the Triumphs?
Yeah they sound like they’re about to blow
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They sound like they have a turbo whistlin lol
Triumph road bikes have very strong whining noise, must be an intensional sound signature.
I agree. Reminds me of my 04,05, and 06 kawi 250f. This makes me think they are young in their engine engineering area by 20 years.
So dumb.
Their gp bikes wouldn’t agree with that statement, those things are rocket ships
Well, those would be Suzuki engines, Chief.
A dad and his son approached me at Perris recently and asked me to listen to the son’s KX 250, they thought maybe there was something wrong but it’s the same noise that all modern kawis make. I think the sound everyone is talking about is something with the valves.
Finger follower valves (whatever that means).
Kawi’s have always had noisy clutches to
Cam operates a lever to open and close valves. Allows more options as far as valve opening and duration compared to bucket/ cam style
COMEDIAN THEO VONN POSTED A VIDEO ABOUT ATTENDING HIS FIRST SUPERCROSS AT NISSAN STADIUM AND MENTIONS THE ONE BIKE THAT SOUNDED GAY. NOW IT MAKES SENSE. HE STARTS TALKING ABOUT SX AROUND 5 MINUTES IN.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CihTN2GQymc&t=748s
Nope, they were Kawasaki manufactured.
Suzuki done their own engine for 07, whilst Kawi kept with their 04 model engine until they changed it for 09.
That's not how I remember it. Suzuki engine, Kawi frame until Kawi changed to an aluminum frame and stuck Suzuki on the old frame. The product sharing went to pot pretty quick after that. I always wondered if Kawasaki got behind on 4 stroke engine development because of that. The reason James didn't have a fart wagon to race his first year in the Bigs?
Pit Row
Yup, Suzuki engine, Kawi chassis. That's why that first bastardized 250F had the steel perimeter frame.
Can say that Kawasaki "manufactured" the bikes, but that engine was 100% Suzuki design and engineering.
I thought that was just me. I've been meaning to ask that. Also have a bit of a clutch pulse at the levers
Ok @Wandell , others have mentioned it but never seen you reply to why you do this.
Nobody enjoys seeing you yell all the time. Why do you do this all the time? Do you not know how to turn the cap lock off?
Whoever was responsible, those things were buckets!
Ok @Wandell , others have mentioned it but never seen you reply to why you do this.
Nobody enjoys seeing you yell all the time. Why do you do this all the time? Do you not know how to turn the cap lock off?
Sorry, I had a rare giant anneurysn which caused a major stroke and I still have not regained full dexterity in my left hand so its just a lot faster for me to type with one hand using caps.Ii;m very sorry that my rehab has not progresssed fast enough to suit you or maybe you are just that easily triggered. I sincerely hope that you never suffer a major medical issue. Honestly, I dont even know why I even bother coming on this site anymorebecause I do not need the negativity that thrives here.
Kawi made major changes to the whole bike in 06 so you’re wrong. 04/05 were the only kawazukis. Well technically the 06 Suzuki was just like the 04/05’s. The 06 Kawi was all Kawi and the 07 Suzuki was all them.
04-05 was. The 06’s were different. But none of those were good bikes regardless!
Hey, man. This is off topic, but please focus on your recovery and therapy. My father just went through something similar last month. Keep posting, even if you piss off some folks. Use those fingers, get used to the non-dominate side of your body doing work. Im sending all the good vibes in your direction.
Speak in caps lock all you want. You never know what the future may hold.
You rock bro, that is a killer thing to come back from and you’re doing great.
Wandell, thank you for taking the time to say all that. We just didn’t realize that you had that going on. Our hearts are with you and we all truly want the best for you and your family. 🙏
Sorry Wandell, I had not heard you were dealing with this before...so, yep, I was clueless. Please try to not give my comment a second thought and concentrate on yourself and your recovery.
I had a tripler once upon a time. Absolutely loved the sound of that bike.
Have a current gen kx450 with some add ons. Sounds normal to me I suppose.
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