Upgrade to enjoy this feature!
Vital MX fantasy is free to play, but Premium users receive great benefits. Premium benefits include:
- View and download rider stats
- Pick trends
- Create a private league
- And more!
Only $10 for all 2026 SX, MX, and SMX series.
I can see them going with an all new engine but if they did reuse the last gen KX250 engine, that unit could be made into a monster. It had a pretty massive mid-range hit. I ran my '07 with a 13 oz flywheel weight to keep it under control
I’d be shocked if anything other than some bearings were the same size. It’d be pretty dissapointing if after this long a wait they rolled out and engine from 20 years ago.
Can't wait for the new two-stroke !! Will it be out this week ???
I'm with you on the changes, but..
Yamaha is still rolling with an over 20yr old engine and we all know how averse the Japanese companies can be to outright change.
The Shop
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Free shipping: VITALMX
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
I guess it depends on how long-term they see this new line of two strokes being. If they're planning for an extended run against the competitors, I'd be shocked if it were anything other than a brand new engine
Two stroke related, has anyone seen anything else on the rumored big bore KTM that was spotted a few months back?
Maybe KTM will beat Kawasaki to the market with whatever they’re working on. A nice smooth 350-370 could be a great option that could be built into a fire breathing beast for the young/strong/fast guys.
This year Kawasaki gave all three big bikes cartridge forks (still 43mm), new frames, and plastic. American markets received bikes with all green plastic, however all other markets saw blue side plates with green fenders, tanks and numberplates.
Gone was the razor-thin tank/seat juncture of the '87 lineup. The '88s felt more like a couch. If you've ridden a KX500 from '88 onward, you now know how all the 1988 KXs felt to ride! The '88 model suspension was very good, and Kawasaki gave the big bikes slightly wider footpegs as well.
Supposed see it this week. But we will see.
My dealer was told they would be able to order them in June 3 months ago. Hoping that's the case.
my post got cutoff obviously this is the brand new 1988 Kawasaki KX lineup, posted since we are now on page 88!
Wild pants..
Sounding like June 2nd is for sure the announce date then
This is like those Heaven’s Gate deadlines. And then all those people disappeared into thin air 😳
That's a pair that was made for the Australian market. 🙃
Better have a big ol’ counterbalancer to compete with the KTMs. They’re just so dang smooth.
There is no way its not counter balanced i would think.
The yz125 motor was all new in 2022
Will we see Sexton with the upside down logo along with the backwards cap?
They never stopped producing the KLX250/300 engine.
Pit Row
ML...the same dude who contradicted Cooksey saying Husky's factory team was folding? Sorce is only as good as his informer.
Posting some Kaw off road content to bring along page 90 (want to see QOS’s 1990 model debut brochure… with the all new perimeter frame).
Here’s Fred Andrew’s bike from ‘99
Dry Breaks are (nearly) always a bit scary, with regards to the Family Jewels safety.
But, not as scary as this classic 1990 Kawasaki bodge job ! :
Kawi is gonna have to release a KX750 2T if its gonna conform to the average fat fuck American market. A 500 will bog down too much and not have enough torque for the typical American Taco Bell warrior.
Lots of questions here. What does April 1st mean on the fuel tank? Who’s the guy in a suit and tie at an MX race? Where can I get one of those jackets the Kawi tech is wearing?
the last gen kx250 had an all new engine in 2005. Yamaha is still pumping out a mildly different engine from 1999... it wouldn't be that big a surprise if they used the last gen engine as a starting point at least.
I'll tell ya what ya missed!.......................................
I’d be surprised if they held on to the tooling for the last 20 years. And if they are adding e start the lower case’s would have to be different.
You very well might be correct but I dont think it’s the most likely scenario.
I would be amazed if they pushed back the release of this bike due to reliability or something like that if they were using the '05 motor and lets say a 2026 kx250(f) chassis and suspension. I think they could have released that in a year no problem.
Fingers crossed for tomorrow.
Kawasaki discovered, just a few days before the first sand GP, that their factory bike, hand built for the reigning world champion, couldn’t do 40+2 in the soft stuff. So their factory solution was to weld a nut crusher can to the top of the tank to hold a bit more fuel.
The ‘April 1’ scribble (it was indeed the weekend of April Fools Day) was to try to make light of the incredibly embarrassing situation. They didn’t even have the right green paint!
No idea about the guy in the suit. But the Kawi guy with the bike is Belgian fella Ivan, who wasn’t an official Kawasaki mechanic, but a big Thorpe fan who ended up (along with his pal Eddie) being volunteer helpers for Keith and David Thorpe. Nice gig for a couple of fans. Nice guys, too.
Photo from Valkenswaard, 1990
Best post on this thread yet! Great info, thanks for sharing.
I rode a buddy’s ‘05 KX250 at the track one time, that bike was gnarly!!
Post a reply to: Kawasaki is bringing the two stroke back!