Kawasaki is bringing the two stroke back!

6/4/2026 1:24pm
MoogenKen wrote:
I’m not claiming to be Smokey Yunick nor Mitch Payton, but I’ll just leave this here:Under-square engines (which have a smaller bore than stroke) naturally...

I’m not claiming to be Smokey Yunick nor Mitch Payton, but I’ll just leave this here:

Under-square engines (which have a smaller bore than stroke) naturally produce more torque at lower RPMs, while over-square engines (larger bore than stroke) are designed to rev higher and make more horsepower. [1, 2]
Here is a breakdown of why this happens and what it means for performance:
 
Under-Square Engines (Long-Stroke)
  • Design: The cylinder is narrower, but the piston travels a longer distance.
  • Why it makes torque: The longer stroke creates a larger leverage arm on the crankshaft (like using a longer wrench), which generates high twisting force (torque) at lower engine speeds. [1, 2, 3]
  • Characteristics: Excellent for pulling, towing, or daily driving where you need immediate power off the line. Because the piston has to travel further, these engines have higher piston speeds and cannot safely rev as high. [1, 2]
 
Over-Square Engines (Short-Stroke)
  • Design: The cylinder bore is wider, and the piston does not have to travel as far up and down. [1, 2]
  • Why it makes horsepower: Because the stroke is short, the piston doesn't travel as far per rotation, resulting in lower piston speeds. This allows the engine to safely reach much higher RPMs. Since horsepower is a function of torque multiplied by RPM, the ability to spin much faster allows these engines to produce higher peak horsepower. [1, 2, 3]
  • Characteristics: Ideal for sports cars and motorcycles. They generally feature larger valves (which improves airflow at high speeds) but tend to have less low-end grunt compared to under-square engines. [1, 2]
chuckie108 wrote:
Sorry if I'm coming across as a know it all asshole- not my intent. Was just trying to share some knowledge. What you shared is all true-...

Sorry if I'm coming across as a know it all asshole- not my intent. Was just trying to share some knowledge. 

What you shared is all true- but that is mainly focused on 4 cycle engines. When you look at data about "engines", the default "engine" everyone assumes is the dominate 4 cycle format of course. Not our niche but common racing 2 strokes. 

The most important parameter to performance of any engine is volumetric efficiency. So while bore and stroke certainly have massive effects on power character and power band, they will still always be second to VE in terms of power output. 4 strokes intake ports are on the top of the cylinder, therefore oversquare engines allow more port area per cc to create more power. Conversely, 2 stroke intake ports are in the side of the cylinder, therefore slightly undersquare engines allow for more port area per cc to make power. This why a YZ250F and a YZ250, even though they are the same displacement and application, have wildly different B@S's. (66.4x72) vs (77x53.6) 

The point of all this, the new KX327 being undersquare is not an indication of it being designed to be "torquey", as pretty much all current hi-performance 2 strokes are undersquare. Port area and timing will more effect the style of power. I'm hoping it ends up somewhere around 79x72.6, which will indicate Kawi designed it with peak overall output in mind. No one has brought a purpose-built mid-size 2 stroke to market to compete head to head with 4 strokes, so this should be a really interesting proof of concept when it hits the track. 

One of the issues the 2T's are going to have regardless of how much power they make (and being undersquare only exacerbates the issue) is useable...

One of the issues the 2T's are going to have regardless of how much power they make (and being undersquare only exacerbates the issue) is useable RPM.  For equivalent HP, 2T has 3-4k less RPM which means it's generally going to produce more torque but useable RPM is a huge benefit to a 4T...you can get higher RPM out of a 2T but you start getting into shorter stroke engines that don't have the low end power needed.  I think for a 2T to really be competitive you need to have a substantial tech leap to make that happen.  All the cool stuff in the past, variable dimension exhaust pipes, rotary valves, water injection, etc. etc....I just don't see it with this 327, but WTF do I know (not much).

Thinking back to a 1981 RM125 I had as a kiddo.. that thing would rev for miles and had a narrow and potent powerband. That engine had a 54x54 configuration. 

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JWACK
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6/4/2026 8:10pm

Rear brake foot pedal has some trickle down works trickery built into it.  Sweet!

IMG 4589
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Gmyersdork
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6/4/2026 8:30pm
TeamGreen wrote:

Anyone take the time to realize -why- it took so long for this bike to “go public”…? 

??

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TeamGreen
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6/4/2026 10:25pm
TeamGreen wrote:

Anyone take the time to realize -why- it took so long for this bike to “go public”…? 

Gmyersdork wrote:

??

Kawasaki announces that they’re developing a new 2 stroke.

“Developing…”

And, as it turns out, it’s part of a new chassis/new generation of the KX line. The 2027 KX line…new chassis and all that.

So…after all the crazy internet insanity and bitching & moaning…it’s here. It’s a 2027.

Why did it “take so long/too long” as complained about so vigorously for 90 some odd pages…?

Because…it’s a ‘27. 🤣

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Andy7
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6/5/2026 3:24am
TeamGreen wrote:
Kawasaki announces that they’re developing a new 2 stroke.“Developing…”And, as it turns out, it’s part of a new chassis/new generation of the KX line. The 2027...

Kawasaki announces that they’re developing a new 2 stroke.

“Developing…”

And, as it turns out, it’s part of a new chassis/new generation of the KX line. The 2027 KX line…new chassis and all that.

So…after all the crazy internet insanity and bitching & moaning…it’s here. It’s a 2027.

Why did it “take so long/too long” as complained about so vigorously for 90 some odd pages…?

Because…it’s a ‘27. 🤣

Awesome. How many other brands went out around Anaheim 2 in 2025 announcing 2027 models? Most people complain because, if they were in search of a new bike, after that day they didn't even got an update until this week, so I wouldn't really call it bitching.

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AMetts
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6/5/2026 4:50am
JWACK wrote:
Rear brake foot pedal has some trickle down works trickery built into it.  Sweet!

Rear brake foot pedal has some trickle down works trickery built into it.  Sweet!

IMG 4589

They probably noticed it on the KTMs they bought for R&D, they've had this on their brake pedals for 20 years.

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6/5/2026 5:34am

I recall 327 being mention a few times since the OG release of the teaser video. Those rubes who slipped that info in should get recognition. 

PRM31
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6/5/2026 6:07am
JWACK wrote:
Rear brake foot pedal has some trickle down works trickery built into it.  Sweet!

Rear brake foot pedal has some trickle down works trickery built into it.  Sweet!

IMG 4589
AMetts wrote:

They probably noticed it on the KTMs they bought for R&D, they've had this on their brake pedals for 20 years.

It seems like they benchmarked the 300 SX. That’s not a bad thing. MX and offroad versions, a little bigger number of cc’s (perception matters), and they realized the biggest perceived weakness of KTMs is forks, and Kawi went with the perceived best forks of KYB. Now we just need to know how well it all works. 

soggy
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6/5/2026 6:14am Edited Date/Time 6/5/2026 6:14am
TeamGreen wrote:

Anyone take the time to realize -why- it took so long for this bike to “go public”…? 

Gmyersdork wrote:

??

TeamGreen wrote:
Kawasaki announces that they’re developing a new 2 stroke.“Developing…”And, as it turns out, it’s part of a new chassis/new generation of the KX line. The 2027...

Kawasaki announces that they’re developing a new 2 stroke.

“Developing…”

And, as it turns out, it’s part of a new chassis/new generation of the KX line. The 2027 KX line…new chassis and all that.

So…after all the crazy internet insanity and bitching & moaning…it’s here. It’s a 2027.

Why did it “take so long/too long” as complained about so vigorously for 90 some odd pages…?

Because…it’s a ‘27. 🤣

It’s no secret they wanted the bike out last fall but ran into issues during testing that delayed it a model year. 

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JWACK
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6/5/2026 6:40am
AMetts wrote:

They probably noticed it on the KTMs they bought for R&D, they've had this on their brake pedals for 20 years.

You are not wrong.  But it’s just cooler on a Japanese bike than a Austrian machine.   

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6/5/2026 6:46am
JWACK wrote:

You are not wrong.  But it’s just cooler on a Japanese bike than a Austrian machine.   

“Austrian” could be stretch for the latest models.

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soggy
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6/5/2026 6:47am
JWACK wrote:

You are not wrong.  But it’s just cooler on a Japanese bike than a Austrian machine.   

TheMilkman wrote:

“Austrian” could be stretch for the latest models.

They still build all the moto bikes in Austria. 

JWACK
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6/5/2026 7:09am
JWACK wrote:

You are not wrong.  But it’s just cooler on a Japanese bike than a Austrian machine.   

TheMilkman wrote:

“Austrian” could be stretch for the latest models.

Touché

PRM31
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6/5/2026 7:14am

I was skeptical about an Austrian bike. Now that I have owned for a year and a half I find them to be incredibly well built. My perception now is that a Kawi would be a step down in durability and quality. But that is just perception and time could prove otherwise.

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3strokemx
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6/5/2026 7:14am
JWACK wrote:

You are not wrong.  But it’s just cooler on a Japanese bike than a Austrian machine.   

TheMilkman wrote:

“Austrian” could be stretch for the latest models.

soggy wrote:

They still build all the moto bikes in Austria. 

*Assembled in Austria with parts and sub assemblies manufactured in....................

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6/5/2026 7:44am Edited Date/Time 6/5/2026 9:20am
I bet kawasaki is glad they dropped the “F” off of the 4 stroke name. Now what are they gonna call the new 2 strokes? A kx250...

I bet kawasaki is glad they dropped the “F” off of the 4 stroke name. 

Now what are they gonna call the new 2 strokes? A kx250 2, too? 

Annnd the F is back. One can forgive, but don’t forget that these turncoats tried turning their back on premix once already. 

Edit: surely dropping the F was originally a sign of “we don’t need the distinction- 2 strokes are gone” 

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moto9
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6/5/2026 12:57pm

Yes it's been reveled, I don't think Kawasaki will produce enough bikes, so will getting one be an issue.

I suspect they'll sell out quicker than dealers can get them.

And, will dealers play the mark-up price game?  You know...." We're only getting 2 this year so if you want one it's an extra $1500 or 2k"

 

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JWACK
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6/5/2026 2:16pm

Just placed my deposit! 

I was told delivery could be as soon as the end of August.  

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6/5/2026 2:22pm
AMetts wrote:

They probably noticed it on the KTMs they bought for R&D, they've had this on their brake pedals for 20 years.

JWACK wrote:

You are not wrong.  But it’s just cooler on a Japanese bike than a Austrian machine.   

R&S?

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JWACK
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6/5/2026 2:26pm
AMetts wrote:

They probably noticed it on the KTMs they bought for R&D, they've had this on their brake pedals for 20 years.

JWACK wrote:

You are not wrong.  But it’s just cooler on a Japanese bike than a Austrian machine.   

MoogenKen wrote:

R&S?

Yes.  
They treat me pretty good over there.  

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6/5/2026 2:29pm
JWACK wrote:

Yes.  
They treat me pretty good over there.  

Rick and Suzy Alcon. 

JWACK
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6/5/2026 2:41pm
JWACK wrote:

Yes.  
They treat me pretty good over there.  

MoogenKen wrote:

Rick and Suzy Alcon. 

I got to know them when I was 14. I worked at M&M Honda when they bought it and changed it over to R@S Honda.   Always treated me fair.  Even had me deliver new quads up to Val Kilmers ranch a couple times.  

Then later Suzy’s mom was my neighbor for a good while so I got to know them pretty well on a more personal level.   Good folks.  

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6/5/2026 2:44pm
JWACK wrote:

Yes.  
They treat me pretty good over there.  

MoogenKen wrote:

Rick and Suzy Alcon. 

JWACK wrote:
I got to know them when I was 14. I worked at M&M Honda when they bought it and changed it over to R@S Honda.  ...

I got to know them when I was 14. I worked at M&M Honda when they bought it and changed it over to R@S Honda.   Always treated me fair.  Even had me deliver new quads up to Val Kilmers ranch a couple times.  

Then later Suzy’s mom was my neighbor for a good while so I got to know them pretty well on a more personal level.   Good folks.  

Here’s some more trivia for you. Before it was Thunderbird, before it was Chick’s, it was ALCON Harley Davidson.

G-man
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6/5/2026 3:34pm
Thinking back to a 1981 RM125 I had as a kiddo.. that thing would rev for miles and had a narrow and potent powerband. That engine...

Thinking back to a 1981 RM125 I had as a kiddo.. that thing would rev for miles and had a narrow and potent powerband. That engine had a 54x54 configuration. 

Yep, the 81RM125 was a hall of fame bike. I had 2 at one time. The last one unfortunately got caught up in a garage fire. 

I had planned to keep that bike forever, as it was called it the "Hook bike" as it hooked many of my friends back into riding.

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6/5/2026 3:59pm
Thinking back to a 1981 RM125 I had as a kiddo.. that thing would rev for miles and had a narrow and potent powerband. That engine...

Thinking back to a 1981 RM125 I had as a kiddo.. that thing would rev for miles and had a narrow and potent powerband. That engine had a 54x54 configuration. 

G-man wrote:
Yep, the 81RM125 was a hall of fame bike. I had 2 at one time. The last one unfortunately got caught up in a garage fire. I...

Yep, the 81RM125 was a hall of fame bike. I had 2 at one time. The last one unfortunately got caught up in a garage fire. 

I had planned to keep that bike forever, as it was called it the "Hook bike" as it hooked many of my friends back into riding.

The 81 RM125 was a rocket ship, waaay too much power for that chassis! 

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1
6/5/2026 6:11pm
Thinking back to a 1981 RM125 I had as a kiddo.. that thing would rev for miles and had a narrow and potent powerband. That engine...

Thinking back to a 1981 RM125 I had as a kiddo.. that thing would rev for miles and had a narrow and potent powerband. That engine had a 54x54 configuration. 

G-man wrote:
Yep, the 81RM125 was a hall of fame bike. I had 2 at one time. The last one unfortunately got caught up in a garage fire. I...

Yep, the 81RM125 was a hall of fame bike. I had 2 at one time. The last one unfortunately got caught up in a garage fire. 

I had planned to keep that bike forever, as it was called it the "Hook bike" as it hooked many of my friends back into riding.

MoogenKen wrote:

The 81 RM125 was a rocket ship, waaay too much power for that chassis! 

The full floater rear suspension was ahead of its time. The forks left a lot to be desired

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72bu
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6/5/2026 6:20pm
Thinking back to a 1981 RM125 I had as a kiddo.. that thing would rev for miles and had a narrow and potent powerband. That engine...

Thinking back to a 1981 RM125 I had as a kiddo.. that thing would rev for miles and had a narrow and potent powerband. That engine had a 54x54 configuration. 

G-man wrote:
Yep, the 81RM125 was a hall of fame bike. I had 2 at one time. The last one unfortunately got caught up in a garage fire. I...

Yep, the 81RM125 was a hall of fame bike. I had 2 at one time. The last one unfortunately got caught up in a garage fire. 

I had planned to keep that bike forever, as it was called it the "Hook bike" as it hooked many of my friends back into riding.


I owned one for a short time. The guy I bought it from did every modification that one of of the dirtbike magazines did to their test bike. It was wicked fast and handled great . I could wheelie that bike. without even trying. One of the most fun bikes I owned. I miss mine.

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PRM31
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6/5/2026 6:27pm Edited Date/Time 6/5/2026 6:29pm

The ‘81 RM-125 is my vote for best bike, for its day, of all time. Certainly in the running. BY FAR my favorite! 

 Edit: really want to ride a good 2T again for comparison. I like my 350 SXF, but this 327 really has me thinking…

ohh_454
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ohh_454 wrote:
IMG 5328 2.jpeg?VersionId=1p
I keep coming back to this it looks so good. Maybe I'd like silver uppers or maybe even blue anodized like the 92s.  But if Kaw...

I keep coming back to this it looks so good. Maybe I'd like silver uppers or maybe even blue anodized like the 92s.  But if Kaw offered this exact colorway I'd sell my only born child to get one

😁😁😁


IMG 5357 2.jpeg?VersionId=aeT QTCXBt1cyZlK

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JWACK
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Another detail I haven’t seen mentioned.  Excel rims coupled with machined hubs.   IMG 4601 5.jpeg?VersionId=.A7OR2E7isWWGtMyRar5QUx2BSBIaB

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