Kawasaki is bringing the two stroke back!

7/30/2026 7:16pm
TheMilkman wrote:

Where are all the “bike doesn’t exist” and “those photos are AI generated” people are now?

Glazing deegz in other threads

16
2
dkurtd
Posts
1137
Joined
4/15/2018
Location
USA
7/30/2026 7:21pm

In for page 100, and it only took 426,000 views to get us here.

5
1
JWACK
Posts
2582
Joined
8/7/2009
Location
USA
7/31/2026 5:11am
G-man wrote:
Looks nice! Kawasaki is the only Japanese dirtbike I have never owned. Although I did have a KZ750 that was my first street bike and loved...

Looks nice! Kawasaki is the only Japanese dirtbike I have never owned. Although I did have a KZ750 that was my first street bike and loved it.

If I was twenty years younger, I'd be seriously looking at this as my next bike.

1000017274

This is AI.    
Wild.  
 

1
10
Josh422
Posts
1162
Joined
4/29/2008
Location
Joshougal, WA, USA
7/31/2026 6:00am
G-man wrote:
Looks nice! Kawasaki is the only Japanese dirtbike I have never owned. Although I did have a KZ750 that was my first street bike and loved...

Looks nice! Kawasaki is the only Japanese dirtbike I have never owned. Although I did have a KZ750 that was my first street bike and loved it.

If I was twenty years younger, I'd be seriously looking at this as my next bike.

1000017274
JWACK wrote:

This is AI.    
Wild.  
 

 MC has two different shoes on 😆

1
4

The Shop

uncledaddy69
Posts
2533
Joined
4/2/2011
Location
Huntington Beach, CA, USA
7/31/2026 6:49am
G-man wrote:
Looks nice! Kawasaki is the only Japanese dirtbike I have never owned. Although I did have a KZ750 that was my first street bike and loved...

Looks nice! Kawasaki is the only Japanese dirtbike I have never owned. Although I did have a KZ750 that was my first street bike and loved it.

If I was twenty years younger, I'd be seriously looking at this as my next bike.

1000017274
JWACK wrote:

This is AI.    
Wild.  
 

You’re right. Look at the clock on the wall. 

2
1
7/31/2026 7:14am

Wait ya'll actually believe that video is AI?

4
PRM31
Posts
3711
Joined
8/7/2009
Location
Northern, VA, USA
Fantasy
7/31/2026 7:37am Edited Date/Time 7/31/2026 7:59am

The 'Renthal' bar pad is weird.  (Though I think that's just an artifact of attempting to capture an image from a video). The video is legit.

3
BossWool2800
Posts
830
Joined
10/25/2025
Location
Jackson, TX, USA
7/31/2026 7:49am Edited Date/Time 7/31/2026 10:29am

Fact is, we just don’t know. The bike hasn’t arrived yet, so it could be AI. The rumor is late ‘26, which by the way this bike has been delayed, it could arrive 1st quarter of ‘27.

15
uncledaddy69
Posts
2533
Joined
4/2/2011
Location
Huntington Beach, CA, USA
7/31/2026 8:21am
Wait ya'll actually believe that video is AI?

Wait ya'll actually believe that video is AI?

Not necessarily the video, but that photo definitely is AI generated. 

4
5
7/31/2026 8:35am

That screen grab could've been ran through AI, but if you watch the video again he's got matching shoes and the bar pad is normal.

6
JWACK
Posts
2582
Joined
8/7/2009
Location
USA
7/31/2026 12:53pm
Wait ya'll actually believe that video is AI?

Wait ya'll actually believe that video is AI?

100% AI.  
 Zoom in on the linkage bolts the rear axle nut the front brake rotor the front fork lugs.   pretty much anywhere look at the lack of detail. It is AI.


Anybody not paying attention to these things these days needs to be careful.   

9
7/31/2026 1:29pm Edited Date/Time 7/31/2026 1:32pm
JWACK wrote:
100% AI.   Zoom in on the linkage bolts the rear axle nut the front brake rotor the front fork lugs.   pretty much anywhere look at...

100% AI.  
 Zoom in on the linkage bolts the rear axle nut the front brake rotor the front fork lugs.   pretty much anywhere look at the lack of detail. It is AI.


Anybody not paying attention to these things these days needs to be careful.   

Agree that we as citizens need to be very careful about these matters. 

That said on this video screenshot.. I'm not seeing anything really off with the bolts? 

2026-07-31 16-26 0.png?VersionId=Kjpe 8ewMKuNR0ybAjUGMwK3X

 

2026-07-31 16-32 1

What should I be seeing here that I am not? 

100% agree the overall presentation is very slick, polished and leaves one to wonder I suppose. And the odd placement of a wall clock.. I get what people are saying but.. dang. 

We are in for some truly rough times ahead if we can't truly believe everything we see even in video format. 

2
uncledaddy69
Posts
2533
Joined
4/2/2011
Location
Huntington Beach, CA, USA
7/31/2026 1:36pm
JWACK wrote:
100% AI.   Zoom in on the linkage bolts the rear axle nut the front brake rotor the front fork lugs.   pretty much anywhere look at...

100% AI.  
 Zoom in on the linkage bolts the rear axle nut the front brake rotor the front fork lugs.   pretty much anywhere look at the lack of detail. It is AI.


Anybody not paying attention to these things these days needs to be careful.   

Agree that we as citizens need to be very careful about these matters. That said on this video screenshot.. I'm not seeing anything really off with the...

Agree that we as citizens need to be very careful about these matters. 

That said on this video screenshot.. I'm not seeing anything really off with the bolts? 

2026-07-31 16-26 0.png?VersionId=Kjpe 8ewMKuNR0ybAjUGMwK3X

 

2026-07-31 16-32 1

What should I be seeing here that I am not? 

100% agree the overall presentation is very slick, polished and leaves one to wonder I suppose. And the odd placement of a wall clock.. I get what people are saying but.. dang. 

We are in for some truly rough times ahead if we can't truly believe everything we see even in video format. 

Not the placement, but the numbers on the clock are complete gibberish. 

1
4
7/31/2026 1:40pm

Not the placement, but the numbers on the clock are complete gibberish. 

It's further in the distance, even the edges of the garage door are understandably blurry a little

1
1
JWACK
Posts
2582
Joined
8/7/2009
Location
USA
7/31/2026 1:46pm
JWACK wrote:
100% AI.   Zoom in on the linkage bolts the rear axle nut the front brake rotor the front fork lugs.   pretty much anywhere look at...

100% AI.  
 Zoom in on the linkage bolts the rear axle nut the front brake rotor the front fork lugs.   pretty much anywhere look at the lack of detail. It is AI.


Anybody not paying attention to these things these days needs to be careful.   

Agree that we as citizens need to be very careful about these matters. That said on this video screenshot.. I'm not seeing anything really off with the...

Agree that we as citizens need to be very careful about these matters. 

That said on this video screenshot.. I'm not seeing anything really off with the bolts? 

2026-07-31 16-26 0.png?VersionId=Kjpe 8ewMKuNR0ybAjUGMwK3X

 

2026-07-31 16-32 1

What should I be seeing here that I am not? 

100% agree the overall presentation is very slick, polished and leaves one to wonder I suppose. And the odd placement of a wall clock.. I get what people are saying but.. dang. 

We are in for some truly rough times ahead if we can't truly believe everything we see even in video format. 

To be fair my comment is based on the snap shot that was posted by Gman earlier.  If you click on it and zoom in you will see it right away.   
  I haven’t looked at the original vid but what you just posted looks legit so I don’t know why the screenshot earlier got all AI’d.   Weird times we are in.   

4
bluesmoke
Posts
236
Joined
1/30/2023
Location
Lakeworth, TX, USA
7/31/2026 2:01pm
JWACK wrote:
100% AI.   Zoom in on the linkage bolts the rear axle nut the front brake rotor the front fork lugs.   pretty much anywhere look at...

100% AI.  
 Zoom in on the linkage bolts the rear axle nut the front brake rotor the front fork lugs.   pretty much anywhere look at the lack of detail. It is AI.


Anybody not paying attention to these things these days needs to be careful.   

Agree that we as citizens need to be very careful about these matters. That said on this video screenshot.. I'm not seeing anything really off with the...

Agree that we as citizens need to be very careful about these matters. 

That said on this video screenshot.. I'm not seeing anything really off with the bolts? 

2026-07-31 16-26 0.png?VersionId=Kjpe 8ewMKuNR0ybAjUGMwK3X

 

2026-07-31 16-32 1

What should I be seeing here that I am not? 

100% agree the overall presentation is very slick, polished and leaves one to wonder I suppose. And the odd placement of a wall clock.. I get what people are saying but.. dang. 

We are in for some truly rough times ahead if we can't truly believe everything we see even in video format. 

Rear caliper and rotor guard stock from the factory?! SOLD! I'm in. Kiddin aside, if it looks like this, its a winner.

Josh422
Posts
1162
Joined
4/29/2008
Location
Joshougal, WA, USA
7/31/2026 2:20pm

They are referring to the photo that was posted as AI I believe. You really gotta be careful these days.

Screenshot 2026-07-31 141627Screenshot 2026-07-31 141655Screenshot 2026-07-31 141744Screenshot 2026-07-31 141840
11
2
7/31/2026 2:38pm Edited Date/Time 7/31/2026 2:43pm
Josh422 wrote:
They are referring to the photo that was posted as AI I believe. You really gotta be careful these days.

They are referring to the photo that was posted as AI I believe. You really gotta be careful these days.

Screenshot 2026-07-31 141627Screenshot 2026-07-31 141655Screenshot 2026-07-31 141744Screenshot 2026-07-31 141840

WTF - thats wild.

On second look the video didn't look at all like those screenshots, the Renthal bar pad looks legit, the rear wheel looks legit....may of just been a screen shot issue.

1
BossWool2800
Posts
830
Joined
10/25/2025
Location
Jackson, TX, USA
7/31/2026 2:57pm

It may be a real video of a production prototype, but Ai enhanced. The sound and vibrations look and sound real. 

1
3
7/31/2026 3:00pm
Josh422 wrote:
They are referring to the photo that was posted as AI I believe. You really gotta be careful these days.

They are referring to the photo that was posted as AI I believe. You really gotta be careful these days.

Screenshot 2026-07-31 141627Screenshot 2026-07-31 141655Screenshot 2026-07-31 141744Screenshot 2026-07-31 141840

whoa.. wonder why they AI'd that screenshot like that. 

Scary thought is when AI gets good enough not to leave those artifacts. We are living in interesting times, as the Chinese saying goes

2
7/31/2026 3:58pm

Just watched the video again and all of the things being pointed out as AI from the photo do not look anything like that in the video. 

Can’t wait for the RV video to be released and hear all this nonsense again.

5
agn5008
Posts
2024
Joined
3/8/2021
Location
PA, PA, USA
Fantasy
7/31/2026 4:16pm

I wonder if Honda engineers will be as good at keeping a secret as the people at Kawi 😉

2
Justthefacts
Posts
270
Joined
2/20/2022
Location
Bettendorf, IA, USA
7/31/2026 6:22pm
bluesmoke wrote:
The main reason I bought a KTMto begin with. Sure the YZ smoker is a great bike. KTM were always faithful to the 2 stroke riders...

The main reason I bought a KTMto begin with. Sure the YZ smoker is a great bike. KTM were always faithful to the 2 stroke riders and prefected fuel injection for them. I will always support KTM for not giving up on 2 strokes.

Yep. I wish KTM would’ve negotiated more with DC over allowing 150cc and 300cc 2strokes to compete. They remained oddly silent and let Honda set the...

Yep. I wish KTM would’ve negotiated more with DC over allowing 150cc and 300cc 2strokes to compete. They remained oddly silent and let Honda set the rules. Water under the bridge though. 

kiwifan wrote:
All manufacturers agreed to the rules not just Honda, they all could have not agreed (except Honda) but they did. And Yamaha produced the upset first...

All manufacturers agreed to the rules not just Honda, they all could have not agreed (except Honda) but they did. And Yamaha produced the upset first with the 400. 
Did the new rules suit Hondas thing about 4 strokes? Yes they did. 

So, as a clarification.  Inside the meeting with manufacturers and ProAMA at the time. Yamaha (after having Henry on the 400 and then maybe after the 426?)  went into said meeting and said we can't consistently *beat* a 250 2 stroke with less than a 450F.  So, don't fool yourself thinking they ever wanted 2 strokes that were "comparable" to the 4 strokes.  It was always to delete the 2 stroke.  I do not know if KTM was invited to said meeting or not. 

3
1
Bearuno
Posts
5495
Joined
6/28/2014
Location
AU
7/31/2026 7:54pm Edited Date/Time 7/31/2026 7:58pm
So, as a clarification.  Inside the meeting with manufacturers and ProAMA at the time. Yamaha (after having Henry on the 400 and then maybe after the...

So, as a clarification.  Inside the meeting with manufacturers and ProAMA at the time. Yamaha (after having Henry on the 400 and then maybe after the 426?)  went into said meeting and said we can't consistently *beat* a 250 2 stroke with less than a 450F.  So, don't fool yourself thinking they ever wanted 2 strokes that were "comparable" to the 4 strokes.  It was always to delete the 2 stroke.  I do not know if KTM was invited to said meeting or not. 

4 strokes were allowed to be far bigger than 400 / 426/ 450cc for quite a few years, before the Yamaha's came out.

I'm always a bit amazed at people thinking Yamaha directed larger displacements for 4ts. But. AMA ( Pro?) certainly dropped the previous capacity advantage.

520 - 540 KTMs - Lance Smail, John Dowd and others, and Husabergs ( Guy Cooper most notably). 

And with Minicycles, Honda could have done a 125, that was allowed at the time of their 150, but they chose to 'push the envelope) on that.

I'm not sure what the 125 class allowed with 4ts - 175, perhaps? I don't think I ever saw anyone try that. Well, until the Idiots in charge allowed double the capacity in the 125 class. 

Equivalency : it's bloody well what it Should be.  I've never, ever advocated / agreed with a 150 / 300 2t   to 250 / 450 4t - that's just more BS , of a barely lower order than the current formula .

3
Justthefacts
Posts
270
Joined
2/20/2022
Location
Bettendorf, IA, USA
8/1/2026 6:05am Edited Date/Time 8/1/2026 6:15am
So, as a clarification.  Inside the meeting with manufacturers and ProAMA at the time. Yamaha (after having Henry on the 400 and then maybe after the...

So, as a clarification.  Inside the meeting with manufacturers and ProAMA at the time. Yamaha (after having Henry on the 400 and then maybe after the 426?)  went into said meeting and said we can't consistently *beat* a 250 2 stroke with less than a 450F.  So, don't fool yourself thinking they ever wanted 2 strokes that were "comparable" to the 4 strokes.  It was always to delete the 2 stroke.  I do not know if KTM was invited to said meeting or not. 

Bearuno wrote:
4 strokes were allowed to be far bigger than 400 / 426/ 450cc for quite a few years, before the Yamaha's came out.I'm always a bit...

4 strokes were allowed to be far bigger than 400 / 426/ 450cc for quite a few years, before the Yamaha's came out.

I'm always a bit amazed at people thinking Yamaha directed larger displacements for 4ts. But. AMA ( Pro?) certainly dropped the previous capacity advantage.

520 - 540 KTMs - Lance Smail, John Dowd and others, and Husabergs ( Guy Cooper most notably). 

And with Minicycles, Honda could have done a 125, that was allowed at the time of their 150, but they chose to 'push the envelope) on that.

I'm not sure what the 125 class allowed with 4ts - 175, perhaps? I don't think I ever saw anyone try that. Well, until the Idiots in charge allowed double the capacity in the 125 class. 

Equivalency : it's bloody well what it Should be.  I've never, ever advocated / agreed with a 150 / 300 2t   to 250 / 450 4t - that's just more BS , of a barely lower order than the current formula .

That's only half true.  In years before those big bikes ran, rules were 370cc for 4 strokes in the 250 2 stroke class.  They got opened up near the years you speak of, specifically for those guys.  Then they went into the meeting and came up with 450 and 250 rules.   So, only half true.  From the 70s til 90s it was 370cc.  

1
2
8/1/2026 6:13am

No way Kawasaki actually produces this motorbike. They just happened to introduce it now to take your mind off of the Chase Sexton debacle.

Snapper wrote:

Nailed it...

Kawasaki is just teeing up McGrath to replace Sexton outdoors on the 327 after secret Backdoor negotiations with the AMA while everyone is distracted by Lawrence bros v Dedham penalties. 

2
1
Justthefacts
Posts
270
Joined
2/20/2022
Location
Bettendorf, IA, USA
8/1/2026 6:18am Edited Date/Time 8/1/2026 7:19am

No way Kawasaki actually produces this motorbike. They just happened to introduce it now to take your mind off of the Chase Sexton debacle.

Snapper wrote:

Nailed it...

Kawasaki is just teeing up McGrath to replace Sexton outdoors on the 327 after secret Backdoor negotiations with the AMA while everyone is distracted by Lawrence...

Kawasaki is just teeing up McGrath to replace Sexton outdoors on the 327 after secret Backdoor negotiations with the AMA while everyone is distracted by Lawrence bros v Dedham penalties. 

We can only wish... But since they won't even allow 150cc and 300cc, don't hold your breath for 327.  Add to that, they'll just say, not all oems make a 327.  You know, like no one made a 400cc back when Doug Henry raced his first 4 strokes.  vs quite a few oems that make 300cc 2 strokes, plus if needed kawi could desize the 327 I'm sure if rules changed. They are really really inconsistent with their stories, over the years.  

  1. Epa:  no, the epa can not and can never regulate off road race only motocross bikes
  2.  They wanted to make rules equal.  Nope. No OEM ever said, hey let's make 2 completing motorcycle x2 (250/250 and 450/450) lines within our own company. Well, I'll take that back. KTM saw the writing on the wall and said hey, we can make some $. 
  3.  Not all manufacturers make a 150cc or 300cc 2 stroke.  Again, Yamaha was the only one who made the 400, and they were ok with that.  
3
1
freeh
Posts
796
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Lehi, UT, USA
8/1/2026 6:40am
So, as a clarification.  Inside the meeting with manufacturers and ProAMA at the time. Yamaha (after having Henry on the 400 and then maybe after the...

So, as a clarification.  Inside the meeting with manufacturers and ProAMA at the time. Yamaha (after having Henry on the 400 and then maybe after the 426?)  went into said meeting and said we can't consistently *beat* a 250 2 stroke with less than a 450F.  So, don't fool yourself thinking they ever wanted 2 strokes that were "comparable" to the 4 strokes.  It was always to delete the 2 stroke.  I do not know if KTM was invited to said meeting or not. 

Bearuno wrote:
4 strokes were allowed to be far bigger than 400 / 426/ 450cc for quite a few years, before the Yamaha's came out.I'm always a bit...

4 strokes were allowed to be far bigger than 400 / 426/ 450cc for quite a few years, before the Yamaha's came out.

I'm always a bit amazed at people thinking Yamaha directed larger displacements for 4ts. But. AMA ( Pro?) certainly dropped the previous capacity advantage.

520 - 540 KTMs - Lance Smail, John Dowd and others, and Husabergs ( Guy Cooper most notably). 

And with Minicycles, Honda could have done a 125, that was allowed at the time of their 150, but they chose to 'push the envelope) on that.

I'm not sure what the 125 class allowed with 4ts - 175, perhaps? I don't think I ever saw anyone try that. Well, until the Idiots in charge allowed double the capacity in the 125 class. 

Equivalency : it's bloody well what it Should be.  I've never, ever advocated / agreed with a 150 / 300 2t   to 250 / 450 4t - that's just more BS , of a barely lower order than the current formula .

That's only half true.  In years before those big bikes ran, rules were 370cc for 4 strokes in the 250 2 stroke class.  They got opened...

That's only half true.  In years before those big bikes ran, rules were 370cc for 4 strokes in the 250 2 stroke class.  They got opened up near the years you speak of, specifically for those guys.  Then they went into the meeting and came up with 450 and 250 rules.   So, only half true.  From the 70s til 90s it was 370cc.  

If I remember correctly, the max size was actually 550 for four strokes in the late 90's.  Back then, nobody really paid much attention to it though since there were no serous four stroke MX bikes

1
Justthefacts
Posts
270
Joined
2/20/2022
Location
Bettendorf, IA, USA
8/1/2026 6:43am Edited Date/Time 8/1/2026 6:45am
Bearuno wrote:
4 strokes were allowed to be far bigger than 400 / 426/ 450cc for quite a few years, before the Yamaha's came out.I'm always a bit...

4 strokes were allowed to be far bigger than 400 / 426/ 450cc for quite a few years, before the Yamaha's came out.

I'm always a bit amazed at people thinking Yamaha directed larger displacements for 4ts. But. AMA ( Pro?) certainly dropped the previous capacity advantage.

520 - 540 KTMs - Lance Smail, John Dowd and others, and Husabergs ( Guy Cooper most notably). 

And with Minicycles, Honda could have done a 125, that was allowed at the time of their 150, but they chose to 'push the envelope) on that.

I'm not sure what the 125 class allowed with 4ts - 175, perhaps? I don't think I ever saw anyone try that. Well, until the Idiots in charge allowed double the capacity in the 125 class. 

Equivalency : it's bloody well what it Should be.  I've never, ever advocated / agreed with a 150 / 300 2t   to 250 / 450 4t - that's just more BS , of a barely lower order than the current formula .

That's only half true.  In years before those big bikes ran, rules were 370cc for 4 strokes in the 250 2 stroke class.  They got opened...

That's only half true.  In years before those big bikes ran, rules were 370cc for 4 strokes in the 250 2 stroke class.  They got opened up near the years you speak of, specifically for those guys.  Then they went into the meeting and came up with 450 and 250 rules.   So, only half true.  From the 70s til 90s it was 370cc.  

freeh wrote:
If I remember correctly, the max size was actually 550 for four strokes in the late 90's.  Back then, nobody really paid much attention to it...

If I remember correctly, the max size was actually 550 for four strokes in the late 90's.  Back then, nobody really paid much attention to it though since there were no serous four stroke MX bikes

If you read my whole post, you'll see.  That only happened because KTM or those riders asked for it.  It was 370cc from the 70s til then.  It's whatever KTM made at the time, they asked for. 

1
bluesmoke
Posts
236
Joined
1/30/2023
Location
Lakeworth, TX, USA
8/1/2026 8:07am

No way Kawasaki actually produces this motorbike. They just happened to introduce it now to take your mind off of the Chase Sexton debacle.

Snapper wrote:

Nailed it...

Kawasaki is just teeing up McGrath to replace Sexton outdoors on the 327 after secret Backdoor negotiations with the AMA while everyone is distracted by Lawrence...

Kawasaki is just teeing up McGrath to replace Sexton outdoors on the 327 after secret Backdoor negotiations with the AMA while everyone is distracted by Lawrence bros v Dedham penalties. 

Wow, MC and the 327! Autograph line at the Kawi tent will be huuuuge, really huuge, the hugest ever they say. 😆

1

Post a reply to: Kawasaki is bringing the two stroke back!

The Latest