KX 112- One more reason I wish I was a kid again...

mike117
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mike117
Edited Date/Time 11/10/2021 6:18am
www.vitalmx.com/features/First-Look-2022-Kawasaki-Motocross-and-Cross-C… Looks like it would be an awesome little bike...
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Hi Side
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Hi Side 6/2/2021 3:47pm
6/2/2021 3:47pm
I hope Kawasaki sells a f-ton of these. If they did...maybe, just maybe they would have a moment of clarity and bring back their 2-stroke line. I'm certainly not holding my breath but a man can wish.
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TunaBro
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TunaBro 6/2/2021 3:54pm
6/2/2021 3:54pm
I need to look into it more but maybe that would be a good bike for my 13 year old to go to from his 85 instead of right to a 125 or 250.
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mike117
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mike117 6/2/2021 4:09pm
6/2/2021 4:09pm
TunaBro wrote:
I need to look into it more but maybe that would be a good bike for my 13 year old to go to from his 85...
I need to look into it more but maybe that would be a good bike for my 13 year old to go to from his 85 instead of right to a 125 or 250.
One thing I think would be helpful is to make these superminis just a bit taller... I think the KX100 and the CRF150rb have a 34 inch seat height. The KTM 105 (when they still made it) and the big wheel KTM 85 have a 35 inch seat height... more appropriate for the riders they're aimed at.
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hubbardmx50
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hubbardmx50 6/2/2021 4:10pm
6/2/2021 4:10pm
Hi Side wrote:
I hope Kawasaki sells a f-ton of these. If they did...maybe, just maybe they would have a moment of clarity and bring back their 2-stroke line...
I hope Kawasaki sells a f-ton of these. If they did...maybe, just maybe they would have a moment of clarity and bring back their 2-stroke line. I'm certainly not holding my breath but a man can wish.
The Japanese have to protect their image as a green company (no pun intended). They can't have a bunch of hooligans riding dirty, smoke blowing two strokes. But if they're still making little two stroke bikes, what's the difference in making full size ones (?). I still can't believe no other OEM's make a CRF150r equivalent. I loved mine.
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ns503
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ns503 6/2/2021 4:13pm
6/2/2021 4:13pm
I don't think you need to be a kid to have fun on one of those.
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Dirty Points 6/2/2021 4:13pm
6/2/2021 4:13pm Edited Date/Time 6/2/2021 4:21pm
Refresh my memory: Aside from a Honda 4-stroke, has any manufacturer built a production supermini?

TM? Anyone else?
mike117
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mike117 6/2/2021 4:20pm
6/2/2021 4:20pm
Dirty Points wrote:
Refresh my memory: Aside from a Honda 4-stroke, has any manufacturer built a production supermini?

TM? Anyone else?
Yup, KTM made a production 105 for a few years...
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b_kowalsk
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b_kowalsk 6/2/2021 4:59pm
6/2/2021 4:59pm
Really it just looks like a kx100 that they increased the displacement? Its nice to see them acknowledge that market but the platform has been been in production since 1998 with minor tweaks. 13cc displacement increase and new plastics on a 23 year old bike doesn't seem like much to be excited about....
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Dirty Points 6/2/2021 5:01pm
6/2/2021 5:01pm Edited Date/Time 6/2/2021 5:12pm
b_kowalsk wrote:
Really it just looks like a kx100 that they increased the displacement? Its nice to see them acknowledge that market but the platform has been been...
Really it just looks like a kx100 that they increased the displacement? Its nice to see them acknowledge that market but the platform has been been in production since 1998 with minor tweaks. 13cc displacement increase and new plastics on a 23 year old bike doesn't seem like much to be excited about....
They beefed up the transmission and cooling on both models to accommodate.

I am more interested to know if they ported it as a harder hitting power style than the mellow-tuned 100.
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Broseph
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Broseph 6/2/2021 5:26pm
6/2/2021 5:26pm
b_kowalsk wrote:
Really it just looks like a kx100 that they increased the displacement? Its nice to see them acknowledge that market but the platform has been been...
Really it just looks like a kx100 that they increased the displacement? Its nice to see them acknowledge that market but the platform has been been in production since 1998 with minor tweaks. 13cc displacement increase and new plastics on a 23 year old bike doesn't seem like much to be excited about....
Dirty Points wrote:
They beefed up the transmission and cooling on both models to accommodate. I am more interested to know if they ported it as a harder hitting...
They beefed up the transmission and cooling on both models to accommodate.

I am more interested to know if they ported it as a harder hitting power style than the mellow-tuned 100.
The press release seems to hint at some increased bottom end torque:

“ The porting is reshaped for additional low-rpm power. While mini two-strokes are known for high rpm power, Kawasaki is doubling down on making the powerplant more rideable. In addition to the stroke increase, the KX112 has intake and exhaust porting designed to increase power off the bottom.”

Honestly, I’m interested in it for a kid’s trail bike. Lower it as much as you reasonably can, then raise it as the kid grows. It’s lighter than the comparable 4 stroke beginner bikes. And with over 10” of suspension travel, it seems like you could have quite a bit of room to play with seat height.
Harv379
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Harv379 6/2/2021 5:34pm
6/2/2021 5:34pm
I read over it and thought the same thing, looks sweet.
FlickitFlat
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FlickitFlat 6/2/2021 8:39pm
6/2/2021 8:39pm
What is that an 89' KX 80? I had the 89 125 but grew up riding the 86' RM 80 and 87' 88' KX 80. That was a damn good bike because it was as bad ass as it looks, IMHO.
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FlickitFlat
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FlickitFlat 6/2/2021 8:41pm
6/2/2021 8:41pm
My 13 and 14 year old me thanks Kawasaki for not having the 112 when I was that age because, to this day, I still have my left nut. It would have been long gone to get ahold of that thing back then.
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sandhills
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sandhills 6/2/2021 8:53pm
6/2/2021 8:53pm Edited Date/Time 6/2/2021 8:55pm
b_kowalsk wrote:
Really it just looks like a kx100 that they increased the displacement? Its nice to see them acknowledge that market but the platform has been been...
Really it just looks like a kx100 that they increased the displacement? Its nice to see them acknowledge that market but the platform has been been in production since 1998 with minor tweaks. 13cc displacement increase and new plastics on a 23 year old bike doesn't seem like much to be excited about....
The kx100 is a bored 85, the kx112 is a bored and stroked 85, making it square again, should be a really nice motor.
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Sully
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Sully 6/2/2021 8:57pm
6/2/2021 8:57pm
FlickitFlat wrote:
What is that an 89' KX 80? I had the 89 125 but grew up riding the 86' RM 80 and 87' 88' KX 80. That...
What is that an 89' KX 80? I had the 89 125 but grew up riding the 86' RM 80 and 87' 88' KX 80. That was a damn good bike because it was as bad ass as it looks, IMHO.
I was thinking it was an '87, but if you say you had one and don't recognize the bike Tarz posted, I guess that shoots my guess down.
Dirty Points 6/2/2021 8:59pm
6/2/2021 8:59pm Edited Date/Time 6/2/2021 9:13pm
b_kowalsk wrote:
Really it just looks like a kx100 that they increased the displacement? Its nice to see them acknowledge that market but the platform has been been...
Really it just looks like a kx100 that they increased the displacement? Its nice to see them acknowledge that market but the platform has been been in production since 1998 with minor tweaks. 13cc displacement increase and new plastics on a 23 year old bike doesn't seem like much to be excited about....
Dirty Points wrote:
They beefed up the transmission and cooling on both models to accommodate. I am more interested to know if they ported it as a harder hitting...
They beefed up the transmission and cooling on both models to accommodate.

I am more interested to know if they ported it as a harder hitting power style than the mellow-tuned 100.
Broseph wrote:
The press release seems to hint at some increased bottom end torque: “ The porting is reshaped for additional low-rpm power. While mini two-strokes are known...
The press release seems to hint at some increased bottom end torque:

“ The porting is reshaped for additional low-rpm power. While mini two-strokes are known for high rpm power, Kawasaki is doubling down on making the powerplant more rideable. In addition to the stroke increase, the KX112 has intake and exhaust porting designed to increase power off the bottom.”

Honestly, I’m interested in it for a kid’s trail bike. Lower it as much as you reasonably can, then raise it as the kid grows. It’s lighter than the comparable 4 stroke beginner bikes. And with over 10” of suspension travel, it seems like you could have quite a bit of room to play with seat height.
The current 100 already makes a pretty damn good trail bike.
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VET176
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VET176 6/2/2021 11:36pm
6/2/2021 11:36pm
ns503 wrote:
I don't think you need to be a kid to have fun on one of those.
Herlings would disagree. Whistling
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tek14
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tek14 6/3/2021 12:31am
6/3/2021 12:31am
Imagine if they could build 125cc bike..
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Dirty Points 6/3/2021 9:52am
6/3/2021 9:52am
tek14 wrote:
Imagine if they could build 125cc bike..
If we're straight imagining, a new kdx or a 500 would be more interesting from a market perspective.
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Hammer 663s
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Hammer 663s 6/3/2021 11:15am
6/3/2021 11:15am
b_kowalsk wrote:
Really it just looks like a kx100 that they increased the displacement? Its nice to see them acknowledge that market but the platform has been been...
Really it just looks like a kx100 that they increased the displacement? Its nice to see them acknowledge that market but the platform has been been in production since 1998 with minor tweaks. 13cc displacement increase and new plastics on a 23 year old bike doesn't seem like much to be excited about....
sandhills wrote:
The kx100 is a bored 85, the kx112 is a bored and stroked 85, making it square again, should be a really nice motor.
I had my kid's 85 bored and stroked over the winter into a 105. Had big wheels and swingarm available so turned it into a supermini. It is very fast with a 90 lb rider on it - fast enough to get top 3 starts against 250/450s in open class beginner.

I do like the idea of a stronger trans. Wonder what they did to improve cooling - water pump and bigger rad? Could I take the new water pump and bolt it on our 18? We don't have overheating issues (common on the 109/112) with a bigger rad and engine ice. Still only one rad on the new 22 I see.

To my boy the biggest difference came from the Pro Circuit fork kit w/rebound. It is a massive improvement over the very simple stock KX fork. All the motor in the world won't help you if the suspension sucks when you really start going fast.

Hammer
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backinthesaddleagain 6/3/2021 11:40am
6/3/2021 11:40am
mike117 wrote:
www.vitalmx.com/features/First-Look-2022-Kawasaki-Motocross-and-Cross-C… Looks like it would be an awesome little bike...
Tarz483 wrote:
I Wish I was a kid with but also with parents who could afford it, when I was a kid all I got is to watch...
I Wish I was a kid with but also with parents who could afford it, when I was a kid all I got is to watch from the sidelines And the Kx80's looked sweet back then to me.

I was a Honda only guy on the 1980s but there was no arguing about the role of the KX in the mini class.
j21black
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j21black 6/3/2021 12:15pm
6/3/2021 12:15pm
I'm being told I will have one by end of September for the kid.

Anyone interested in a low hour 2021 KX100 with New Factory 2022 suspension and clutch components? :-)

I can't wait!
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Skylebones
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Skylebones 6/3/2021 12:16pm
6/3/2021 12:16pm
I'm honestly considering one for a hare scramble bike. I love my rmz250 for mx, but I'm not a big guy and find it heavy for extended trail riding.
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Rickyisms
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Rickyisms 6/3/2021 12:51pm
6/3/2021 12:51pm
Hi Side wrote:
I hope Kawasaki sells a f-ton of these. If they did...maybe, just maybe they would have a moment of clarity and bring back their 2-stroke line...
I hope Kawasaki sells a f-ton of these. If they did...maybe, just maybe they would have a moment of clarity and bring back their 2-stroke line. I'm certainly not holding my breath but a man can wish.
hubbardmx50 wrote:
The Japanese have to protect their image as a green company (no pun intended). They can't have a bunch of hooligans riding dirty, smoke blowing two...
The Japanese have to protect their image as a green company (no pun intended). They can't have a bunch of hooligans riding dirty, smoke blowing two strokes. But if they're still making little two stroke bikes, what's the difference in making full size ones (?). I still can't believe no other OEM's make a CRF150r equivalent. I loved mine.
IIRC correctly years ago Yamaha was testing a CRF150R competitor.
bigk218
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bigk218 6/3/2021 1:41pm
6/3/2021 1:41pm
Kawasaki could literally bring back the 2005 kx 2 strokes using old tooling and sell them like hot cakes. Someone’s missing the mark in that department
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JohnnyD13
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JohnnyD13 6/3/2021 1:43pm
6/3/2021 1:43pm
FlickitFlat wrote:
My 13 and 14 year old me thanks Kawasaki for not having the 112 when I was that age because, to this day, I still have...
My 13 and 14 year old me thanks Kawasaki for not having the 112 when I was that age because, to this day, I still have my left nut. It would have been long gone to get ahold of that thing back then.
If they took nuts as currancy I wouldn’t have 4 kids right now trading for a new bike
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Tracktor
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Tracktor 6/3/2021 1:53pm
6/3/2021 1:53pm
They took a crap, outdated bike and added 12cc's and now have a bigger crap outdated bike! By porting do thy mean getting rid of the piles of casting flaws that plug up the ports on the 85/100 cylinders?

This won't hold a candle to a stock KTM/Husky 85cc it's just lipstick on a pig but people will snap them up. Then sell once there kid gets faster. I'm no KTM fanboy but they flat own the 65/85 market. The 18+ 85/105 is decades ahead of any Japanese offering with no real debate.

So sad they won't really step up and redesign a 20 year old bike so there are some options in that class. The YZ85 is only slightly better but not even close to the KTM................
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Falcon
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Falcon 6/3/2021 2:16pm
6/3/2021 2:16pm
Dirty Points wrote:
Refresh my memory: Aside from a Honda 4-stroke, has any manufacturer built a production supermini?

TM? Anyone else?
If you count the KZ100, Kawasaki and Suzuki both sold it in 2004-2006. Suzuki's model was yellow and they called it an RM100, but it was a KX. Suzuki also sold the RM85L big wheel for a few years, but it was still an 85cc.

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