2021 KX250

kNewc
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kNewc 9/28/2020 9:51am
9/28/2020 9:51am
kNewc wrote:
Got mine Friday and started breaking it in that day. I have an '05 RMZ450 and I figured this would be a lot less powerful but...
Got mine Friday and started breaking it in that day. I have an '05 RMZ450 and I figured this would be a lot less powerful but it rips! 3rd gear pulled a lot longer than I expected for a 250. It's my first EFI bike and there's a major difference. Suspension was pretty stiff for me and I weigh 210 with gear on. It felt tall and I had to be on my toes, but my sag wasn't set. I rode through our home track and a tilled field and it handled great. Can't wait to get into some deep stuff.


soggy wrote:
At your size I'd be surprised if the suspension was too stiff. I wouldn't be surprised if it's actually too soft and you are riding to...
At your size I'd be surprised if the suspension was too stiff. I wouldn't be surprised if it's actually too soft and you are riding to far down in the stroke, just a thought.
Thanks for the tip I'll check that out. I honestly didn't touch anything from the factory. I did tighten up the bolts and quite a few spokes needed tightened. But I sat on it and the seat barely went down. I'm going to set the sag tonight and completely re-adjust the suspension so I'm sure it'll be way better next time. I just wanted to get the engine broken in as earliest as I could so I can do some moto this weekend.
280driver
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280driver 9/28/2020 11:54am
9/28/2020 11:54am
All the magazines are riding the new bike today. Should get impressions over the next few days.
2
Philly215
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Philly215 9/28/2020 1:46pm
9/28/2020 1:46pm
280driver wrote:
All the magazines are riding the new bike today. Should get impressions over the next few days.
Seems like the 450 is the bike to beat this year. Wouldn’t be surprised if the 250 is up there too.
1
Lightning78
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Lightning78 9/28/2020 1:55pm
9/28/2020 1:55pm
One interesting thing I noticed about the new generation KX450/250 frame are the lower frame rails where they go around the bottom of the engine.....instead of using square or rectangular tubing which is the norm, the KX's frame rails look almost like flat stock and it looks really cool.
1

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Jesse318pnw
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Jesse318pnw 9/28/2020 3:48pm
9/28/2020 3:48pm
kNewc wrote:
Got mine Friday and started breaking it in that day. I have an '05 RMZ450 and I figured this would be a lot less powerful but...
Got mine Friday and started breaking it in that day. I have an '05 RMZ450 and I figured this would be a lot less powerful but it rips! 3rd gear pulled a lot longer than I expected for a 250. It's my first EFI bike and there's a major difference. Suspension was pretty stiff for me and I weigh 210 with gear on. It felt tall and I had to be on my toes, but my sag wasn't set. I rode through our home track and a tilled field and it handled great. Can't wait to get into some deep stuff.


soggy wrote:
At your size I'd be surprised if the suspension was too stiff. I wouldn't be surprised if it's actually too soft and you are riding to...
At your size I'd be surprised if the suspension was too stiff. I wouldn't be surprised if it's actually too soft and you are riding to far down in the stroke, just a thought.
kNewc wrote:
Thanks for the tip I'll check that out. I honestly didn't touch anything from the factory. I did tighten up the bolts and quite a few...
Thanks for the tip I'll check that out. I honestly didn't touch anything from the factory. I did tighten up the bolts and quite a few spokes needed tightened. But I sat on it and the seat barely went down. I'm going to set the sag tonight and completely re-adjust the suspension so I'm sure it'll be way better next time. I just wanted to get the engine broken in as earliest as I could so I can do some moto this weekend.
I weigh 220 on a 2018 kx250f and the stock suspension felt way too stiff to me too. I think Soggy is right on it riding too far down in the stroke. Got the suspension revalved and they went way up in spring rate and it made all the difference in the world. Suspension is amazing right now to the point where I want a '21 but don't want to give up my current suspension. In summary, it will be well worth money! But enjoy your new bike. It looks amazing.
2
2
mxryan25
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Dayton, OH US
mxryan25 9/28/2020 5:00pm
9/28/2020 5:00pm
Fwiw my sag with bone stock settings was dialed 105-106 at 180 lb. maybe there’s variance in spring preload from the factory. 2nd time I rode it adjusted the high speed 1/4 in stiffer and the rear end felt high and threw the whole bike off, after taking a little preload off the spring it was dialed.
I was finally able to get it out on a real track yesterday and it was sweet! Track was prepped deeper than usually and made for some deep ruts In the turns and down the fast straight. The biggest stand out was how stable and planted the bike felt at speed down the rutted straights, not once did the rear end feel like it wanted to step out in the slightest bit. My 350 was pretty stable compared to most other bikes I’ve had but this kawi is definitely more comfidence inspiring. Through the turns the planted feel remained and also cornered like a dream, in the less tight rutted turns it was unreal, stupid good. it was good in the tighter turns also but doesn’t have that razor sharp turn in feel like some other bikes. The track wasn’t very rough but what was there the chassis and suspension soaked everything up great, good comfort in the suspension but with a firmer feel, A little more so than stock yzf kyb suspension. However with the chassis provides a very subtle feel at both ends the whole bike was just handling great from straightaways to corners!
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Dirtysmile56 9/29/2020 10:13am
9/29/2020 10:13am
steelworker77 wrote:
Well my wife put about 2.5 hours on it so far. Probably 1/2 hr of that was me. Compared to her 19 YZ250f it feels way...
Well my wife put about 2.5 hours on it so far. Probably 1/2 hr of that was me. Compared to her 19 YZ250f it feels way ahead. Way more agile, light, and the motor revs forever without giving up bottom end and just feels like it revs much more freely if that makes sense. I bought a 51 tooth rear sprocket thinking I would need to throw it on and it pulls the stock 50 more than fine. The suspension is way to stiff for her at 155lbs. It handles identically to my 2020 kx450. We are more than happy with our choice.

One weird thing I have noticed and maybe its a kawi 250 thing I am just unaware of. If you start the bike with the choke out it starts as it should with the idle raised but if you leave it on for more than 20 seconds or so it revs to about 6500 and just holds steady there. I couldn't find anything disconnected or out of adjustment so a bit stumped on that.
LKHill wrote:
Thanks for your review. I have a hard time believing a 2020 kx450 feels way more agile that a 2019 yz250f (never rode either). Why would...
Thanks for your review. I have a hard time believing a 2020 kx450 feels way more agile that a 2019 yz250f (never rode either). Why would you not turn the choke off when the revs start to climb? It's EFI, not a carb.
steelworker77 wrote:
Very well aware how efi works. Question was that it just weird that the revs would go high like that and just hold. I am a...
Very well aware how efi works. Question was that it just weird that the revs would go high like that and just hold.

I am a yamaha fanatic and rode both the yz450f and the kx450 and the agile part is the first thing you notice. Which is why I went with the kx over the yamaha. The kx is by far slimmer and you can certainly feel the weight difference.
I've had 5 kawi 250f's and they all do this. Is it the EFI making the mixture rich while it's warming up causing it to rev? What even is choke on EFI? Does it just purge it with fuel?
Zycki11
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Zycki11 9/30/2020 11:40am
9/30/2020 11:40am
When did Kawi go away from DLC lower tubes?
Dirty Points 9/30/2020 11:50am
9/30/2020 11:50am Edited Date/Time 9/30/2020 12:00pm
Zycki11 wrote:
When did Kawi go away from DLC lower tubes?
When they went from Showa SFF to KYB in '19. The KYB forks have Kashima on the inside of the uppers. The 450 still has Showas with DLC coated lowers.
3
timobijnen84 10/1/2020 8:21am
10/1/2020 8:21am
I am going to test ride the bike this saturday and hope i will like it. I currently have a 2012 kx250f.
2
wideopen198 10/1/2020 10:39am
10/1/2020 10:39am
timobijnen84 wrote:
I am going to test ride the bike this saturday and hope i will like it. I currently have a 2012 kx250f.
Yeah I was also supposed to go test this bike at Boekel but just got an email which says the test is cancelled. unfortunately.
1
timobijnen84 10/2/2020 12:20am
10/2/2020 12:20am
wideopen198 wrote:
Yeah I was also supposed to go test this bike at Boekel but just got an email which says the test is cancelled. unfortunately.
Yes i also got the email last night. It sucks but i understand why.
nascarnate326 10/2/2020 4:30am
10/2/2020 4:30am
Any idea why the engine plugs are yellow/gold? To match the green and gold theme I assume?
1
mxryan25
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mxryan25 10/5/2020 10:06am
10/5/2020 10:06am
Can’t get over how much of a blast this thing is to ride !


15
JohnMatrix
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JohnMatrix 10/5/2020 11:27am
10/5/2020 11:27am
mxryan25 wrote:
Can’t get over how much of a blast this thing is to ride ! [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/10/05/452704/s1200_405056E1_6721_4ECD_B328_DA68CD5BBD1B.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/10/05/452706/s1200_4492B073_7E0D_48EB_97B9_79073AF693CF.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/10/05/452705/s1200_56C349E3_F808_44E4_92B2_8C9C6F826023.jpg[/img]
Can’t get over how much of a blast this thing is to ride !


I haven't owned or ridden a 250f in several years, but you have me eyeing one of these bikes now. I'm currently on a 250sx, which I'd keep, but thinking adding this KX would be a ton of fun and easier to put in more laps.
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mxryan25
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mxryan25 10/5/2020 11:45am
10/5/2020 11:45am
mxryan25 wrote:
Can’t get over how much of a blast this thing is to ride ! [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/10/05/452704/s1200_405056E1_6721_4ECD_B328_DA68CD5BBD1B.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/10/05/452706/s1200_4492B073_7E0D_48EB_97B9_79073AF693CF.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/10/05/452705/s1200_56C349E3_F808_44E4_92B2_8C9C6F826023.jpg[/img]
Can’t get over how much of a blast this thing is to ride !


JohnMatrix wrote:
I haven't owned or ridden a 250f in several years, but you have me eyeing one of these bikes now. I'm currently on a 250sx, which...
I haven't owned or ridden a 250f in several years, but you have me eyeing one of these bikes now. I'm currently on a 250sx, which I'd keep, but thinking adding this KX would be a ton of fun and easier to put in more laps.
I actually picked up a clean 2016 yz250 the other week because I felt having only a 250f wouldn’t be a great idea for how much I want to ride. I’ll use the yz to do some trail riding, sand tracks, and early in the day when the track is deep then finish out the day on the kx like I did Saturday ! So far I’m loving the 250f / 2 stroke combo, a few years back I had a ‘15 yz250 and 16’ rmz450 but I’m digging this new setup much more Tongue
3
nytsmaC
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nytsmaC 10/8/2020 2:43am
10/8/2020 2:43am
quadzrulebro wrote:
The last Kawasaki I owned with adjustable pegs (a 2013 450) moved the pegs forward when moving them down, as I recall. I thought this might...
The last Kawasaki I owned with adjustable pegs (a 2013 450) moved the pegs forward when moving them down, as I recall. I thought this might be what he was referring to.
LKHill wrote:
Apparently you never tried to move them because that's not the case.
I had a 16 250F, when you lowered the pegs they would also move forward.
MZ193
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MZ193 10/8/2020 3:13am
10/8/2020 3:13am
quadzrulebro wrote:
The last Kawasaki I owned with adjustable pegs (a 2013 450) moved the pegs forward when moving them down, as I recall. I thought this might...
The last Kawasaki I owned with adjustable pegs (a 2013 450) moved the pegs forward when moving them down, as I recall. I thought this might be what he was referring to.
LKHill wrote:
Apparently you never tried to move them because that's not the case.
nytsmaC wrote:
I had a 16 250F, when you lowered the pegs they would also move forward.
Same with a 19 kxf 250
LKHill
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LKHill 10/8/2020 6:03am
10/8/2020 6:03am Edited Date/Time 10/8/2020 6:12am
nytsmaC wrote:
I had a 16 250F, when you lowered the pegs they would also move forward.
Negative. The lower holes in the frame are forward but the mount has two sets of holes that only correspond to one of the positions each. You people don't have a clue. If I had more time today I would take pictures with measurements. Get over it.
GrapeApe
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GrapeApe 10/8/2020 6:56am
10/8/2020 6:56am
nytsmaC wrote:
I had a 16 250F, when you lowered the pegs they would also move forward.
LKHill wrote:
Negative. The lower holes in the frame are forward but the mount has two sets of holes that only correspond to one of the positions each...
Negative. The lower holes in the frame are forward but the mount has two sets of holes that only correspond to one of the positions each. You people don't have a clue. If I had more time today I would take pictures with measurements. Get over it.
Here's a 2015, explain:

Zycki11
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Zycki11 10/8/2020 7:03am
10/8/2020 7:03am
LKHill wrote:
Negative. The lower holes in the frame are forward but the mount has two sets of holes that only correspond to one of the positions each...
Negative. The lower holes in the frame are forward but the mount has two sets of holes that only correspond to one of the positions each. You people don't have a clue. If I had more time today I would take pictures with measurements. Get over it.
You need to find yourself a female Kawasaki mate. Good grief
2
LKHill
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LKHill 10/8/2020 7:22am
10/8/2020 7:22am
GrapeApe wrote:
Here's a 2015, explain: [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/09/30/154084/s1200_IMG_20160930_175804204.jpg[/img]
Here's a 2015, explain:

Thanks!

Note the pegs are in the lowered, so called "forward" position.

Note the used holes in the mount from the upper position are directly below their corresponding hole in the frame, hence no forward movement of the mount/pegs.

You are welcome.
Shezzy557
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Shezzy557 10/8/2020 5:51pm
10/8/2020 5:51pm
mxryan25 wrote:
Can’t get over how much of a blast this thing is to ride ! [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/10/05/452704/s1200_405056E1_6721_4ECD_B328_DA68CD5BBD1B.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/10/05/452706/s1200_4492B073_7E0D_48EB_97B9_79073AF693CF.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/10/05/452705/s1200_56C349E3_F808_44E4_92B2_8C9C6F826023.jpg[/img]
Can’t get over how much of a blast this thing is to ride !


JohnMatrix wrote:
I haven't owned or ridden a 250f in several years, but you have me eyeing one of these bikes now. I'm currently on a 250sx, which...
I haven't owned or ridden a 250f in several years, but you have me eyeing one of these bikes now. I'm currently on a 250sx, which I'd keep, but thinking adding this KX would be a ton of fun and easier to put in more laps.
mxryan25 wrote:
I actually picked up a clean 2016 yz250 the other week because I felt having only a 250f wouldn’t be a great idea for how much...
I actually picked up a clean 2016 yz250 the other week because I felt having only a 250f wouldn’t be a great idea for how much I want to ride. I’ll use the yz to do some trail riding, sand tracks, and early in the day when the track is deep then finish out the day on the kx like I did Saturday ! So far I’m loving the 250f / 2 stroke combo, a few years back I had a ‘15 yz250 and 16’ rmz450 but I’m digging this new setup much more Tongue
I'm thinking of doing something similar (currently own a yz250) how do you compare the power/riding experience? I've only ridden 250 2 strokes and 450s
Lloydcarter
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Lloydcarter 10/8/2020 11:57pm
10/8/2020 11:57pm
Random question -

I’ve noticed when I sit on one of these (or a new 450) at the dealer with the hydraulic clutch, they have set them all up very funky with the lever way out and weird. I’ve noticed this at multiple dealers. Does anyone have an example of fixing this once you get it home? It seems there’s not a lot of room on the bar.
mxryan25
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mxryan25 10/9/2020 4:26am
10/9/2020 4:26am
Lloydcarter wrote:
Random question - I’ve noticed when I sit on one of these (or a new 450) at the dealer with the hydraulic clutch, they have set...
Random question -

I’ve noticed when I sit on one of these (or a new 450) at the dealer with the hydraulic clutch, they have set them all up very funky with the lever way out and weird. I’ve noticed this at multiple dealers. Does anyone have an example of fixing this once you get it home? It seems there’s not a lot of room on the bar.
I mounted up arc levers as soon as I brought it home, the stock ones are pretty funky , stock they have the kill switch, clutch perch, then launch control switch, but I moved the launch control next to the kill switch so the perch could be moved further inward
2

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