The 2005 KX250 is available at my local dealer right now. Has anyone bought one yet? There is not much info on them. I also want to jump off the four stroke band wagon and the KX250 is calling. I currently own a 2002 CRF450. How do you think it will compare to the '05 RM and YZ?
2005 Kx250
- Thread starter RAR
- Start date
We're going to have to see some ride reports from the mags...I know alot of people don't like the magazines but they do have access to all the bikes and get to compare them back to back...
I have a feeling that the KX 250 is going to have a very strong motor. My choices for 05' so far are the KX250 or YZ250 (if they got it right).
I have a feeling that the KX 250 is going to have a very strong motor. My choices for 05' so far are the KX250 or YZ250 (if they got it right).
I thought the collaboration only extended to the 250F and their 'play' bikes..? If the deal gives Kawasaki access to the RM250 motor then I'd say that's a major win for them!! Suzuki sure get the short end of that stick.
I think that two-stroke development is not being merged, however.
-Pace
I think that two-stroke development is not being merged, however.
-Pace
Yeah, I think you are right pace. I don't think they are putting their heads together on any more mx'er's. I'm considering moving up to a 250 next year too. The KX would be the first one I will check out. Can't wait to here some impressions of it. Someone, hurry up and buy one! :eek:
I had thought it was more than just a collaboration. As I understood the purpose of the merger was to rectify to failing companies logistics, share their engineering and move in to the future with one similar product but two names.
whyzee said:
No man. They share some models in the range ie DRZ400/KLX400 and some quads and minis like some car manufacturers do. The KX/RM250F was a collaberation, the 125/250 two strokes and 450 four strokes are not and have been developed individually. What you must understand is that at Kawasaki and Suzuki the Bike Division is a much smaller part of the company than at Honda and Yamaha. This was all done to free up R&D money so that they could each concentrate money on the bigger selling items ie roadbikes, new 450 MXers etc.
DWreck
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- Apr 14, 2002
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I'm absolutely dying for the ride reports to start rolling in on the new KX250. I've had such good luck with my 98 that I really would like to stay green but the new YZ250 looks like a good back up plan in case Kawasaki screws it up. I imagine that they went all out knowing Stewart will be on one next year.
Some of the models from the exchange are Kawasaki KDX50, KLX125, KLX125L, KLX400 (green Dr Suzukis), Suzuki RM60/65? (yellow KX - freaked me out a month ago when I saw a little dude putting around the MX track). The KX250F/RM250(whatever the 4stroke term is) is a collaboration.
They didn't want to spend money on R&D to create bikes they didn't have to fit in certain areas.
They didn't want to spend money on R&D to create bikes they didn't have to fit in certain areas.
- Jun 15, 2001
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I take care of a dealer owner, and I really think the Kawi Suzi merge is gonna fall apart. They're already arguing about location and bike priority issues, who's gonna make what, etc. They haven't expanded their 'combined' effort beyond the KXF/RMZ 250 and then chose to split the 450's. The RM250 and KX250 will never share parts, IMO. They're so unique, valuable in and of themselves (particularly the RM), and both have major revisions this year (the nod going to the KX there).
I was going to get either a KTM250SX or RM250, but reading about the horrific number of changes to the KX250, I might just get one. The motor looks very similar to a KTM125SX or the older YZ125. The cylinder is propped almost straight upright (huge angle change from last year), and the pipe looks like no other...almost a lowboy pipe.
The RM will have the best fork. The YZ's motor hasn't changed a bit, and early reports have it pushing in corners, washing out, riding rough generally, and having sloppy forks that bottom out easily. Apparently, the Al chassis changed the handling and feel of the YZ250. My thoughts are RM and KX 1,2-YZ or KTM 3,4, CR? Where's the CR?
All useless 'shootout' information, but fun nonetheless.
I was going to get either a KTM250SX or RM250, but reading about the horrific number of changes to the KX250, I might just get one. The motor looks very similar to a KTM125SX or the older YZ125. The cylinder is propped almost straight upright (huge angle change from last year), and the pipe looks like no other...almost a lowboy pipe.
The RM will have the best fork. The YZ's motor hasn't changed a bit, and early reports have it pushing in corners, washing out, riding rough generally, and having sloppy forks that bottom out easily. Apparently, the Al chassis changed the handling and feel of the YZ250. My thoughts are RM and KX 1,2-YZ or KTM 3,4, CR? Where's the CR?
All useless 'shootout' information, but fun nonetheless.
GhostRider32
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- Feb 10, 2004
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Don't count team green this year. :)
bedell99
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- May 3, 2000
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Its odd to think right now that the Suzuki and Kawasaki might just have the best 250's this year. 2 years ago you couldn't sell one and now you can't get a good deal on one(At least Suzuki). it amazing how much changes when you have a good product. C'mon Honda give us the CR of our dreams. We know you can??
Erik
Erik
GhostRider32
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- Feb 10, 2004
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GhostRider32 said:
DOH......should have read, don't count out team green this year.
L
LukeRips
I have the 2004 KX250 and I love it. I use it for GNCC so it's modified for woods racing but the motor Kawi is using for 04 and 05 has alot of the same power characteristics of the 4-stroke 450's plus the added bonus of the Nitrous like powerband.
05 kx250
So has anyone ridden the new KX yet? Read what the mags say, but I take what they say with a grain of salt. Plus, they usually only get limited time on the bikes. Best shootout ever was the one done by Cycle News showing all the riders lap times on the various bikes and tracks. That was cool. Why don't they all do that? Can't lie with a stopwatch...well...
So has anyone ridden the new KX yet? Read what the mags say, but I take what they say with a grain of salt. Plus, they usually only get limited time on the bikes. Best shootout ever was the one done by Cycle News showing all the riders lap times on the various bikes and tracks. That was cool. Why don't they all do that? Can't lie with a stopwatch...well...
I've ridden the new '05 KX250, it was the first one in our shop and was already sold before we got it. Having been racing a '03 KX250 and having spent loads of saddle time on a '02 YZ250(similiar motor to the '05 YZ) I find the suspension very nice and plush, the motor definetly has a more guts down low then even before and revs out even further. It has a nice snap to it and even has a different exhaust note to it. The hit is even a little less abrupt (something to do with timing how the powervalves open I'm sure) then my '03, but then the '03s had a small 'quiet' spot before It hits. I'd say it is very similiar to a YZ250 engine but still has a lot of the sweet KX characteristics that I like. I find the '03-'04 KX250 as a awesome woods weapon, a very durable one at that. I was planning on buying a '05, but my bike is in such good shape(and very well set-up) I don't have the heart to sell it. I will be running one more season on it (that'll make 3 seasons of 16-19 enduros a season!) before it's retired for a '06 KX250. With the way Kawasaki narrowed the distance between the foot pegs and developed the chassis even more, the twin chamber forks and the very YZish like motor it should be a really great bike off-road and on the track.
Lissa, you may want to try a needle that is thicker in the initial, straight section. That got rid of the slight hesitation in the powerband. On my 2000 KX, I switched out the stock N3WE for a N3WF. Your needle numbers are probably different, but I imagine that Kawasaki has the same options for you.
Yes, I asked for his permission before I even thought of riding it. What kind of person do you think I am? (lol) My KX has no hestitation anywhere in the power delivery, my jetting is right on. What I was referring to is the little slump in power right before the mid range hit on my '03's (we have two of them). It was a known complaint on this bike, the power dip was even spot-able by looking at a dyno read out; but personally it is such a short dip that I don't even really notice or am I concerned with it when I'm riding. Thanks for the advice, though!
Go to www.racerxill.com, the 250 shootout is out and they seems to think that the 05 is an awesome bike.