2005 KX250		2005 KX250
	www.Motorsports-Network.com

MN Off-Road Test - 2005 Kawasaki KX250
(Model Details)

Kawasaki 2005 KX250
Kawasaki focuses on the 2-stroke and heavily revises the KX250 for 2005
Better known as the bike Stewart will ride
In years past it was all about testing the big boys – the 250cc 2-strokes. Much has changed with the progressive and unbelievable advancement of 4-stroke motocrosser – often overshadowing what has been the premier class of motocross for many years. Even with this, the 2-stroke remains the field leader indoors for Supercross, though not at all for outdoors.

Legions of riders, however, have switched over to 4-strokes of various colors which has diminished the number of 2-strokes at local tracks. Our riders are guilty of the same swing in taste, leaving us a bit distant to 250 2-strokes and their comparable light-switch power delivery. We last rode the KX250 at the prestigious Washugall track for the 2003 model release - and loved the bike, particularly its power delivery. So it was with great anticipation that we arrived at Southern California’s Cahuilla Creek MX Park track to jump aboard the 2005 KX250.

Our first stint aboard the KX reminded us of just how quick 250 2-strokes are. Unlike the 2003 model (which was much like the 2004 model) the KX seemed to forgo some low-end power for a massive mid-range hit which extended to the top-end. Over-rev is acceptable but nothing to write the folks about. Throttle control takes on special meaning when aboard a 2-stroke, and our expert riders were taking it surprisingly easy during his first stint aboard the KX. As we took photos, early on, our rider’s demeanor remained that of restraint which told us the KX250, at least our bike, isn’t a jump on it and gas it affair. After photos our second rider jumped on and took a few laps – with the same restrained riding style.

After a bit of discussion we agreed the front suspension was severely hampering the bike and that at nearly 4,000 feet in elevation the engine had a good size bog off-idle. So the Kawasaki tech started making adjustments, including leaning out the jetting and adjusting the front forks. Back on the track, the bog situation was improved but the forks weren’t. It was apparent to the eye, as well as the test riders, that in its current form the KX wasn’t particularly balanced from front to back and that the forks were not providing what you would call compliant action. We watched our rider accelerate up a large hill with sharp cutouts where the bars nearly shook out of his hands. And so the day went, adjustment after adjustment with only marginal improvement – though another magazine reported they liked the bike a lot.

We are very committed to what we do here at Motorsports Network, and to reporting fairly and as accurately as possible. As the day wore on we rode a second bike. We all took some laps on the second bike and found it to be possibly slightly better, but with basically the same underlying fork issues as the first bike.

All in all we never felt comfortable with the KX250. The rear shock felt excellent, though having issues with the fork limited our being able to develop as meaningful a review of the bike as we’d like. What we can tell you is that the engine pumps out brute force from the middle up, shifting is excellent as are the brakes.

Our experience with the KX250 left us feeling that the buyer of the bike is going to need to take it to a suspension shop before hitting the track. We’ve read tests to the contrary, but we have to stick by our impressions, which were unanimous between our three riders. Another nail in the coffin is that our same riders jumped on the track with Kawasaki’s KX250F afterwards and simply went to town – having a blast. This is something we were never able to do aboard the KX250. Maybe next season.
MN