2017 Kawasaki KX250F launch review

It’s hard to believe that Kawasaki has been making the KX range now for over 40 years. That’s right – the first KX125 was launched way back in 1974.

The 125cc two-stroke continued – in many different guises – until 2004 when Kawasaki and Suzuki joined the four-stroke invasion by dipping their toes in the water with a shared model that was identical apart from the fact that one was green and one was yellow. It turned out the four-stroke trend was not a flash in the pan and, after that initial model, Kawasaki and Suzuki went their separate ways in designing their own stand-alone machines.

The KX250F has had its share of stardom over the years, winning many championships worldwide, but the 2016 model was basically a carry-over due to the massive development program which turned its big brother from being a good 450 into a weapon.  The saying that good things come to people who wait is certainly alive and well for the 2017 KX250F, which has received close to a ground-up rebuild.

Ride Park, five minutes south of Bacchus Marsh in Victoria, would normally be the perfect place to launch any off-road motorcycle, so I was really looking forward to heading out to the track to ride the new KX-F. The problem was it had rained solid for days before the event to the point that I wondered if the launch would go ahead.

The evening before the event the track was flooded, but the Ride Park staff built a new track in the carpark so we could at least sample the new model without requiring scuba gear. It’s always exciting riding a new model, but I was particularly looking forward to this one because the stats just looked so mouth-watering.

Nowadays, 250cc four-stroke motocrossers are so good they let you explore the limit without trying to break you in two. I rode the 2016 model KX250F in hot and dusty hard-pack and I really loved the way it handled. It turned on a dime and yet kept its stability even in the slippery conditions.

I always find it amazing when manufacturers can step it up to another level – and sometimes I wonder if it’s just hype – but the 2017 model 250 does just that. I don’t ride off-road regularly so I need all the help I can get, and even in difficult sand-based conditions the KX was happy to oblige.

The first thing to strike me is how low this bike is for a motocrosser. I have short legs but the 2017 model, with a seat height of 940mm, gave me a real sense of confidence at slower speeds by allowing me to reach terra firma without overstretching and hence maintaining balance.

Ergonomically I like the bike in its standard form, although like its big brother it has adjustable handlebar mounting (35mm of horizontal adjustment available) and adjustable footpegs (up or down 5mm) to give everyone a good shot at finding a comfy setting.

The seat tank line has been ergonomically altered, with the tank lowered 20mm and the frame reduced 6mm to give a real feeling of control like no other KX machine before it. The radiator shrouds are also 20mm narrower which makes it a much slimmer machine, but it’s still wide enough near the pegs to grip and muscle the bike when need be.

The engine is impressive. In the deep sand it definitely felt like it had more torque than possible for a 250. Torque is up on last year from the middle of the rev range all the way to the limiter, and it’s this increase that helps 'normal' riders get the job done. It’s probably not as critical for a pro, but even Kawasaki's factory rider Jake Moss said he could feel the difference between his 2016 mount and the new 2017 version.

Top end power is up by 1.34hp (1kW), which is gained by a myriad of changes in the engine including lightening the crank, changing the inlet tract, altering the airbox and reducing reciprocating mass as much as possible.

The launch bikes were brand new out of the box, so it was unfair to really comment too much about the suspension – but for me it worked great. I didn’t get time to play with the clickers on the SFF type 2 fork or the shock as this launch was really a taster rather than a setup session. I know that there is a lot of scope to personalise the suspension, and normal riders will find it just fine.

The brakes are carry-overs apart from a small reduction in weight on the front caliper, and with a 270mm petal disc up front the bike stops on a dime.

Overall, the 2017 KX250F is 1.7kg lighter than the predecessor, with weight trimmed across the board. The rear tyre is even 100g lighter! The swingarm, which has shed 290 grams, is straight off the KX450F, while Kawasaki even managed to carve 250 grams of plastic off the airbox to help achieve its goal of having the lightest 250cc four-stroke in class.

The finish is also top class with a special mention going to the in-mould graphics embedded into the radiator shrouds. No more tatty graphics getting blown off with the hot wash!

There were no big jumps on our track to speak of, but if it’s anything like the 2016 model it will be good. It handled the deep, sandy track well and held its line over the whoop section without effort. Change of direction was also effortless, but due to the weather we didn’t get as much time as we needed to stretch the KX-F's legs. Under the circumstances it came up trumps, but I definitely want another crack in drier conditions.

Kawasaki says that the 2017 KX250F is 1.6 seconds faster per lap than the 2016 model with its test rider doing back-to-back stints. I’m not going to argue with that as I’m sure it’s true. What I can say is that this KX is easy to ride in difficult conditions and, with the multitude of changes, it's certainly got to be worth a good, hard look. If Moss can win on the 2016 model it goes without saying the 2017 bike will make winning easier again.

The bike is priced at $10,499 and goes on sale in mid-July 2016.

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame: Twin-spar alloy
Front suspension: Showa  48mm Separate Function Fork  (SFF) Type 2
Rear suspension: Showa monoshock fully adjustable for high-speed/low-speed compression and rebound damping
Front bakes: Dual-piston 270mm disc
Rear brake: 240mm petal disc with single-piston floating caliper
Tyres: 80/100-21 front, 100/90-19 rear

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Claimed wet weight: 104.5kg
Wheelbase: 1475mm
Ground clearance: 320mm
Seat height: 940mm
Fuel capacity: 6.4 litres

OTHER STUFF
Price: $10,499
Bike supplied by: Kawasaki Australia, kawasaki.com.au