Testing the 2011 Kawasaki KX250F at Budds Creek in Maryland-a traditional stop on the AMA Motocross Championship tour-the power delivery of the updated motor is flawless.
Shifting the five-speed transmission is almost effortless thanks to a light-touch clutch and a redesigned mechanism that allows smooth under-power gear changes.
Kawasaki claims a 25-percent reduction in friction with this design, which is aided by slick high-tech coatings on the legs and tubes.
Building on the new forks, Kawasaki also worked some magic on the perimeter-framed aluminum chassis in an unexpected way, swapping aluminum motor mounts for steel.
According to Kawasaki, factory racers Chad Reed and Ryan Villopoto did blind testing of the different mount materials and both preferred the steel units. The Showa rear shock is largely unchanged, and once I had the suspension dialed in, the KX250F confidently held its line in corners. Mid-corner adjustments to my line were easily accomplished, as I could move around on the bike at will.
The predictability of the power, fuel injection, and suspension also combine to make the Kawasaki KX250F an outstanding aerial machine. The Kawasaki tracks perfectly, settles well into the jump, and the 233-pound bike (claimed wet) has a perfectly neutral feel in the air. Fuel injection eliminates any bogging upon landing, and there is no hesitation when returning the throttle to a power-on position.
Off the track, the EFI system can be used in conjunction with an optional ECU Setting Tool that allows the selection of different preset data maps, or fine-tuning a custom map that alters fuel injection and ignition timing.
The tool can also be used as a data logger of a wide range of information-engine rpm, throttle opening, coolant and air temperatures, ignition timing, fuel adjustments, gear position, and system voltage.
The 2011 Kawasaki KX250F is the result of those efforts and, as riders, we are the demanding beneficiaries.
At the North American press launch which is held at Budds Creek, engineers looked absolutely elated to show off their latest hard work, the brand-new KX250F. The biggest selling point of the KX 250F was the sheer power with the 2010 model. With the 2011 model and fuel injection being a major perk, the tradition is carried on this year. While we were very enthusiastic about the new motorcycle we were still quite skeptical because a manufacturer of world-class motorcycles for the motocross track, combined with a bunch of factory trained techs is not exactly a very good representation of how the motorcycle will perform in the real world.
it was easy to love last year’s Kawasaki KX250F. Power. The 2010 KX250F engine ran so strongly nothing else mattered. The 2010 bike was so good that KX250F sales rose 18% while other brands of 250Fs saw sales drop.
The ECU is tunable with software from Kawasaki, allowing riders to adjust the powerband to their riding style and track conditions. A gear position sensor, an air pressure sensor, a water temp sensor and an air pressure sensor are used to optimize the air/fuel ratio. In the name of increased reliability the 2011 KX250F engine also has new cams, valve springs, a new piston, a new cylinder, a new crankshaft, revised gear ratios and a new gearshift mechanism. It seems weird to only have one fork spring, but the new Showa Separate Function Fork (SFF) system has adjustable preload, compression and rebound damping and weighs 1.5 pounds less than the old fork. Leaving no stone unturned, Kawasaki engineers changed the engine mounts from stiff aluminum to more flexible steel as a way to gain lighter handling and better cornering! We knew from our time at Budds Creek how well the KX250F worked on a Pro-level MX track, so we spent most of our ‘real-world’ test doing other stuff.
The KX250F is a great motocross bike, and when ridden aggressively will happily become a very effective new-school enduro racer.