FIRST LOOK! 2024 KAWASAKI KX250, KX112, KX85 & KX65

Jan 15, 2024

The Kawasaki KX motocross and off-road motorcycle range returns stronger than ever for 2024 with its championship-winning packages.

Leading the way is the KX250 motorcycle with a powerful 249cc engine, electric start, Kayab suspension, and a coned disc-spring hydraulic clutch that has led to a championship heritage that boasts 18 AMA professional titles and 196 race wins since 2004.

Joining the KX250 is its KX250X cross-country motorcycle that has been purposely tuned for off-road competition. Developed to dominate off-road racecourses in both the woods and the desert, the cross-country KX lineup offers riders the required components for off-road competition straight from Kawasaki along with the dominant engine and chassis performance found on the KX250.

Kawasaki's mini motocross lineup consisting of the KX112, KX85, and KX65 motorcycles returns for 2024 and is ingrained with a long list of achievements that have stemmed from building champions from the start. The KX112 supermini racer bridges the gap to full-size motocross bikes and boasts a powerful 112cc displacement engine, the largest in its class. It's joined by the KX85, which shares much of the same technology found on the KX112. The KX65 returns as the most compact bike in the Kawasaki KX lineup and the starting point for aspiring champions.

The Kawasaki Team Green racing team has been the dominant force in amateur racing for nearly four decades, providing contingency and an unmatched level of trackside support to racers across the nation. Under the Team Green racing program, a trackside support system consisting of local, regional, and amateur motocross and off-road events across the country has been put in place. There, Kawasaki technicians and race transporters can be found providing critical parts and technical assistance to all riders. Kawasaki's efforts, matched with the input from aspiring young stars, have produced winning products across its lineup.

Tuned for race-experienced riders, the 2024 KX250 is powered by a 249cc liquid-cooled, four-stroke engine that is designed to achieve strong performance across the rev-range and result in quick lap times and excellent holeshot performance. The KX250 continues to utilize the finger-follower valve actuation – a valve train designed by Kawasaki's World Superbike engineers – to help achieve a high rev limit that allows for the use of more aggressive cam profiles and contributes to high rpm performance. A 14.1:1 bridged-box piston features a dry film lubricant coating on the piston skirts to reduce friction and help with the bedding-in process. Dual injectors complement the powerful engine and increase engine output at high rpm. The use of a coned disc-spring hydraulic clutch provides a consistent feeling during heavy use.

A slim aluminum perimeter frame was designed with lightweight, nimble handling, and slim ergonomics in mind. The lightweight construction is composed of forged, extruded, and cast parts for optimized rigidity. Large-diameter 48mm KYB inverted coil-spring front forks enable the use of 25mm damping pistons, delivering smooth action and firm damping. A Kashima Coat on the forks’ outer tubes helps reduce friction and prevent wear abrasion. On the rear, a KYB shock unit complements the front fork and features dual compression adjustability.

Stopping the powerful KX250 engine is a 270mm Braking brand front rotor, which delivers strong braking force and superb control. A 240mm Braking brand rear disc contributes to controllability and offers optimized stopping performance. Dunlop MX33 tires offer excellent traction and have been fitted in 80/100-21 front and 110/90-19 rear sizing.

Kawasaki continues its unmatched commitment towards providing riders with class-leading comfort thanks to its ERGO-FIT® adjustable handlebar mounting system and footpegs to fit a variety of riders and riding styles. A factory-style 1-1/8" thick aluminum Renthal® Fatbar® handlebar comes standard and features four-way adjustable mounts. The multi-position handlebars offer two mounting holes with 35mm of adjustability, and the 180-degree offset clamps boast four individual settings to suit different sized riders. The footpegs feature dual-position mounting points, with a lower position that reduces the standard setting by an additional 5mm.

Sleek bodywork with factory-style graphics help ensure that the KX250 is the sharpest-looking bike in the paddock and further reflects its highly-tuned performance. The bodywork on has been designed to facilitate rider movement with long, smooth surfaces that make it easy to slide back and forth.

The 2024 KX250X shares many winning traits with its KX250 motocross counterpart including the engine, frame, chassis and styling. In addition to the successful KX250 base, the KX250X returns with several unique cross-country features such as softer suspension settings, shorter gearing, off-road 21"/18" wheel combination, Dunlop Geomax AT81 tires, skid plate, and kickstand. The softer suspension settings and shorter gear ratio were designed to help create the optimal handling package for the race-ready off-road KX lineup.

The 2024 KX112 offers race-winning potential in a highly competitive class, boasting a strong low-end torque that riders can take advantage of to feel faster everywhere on the track.

The two-stroke, single-cylinder KX112 features a bore and stroke of 52.5 x 51.6 mm. The engine paired with the powervalve system delivers strong low-end torque that translates to holeshot performance out of the starting gate and a stronger drive when exiting corners. Intake and exhaust port timing contribute to the KX112's strong low rpm torque, while its piston profile delivers durability and contact surface for the piston ring helps the initial bedding-in performance. The carburetor settings have been fine-tuned to match the powerful engine and contribute to sharp response across the rev range. Complementing the powerful 112cc engine is a 6-speed transmission that has been designed to withstand the engine output.

A sturdy high-tensile steel perimeter frame was designed to harness the engine's power, offering advantages of strength and torsional rigidity that allows riders to push hard on the track. The chassis is matched with 36mm inverted front forks that offer excellent damping and bottoming resistance. Riders can fine-tune their settings through 20-way adjustable compression damping. On the rear, Uni-Trak rear suspension offers preload, 24-way compression and 21-way rebound damping adjustability in order to allow each rider to tailor their settings based on size and skill level.

The KX112's large 19-inch front and 16-inch rear wheels nicely bridge the gap between minibikes and full-sized race bikes, accommodating larger youth riders and helping to navigate over the bumps and ruts commonly found on motocross tracks. The wheels are fitted with Dunlop MX33 tires that offer excellent grip and control. The bodywork of the KX112 follows along the lines of its bigger KX counterparts by forming a slim ergonomics package that facilitates rider movements and contributes to strong factory looks.

Built using much of the same race-winning technology as that found on the KX112, the KX85 motorcycle defines a "big bike in a small package" and returns as strong as ever in 2024 with the goal to provide young racers the championship-winning advantage they need to sharpen their skills. The KX85 relies on its instantaneous power, nimble handling, and factory-race-inspired styling to reach the checkered flag first.

The two-stroke, single-cylinder 84cc engine is equipped with a highly advanced powervalve system that generates an easy-to-use wide-spread powerband. Just like the KX112, it features a 6-speed transmission, Dunlop MX33 tires, slim ergonomics package, aggressive KX styling and excellent cooling performance. Championship performance requires power, which is exactly why the KX85 stands above the competition.

The 2024 KX65 is the most compact motocross bike in the Kawasaki KX lineup, built to serve as the machine of choice for aspiring motocross racers driven to follow in Kawasaki's championship footsteps. The durability and reliability the KX models are known for creating a dependable platform for young racers. Featuring a six-speed transmission, race-ready engine, strong stopping power, and superb handling, the KX65 builds champions.

Its liquid-cooled, two-stroke 65cc engine and lightweight chassis deliver strong controllable power and exceptional handling that results in the ultimate recipe for winning races. The 33mm front forks and four-way adjustable rebound damping are capable of performing at the highest level in aggressive terrain, while the rear is fitted with Kawasaki's Uni-Trak single-shock system with adjustable rebound damping and fully adjustable spring preload.

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