Kawasaki KX250F

Overview

Sitting below the flagship KX450F in the off-road motorcycle lineup of Kawasaki, the KX250F is serving as the only quarter litre dirt bike from the Japanese marque. The dirt bike has been known for its off-road prowess and tackling the imperfect terrains with ease. The motorcycle is not legal for urban usage, however, it is meant to provide cheap thrills with a minimal approach in visual appeal. Kawasaki retails the KX250F for RM 13,000 in only one paint shade of green.

Design

Like all the other off-road motorcycles, the overall design of the KX250F has been kept minimal, with Kawasaki neglecting many adornments and features in order to keep both the weight as well as costs in check. The overall design of the KX250F is exactly the same as the KX450F, save for a couple of changes.

The Kawasaki KX250F’s front fascia consists of a flat, white visor, which replaces the headlamp unit here, thus giving the front of the motorcycle a very minimalistic appeal. Like its other stablemates, the high mounted front fender too finds its coveted position on the KX250F.

The sleekness and minimal approach of the KX250F’s design continues towards the sides as well. The typical off-road motorcycle traits of a high mounted fuel tank, as well as slim and angular body panels, are present on the KX250F. The motorcycle comes fitted with a standard and flat single seat, which though is best fit for only one person at a time. The KX250F do miss out on the long upper side panel below the seat which is there on the KX450F.

At the rear, as expected, the KX250F does not come with a conventional tailpiece or the tail light assembly. In place of it, the KX250F has an angular, thin and long tailpiece. The under-seat offset mounted exhaust pipe comes with a plastic cover over it.

Another expected measure on the KX250F is the absence of a proper instrument console. The rider’s cockpit has been kept as bare-bones as possible, with the flat handlebar getting a circular rubber pad over its center. The pure off-road spec tyres do look purposeful and make the motorcycle look ready-to-go over any surface.

Ride & Handling

The Kawasaki KX250F sits on an aluminium perimeter frame, and has been equipped with a pair of 48 mm inverted telescopic forks at the front and Uni-Trak mono-shock at the rear. The overall suspension, in order to make the motorcycle responsive to quick actions, has been tuned on a stiffer side. The KX250Fcomese with a 270mm disc brake at the front and a 240mm disc brake at the rear, which are a straight lift-off from the KX450F.

Engine & Fuel Consumption

The Kawasaki KX250F has been blessed with a four-stoke, single cylinder, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, 249cc engine. Coupled to a six-speed gearbox, this engine is a short stroke version of the same engine which does its duty on the KX450F. However, here, the bore and stroke ratios have been played with, which is why it produces different performance outputs than the latter. The power and torque figures have been kept under wraps by Kawasaki, however, they are expected to be on par with other 250cc motors.

However, tipping the weighing scales at just 106kgs, the KX250F gets a very good advantage of incredible power-to-weight ratio. This particular trait aids in making the overall performance of the KX250F fantastic.

Braking & Safety

When it comes to the list of safety features, the Kawasaki KX250F, apart from the disc brake setup at both the ends, has been equipped with launch control. This aids in keeping the wheel spins under control while throttling hard.

Verdict

The Kawasaki KX250F is not a motorcycle meant for being the best of both the worlds of commuting and touring like many other quarter motorcycles tend to be. Instead, it has an impressive quality of being a brilliant handling machine to hone just your off-road riding skills. Blessed with sharp riding dynamics, the KX250F might be illegal to use on urban streets owing to its minimalist design devoid of functional and compulsory features. However, with sharp handling, stiffly sprung suspension and quick performance on tap, the KX250F makes up for an amazing track tool on a beginner level.