The 2023 Kawasaki KX250X And KX250 Are Ready For Off-Road Action. A slew of updates to these lean, green, racing machines makes them sharper than ever before. Expansive changes improve performance on track and trail.
Both bikes benefit from a reworked 249cc single featuring numerous changes aimed at improving performance across the rev range.
Intake valve pitch is narrower and valve seat clearance is increased; intake valve size was reduced by a millimeter to accommodate the changes, and a new piston crown was designed to function seamlessly with the new valve size and pitch revisions.
There’s a new intake tract that is straighter than last year. Kawasaki engineers moved the upstream injector to the underside of the intake, claiming it will “further contribute to increased cylinder-filling efficiency, which adds to peak performance.”
Kawasaki reworked the intake valves. The new intake valves are now 31mm, down one millimeter from last year, and they have more clearance. Kawasaki tells us that this increases reliability, and the change has the same performance results as the intake update.
With two new valves come a new crown for the piston.
The 2023 Kawasaki KX250X has a header pipe that is 100mm longer than last year. According to Kawasaki, this will boost torque off the bottom and into the midrange.
Kawasaki added inertia to the magneto rotor to smooth out the power delivery.
The timing is advanced for the 2023 Kawasaki KX250X motor to enhance the mechanical changes.
There’s a new clutch pushrod to lighten the clutch pull. The hydraulic clutch and cone-style spring return.
The connecting rod’s big-end bearing has a taller crush height. This is a change to enhance motor durability.
The bottom two gear ratios have been changed for 2023. The first gear is higher, and second gear is revised to enhance the advancement from first to third gear. Note to Kawasaki: A wide-ratio six-speed transmission is still on our wishlist.
New footpegs adjust the ergonomics. The new pegs are 0.2-inches wider and moved back a hair over 0.1 inches.
These changes will run you another $100. The list price of the 2023 Kawasaki KX250X is $8599, and the GNCC- and WORCS-ready racer should be available at your dealer now.
PHOTOS
FULL SPECIFICATIONS
2023 Kawasaki KX250X Specs
ENGINE
Type: Single-cylinder four-stroke
Displacement: 249cc
Bore x stroke: 78.0 x 52.2mm
Compression ratio: 14.1:1
Starting: Electric
Fueling: EFI w/ 44mm Keihin throttle body w/ dual injectors
Transmission: 5-speed
Clutch: Hydraulically actuated w/ coned-disc spring
Final drive: Chain
CHASSIS
Frame: Aluminum perimeter
Handlebar: Renthal Fatbar
Front suspension; travel: Compression- and rebound-damping adjustable KYB 48mm inverted fork; 12.4 inches
Rear suspension; travel: Linkage-assisted fully adjustable KYB piggyback reservoir shock; 12.4 inches
Tires: Dunlop Geomax AT81
Front tire: 80/100 x 21
Rear tire: 110/100 x 18
Front brake: Semi-floating 270mm Braking petal disc w/ 2-piston Nissin caliper
Rear brake: Single 240mm petal disc w/ single-piston Nissin caliper
DIMENSIONS and CAPACITIES
Wheelbase: 58.3 inches
Rake: 27.8 degrees
Trail: 4.8 inches
Seat height: 37.2 inches
Ground clearance: 13.0 inches
Fuel Capacity: 1.6 gallons
Wet weight: 240 pounds
Color: Lime Green
2023 Kawasaki KX250X Price: $8599 MSRP
