2004 Kawasaki KX250 Motorcycle reviews

My dad and I have a 2004 Kawasaki kx-250. We bought it used last year along with a 2003 kx-100 for my birthday. The kx-250 is a monster! It flies! It is easy to dump it around the corner, so be careful. And it's pretty heavy to pick up off the ground too. If you want to ride on the back wheel, you don't have to pull back. Just give it the gas and WOMP! You might say it's easy for me cause I'm so light, But my dad is 5 foot 5 inches, and weighs 145 lbs and he still gets thrown off by it. If you are an adrenaline junky, you'll be happy to ride this bike. If you are unaware of the power, you'll be awaken just as soon as your hand pulls the trottle. This should not be the first bike you ride. If you don't have good neck muscles, you will snap your neck from the acceleration. that's why we nicknamed our 250 KAWABEAST! Show less

I picked up a '04 KX250 as a new leftover model in mid-2005 and didn't even start the engine until early-2006 (it replaced a '03 KX250 which I finished out the 2005 season on). I'm a woods guy, so the suspension has been softened, a flywheel weight was added and all the necessary woods equipment is on the bike (hand guards, skid plate, frame guards, etc). These bikes are not for beginners in the woods - I'm a Vet A hare scrambles and enduro rider and the KX still can be a handful in certain situations. In comparison to the KTM's I've ridden (still have one, actually), the KX handles better, stops quicker and has that classic Japanese refinement that's sometimes lacking on European bikes. It wants to be ridden aggresively - demands it, in fact. Get lazy on the KX and it will wear you down. that's why it's primarily a hare scrambles bike for me, while my KTM 300MXC is the enduro bike. The suspension can be made as perfect as you want it for the trails - the Kayaba 49mm forks and shock are a great starting point. The only minor negatives I've found are when you ride in bad mud and the rear brake pads wear to the point where the caliper piston won't push the pads any further, you end up with no rear brake (a safety thing, I would guess...doesn't let the pads wear down so far that you're grinding metal against the rotor). And speaking of brakes, the allen-head caliper pins that hold in the pads strip easily. The lower shock bearing doesn't like to be submerged in water and requires regular greasing. Otherwise, reliability is not an issue with these bikes (I've owned two). In fact, I raced my '03 KX250 for about 90 minutes with no coolant and all I had to do was replace the piston (there was quite a bit of water on the course, otherwise it probably wouldn't have lasted as long). Show less

I've ridden my new '04 KX250 about 75 hours now and love it. My last bike was a 1996 RM 250. I rode it for almost 7 years. I put over $1100.00 in the motor and aftermarket exhausts , gearing, etc. Out of the box the KX250 flies! There is really no comparison except for being a smaller guy the KX doesn't seem as "horse-like" as my buddies older ones seemed. New riding position feels good for a guy 5'8" or less. The uni-track system really works! This thing hooks up like a four stroke but has the snap of a two stroke. Front wheel is in the air as much, or as little, as you want. Stock fork springs are definitely too weak. Or I just need to add a little fork oil. Bottoms on big jumps. Still messing with it though. But again, wow, SMOOTH power delivery. I'm getting at jumps on a local back yard track that has really been too tough for most of my buddies and me in the past. Funny how a new bike can give you confidence! Seriously tough this is a pretty sweet riding bike. Sadly though, the '05s are gonna be out soon and none of this will matter. One last thing, with any new 2 stroke, after break in take the manufacturer's advise regarding taking off the cylinder and cleaning, ring replacement, repack silencer etc. Bike gets a little boggy and smokey if you try and get a couple extra rides in before cleaning it out. Show less