Review: 2008 Kawasaki KX250-F

Reprinted with permission from ACP Media. (Motorcycle Trader)

Though traditionally smallest of the big four, the green brand has recently been anything but shy, offering tasty packages and appearing dominant in race results.

Kawasaki rocked out the top-to-toe KX-F rebuild in 2006, almost suspiciously quick after the breakdown of the Suzuki alliance. Version 1.0 if you like.

For 2007 it refined it into v2.0. This year Kawasaki has issued v2.1 with some minor reliability and performance tweaks only. If it wasn’t for the graphics, you’d be hard pressed to tell it from the old one.

The KX-F was the horsepower king of 07 and, short of the other brands suddenly turning out dragsters, there wasn’t much to be done. Road bike technology helps, donating hand-polished ports and dry-sump thinking to help liberate the ponies.

The 08 motor has received a new head gasket, and the gearbox a gruntier kick-start ratchet and less chamfer on the gears to help ease the changes. The cases are stiffened around the crank and the engine mount spacers have been extended to allow the frame to flex a bit more.

The fork unfortunately misses out on the DLC coating that’s on its bigger bro, but gets 0.5mm larger damping rods and revised valving. The shock got a valving update. Both are aimed at making the bike less harsh in the mid-stroke.

And, ah except for the look, that’s about it. Though not helping reduce the lap times, the anodised hubs and clamps plus factory black rims swoosh it up nicely, and may help swing the fashion conscious. So why did I like it so much more than the '07 then?

Green for go
A nice slow kick lights it up - as it does nearly first time every time, hot or cold. Id almost say were approaching the point where we don’t have to mention four-stroke starting, were it not for a recent experience with a certain close relation.

The standard jetting is off the mark - lean off the bottom and rich on top. After a few laps of flame-outs and burbles, we made changes (see specs below) and got our favourite engine back.

It was the same but different, not seeming to rev out quite as much as the 07, but with a more seamless surge into the power at about 8-9000 where the 07 had a noticeable hit. It feels softer, but translates to being more useable on track.

For what reads as minor changes on the spec sheet, to me the suspension has improved out of sight. Last year, no amount of tweakery would get the spiky feeling out of either end, but the 08 is A1-plush from the get-go.

Set the sag then dial in the feel you like with the clickers, rather than hunting for that elusive good setting out of 100 average ones. Big pros may find the rear a little soft, but the rest of the world can rejoice.

The handling is agile and it still likes to turn, though a bit differently. I thought that maybe the combination of the new suspension settings and extra frame flex gave away a touch of the turn-in accuracy, but traded off well for a much more composed feel overall. Its stable in a straight line.

Gripes? Minor. Though the open pipe is probably responsible for one of the best features - the strong top-end - its waaay too loud, and will also be responsible for letters to the council. Kawasaki, please fix this before A: there are no places to ride, and B: I go deaf(er).

The tyres are new Bridgestone M403 and M404s, an intermediate blend that is way superior to the old Dunlop 742As, and though happier on harder surfaces, pretty versatile. The castellated nut/split pin on the back wheel is tres 70s, and makes constantly tightening the made-from-butter chain an aggravation. The seat could be a little harder, but that’s about it.

The 2008 KX250-F is an excellent bike. Whether or not it’s a great bike depends on what the competition brings out. The package of minor tweaks shows the thinking of a race engineer rather than a marketing team, and make for a hugely improved overall package.

Kawasaki knew it had a great engine and did what needed to be done to the rest of the bike, turning it into something that can be taken out of the shop today and won on tomorrow, or simply enjoyed, by racers of all levels.

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