Kawasaki KX 250
Discussion
I had my first go on a motorcrosser (age 38!) the weekend before last. Having ridden on the roads for 12 years, this was a very interesting experience but I reckon it's ultimately a really good thing to do to improve bike control allround.
The bike is a '08 model Kawasaki KX250, which may well be the last of the two-stroke motocrossers. Honda have stopped making their CR250 already. After only a few minutes it was clear that this is a shame. The two stroke engine in the KX is superb. Having ridden 2 stroke racing quads and trikes in the 80's, the development since then is very noticeable. The power is so smooth and progressive nowadays and by thunder it goes weighing only 97kg all up. I'm embarassed to say that's pretty much what I weigh! So I'll have to keep off the hobnobs if I'm to remain the lighter of the two!
I'm not planning to race it but wanted a bike for wheelie practice and to learn better bike control skills and I think this thing is just the job. I'm lucky to have access to lots of fields and forest tracks in which to stretch its legs.
First impressions are that it can cover rough ground unbelievably rapidly - much more so than a quad. The suspension is, as expected supreme at doing this. While I remain in awe of what the freestyle motoX nutters get up to (have you seen it recently, it's proper loopy in every respect) it's clear that this thing could absorb massive jumps with ease.
It's also very clear that all the body armour isn't for show. As mentioned this thing flies across rough ground and it's a unique experience for a two-wheeler to find so much grip on a slippery surface. The trouble is, it doesn't take kindly to clumsy use of the brakes. A quad can be locked up and skidded with abandon but not this. So it goes much quicker than a quad but takes twice as long to stop. Upshot is I expect to come off it a lot - hence ordering a set of body armour before my next ride.
I suppose the dream is to learn to 'powerslide' a bike. First attempts were much harder than I thought. The back snapped out a couple of times but it'll take some balls and skill to hold the slide.
The last of the two strokes is a polished bit of kit though. Very impressed with it. I just hope I can learn the skills to do it justice. Right now I'm way, way short but it's very exciting to blast through the forest and feel the bike moving around underneath you all the time.
Any tips from experienced 'crossers would be appreciated as very little of what I know from road and track riding applies to this. But for now it's a new dimension to biking that I think every road biker should try. Totally mad but a massive challenge but just as exciting in its own way as track riding on a sportsbike is. Difference is, it's just as enjoyable whatever the weather's doing.
The mind boggles as to how much fun a supermotard version one of these would be on the road with slicks.
The bike is a '08 model Kawasaki KX250, which may well be the last of the two-stroke motocrossers. Honda have stopped making their CR250 already. After only a few minutes it was clear that this is a shame. The two stroke engine in the KX is superb. Having ridden 2 stroke racing quads and trikes in the 80's, the development since then is very noticeable. The power is so smooth and progressive nowadays and by thunder it goes weighing only 97kg all up. I'm embarassed to say that's pretty much what I weigh! So I'll have to keep off the hobnobs if I'm to remain the lighter of the two!
I'm not planning to race it but wanted a bike for wheelie practice and to learn better bike control skills and I think this thing is just the job. I'm lucky to have access to lots of fields and forest tracks in which to stretch its legs.
First impressions are that it can cover rough ground unbelievably rapidly - much more so than a quad. The suspension is, as expected supreme at doing this. While I remain in awe of what the freestyle motoX nutters get up to (have you seen it recently, it's proper loopy in every respect) it's clear that this thing could absorb massive jumps with ease.
It's also very clear that all the body armour isn't for show. As mentioned this thing flies across rough ground and it's a unique experience for a two-wheeler to find so much grip on a slippery surface. The trouble is, it doesn't take kindly to clumsy use of the brakes. A quad can be locked up and skidded with abandon but not this. So it goes much quicker than a quad but takes twice as long to stop. Upshot is I expect to come off it a lot - hence ordering a set of body armour before my next ride.
I suppose the dream is to learn to 'powerslide' a bike. First attempts were much harder than I thought. The back snapped out a couple of times but it'll take some balls and skill to hold the slide.
The last of the two strokes is a polished bit of kit though. Very impressed with it. I just hope I can learn the skills to do it justice. Right now I'm way, way short but it's very exciting to blast through the forest and feel the bike moving around underneath you all the time.
Any tips from experienced 'crossers would be appreciated as very little of what I know from road and track riding applies to this. But for now it's a new dimension to biking that I think every road biker should try. Totally mad but a massive challenge but just as exciting in its own way as track riding on a sportsbike is. Difference is, it's just as enjoyable whatever the weather's doing.
The mind boggles as to how much fun a supermotard version one of these would be on the road with slicks.
Cool. I have a road registered 86 kx500 in bits around the place which I intend to fit with road wheels and tyres when I finish all the other projects... probably. Never ridden it, bought it as a working project and dismantled it to fix that 'small' oil leak from the trans... still in bits about the place 5 years on 
Always hoped to get another one day but as you say it could well be the last of them 
Hi mate, I'm currently riding an 08 KTM 450EXC-R which is a 4 stroke and I've been riding for a while.
Riding off road is a completley different ball game to riding on road, and there are very few similarities. One bit of advive is to try and stand up as much as possible when riding off road. It gives you much better control of the bike and you get a much better view of whats in front of you.
When going through tight, longish ruts I find that its sometimes better to sit down as its easier to dab your feet down if you lose balance.
If you want to start powersliding then you'll need to get your clutch and throttle control pretty fineley tuned, but the main thing is to be sitting down with as much weight over your petrol tank as possible.
Also, if your gunning it on fast flowing rocky trails then you'll need to be standing up with your weight towards the back of the bike as this will allow the front wheel to skip over the surface.
That's the only advice I can think of at the moment!! (one more, dont forget to enjoy yourself!!)
Hope that helps..
Riding off road is a completley different ball game to riding on road, and there are very few similarities. One bit of advive is to try and stand up as much as possible when riding off road. It gives you much better control of the bike and you get a much better view of whats in front of you.
When going through tight, longish ruts I find that its sometimes better to sit down as its easier to dab your feet down if you lose balance.
If you want to start powersliding then you'll need to get your clutch and throttle control pretty fineley tuned, but the main thing is to be sitting down with as much weight over your petrol tank as possible.
Also, if your gunning it on fast flowing rocky trails then you'll need to be standing up with your weight towards the back of the bike as this will allow the front wheel to skip over the surface.
That's the only advice I can think of at the moment!! (one more, dont forget to enjoy yourself!!)
Hope that helps..
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