Kawasaki KLX250 Dual Sport Returns for 2018
Performance and fuel economy are both improved with the all-new, fuel-injected KLX250

The competition for small, dual-sport motorcycles is heating up. Last year, Honda brought the CRF250L to the market with big mechanical improvements to a segment that’s normally quite spartan. Honda modernized the dual-sport by giving its four-stroke, single-cylinder 250 electric start, DOHC, and most notably, fuel injection.
Now Kawasaki is here to attempt to dethrone Honda in the dual-sport game. The Kawasaki KLX250 returns after a three-year hiatus with a lot to show for its brief absence. It gets a new, fuel-injected, four-stroke, DOHC, four-valve, liquid-cooled, 249cc single-cylinder engine.
Fuel injection should clear up some complaints of the old carburated model. The previous-generation KLX250 was not a bad bike and it was quite modern aside from the carburetor. However, riders complained the carbureted model was “cold-blooded” (hard to start and run when first starting up), the fuel economy wasn’t great, and it just didn’t have enough power. Fuel-injection famously fixes all of those problems.
Along with the new engine, the 2018 Kawasaki KLX250 gets disc brakes, a three-way adjustable rear shock, and a 43mm inverted cartridge fork. The front wheel is 21 inches and the rear wheel is 18 inches with plenty of room for knobby, off-road tires.
The bike looks pretty good with sharp, angular styling representative of other Kawasaki off-road bikes. It’s available in classic Kawasaki Lime Green or a cool Matrix Camo Gray paint job shared with the bigger KLR650
If you’ve been looking for an affordable, 250cc street-legal dirt bike, the Honda CRF250L is no longer the clear winner. We’re not sure when this competitive new Kawasaki will hit showrooms, but pricing starts at just $5,349.
MORE TO READ
Related
Kawasaki Donates 5 Mule UTVs to Assist Hurricane Harvey Relief Effort
Kawasaki is also matching employee donations to nonprofits helping out with Harvey’s destruction.
Related
Order Your 2018 Kawasaki Ninja H2 While You Can
This supercharged beast is up for grabs right now starting at $28,000.
Related
Husqvarna Unveils Fuel-Injected Two-Stroke Engines
For two-strokes, fuel injection is quickly going from “industry-first!” to industry standard.
Related
KTM Fuel-Injected 2-Stroke Engines for Off-Road Motorcycles Coming Soon
This is an industry first.
Related