---
title: "Kawasaki KLX250 Dual Sport Returns for 2018"
description: "Performance and fuel economy are both improved with the all-new, fuel-injected KLX250"
date: "2017-09-24"
modified: "2017-09-25"
authors:
  - name: "Eric Brandt"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/eric-brandt"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/article/14582/kawasaki-klx250-dual-sport-returns-for-2018"
categories:
  - "Motorcycles"
  - "News"
  - "The Garage"
tags:
  - "dirt bike"
  - "dual sport"
  - "Kawasaki"
  - "KLX250"
  - "motorcycle"
  - "new motorcycles"
---

# Kawasaki KLX250 Dual Sport Returns for 2018

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/09/klx-2.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

The competition for small, dual-sport motorcycles is heating up. Last year, Honda brought the [CRF250L](<https://www.thedrive.com/motorcycles/5912/dakar-inspired-dual-sport-honda-crf250l-rally-finally-arrives>) 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](<https://www.kawasaki.com/Products/2018-KLX250?cm_re=GLOBALNAV-_-TERTIARYNAV-_-LEARNMORE>) 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.

![message-editor%2F1506202331502-klxcamo.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1506202331502-klxcamo.jpg>)
**Kawasaki**

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.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/brandt004>)