Reliable Source says Kawasaki is making a 2T bike soon

[Chuck78]

Now that I poke around on the internet more, I'm seeing a lot of people in the dirt bike industries posing questions on social media etc as far back as 2019 saying basically - If Kawasaki made a new KDX, would you buy it?



Carson Brown the famous racer, on December 1st, 2022:

"Who would still buy a KDX if Kawasaki still produced them? #KDX220 #Kawasaki"

- with 94,000 likes and 4,726 shares on that post!!!!!!



There was also another one talking about a custom built KX300 big bore with a lot of references to a new KDX300

[SS109]

I would be down for one IF, in addition to the KF250f chassis, 18" rear, and a kickstand, they need to give it a true wide ratio 6 speed trans and e-start.

[Chuck78]

I would be down for one IF, in addition to the KF250f chassis, 18" rear, and a kickstand, they need to give it a true wide ratio 6 speed trans and e-start.

That's basically what the KX250X already has, except Kawasaki failed on the wide ratio transmission portion... they gave it an even narrower ratio in 1st gear in 2020 or 2022 unfortunately, a trickle down from it's motocross-oriented twin the KX250F.

KX250X derived from the KX250F is basically the 4-stroke version of what Yamaha has done with the 2-stroke YZ250 / YZ125 motocrossers in making the YZ250X and now (2019+?) YZ125X woods bike variants on their MX machines...
AWESOME bikes, the YZ250X and YZ125X, but no e-start, and they really missed the mark on not adding e-start or a real lighting system. You can get aftermarket lighting stator kits for them, but they're not even the output that a rewound KDX lighting stator can provide. The engines and suspensions on the YZ125X and YZ250X really are awesome though, but I don't understand why they wouldn't simply bump up the 125 to a 144cc like all the other woods bikes of the same class?

[Dirt bike bob]

Hey I'm new here,, I've been lurking a while. Have any of you noticed kawasakis recent surprise release campaign for their new models? This image looks promising, if for no other reason to me than seeing a tool bag on the back fender.

Maybe we will see a new kdx soon!

If the link doesn't work, just do a search for the new 2024 kawasaki release line up and see for yourselves.

[MoonStomper]

“Going broke” or getting DIVORCED!!! … unfortunately (or maybe FORTUNATELY), I don’t think it happens till ‘25. That picture shows a KLX I’m pretty sure. KDX wouldn’t have a mirror stalk rising up off the handlebars.

[DonnyV]

I don't know, why would they keep something that's available so hidden, I'm thinking something so iconic if you go look at the video they might be bringing something else back too for the street? Just my hopeful view lol I know wishful thinking but I'm wishing

[DonnyV]

I see that now, yeah maybe it's a klx 230 sm, definitely the 300 I just read more your right moon

[Chuck78]

Confirmed. Using the new KX 250/450 frame, Kawi is developing a new 300, 2t off-road bike. No other details yet.

Has anyone gotten any further inside source updates on the potential release or current development stages of a new Kawasaki 300cc 2-stroke model? It's been quite a while since I've seen anyone discuss this here, really almost a year. I believe there was another thread somewhere on this forum on this same subject, but I just stumbled upon this one through a search.

[Nikwho]

I just wanted to drag this thread back, in light of the new marketing video released by Kawasaki!

My fingers are crossed that we'll be looking at the 2026 KDX300! Would be amazing timing to jump into KTM's market with a 300cc 2t woods bike, with a wide ratio 6 speed transmission, electric start, kickstand, headlight, and an 18" rear wheel!

https://www.instagram.com/iconicmotorbi ... KMO/?hl=en

[Chuck78]

I just wanted to drag this thread back, in light of the new marketing video released by Kawasaki!

My fingers are crossed that we'll be looking at the 2026 KDX300! Would be amazing timing to jump into KTM's market with a 300cc 2t woods bike, with a wide ratio 6 speed transmission, electric start, kickstand, headlight, and an 18" rear wheel!

https://www.instagram.com/iconicmotorbi ... KMO/?hl=en

I just opened up the forum in my web browser to find this thread and post this link below grom Motocross Action Magazine, but you beat me to this news with your Instagram link!

https://motocrossactionmag.com/breaking ... wo-stroke/

[billie_morini]

Huh! Hmmm. Interesting?

I've been saving up for Panthera e-start for my KDX 220, figuring adding a starter is cheaper than buying a Beta X-Trainer.

Think I'll wait & see for a couple of months before ordering an e-start.

[kdxdazz]

Not to be the pessimist but this post was created in 2023 stating a reliable source, turned out his reliable source was talking nonsense
Then a short video with words on a screen that even a 10 year old could put together on his smart phone
I seriously doubt Kawasaki would put out such a terrible marketing video for a ground breaking new bike, I don't recall any manufacturer in my life time promoting a product with just a couple of words on a screen
Open to be wrong

[Chuck78]

Pure speculation here but in talking to some Colorado Kawasaki dealers, they said they have been badgering Kawasaki to bring back the KDX 200/220 for years as they said they would take a minimum of 50 a year (I'm sure they were exaggerating a "bit"). They believe that they can sell that many here in Colorado. Coupled with Rieju announcing the end of their 200cc enduro line for 2025, there is only the Beta 200 2T left on the market. So, there will be limited competition...If there is a new KDX 200/220/250/300, I'm a buyer even though I don't need a bike!

I also wonder if they sense a weakness with the KTM troubles and they are looking to take advantage of that...

When I worked at a Kawasaki dealership our rep came back from EICMA one year and was tasked to ask dealers what they thought about bringing back the KDX200 (this was around 2019-2020 I believe).

What was interesting was that in the 20 years I worked there they NEVER, not once, and that's no exaggeration, had asked us about what we thought about potential future product. This was the one and only time.

A few years later the revamped KLX300R came out and I felt like something got lost in translation haha.

Perhaps it's just taken a few more years? My money is on an off-road model here, a modern KDX. Sounds throaty. Bring it!

Interesting comments here, quoted above:

https://www.vitalmx.com/forums/moto-rel ... ogged_in=1

[clappy379]

This is pretty exciting. Especially for a lot of us I would think given I had really given up on this given what I thought was happening with environmentalism/corporate interests over the past decade or two. If this ends up being true, I just hope (1) we get something reasonably affordable/designed well and (2) people then match their enthusiasm with their wallets. We have an opportunity here to enjoy some nostalgia and have a modern version of what we grew up on, hard to beat that (again, I get it, let's not count our eggs before they hatch).

[Chuck78]

Not to be the pessimist but this post was created in 2023 stating a reliable source, turned out his reliable source was talking nonsense

At what point was the reliable source talking nonsense? I never got that out of any of it. All I got was a long lapse in any sort of updates or additional rumors so much that I had thought Kawasaki had scrapped the idea.
And then this!
It only makes perfect sense that they would be interested in a 300cc counterbalanced 2-stroke with the off-road market becoming bigger and bigger and bigger the past decade, and 300cc 2-strokes (& 2-strokes in general) absolutely dominating the off-road world. Four stroke engines are for Motocross and Dual Sport bikes...

[kdxdazz]

Not to be the pessimist but this post was created in 2023 stating a reliable source, turned out his reliable source was talking nonsense

At what point was the reliable source talking nonsense? I never got that out of any of it. All I got was a long lapse in any sort of updates or additional rumors so much that I had thought Kawasaki had scrapped the idea.
And then this!
It only makes perfect sense that they would be interested in a 300cc counterbalanced 2-stroke with the off-road market becoming bigger and bigger and bigger the past decade, and 300cc 2-strokes (& 2-strokes in general) absolutely dominating the off-road world. Four stroke engines are for Motocross and Dual Sport bikes...

Well if it is a 2 stroke release then I am happy to be wrong but I just don't think manufacturers try keep things too secret, it's actually in their best interest to reveal they are developing a bike so potential buyers are aware and will delay purchases of other bikes, look at triumph, as soon as they started developing a bike they revealed it to the world . Triumph developed a complete Motorcross bike in what , less than 2 years ? And Kawasaki can't add an engine to their existing dirt bike range in 2 years ?
Like I say I would love to be wrong and I am often wrong, I can only look at what makes sense to me

[Jacobtm]

Kawasaki USA posted the video on their official Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/p/DFQErgAJ4uy/

If you pause the video at the right time this "comment" in the ad is at the top. Maybe a hint for what is coming

Screenshot 2025-01-28 221128.jpg (62.39 KiB) Viewed 13337 times

[Chuck78]

It will for sure be a 300 as I know someone who has seen it in Japan. He told me about it last year and it was like he may as well have told me he saw a ghost riding a dirt bike. Told him he was crazy.



He says the model will be a 300, 2026 model year and production starts in August. Whether FI or Carb is unknown. He's betting on FI.

[Chuck78]

It will for sure be a 300 as I know someone who has seen it in Japan. He told me about it last year and it was like he may as well have told me he saw a ghost riding a dirt bike. Told him he was crazy.

He says the model will be a 300, 2026 model year and production starts in August. Whether FI or Carb is unknown. He's betting on FI.

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AC confirmed as a brand ambassador that a full sized 2 stroke is in development on raceday live.

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I've checked with the kawasaki insiders and you all will be sad, no headlights, funky numbers, or 6 speeds

(in response to people saying they want to see a KDX 400 or KDX 420 etc).

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[KDX220rser]

It will be a 125/150 and a 250 KX... i dont think we will see the KDX back anytime soon... Word it will be a full race bike.