Jim Beaver’s KX 250X Impressions

So before we jump into this, you have to know something. I am first and foremost a very average dirt bike rider. I grew up spending time on motorcycles, but with a four-wheel career that took off when I was fresh out of high school, it didn’t lend much time for riding motorcycles for the next 20 years. Truthfully I couldn’t afford to be hurt or miss a race, so I stayed off of them for the most part. Riding dirt bikes is something I have come back to now that I have become a part-time four-wheel racer and have moved into producing a lot of lifestyle content. Same goes for stand-up Jet Skis, snowboarding, skateboarding, BMX and mountain biking. It’s 42 year old me, coming in to my own with most things people did in their teens and twenties, because now I have the opportunity to enjoy them.

If I had the opportunity to hand pick a bike out of the Kawasaki KX and KLX lineup sight unseen, the KX 250X would be it. Obviously everyone needs a KLX 110 in their garage, but we will just assume that’s a given. Right off the top, the electric start and kickstand make life infinitely easier and are enough right there to get most everyday riders like me to opt for the off-road version of the KX instead of its motocross sibling. The off-road suspension is also softer than what the standard KX 250 is spec’d with, so unless you are planning on hitting the local track, the KX 250X should be the better ride for recreationalists.  

Having spent quite a few hours on the KX 250X at this point, all I can say is this bike rips! I ride a lot of trails and single track and prefer technical riding. The 250X has plenty of low end torque and never once felt like I needed more power except on the rare occasion I was riding tapped out on a rally/fire road. The lighter weight of the 250X over the 450X is noticeable, and I felt like I was able to throw the bike around much more easily, which is crucial when riding something like a low speed technical rock trail. The electric start saved me more than once. It’s a breath of fresh air when you have a low speed 1st gear stall and are able to pull the clutch in and re-fire the bike without ever having to put a foot down. You will never want to go back to kick starting a bike again. The softer suspension also helps make long rides on the 250X infinitely easier as it is much more forgiving in various terrain types than the stiffer motocross suspension found on the KX 250. 

The KX 250X doesn’t have any short comings. It knows what it is and it does it extremely well. Desert riding as much as I do, I will definitely be picking up a set of hand guards as I did take a few whips to the knuckles and fingers from some greasewood bushes. I also do a fair bit of night riding, so one of Rigid Industries lighting kits will be coming soon. More information on that is here.

The KX 250X is a phenomenal all around dirt bike. Its fit and finish is everything you’d expect from Kawasaki down to the Renthal Fatbar handlebars and the 250X off-road specific 18” rear wheel. For anyone looking for a motorcycle that is great for single track, trails, technical riding, and open desert riding, and can still hold its own for the occasional track day, you can’t go wrong with the KX 250X. More information on the KX 250X can be found here.

All images by JB15