Cycle News Staff | July 7, 2020
With the introduction of the 2021 Kawasaki KX motocrosser comes two new models, the 2021 Kawasaki KX250XC and 450XC off-road motorcycles. Both of these models get the same updates as their 2021 KX motocross brothers but feature a number of changes to make them more off-road compatible. Some of this includes 18-inch rear wheels, off-road suspension settings, and kickstands.
2021 Kawasaki KX250XC
2021 Kawasaki KX250XC First Look
2021 Kawasaki KX250XC
From Kawasaki:
KX250XC MSRP: $8399
- NEW Off-road specific spring rates and settings for KYB fork
- NEW Coned disk-spring hydraulic clutch
- NEW Renthal Fatbar handlebar
- NEW Black coupler equipped
- NEW Durable XC skid plate
- NEW Off-road specific settings for KYB shock
- NEW XC specific 21” front and 18” rear wheel combination
- NEW XC specific gearing
- NEW XC specific Dunlop AT81 Geomax tires
- NEW XC kickstand
KAWASAKI KX250XC
The all-new 2021 KX250XC has been designed for the rising stars in the XC2 250 Pro or Pro 2 Class and provides riders with a race-ready off-road motorcycle. Built from the legendary motocross winning pedigree of the KX250 motorcycle and tuned to best suit off-road race-experienced riders, the 249cc liquid-cooled, four-stroke engine, slim aluminum perimeter frame, top of the line KYB suspension components, hydraulic clutch and electric start are the ultimate combination of a championship-winning package.
The KX250XC is built with race-winning components to help Kawasaki riders get to the top step of the podium in all off-road and cross-country racing environments. From the showroom to the racetrack, the performance of Kawasaki’s KX family of motorcycles is proof of its engineering pedigree.
ENGINE
The four-stroke, single-cylinder, DOHC, water-cooled 249cc lightweight engine package utilizes input derived directly from the factory race team, with optimized engine mapping and settings for off-road racing. The powerful KX250XC engine features an electric start, which is activated by the push of a button and powered by a compact Li-ion battery.
Kawasaki brought top-level road racing technology to the KX250XC valve train, using designs from Kawasaki World Superbike engineers. It uses finger-follower valve actuation, enabling larger-diameter valves and more aggressive cam profiles. The intake and exhaust valves are formed from lightweight titanium, while a bridged-box piston uses the same design as the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki race team’s motorcycles.
A close-ratio five-speed transmission features lightweight gears and shafts to keep weight down, yet retain strength, while contributing to the motorcycle’s winning performance. The KX250XC has shorter gearing than its counterpart, the KX250, with a final gear ratio of 51/13. The transmission is paired with a coned disk-spring hydraulic clutch that is designed to provide a consistent feeling through minimal change in play as the clutch heats up during heavy use. The coned disc-spring contributes to a light clutch actuation and a wide clutch engagement range, which facilitates increased control.
CHASSIS
The industry-leading slim aluminum perimeter frame is all-new for 2021 and provides precise cornering through excellent front-end feel and the ultimate agility when riding at high speeds. The frame’s lightweight construction is composed of forged, extruded and cast parts, while the engine is used as a stressed member and adds to the frame’s rigidity balance. A lightweight alloy swingarm is constructed of a cast front section and twin tapered hydro-formed spars in a raw aluminum finish, complementing the frame’s raw look. Engineers carefully placed the dimension of the swingarm pivot, output sprocket and rear axle locations, helping to focus on the center of gravity and balanced handling.
SUSPENSION & BRAKES
High-performance KYB 48 mm coil spring front forks can be found up front, featuring large diameter inner tubes that are the same size as those found on Kawasaki’s factory racing team’s machines, but with optimized spring rates and damping settings for off-road riding. The forks enable the use of large damping pistons for smooth action and firm damping. Kashima Coating on the fork tubes helps prevent wear and abrasion while optimizing performance.
In the rear, a new Uni-Trak® linkage system is designed to work in conjunction with the KYB shock, aluminum frame, and swingarm. The linkage, which is mounted below the swingarm, allows for a longer rear suspension stroke and more precise rear suspension tuning. The KYB rear shock features dual compression adjustability, allowing high-speed and low-speed damping to be tuned separately. Kashima Coating on the shock helps prevent wear and reduces friction for smoother suspension action.
An oversized 270 mm, petal-shaped front brake rotor from the renowned manufacturer, Braking, is fitted to perfectly complement the powerful engine of the KX250XC. The rear is equipped with a 240 mm petal-shaped Braking rotor that matches the large front disc. Both are gripped by Nissin master cylinder and caliper setups and feature XC-specific pads.
XC SPECIFIC COMPONENTS
The KX250XC is equipped with many specific cross-country components, such as the 21” front and 18” rear wheel combination paired with Dunlop GEOMAX AT81 tires, which were selected for optimal handling in off-road racing conditions. Other cross-country specific components include the durable plastic skid plate and side stand.
2021 Kawasaki KX250XC
ERGONOMICS & ERGO-FIT ADJUSTABLE COMPONENTS
Kawasaki continues its unmatched commitment towards providing riders with class-leading comfort thanks to its ERGO-FIT adjustable handlebar mounting system and footpegs to fit a variety of riders and riding styles. The KX250XC is equipped with factory-style 1-1/8” aluminum Renthal Fatbar handlebar, as standard equipment. The handlebars feature four-way adjustable mounts. The multi-position handlebars offer two mounting holes with 35 mm of adjustability, and the 180-degree offset clamps boast four individual settings to suit different size riders. The footpegs feature dual-position mounting points, with a lower position that reduces the standard setting by an additional 5 mm. The lower position effectively lowers the center of gravity when standing, and reduces knee angle when tallers riders are seated.
BODYWORK & SEAT
Complementing the championship proven technology, the 2021 KX250XC features aggressive styling along with in-mold graphics on the radiator shrouds that result in an ultra-smooth surface and factory-racer look needed to finish at the top of its class. The sleek bodywork has been molded to match the V-mounted radiators and narrow chassis design. Each piece of the bodywork has been designed to help facilitate the rider’s movement with long, smooth surfaces. The rims are coated with a tough, durable black alumite treatment. Adjusters on the fork and shock both feature a high-quality green alumite finish. A gold finish on the oil cap and both plugs on the engine cover further contribute to KX factory-racer looks and styling.
Kawasaki Team Green Racer Rewards
Kawasaki Team Green Racer Rewards return for the 2021 racing season with more than seven million dollars in contingency available for eligible KX riders. With unmatched trackside support at over 40 events across the nation each year, Kawasaki’s Team Green program continues to raise the bar in support of amateur and professional racing by offering its payouts of over seven million dollars up for grabs, with an increased emphasis on payouts for off-road series, such as GNCC, National Enduro, JDay Off-Road, Hare & Hound and Full Gas Sprint Enduro. The off-road payout alone boasts an impressive $2.2 million dollars there for the taking, making it the highest in the industry.
KAWASAKI KX250XC
Color: Lime Green
MSRP: $8,399
Availability: Summer 2020
