( 8) HANDLEBAR MOUNTS
Kawasaki and Honda are the last
two manufacturers to still spec
7/8-inch bars. When we changed to
Pro Circuit’s 22mm triple clamps, we
also ordered oversized 1.125-inch bar
mounts. We then ran Neken KTM
handlebars, which have a little less
sweep and bar ends that are slightly
lower (in essence, straighter and
flatter bars).
Most MXA test riders had issues
with the Showa SFF single-spring
forks. Don’t confuse these forks with
the Showa SFF-TAC forks, which use
air instead of a coil spring. Kawasaki
has gone up on the KX250F’s spring
rates since 2011 (from 9.1 N/m to
currently 9. 6 N/m). These spring rate
changes have helped, but slower
test riders felt that the forks were
too firm, while faster test riders
liked the spring rate but hated the
damping. Our solution was to have
( 10) FORK SPRING PRELOAD
ADJUSTER
We loved the SFF fork spring
preload adjuster (on the right fork
leg). It allowed test riders to raise
and lower the ride height, much like
when fiddling with the main and balance air chambers on a Showa SFF
( 11) SHOWA SHOCK
The Showa shock tends to over-
power the forks, so the damping
needs to be more progressive. We
had Pro Circuit re-valve the shock
($164.95) and add in a free-flowing
shock piston and high-speed collar to
make the shock work in conjunction
with the front forks. We also added a
bladder cap kit ($58.95) to the shock
reservoir to enlarge the nitrogen
chamber for cooler temps. A stain-
less steel preload ring ($32.95) holds
up better to MXA’s constant race
sag adjustments. We had our shock
valved to work with Pro Circuit’s
longer shock linkage. For more info,
go to www.procircuit.com.
( 12) SHOCK LINKAGE
We prefer to run a longer Pro
Circuit shock linkage. This is not a
tuning secret but instead something
that Team Kawasaki has been doing
on its KX250F and KX450F bikes for
years. It lowers the rear of the bike
and provides an added dose of
low-speed compression to hold the
shock higher in its initial stroke.
Kawasaki’s stock chain guide is
junk and always has been. The chain
will slice through both the buffer
pad on top of the swingarm and
the chain block in the chain guide.
( 14) RETAIL PRICE
Kawasaki has not raised the price
of the KX250F since 2013. It retails
for $7599. How does that compare
to the competition? The CRF250
is also $7599. The YZ250F is $9
cheaper at $7590. The RM-Z250 is
$100 more expensive at $7699. The
KTM 250SXF is $800 more at $8399.
The Husqvarna FC250 costs $900
more at $8499.
