Kawasaki KLX250S

The Specs

Price: $4999
Engine/trans: 249-cc liquid-cooled single/6M
Horsepower: 20
Weight: 278 pounds
Suspension travel, F/R: 10.0/9.1 inches Seat height: 35.0 inches
0–60 mph: 8.60 seconds
1/4-mile: 16.64 seconds @ 73.54 mph
60–0 braking: 127.61 feet
Fuel economy: 49.27 mpg

The Good

• An excellent compromise between easy-to-ride play bike and full-fledged racer. Suspension is set at a comfortable height, but still has plenty of travel to absorb large hits. It feels light and flickable—great on twisty roads. Clutch and brake effort are wonderfully smooth. Unlike most of the bikes here, the KLX comes with a tachometer. Amazingly, the Kawasaki costs the same as the beginner bikes here.

The Not-So-Good

• The high-revving engine has to be wound hard to gain sufficient thrust. While the liquid-cooled engine clearly provides more poke than the other 250s, it also has more stuff—radiators, water pumps—that could fail.

The Bottom Line

• The KLX is docile enough for a newbie, but provides a wide-enough performance envelope to keep an advanced rider entertained.

Best Suited For

• Beginner to expert.