While the 2020 Kawasaki KX250 doesn’t look much different on the outside than the 2017–2019 models, it features a significantly changed engine, new suspension components, and a few other chassis upgrades. The heavily revised powerplant makes 3.8 more peak horsepower than the 2019 machine. It has, however, lost some of the low-end grunt that it had before, which makes fanning the clutch a necessity for maximum acceleration. The KX250’s lack of electric start wouldn’t be a big deal if the engine were easier to fire up, especially when hot.

The new KYB 48mm coil-spring fork and KYB shock share their spring rates with the KX450 and are set up on the stiff side. Both ends of the bike feel somewhat harsh at slower speeds—in braking bumps, for example—and lack comfort on all but the biggest-impact landings. “The suspension on the KX250 is a tad harsh,” tester Tanner Basso noted. “It’s not very plush over smaller bumps and lower-speed sections of the track.” All that said, the KX250 remains one of the better-handling bikes in its class due to its nimble and smaller overall feel on the track.