2-stroke retro: Riding a 1990 Kawasaki KX250 and why it makes sense

Some say it was the golden era of motocross. We ride a 1990 Kawasaki KX250 2-stroke to see what all the fuss is about.
Crank up the volume and listen to that sweet sound!

[@cooter1352]

89 cr250 and the 90 kx250 are my 2 favorite bikes and years.

[@brianh8484]

To this day the only brand new bike I ever bought was a 92 KX 250. I was 19 and I loved it. I still ride a bunch (mainly trail riding now) but since then I’ve always paid cash for barely used bikes that are going cheap and usually kitted out with with all the aftermarket stuff that doesn’t make anyone any faster.... Save a ton of $ that way.

[@JRBUISEXCAVATING]

I still have my 1990 kx250 that I bought in August of 1989. I didn’t receive it until December of 1989. I haven’t ridden it in 15 years, but I still take it out every few years and wash it.

[@chrisstephens6194]

Had 93 rm250. Awesome thing. Don't think I ever reved it out.Beast!!

[@surfingawaveoflife]

Best day of rider I ever had, was a day at Ocotillo. Perfect, loamy on a brand new KX 250. A day in heaven for me and my buddies.

[@djdanfetish1]

I'm 43 iv just got back into MX but just track days no more racing . iv not rode for 20yr . but Jesus the 90's .. The muzic ! The rave scene ! The drugs lol ! Mk2 golf gtis and 2 stroke MX bikes phwoor what a time to be alive .. I'm goin 2 stroke again with a 03 cr 250 this time , I was kx back in the day

[@007raybould]

I had the kx500 91 model best bike I’ve ever had by far

[@jhmonthetube6339]

I shelved my YZ490 in 91 and bought a 90 KX250. Easiest bike to ride, very grunty for a 90 250. Not a ton of top end but you didn’t need it, just short shift and ride the torque. I liked the width, really gave me something to grab with my knees. For a rider over 6’ tall this was the machine in 90 if you wanted a 250. Wish I would have kept it !

[@oleferds9625]

Sad 😢 These were the golden days, Nothing will compare or make sense to how good we had it in the ‘90s.

[@2009captainpaul]

Ah yes, that wonderful two stroke sound and the plastic kind of smell of Bel-Ray oil. Can't beat it. I can still smell it today from the early to mid 1980's when I raced 😃.

[@Kawboy65]

1990 KX 250 has a classy, timeless look to it.

[@MarshallSmith27]

my dad had one of this when I was little in Alabama and I still remember the sound and how this thing ripped when he would take me on it

[@doobyboy21]

AMEN !

[@jackdickey6015]

I had a 1990 Suzuki rm 250 an it was badass !!

[@tworivers71]

2 Stokes FOREVER !!!!!!!!!!

[@anthonyadams9520]

2 stroke powwaaaa 🤘🔥🔥🔥🔥❤️💚

[@cooter1352]

Yes sir

[@Bruce-cx3zc]

Awesome i have a 1995kx250 love it

[@MXRiderFiftyTwo]

I brought a 1990 CR250 this week. But I've always been Kawasaki KX250 man. Time for a change,until a 1990 KX250 turns up for sale... Gotta love the primiture frame design.

[@cooter1352]

Still a great bike

[@f270]

I bought a 1989 KX 250 (used) as my first big bike when I was 14. I miss that bike

[@rickfeith6372]

Nice. Thats a big bike for a kid that hasn't even had to shave.

[@derrickzenner9300]

Wow I bought a used 1988 kx 250 when I was 14. It was about a year and a half old when I got it. Not the best choice for a 14 year old though. I later traded it for a new 1991 kx125.

[@rickfeith6372]

Lol...much better and safer choice. 250 two strokes are FAST. If you've only rode a 125, you NEED to try a 250...its like night and day.

[@shadebike1594]

I went from a 50cc to a 89 kx 250 and I d say I wouldn’t recommend

[@cooter1352]

​@@shadebike1594 🤣

[@rex.d4810]

2 stroke baby!!

[@atv55803]

I still rip 94 yz250 57 yrs old and love 2 strokes let them eat doesn't get any more fun

[@easylee1417]

My dads 60 ad he stil rip dirtbikes

[@larndelaney7848]

I have a 90 KX 250,I wouldn't exactly say the power fades off early,mine pulls your arms out,and I don't even have an aftermarket pipe,all completely stock standard except for eibach fork springs

[@vicconstruction9126]

Exactly, I think it's weird how all these videos compare 30yr old bikes to 2020+ bikes. Its a weird concept. We don't do it with cars, but for motorcross/trail bikes, we do for some reason. If someone is riding a motorcross/trail bike that is 20+ years old. Obviously they are not trying to compete or race. They are riding for the pure joy.

[@tuckerprestridge559]

Mines is rebuilt and runs really well but feels slow compared to my 99 cr125

[@waynegacyii9010]

To stroke, or not to stroke. Torn between two lovers.

[@josephwalck6641]

LOL I cannot stop laughing because of his accent 1989 LOL sounds so funny the way he talks I love it though

[@fearnobeer9077]

I was racing 80's in 1991, great days ,now i got a heap of bikes, but bills and shit to lol

[@stevenbunn5450]

Your price point was bang on.We all don't need a ktm .Ime 54 going on 24 I have 92 kx 250 does me ok.

[@bryanoliver5550]

Before Internet took over we in Ohio had the Mini-Merchant that we could buy at all stores to search for anything , pictures , prices but that's in the past . Searching for a used Dirt-Bike that`s for sale was easy . Nice Kawasaki !

[@iipriorii]

I will not fill comment section with my jealousy, negativity and otherwise bs that comes along with someone that has such a love for this stuff - but life just never lets up. Not that I had anything negative to say: especially with an amazing build as such.

[@anthonyadams9520]

Here in Malaysia, it's hard to find kx 250 2 stroke 1990 version.. 2 stroke lover from Malaysia 🤘🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@grabir01]

Good points. 10,000 bucks for a new dirt bike? WTH?

[@cooter1352]

Yup they've gotten expensive. I can remember in the early 90's you could buy one brand new out the door for under 3 grand if I remember correctly. My brand new 80 was like $1200

[@grabir01]

@@cooter1352 CR125 Elsinore was 995.

[@TheRedcroatian]

What a fucken green ripper! I love this bike but I have a feeling if I get one I am going to hurt myself 🤔

[@jacobwestcott4536]

Dude was actually pretty good on that thing

[@brosephjoseph9178]

Well said!...

[@2strokemxclassics]

Nice👌

[@onlygazza]

I had one of those 😎👍

[@rockymtnnut]

Finally someone called out the industry for its skyrocketing cost of a dirt bike. 12000$ USD for a ktm 500. Get real. A working guy can’t afford that!

[@ivanlindvald]

Damn the first min. 20 he loaded up the hype train with coal and it's burning down the track!

[@TripleWhopperWithCheese]

I still use Klotz premix in my lawn tools for the smell.

[@dominicbratholt5107]

I use Maxima Castor927, smells soo good lmao

[@thatstuff1826]

@@dominicbratholt5107 really? It isnt my favorite

[@dominicbratholt5107]

@@thatstuff1826 yeah, the only thing I have against castor oils, is they leave a film on the cylinder, head and piston. But great smells and great power kinda compensate

[@snkneo-geo933]

I had one in 1993 👍

[@Billyrobthornton]

can ride !

[@OO7RX7]

Holy shit it's Robi Williams

[@pc2150]

I have a 91 kx250, pulls like a 500

[@rickfeith6372]

What color are the powerbands?

[@margix1172]

It's incredible how modern motocross bikes looks like SHIT compared to this bike (and to the majority of 70's and 80's bikes)

[@jamessharp9790]

margix I’d bought an 89 RM 250 then they released this perimeter frame Kx . They ran very hard . In that era the Kx and Cr 250s ran super hard

[@jamessharp9790]

89-90 Rm 250 was very quick on night tracks but in 4 th and fifth gear the Kx and Cr pulled out

[@liammichelini4867]

I sold mine not to long ago I miss the old ho. Sold it because parts were not fun to find. But the seat was so nice compared to the newer bike

[@chrisvids1820]

I'm kind of in the same boat. I have a 96 kx250. Wanting to do a complete rebuild but I can't find everything that I'd like. Considering selling and going for a yz250. Have you ridden one to compare the power?

[@seancooper7256]

Anybody know the song? Preferably instrumental not the Nengo flow track.

[@RodDuster]

You saw the DM I sent you then 😂

[@scottbaker4314]

What did he say?😂

[@no-namecrown5510]

When men were men and bones were scared...

[@kylemcneal3919]

You can definitely NOT push the new modern bikes there junk

[@9736grunn]

Why it make sense ? Because its a 90's bike and a 2 stroke ! No need for a video to understand that.

[@Brenkeeno]

kwaka

[@overland8081]

The 1989 model was super bad ass and known for years until kawi did it again in 1998 with another almost perfect bike...why a 1990? That bike wasnt near as good as the 1989 and no where near as good as the 1998.

[@rickfeith6372]

I rode a 98 KX250 with a PC pipe and shorty silencer a handful of times. The bike was almost new, maybe 20 hours on it first time I hopped on. It was owned by a Harley riding motorcycle mechanic and tuned to absolute perfection. Without a doubt the crispiest throttle and hardest hitting bike I've ever rode. First gear was fucking dangerous and almost unusable without a fistfull of clutch or some wheelspin. It was bonkers in 2nd and just ripped so hard through 3rd...a VERY satisfying gear to wind all the way out if you got the room. Thats Team Green OG style.

[@overland8081]

@@rickfeith6372 lol oh yeah...I had 3 of them in 89 when I raced for team kawi and one of them was the bike I raced...it wasnt a totally factory race bike but pretty close. Not a bike you should ride with little experience.

[@rickfeith6372]

I remember drooling over the new "perimeter frames"...thats something they definitely got right...this might have been the 1st year, because I rode an '88 and it definitely had the stradle tank.

[@overland8081]

@@rickfeith6372 hahaha yeah I raced the 88 in 88 and yeah big ol tank between your legs..it felt just like the 500 as far as ergonomics. Big change in 89 lol