Ricky Carmichael's Championship Kawasaki KX250 Two Stroke - Motocross Action Magazine

#motocross #legend #sport #motorcycle #dirtbike
By 2001 Ricky Carmichael had already began his dominance in the Pro Motocross scene. Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki and Ricky Carmichael wanted to win a Supercross Championship. They knew the bike had to get better and their main rival would be the Supercross King Jeremy McGrath. This is a short film based around Ricky's KX250, his drive for greatness, and moments in time that may have never been talked about until now. Ricky Carmichael's Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki has been sitting in storage for over 20 years and we pulled it out to go down memory lane. Former Kawasaki Team Manager Bruce Stjernstrom sat down with Motocross Action to walk us through the details of how the team customized the bike, the unique challenges they faced, the meetings to prepare, the era of two stroke racing and the legacy of a rider that will forever be labeled The Greatest Of All Time.
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[@KeganVanSickle]

I loved these years of KXs. I remember going to the supercross races those years and watching him. Some of the best memories ever.

[@johnnycash578]

for sure even for me riding all the time

[@Maxwelliouss]

i wish i could afford a motorcycle

[@plutus205]

me to bro

[@seth5394]

one day!

[@matthewlai4355]

Bruce is such a boss, his attention to detail (and memory) makes him special. Halfway through the interview he rattles off running 112mm sag for Ricky. An important detail, and still in his head two decades later. I admire guys like that, a real professional and absolutely dedicated.

[@mikebrown41182]

This is just pure gold. People use to hate on bubbas KX 250 (2005) for his outdoor results. But really, think about it he was 19 years old and had to race Ricky who had a slight advantage on the 450f. But that kx 250 was really good indoors, MXA should make a video of that bike aswell, i think that bike dont deserve as much crap as people give it. He was still ahead of Reed & Windham in many of the races he attended to (except that he crashed out). And i recall MXA test rode RV´s bike with Stew either outdoor or sx engine not to long ago and the bike was completely different from a stock kx 250 (obviously) glittered with one of part / KHI stuff. I hope Mosiman or Ecklund makes it happen, the story behind the bikes from the golden era is a trip down the memory lane and means alot for plenty of people out there.

[@peaceprayer595]

The people giving it crap are often the mortal racers who had to ride and repair it weekly without factory freebies. It didn't handle well and was essentially a warmed over 99 model. That elevated our worship of RC. Bubba could effectively crash anything he OVER rode trying to keep up with the GOAT.

[@alabammyslammy]

@@peaceprayer595 THAT 05 BIKE WAS MORE LIKE A YAMAHA THAN A 1999 KX.

[@mikebrown41182]

@@peaceprayer595 i dont share that opinion that it was a "warmed up" 99. Just as Bruce explain in the video they made several good changes on rickys imput wich KHI supplied them when stew was onboard, but its true that James could crash anything so it was not really the bike only to blame. James however was a monster in supercross on that 250, lets say if he would not do "stew" crashes he would likely have won plenty that season and the bike was perfectly fit for supercross, thus i am not really comparing the stock bikes here, only what´ive heard from friend within the industry that actually worked on them factory bikes. This article goes into good aspects of it: motocrossactionmag.com/we-ride-ryan-villopotos-kawasaki-sr250-two-stroke/

[@boblarry7879]

Watching RC race on a kx125 is what made me start racing on the kx80 and stuck with kawi ever since. Still slapping gears on my 2001 kx250 to this day.

[@matteo512]

2001 kx 250 vidéos on my channel 😁

[@teslafieldphysics4041]

I saw Ricky throw such a big whip on a 125 at Pontiac on the parade lap after he won the main, that you could see his drain plug over the triple! He said it was the biggest whip he ever pulled and didn’t think it was going to come back straight. It was awesome! Kawasaki for life!

[@kerripolk]

One of my all-time favorite bikes.

[@LarryLinton]

Now that's a factory bike. Great vid.

[@byronphillips6139]

U guys gotta do one of McGraths 2 strokes and Windhams Sobe RM

[@peaceprayer595]

I was thinking same!

[@theshootindutchman]

Raced 7 years, (3) 250 2-strokes and since then (4) 450 four strokes, and this style Kawi was my FAVORITE race bike of all! SO flickable, just turned on a dime and was a GREAT starter.... put it in 2nd gear, pin it and dump the clutch...... holeshot😄😁 Loved that bike!

[@MotoMatt16]

That bike is soooo clean haha dream of when I’m older filming videos of me making a super clean rm250 cr250 and kx250. So sick.

[@infinitemonkeycage3010]

So sick bro. Hope you do it

[@xBestii72]

Mega work again TFant! These really are my fave vids of yours! My next request is RC's '99 KX125

[@David-mo3tv]

Love this brings back so many memories

[@brentyancich]

Great job by everyone involved to make this video

[@RJAustin09]

This is excellent, thanks so much for making this.

[@jamesbramblett3346]

Gosh this was excellent

[@Equinsu_Ocha]

DO ANOTHER VIDEO OF HIM RIDING IT NOW!

[@scottpeters8640]

This is such a great video. I have been in the sport since 1984 and went to several races during this era. Very informative and a great look back at RC's bike.

[@oakey67]

Mx 2002 ps2 game, that was the reason I had to own the 02 kx250

[@stevepadilla9729]

I remember this bike and how you can see in Ricky's eyes he wanted the Championship and more. Just looking at this bike and everyone making their bikes look like his and Bubba's was epic. I know 6-friends that got a KX125 and 250 and made them look pro. Look is the key word, what was in the pro's bikes were totally factory. I had a chance to ride Ricky's 85cc at my old sponsors house. It was so much faster then my stock 125. That was only maybe a 100 YARDS LONG I road it and I knew I had to quit before I got over my head and loop the bike. I can look at this bike all day long and remember watching him become who he is today the G.O.A.T. Very Cool pic.

[@stevepadilla9729]

Haha yep, I had a customer walk in the shop. Its hard to P.U.T. The dot in between fast enough. Thanks.

[@peaceprayer595]

You are so correct. We sponsored several riders over the years. One could barely get into the top ten. But at the end of the season Mitch picked him up for a handful of races and he was instantly on the podium.

[@64maxpower]

I remember him crying when Windham beat him on a 125.

[@peaceprayer595]

@@64maxpower LOL...me too. I also remember the thousands of guys, thousands of times, also crying when Ricky mopped them all into oblivion.

[@64maxpower]

@@peaceprayer595 RCs championships were hollow. There were only one or two fast guys back then. He would be lucky to make a podium with today's racers

[@Coopdegras]

Miss those seemless did rims ktms sxs bikes used to come with those too ok👌🏼 need more of these in depth former factory bikes!

[@dr00andrew]

top 3 most iconic sx bikes ever. brings me right back to 01 every time i see this bike

[@provocativepolitic]

I cant wait to try the new lowered Huskies and Gas gas. I think A lot of fellas on the shorter end of the spectrum ( I am 5'7'') lose confidence on the really tall bikes like yammy and ktm. Ricky is the GOAT. Whooping ass on 4 strokes and 2 strokes

[@provocativepolitic]

@Kev Campbell huh slightly lower than the yz250f but the husky is over an inch lower. How tall are you?

[@peaceprayer595]

Bro...you will not believe how much better the Husky turns and handles. Unless you are a pro it's a huge advantage. I'm 5.9 so yes its totally amazing all around. You might want to verify but last I knew only the huskys were lowered. Mines a 21. The Austrian brands aren't perfect but they're a huge advantage for most. Read MXA and take them at their word before listening to anyone else. Its appx. 10 pounds lighter than the yz. Spend 5000$ and you will not achieve that. They come with everything. You don't even need an aftermarket exhaust. Give the forks time to break in and set them up exactly how mxa says to otherwise you'll likely struggle with that. The newest GEN AER is phenomenal.

[@peaceprayer595]

@Kev Campbell Bro... yamaha makes a fantastic mx bike including being the absolutley most durable motocrosser you can possibly buy. The hardest thing I ever did was leave Yamaha after like 20 years of nothing but those. I never ever had a failure of any kind. I'm on my third Husky and every single one leaks oil. There is NO better suspension either than the yamaha. The KYB is so good I spent nearly 2k getting spring forks for my FC450. The new AER is really good but nothing tops the Kayaba. :)

[@yota4004]

this was great! thanks. makes me think about some of the head case guys today that have to have the perfect bike or they drop to 5th place.

[@bigharrykochenbauls4567]

Make Supercross Straight Again 👌

[@JswisslolGaming]

coolest bike ever besides james' 259 125.

[@andy5786]

Like KX Kawasaki dirt bike so awesome thanks guys girls 👍

[@leadhead7338]

Team Green....ALWAYS!!!

[@markbryant1101]

Great story! Amazing rider!

[@GoodlookinMug]

Awesome vid!

[@showtime951]

That's why you work hard for and with people and commit to a team regardless of what kind a job you do or what career you've chosen. Twenty, thirty years later when people you worked with, pounded fists on tables with, stayed late with, solved problems with, bitched and moaned with, achieved goals with, built something that didn't exist before with, when these people talk about how they could count on you....there is nothing like it in the world.

[@wraith3951]

Did anyone else notice the right fork guard was cracked to hell at the mounting bolts and was missing the fork guide😔 Still a great piece of history to see and learn about after having watched it and Ricky working his magic for a few years

[@wannaseethevid]

Great video

[@mitchwinder1204]

Love those throwback shoulderless rims.

[@davidciesielski8251]

Thank you

[@Bt26x]

That intro was intense!

[@Shawndizzle1976]

Beautiful bike I miss my 99 so much.

[@pineychristian]

That tells you what type of person is for RC when you leave a company and they say their door is always open to him.....

[@peaceprayer595]

Craig Decker's revalve on stock suspension works better than most A Kits. Don't even attempt to prove me wrong unless you've tried both. ENZO in Texas. PERIOD!

[@levisalvini4110]

RC4 & JS7 FOREVER❤️

[@arsenal-slr9552]

Good times ❤

[@spice3767]

great video.........damn i miss seeing RC racing..............

[@64maxpower]

I wish give us a chance to miss him. He never goes away

[@jamescameron7633]

Sweet as bike

[@23MikeJ22]

Heck yeah build me one

[@braxonbarth7924]

We should get some more of these with other two stroke bikes from the 90’s / early 2000’s. I would be really interested to see McGraths Honda or Suzuki that was the problem bike of his career to know what happened with the bike, what were the problems of the Suzuki what caused the problems and maybe the full story of why he went to Suzuki.

[@jonrochefort8427]

Racerx/ pulpmx did a interview with team HRC Dave Arnold. And they had all the HRC team bikes from the 70s to 2000s and they talked about and went through them

[@TheShift1313]

Mcgrath left because of the 97 bike and changes to his contract from what i remember. There was an article about it in one of the mags.

[@johnnycash578]

this bike is mint

[@badbrooko]

Old rednutz could ride like no other 👍 Gingervitas is a diesese and being allergic to the sun isn’t easy.

[@Andingo86]

Man I'd love to see one these about stews 125 kawi. Great video!

[@joshmosiman1955]

You're in luck! Travis Fant filmed one on Stewart's 2004 KX125 a year ago and it's on the MXA channel. Scroll through our videos or check it out here motocrossactionmag.com/inside-james-stewarts-2004-championship-winning-kawasaki-kx125-two-stroke/

[@Andingo86]

@@joshmosiman1955 awesome!

[@Wilkesy259]

I remember a magazine article on this bike back in the day (pretty sure it was MXA, its mostly all i read lol) and they estimated the value of this bike, at the time, as around 50k, which was HUGE coin for a 250 MXer back then (they only retailed for like 5-6k new). Obviously heaps of stuff was "unobtainable" but they said "if you could purchase everything, the value of the build would be around $50,000"

[@Tew730]

clean racing barcia and others dot get that

[@jamespriestley4375]

Can you do a video of Stewart’s kx250?? Think that would be the best one

[@victorschepisi590]

I remember that dude Bruce from IJSBA

[@dr00andrew]

7:00 surprised to see they didn't have their own CR style of the front brake line routing. Honda had a patent on it till around 2004 or so, but most factory teams ran it the way honda did

[@peaceprayer595]

Good catch. Honda had held the patent. No one else was allowed to route it their way. Not even Ricky.

[@dr00andrew]

@@peaceprayer595 its weird tho cause i know yamaha did their own style of routing like the cr during this era

[@peaceprayer595]

@@dr00andrew the yamahas went around the bottom of the fork just like the kawi you see here. Nobody was allowed to route it the way honda did. They had the patent and heartily enforced it.

[@dr00andrew]

check mcgrath and vuillemins bikes from 2000 and 2001. they most certainly routed them the cr way. the stock bikes to the public didnt

[@peaceprayer595]

@@dr00andrew You are absolutely correct sir...Hard to believe Kawasaki neglected the advantage? I wonder why?

[@craighelgerson2698]

"Heavier dampening in the rear"... I walked away from MX in 1980 just to return over these past couple years just to find "something" or "things" has mutated to change our sport from the most difficult in the world to nothing more than a meat grinder. "I" perceive that supercross track design has created this "seat-bounce" technique where these kids can use excessively light redound dampening to jumps some things efficiently, however, this glorified pog-go-stick rear ends are launching these guys through the bars and causing some of this carnage. We know top riders have to win in the gene pool also with mutant strength inherited from their patents; however, RC not only had this gift of physical durability he also understood physics better than the others which he instinctively knew that light dampening might kind of feel fun and can help left the bike at certain times but it also meant less control at his outrageous speeds. Man could that kid ride the wheels off a dirt bike!

[@avogoofy5130]

So much for the production rule. :) How many of the parts of RC's bike are available to the public :) ?

[@jonrochefort8427]

Can you do Travis Preston 2001 sx winning fast by Ferracci husqvarna cr125 ? That be so so cool

[@albertboersma7294]

I still ride my 2001 kx250 it's a fast fast bike still on original motor .mine is perfect 👌

[@pabloescobar7802]

Please bring back the KX250

[@user-cs7qx7bj5z]

カワサキツーストモトクロッサーはサイコー🎉

[@terrygriffin2438]

I just noticed how small Ricky is that’s even more impressive those bikes rip and are hard to control for a big guy

[@pc2150]

Jeff ward is a smaller rider and a 500cc champion, it's all about heart and talent.

[@plutus205]

I had that logo on my kx110 pit bike back then

[@40beretta1]

Ricky maybe peaked at 5'6".... He dropped that A&& end and rolled the bars back ... I remember seeing his bike the SX in Pontiac Mi... That's funny... on my Kawi's I have Ford or Cummins ... Stickers.

[@tommi28i]

I have the exact same bike but 125

[@Jimmy_Watt]

Content starts at 0:30.

[@somos.tesoros_]

Kudos to Kawasaki and how much work they did to make this bike for a midget🤣 he damn sure I could ride However

[@johnnycash578]

ricky is 5foot 5 and a half he is short he is a giant on the track 10 feet tall in a race

[@dormantmenace]

Torque curve is much better on a 4 stroke. The peak numbers for a 450 4t are only a few digits off a 250 2t. 2 strokes make very good torque. Just much better delivery on the 4t. A yz 250 2t is rated about 30 lb-ft A yz450 rated at about 33 lb-ft.

[@GixxerKris]

That’s true but only when you give the 4t 200cc displacement advantage. Compare a 450 4t to a 500 2t, much more fair comparison and the torque curve and numbers aren’t even close. 48-50ft lbs for a 500 and comes on way earlier.

[@jonathanmoulton9251]

Power to weight ratio. 2t takes the cake.

[@SPCRacing1]

For the most part, 4-strokes enjoy nearly a double displacement advantage. No wonder they make more torque. The double displacement rule needs to go away.

[@GixxerKris]

@@SPCRacing1 amen brother!

[@hencetirta7633]

rc bike

[@drewcecato221]

how could those factory bikes only had 47hp when i can go buy a yz250 that'll make basically that to the wheel. & if he was referring to whp not even the fastest 450s are making low 60s at the wheel thats a joke. maybe one day lol.

[@vintagetrikesandquads4012]

Why did Ricky leave Kawi for Honda?

[@ryanlester761]

I can send a right fork slider if you need it. Lol.

[@iterminator309]

A stock 1999 KX250 puts down 55 HP/36.2 lb-ft of torque, how could Carmichael's customized factory bike make only 40-odd with less torque than a modern 450? Besides it isn't unheard of - of getting mid 60 HP/40 lb-ft from a 250 t2 of around the turn of the century, with just a couple of aftermarket (of the shelf) components. Just for reference, a 2022 KX450(F) makes 57 HP/32.4 lb-ft. A mere 2 HP more than a 22 year old 250, but with about the same margin - less torque than that same dinosaur... That 4 KG difference in weight isn't going to make the world's biggest difference either. Sad, yet hilarious that people still don't realize that a 20 year old 2t can (and will) beat a modern-day 450 4t from the same company, assuming that you have riders on both that knows how to ride them. I truly believe that if the same amount of resources and research had been committed towards the development of 2t that 4t has benefited from, we'd all be hauling a$$ on supercharged, rotary valve 125cc 2 strokes that put out close to 70 hp. The 250s wouldn't even be available to the public just like GP bikes aren't for sale to common folk.

[@paulmryglod4802]

Your numbers are incorrect for stock bikes. Google for some reason puts out incorrect information on a lot of hp numbers. 250s were putting out around 41-44 stock back then. My 97cr250 with boyesen reeds and fmf pipe dynod at 45 in 2000.

[@kacyidso3471]

No wonder he beat JM. That bike must have cost twice as much!

[@peaceprayer595]

5x actually

[@mikebrown41182]

What you mean? McGraths bike was a full factory Yamaha under a different tent.

[@mattman4181]

He lapped me 3 times on a 80 at troy ohio and I came in 4th.

[@wannaseethevid]

I guess Ricky was 5 foot 5 - 5 foot 6 and from what I figure thos bikes were made for those of say 5 foot 7 - 5 foot 8............sound about right?

[@jayeddleston9486]

The graphics on todays bikes are trash,like if you see that kx/Chevy 250 you think Carmichael,McGraths Honda you know them graphics are bad ass, you see 96 kx graphics you think emig/ryno, split fire where cool. Tomac,Webb,Anderson so on none of those bikes have that look that stands out

[@plutus205]

Would you be able to do that same fabrication to the frame with today's 2022 rules?

[@hphillips7425]

I lost interest when the GOAT retired and they went to 4/strokes

[@JohnHowerton137]

It’s too bad they don’t have a minion there that can rub a coat of wax on that thing once a year to keep it from rotting. It’s actually pretty rough looking for how cool of a piece of history it is.

[@Tew730]

RC won the right way riding clean agressive but no cheap shots ,good honest hard charger -not this bob hannah mindset Ill break his leg crap-if you cant win with your skill your not winning

[@troolllllinnnzaragoza3169]

32:1?

[@amonster8mymother]

Eat dirt kawi I'll catch you yet. 😎

[@wtfftw24]

Two strokes was better 💚

[@BennyBen9]

47hp out of a 125cc jeez 😳

[@KeganVanSickle]

This was his 250. 👍🏻

[@scottchelmford7136]

most stock 250 2 strokes were making 40 to 45 at the time

[@BennyBen9]

Ah it's his 250 my bad. No wonder ha

[@KeganVanSickle]

@@BennyBen9 I did see on a build video, where they took a KTM 125 and got insane numbers like that though.

[@mikebrown41182]

@@scottchelmford7136 Yeah i mean KX 250 (2005) 47

[@scottchelmford7136]

Ricky is not 5 ft 7 lol.. 5 ft 4

[@codenamenel]

He had high heels on that day ! lol

[@64maxpower]

Ricky's boots used to have special souls to make him appear taller

[@scottchelmford7136]

@@64maxpower really

[@Nolan320]

I have one of those but mines better tbh

[@Nolan320]

It just needs a good rider😭

[@MLewisUT]

Certain riders belong on certain bikes. When they switch brands, it just doesn't look right. Ricky - Kawi Jeremy - Yamaha Bubba - Kawi KDub - Honda Chad - Yamaha etc....

[@codenamenel]

McGrath was on a Honda for years, then Suzuki for a year, then Yamaha for a few years

[@MLewisUT]

@@codenamenel 😑 I realize that.

[@TOMVUTHEPIMP]

This is a replica bike.

[@Motoinc]

not his bike......just plastic replica

[@ELECTRICMOTOCROSSMACHINE]

Most annoying intro in history cannot ruin an RC vid!

[@motocrossaction]

Sorry Peter you are so upset! Have a better day

[@fattie2550]

Carmichael is weak. Ride a production stock bike and let’s see you ride son.

[@64maxpower]

Wasted video, should have ridden it