Kawasaki has been super-quiet this show season, with a new Z900, Versys 1100, Ninja 1100 and… that’s about it. But get this: They showed a new machine at EICMA that sure looks like a new adventure bike is coming.
Kawasaki is doubling down on its street-legal KLX230 lineup, literally—from a basic KLX230 S dual sport and KLX230 SM supermoto, we now see two more machines added. For 2026, some markets will now get the Kawasaki KLX230 Sherpa S and KLX230 DF.
Kawasaki Motors Corp., USA, is recalling certain 2024 Z500 and Ninja 500 motorcycles due to a potentially faulty welded clutch release shaft. Kawasaki has also issued a stop sale and delivery notice to its dealers.
Kawasaki sent photos of the plain jane Versys 1100, odd when it's the S they sell in Oz and the SE LT available in the US. Nice clear shot, though. Beautiful plumage. The Bear 3/24/2025 Featured, Kawasaki Versys 1100 S, Sports Tourer
Kawasaki hasn’t built a two-stroke dirt bike for the North American market since the late 2000s, when they axed the KLX250. The KLX125 died out a bit before that, and the KE100, their last street-legal two-stroke motorcycle in North America, died out in 2001, at least in the US market. The KDX trail series also died out around the mid-2000s.
Kawasaki last produced the KX125 in 2006, and the KX250 in 2007. Now, almost 20 years later, Kawasaki is developing another two-stroke. Does this mean they’ll have to change the name for their four-strokes back to KX250F and KX450F? We think so!
