2027 Kawasaki KX327 and KX327X two-strokes: What riders think

Even in the off-road space, where pesky emissions standards don’t apply, two-strokes are few and far between. That’s why introduction of Kawasaki's 2027 KX327 and KX327X made a big commotion among dirt bike and enduro riders. 

We’ll get to some of those opinions later, but for now, let’s check out the bikes, shall we?

The general idea

Let me preface this section by saying that Kawasaki has only released key details about the two KXs. The full specs are still unavailable, so information like seat height, wheelbase, and weight won’t be covered here. What we do know is that a KX450F-derived lightweight aluminum perimeter frame underlies both models. KYB supplies the 48 mm fork. Kawasaki’s own Uni-Trak system suspends the rear. Nissin brakes provide the stopping power. 

Those items are intriguing and all, but let’s cut to the chase, the major draw here is the 327 cc two-stroke single-cylinder engine.

Two-stroke engine development hasn’t been a priority for Team Green. Case in point: The 327 cc single found in the KX327 and KX327X is the first two-stroke over 250 cc that Kawasaki has designed in over two decades. It pulled out all the stops, too. That’s evidenced by the modern solutions on offer. 

Fuel injection is chief among them. Kawi claims the fuel delivery system endows the two-stroke with “a flat torque curve with exceptional controllability, especially in the ultra-low to mid rpm range.” It also yields reliable performance, independent of altitude and ambient temperature. Electric start is yet another convenience. 

The advantages of the KX’s two-stroke are apparent. Even more apparent are the advantages riders stand to gain. 

Power to the riders

The only direct competitors to the KX327 and KX327X are KTM’s 300 SX and 300 XC. Both Austrian options cost more than their Japanese counterparts. In other words, a market reset could be in store. At least, that’s the consensus among off-road-riding Zillans I talked to. 

Matt is a Product Category Manager, but more importantly, he’s an MX rider. To be specific, he's a KX450 rider. Matt is not only “pumped to have a new two-stroke bike on the market,” but he also believes Kawasaki will “sell every one that it brings into the States.” He isn’t alone, either.

Rob is a Dirt Catalog Specialist and he rides an assortment of bikes, from a Yamaha Ténéré 700 to a Honda CRF450R, from a Stark VARG MX to a Suzuki RL250. He thinks the 327 platform “sounds like a home run” on paper, and that it could be major contender in “a market that European brands have comfortably monopolized for over 20 years.” Part of that, Rob says, is because the KXs have a “better price tag than the Euro options, and a familiar aluminum Japanese MX frame, which is ideal for anyone coming off of a Japanese four-stroke MX bike.”

Jeff is the VP of Real Estate and Construction. He owns a T7 and a Suzuki VanVan, but it’s his enduro stable that’s most applicable here. That’s because he rides a KTM 300 XC-W and KTM 250 XC-W, two fuel-injected two-stroke models. Even he’s impressed with the KXs, acknowledging that Kawasaki “went with Throttle Body Injection (TBI), which should provide excellent low end and fueling across the rev range.” Given Kawasaki’s “stiff aluminum frame” and “KYB’s fork,” Jeff also thinks the “bike will be a beast with the right pilot.”

Ryan is a Product Catalog Team Lead. He recently completed a cross-country move, so his garage is currently bike-less, but his most recent ride was a Honda CRF450R. Ryan certainly sees the KX327X’s potential, especially since Yamaha has yet to update its long-in-the-tooth YZ250X. As a Honda loyalist, he hopes Big Red can “respond with a CR300R/RX in the next year or so.” Otherwise, he says he “might have to make the move over to Team Green.”

It’s safe to say, there’s a wealth of excitement and anticipation for the KX327 and KX327X. If Kawasaki finds success with its upcoming off-road offerings, maybe two-strokes won’t be a dying breed much longer.