04 kx250

[green pilot]

hi everyone i purchased 04 250 a few days ago after having yzf400,i read though afew lod mags and they all bag the bike "average bike with below average power" it has pc works standard tail but came with pc tail also has fly wheel weight.i am looking for afew more hp would a vforce or rad valve help also would some porting help.any advice would be appreciated.   

[FPMXer]

The people or riders that test the bikes in the shootouts are people that ride all the time. They are racers of all levels so of course the bike might not have the same power as last year. But IMO all the 250cc smokers have enough power for normal people like us and simple bolt on's will be a kick in the pants. If it has the PC silencer then add a PC pipe and yes the V3 is a good choice over the stock inlet. Porting a 250 isn't necessary unless your a big time racer. I personally like the 250's in stock form. It's all about what you want to spend.

[green pilot]

yeah i think i will add a rad valve or vforce, either will do i guess then maybe look into some porting when piston change rolls around,the factory tail is on at the mo but have the pc tail ready the last guy reckons the stock tail adds bottom end

[FPMXer]

The longer the silencer the more bottom end you will retain and a shorty is for top end power. I have had both on my 125 and will keep a longer silencer on there. The shorty didn't last very long and cracked around the inlet pipe. One bolt flange on the shorty is it's downfall. I also will be putting the V3 reed cage on her after the big bore kit next month.

[kx666]

Just ride the bike unless you get board of it then start changing thing.

and also, the is no "porting" that can be done on any modern bike that will improve the bike  much. if some one tells you they are "porting" your motor they are most likely just cleaning up the port castings.  Kawasaki has more $$ and experience then most engine builders. if you were to port the motor there would be some loss and some gain (most people wouldn?t notice a difference) and reliability would be nonexistence. I will say that the kx (125-500) have always have had the most benefit from porting.

the 04 250 is a great bike!!! don?t believe anything you read in magazines they are funded by a number of companies that want to see cretin things. i have rode '04 ktm, kx, yz, rm and cr 250s and that is the order of my preference.
~steve

[green pilot]

hi thanks for your reply,i must admit i was pretty disapointed when the mags said the 04 kx was down 3 hp to its rivals.like you say i will just use it

[kx666]

something i noticed is that kawasaki almost always shoots for  smoth and liner powerband. yamaha usaully goes for highest horse power. and honda usualy has the most torque ( not including the newer cr125s).  i have seen this pattern in both street and dirt bikes...

if i remember correctly i think the 04 250s had a service bulitin, ck the clerance of the powevalve lever.
~steve

[green pilot]

hi thanks planning a ride with a couple of buddies will take a look at kips it came with manual so should be a piece of cake

[Utah]

I'm going to pick up new for me '04 tomorrow. Is power valve check an easy thing to do or should I have a mechanic take a look before I take it out for a ride? Guy I'm buying from says he only rode the bike 4 times and decided his road bike was more to his liking... Thx for info!