Kawasaki Zx-25r Review

Used Buyer Review

Look, the ZX-25R is genuinely special and you know it the moment you hit 14,000rpm and that four-cylinder screams past your ears. Nothing else on two wheels does this under $10k. Kawasaki pulled off something remarkable cramming 250cc into four cylinders, and the soundtrack alone justifies the purchase price. It revs to 17,000rpm and makes around 45hp — numbers that sound modest until you're wringing its neck through a canyon. But go in eyes open. These bikes have been thrashed. Most used examples have seen track days or been ridden by owners chasing every single rev ceiling every single ride. Check the service history obsessively — valve clearances on a four-cylinder 250 aren't cheap. Parts availability varies by region, and dealers aren't always familiar with the platform. Chain and sprockets wear faster than you'd expect given how hard owners ride them.