Kawasaki has sprung a surprise in the United States with the launch of the new 2027 KX327X, a fuel-injected two-stroke cross-country bike packing a 327cc engine, KX450F-derived chassis and specific off-road equipment. It marks the green brand’s return to two-strokes above 250cc after more than two decades.

Kawasaki is back in the big-bore two-stroke game — and few saw this one coming. The new 2027 KX327X has been unveiled in the United States alongside its motocross sibling, the KX327, although the X version is the one that really grabs our attention at Enduro21: a cross-country-focused machine with a six-speed gearbox, 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels, larger fuel tank, protection parts, side stand and a power delivery designed to find traction and control in technical terrain.

The big news is the engine. The KX327X gets an all-new 327cc fuel-injected two-stroke single-cylinder motor, Kawasaki’s first two-stroke engine over 250cc in more than 20 years. It is an unexpected move, both because of its capacity — bigger than the usual 300cc class — and because it arrives at a time when two-stroke ranges, at least in Europe, have been shrinking in the smaller capacities due to increasingly strict emissions rules.

Kawasaki KX327X highlights

• New 327cc fuel-injected two-stroke engine
• Liquid cooling and premix lubrication
• Electric start
• Hydraulic clutch
• Two power modes
• Six-speed gearbox
• Aluminium perimeter frame derived from the KX450F
• KYB suspension
• Nissin brakes
• 21” front and 18” rear wheels
• 8.3-litre semi-transparent fuel tank
• Handguards, skid plate, linkage guard and rear disc guard
• Side stand as standard
• Adjustable ergonomics
• Smartphone connectivity via RIDEOLOGY THE APP KX2

Engine: 327cc, fuel injection and the return of the big-bore two-stroke

At the heart of the KX327X is a completely new 327cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder two-stroke engine with electronic fuel injection.

Kawasaki says it has aimed for a flat torque curve and a very controllable delivery from very low revs through to the mid-range. In off-road terms, that means an engine character designed to keep traction in check without having to constantly ride it high in the revs.

The electronic injection is also there to offer more consistent performance when temperature, altitude or weather conditions change. That is no small detail on a cross-country bike, where in the same day you can go from fast open sections to tight trails, rocks, mud or slow technical climbs.

That said, Kawasaki has kept premix lubrication, retaining that simple, old-school two-stroke feel, but combining it with modern fuel management.

Six-speed gearbox for off-road use

One of the key differences compared with the motocross KX327 is the transmission. The KX327X uses a six-speed gearbox, better suited to cross-country racing, long rides and varied terrain.

First gear has been designed for slow, technical sections, making it easier to control the bike in tricky spots and helping lift the front wheel over obstacles. Sixth, meanwhile, should allow the bike to cruise more comfortably through fast sections or transfer trails.

Electric start and hydraulic clutch

The KX327X comes with electric start, something that is now essential on any modern off-road bike. In a race, or simply when stuck in a nasty spot, being able to restart with the push of a button is a proper luxury.

It also gets a hydraulic clutch, designed to offer a consistent and precise feel — especially useful when managing traction on climbs, rocks, tight turns or changing terrain.

Power modes

Kawasaki includes two engine maps, selectable from a switch on the left-hand side of the handlebar.

We are not talking about complex electronics here, but rather a practical solution to adapt the power delivery to the terrain or the rider’s style. On a cross-country bike, being able to soften or sharpen the response can make a real difference depending on whether the ground is dry, muddy or low grip.

Chassis: KX450F base

The new two-stroke engine is housed in an aluminium perimeter frame derived from Kawasaki’s KX450F four-stroke motocross bike.

The idea is to combine the lightness and response of a two-stroke with the stability and precision of a modern race platform. Kawasaki claims a weight of 233.7lb, around 106kg, although we will have to wait and see what the final ready-to-ride figure looks like with all the X-specific equipment fitted.

KYB suspension and Nissin brakes

Suspension comes from KYB, with a 48mm AOS inverted fork up front and Uni-Trak rear suspension. Kawasaki says the settings are focused on offering control through rough terrain, bumps, ruts, rocks and technical obstacles.

Braking is handled by Nissin components, with a 270mm front disc and 240mm rear disc — a proven combination on high-performance off-road bikes.

Cross-country wheels, tank and protection

This is where the KX327X clearly separates itself from its motocross sister. The cross-country version runs a 21-inch front wheel and 18-inch rear wheel, a more logical setup for off-road tyres and technical terrain.

It also comes with an 8.3-litre semi-transparent fuel tank, handguards, skid plate, linkage guard, rear disc guard and side stand. Practical details that make it clear Kawasaki has not built this bike only with motocross tracks in mind.

Ergonomics and connectivity

The bodywork keeps the familiar KX look: slim, aggressive and designed to let the rider move easily around the bike. Ergonomics are adjustable, with four handlebar positions and two footpeg positions, a useful feature for adapting the riding position to different riders.

The KX327X also gets connectivity through RIDEOLOGY THE APP KX2, allowing riders to check settings, riding logs and maintenance information from a smartphone, always with the bike stationary.

Honestly, the Kawasaki KX327X is one of those bikes we did not see coming. A 327cc fuel-injected two-stroke with a modern chassis and cross-country focus is hardly a conservative move — even less so from a brand that had gone more than two decades without launching a new two-stroke model above 250cc.

What remains to be seen is whether it will reach Europe, under what conditions, and how seriously Kawasaki wants to take the fight to the modern off-road two-stroke market on this side of the Atlantic.

In the United States, Kawasaki has announced a price of $9,699 for the KX327X, with availability expected in late 2026. The motocross version, the KX327, will be priced at $9,099.

More info: www.kawasaki.com

Credit photos: Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.