2027 Kawasaki KX327 Preview

Fuel-injected two-stroke smoke is back, from $9,099

Summary: Kawasaki’s 2027 KX327 motocrosser and KX327X cross-country bike share the brand’s first fuel-injected two-stroke, a 327cc single with dual injectors, an electronic exhaust valve, electric start and a hydraulic clutch in a KX450F-based aluminum frame. U.S. MSRP is $9,099 and $9,699, with bikes due late 2026.

We’re in Milan for EICMA, and in Kawasaki’s Hall 11 booth there’s plenty to gawk at, including a four-legged hydrogen robot horse. But the thing drawing the dirt crowd like a free taco truck is a pair of Lime Green machines that smell like 1998 in the best possible way. Meet the 2027 Kawasaki KX327 and KX327X, the first full-size two-strokes in the KX lineup in 19 years.

Kawasaki announced both bikes for the U.S. market back in June, but EICMA is where European riders, and a whole lot of misty-eyed journalists, get to see them up close. Kawasaki lists the KX327 on its Milan stand right alongside the new Versys 900 and KLE650, which says plenty about how much the company is betting on this ring-ding revival.

Kawasaki’s First Fuel-Injected Two-Stroke

The heart of both models is an all-new liquid-cooled, 327cc (19.9 cu. in.) single-cylinder two-stroke. It’s the first two-stroke engine Kawasaki has ever built with fuel injection, and the way it works is clever. Intake is through a crankcase reed valve fed by a single 39mm throttle body with two injectors. At low rpm, only the downstream injector fires, which Kawasaki says gives precise fueling and ground-gripping traction even when the throttle is barely cracked. As revs climb, the upstream injector joins the party for what Kawasaki calls “high-revving excitement reminiscent of a classic 2-stroke.”

Translation: you shouldn’t have to re-jet every time you drive from the beach to the mountains. Fuel injection compensates for altitude and air temperature on its own, so you can leave the jet kit in the toolbox where it belongs.

Kawasaki also designed a new exhaust valve system exclusively for this engine. It adjusts exhaust port timing based on engine speed and throttle position, and Kawasaki says the combined action of ignition timing, fuel injection and the exhaust valve smooths out the peaky hit of an old-school two-stroke. The goal is strong, flat torque from ultra-low rpm all the way to the top. A single-shaft primary balancer is there to quell vibration.

Some things stay gloriously old-school. Lubrication is still premix, at a 32:1 fuel-to-oil ratio, with no separate oil-injection system to add weight or complexity. So yes, you still get to smell like bar-and-chain oil after a day of riding. Some traditions are sacred.

Kawasaki hasn’t released bore and stroke, horsepower or torque figures yet. Its U.S. spec pages still say “full model specs coming soon,” so we’ve marked those N/A in the spec table below.

Electric Start and a Hydraulic Clutch

Remember kicking a stalled two-stroke on the side of a muddy hill until your leg turned to jelly? Kawasaki does. Both KX327s get push-button electric start, powered by a compact lithium-ion battery, with the button on the right handlebar. Kawasaki says it lets you restart quickly after a tip-over, which in our experience is when you need it most.

The clutch is hydraulically actuated, with a coned-disc spring that Kawasaki says gives a light pull and a wider engagement range. Hydraulic clutches also hold a consistent feel as things get hot, which matters when you’re slipping it through rocks or ledges.

Gearboxes are where the two models split. The KX327 motocrosser gets a close-ratio five-speed. The KX327X cross-country bike gets a six-speed with what Kawasaki calls an “ultra-low” first gear, designed to make it easier to loft the front wheel over logs and keep momentum in tight, technical terrain.

KX450F-Based Chassis

Rather than reinvent the wheel, Kawasaki bolted the new engine into an aluminum perimeter frame based on the KX450F’s. On the KX327X, Kawasaki strengthened the lower frame rails for better front-end feedback and to survive the abuse of cross-country riding. It also tuned the rigidity balance specifically for the two-stroke.

Suspension is a 48mm (1.9 in.) KYB inverted coil-spring fork with KYB’s Air-Oil-Separate (AOS) design and low-friction Kashima coating, plus adjustable compression and rebound damping. Out back, Kawasaki’s New Uni-Trak linkage works a fully adjustable KYB shock with dual-range (high- and low-speed) compression, rebound and spring preload adjustment. Kawasaki says the KX327X’s valving is tuned for cross-country, prioritizing comfort over long hours and terrain-following traction.

Nissin handles braking with a 270mm (10.6 in.) front petal disc squeezed by a two-piston caliper and a 240mm (9.4 in.) rear petal disc with a single-piston caliper. Both models use Excel rims with a 21-inch front wheel. The KX327 rolls on a 19-inch rear for motocross, while the KX327X gets an 18-inch rear wearing Dunlop Geomax AT82 rubber for the woods.

Kawasaki’s ERGO-FIT adjustability is included, with two footpeg positions and four handlebar positions courtesy of two mounting points in the triple clamp and reversible bar mounts. You also get a Renthal Fatbar, ODI Lock-On grips and a quick-release side cover for tool-free air filter access.

Weight is the big unknown. Kawasaki hasn’t published an official figure, though Motorcycle.com’s spec database lists the KX327X at 233.7 pounds (106 kg) dry. We’ll update this once Kawasaki makes it official.

KX327X Gets Cross-Country Armor

The KX327X comes ready for the woods with hand guards, a skid plate with an integrated linkage guard, a rear brake disc guard and a forged aluminum side stand that retracts at a high angle to stay out of the way. Its semi-transparent resin fuel tank lets you check your fuel level at a glance. Kawasaki’s global release lists 8.6 liters (2.3 gallons) of capacity, while its U.S. site lists 8.5 liters (2.25 gallons), so call it “enough to get lost.”

The KX327 motocrosser skips the hand guards, extra covers and side stand, because nobody needs a kickstand on a starting gate.

Power Modes and a Phone App

An “M” button on the left handlebar switches between two engine maps, which Kawasaki’s U.S. site calls Normal (full power) and Mild. There’s also smartphone connectivity through a communication unit behind the front number plate and a GPS unit on the front fender. Using the RIDEOLOGY THE APP KX2 app, you can record trip logs, build track maps, review lap times, gear position and engine rpm, and monitor coolant and intake temperature in real time. An engine hour meter and maintenance reminders round it out, so there’s no excuse for skipping that top-end rebuild.

2027 Kawasaki KX327 Price and Availability

In the U.S., the 2027 KX327 lists at $9,099 and the KX327X at $9,699, plus a $650 destination charge on the KX327. Both are due late 2026, in Kawasaki’s signature Lime Green. That puts the KX327 just above the $8,599 KX250F and below the $10,299 KX450F. The KX327X sits between the $8,699 KX250FX and $10,599 KX450FX.

Europeans pay a bit more. Germany’s Motorcycles.News reports pricing from €10,295 (about $11,523) for the KX327 and €10,795 (about $12,083) for the KX327X, converted at €1 = $1.1193. In Japan, the KX327X is scheduled to go on sale around winter 2026.

The KX327s share the Kawasaki stand with the new KLE500 SE Smartride, the updated Ninja 650 and the radar-equipped Versys 900. For more, check out our Kawasaki coverage, our dirt bike stories and our 2026 EICMA Preview.

2027 Kawasaki KX327 and KX327X Specs

Specs are from Kawasaki Motors’ June 2026 global release, Kawasaki Motors Europe’s 2027 KX327/KX327X spec pages and Kawasaki U.S.A.’s model pages; Kawasaki notes specs may change. Imperial conversions are ours. European prices are from Motorcycles.News.

2027 Kawasaki KX327 FAQ

What is the Kawasaki KX327?

It’s Kawasaki’s new 327cc fuel-injected two-stroke motocross bike. The KX327X is its cross-country sibling. They’re the first full-size two-strokes in the KX series in 19 years.

How much does the 2027 Kawasaki KX327 cost?

U.S. MSRP is $9,099 for the KX327 (plus $650 destination) and $9,699 for the KX327X. Both are due late 2026.

What’s the difference between the KX327 and KX327X?

The KX327 has a close-ratio five-speed and a 19-inch rear wheel for motocross. The KX327X gets a six-speed with an ultra-low first gear, an 18-inch rear wheel, cross-country suspension settings, hand guards, a skid plate and a side stand.

Do you still have to mix gas and oil?

Yes. Even with fuel injection, both bikes use premix at a 32:1 fuel-to-oil ratio.

How much horsepower does the KX327 make?

Kawasaki hasn’t announced horsepower, torque or weight yet. We’ll update this story when it does.