The Fascinating Story of the Kawasaki KR250, the Two-Stroke With One Cylinder Behind the Other

The Kawasaki KR250 was one of the strangest and most innovative two-stroke motorcycles of the 1980s. Instead of placing its two cylinders side by side, Kawasaki used a rare tandem-twin layout—one cylinder positioned behind the other—inspired by its successful Grand Prix racing machines. In this video, we explore the fascinating story of the KR250, its unusual 249cc two-stroke engine, race-derived engineering, distinctive design, and why this unconventional Kawasaki remains a cult classic among two-stroke motorcycle fans.