yep suzuki and kawasaki joint venture bike suzuki done the engine and kawi the frame etc , i always believe it was rushed in to production and was not tested enough , once they went there ways the kx250f started to improve , i have a lot to do with them from 09 onwards and have seen big hrs on these bikes , of course they have weak links , but what bikes dont the good thing is the later ones can be made to last longer with a few mods and when i have not had a ride for awhile , the 250f is the bike i choose to clean the rust off myself before i jump on 450 and 500 2t , alward right get another bike . put this one in the lemon museum .