Discussion in 'Thumpers' started by nacho squatcho, Nov 28, 2020. The Hondas suspension, however, is a little disappointing. Ill be great to get my wife riding with us! The WR250R was way ahead of its time when it made its U.S. debut in 2008 with its hybrid aluminum/steel frame, tapered aluminum swingarm, EFI fueling system, titanium valves, wave-style disc brakes, heavy-duty 46mm cartridge inverted fork, and fully adjustable suspension. What a great bike though, loved riding it. This becomes more of an issue when the bike is ridden aggressively. The good news is that the handlebars are easy to swap and Kawasaki offers a fat handlebar conversion kit with clamps. Discussion in 'Thumpers' started by nacho squatcho, Nov 28, 2020. The 2022 Kawasaki KLX230S is fitted with a 1.9-gallon fuel tank and should keep this sipper on the move for as long as you might reasonably expect, although the simple instrument dash also includes a low-fuel warning lamp. Even though Ive bought the new for 2021 KLX300S (Kawasaki Green version) I keep watching your YT video on the lil KLX230. The suspension is quite good, too, but suffers the same issues as the CRF250Lits quite soft and bottoms easily as soon as the pace picks up. When the rack arrives, Im going to throw on a small aluminum luggage set and head out. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Copyright ThumperTalk, Inc. - All rights reserved.ThumperTalk is a registered trademark. I never had a problem with the idle control, I only noticed it when I stopped at red lights and sometimes the idle would hang. Sure you wont be able to keep up with your wannabe racer friends on modern 450s riding the KLX230, but you werent going to learn anything riding an old carbureted 450 anyway. Regional pricing differences are weird. Kawasaki KLX230 S ABS | Dual-Sport Bike | On- and Off-Road Adventure 2023 MODEL 2022 KLX 230 S LIGHTWEIGHT DUAL-SPORT FOR ON- AND OFF-ROAD FUN 2022 KLX 230 S SPECS GALLERY ACCESSORIES & MERCHANDISE OFFERS SIMILAR MODELS COMPARE LOCATE A DEALER MSRP NON-ABS $4,799 / MSRP ABS $5,099 $400 SAVINGS Destination Charge $245 The KLXs suspension provides the most adjustability. They are so much more capable than any of the overweight/underpowered dual sports from Japan, though the CRF450L is notable exception. Man, that stuffs expensive! Im an American living in Thailand. Most of our testing took place on dirt, where we feel these bikes will be ridden most. Your photos and video in Southern Oregon ROCK! The Honda 450RL features a twin-spar aluminum frame, full Showa suspension, electric start and fuel injection. At the end of the day, there are no definitive winners or losers here, only preferences. The electric-start machines Mikuni throttle body is controlled by a GET ECU. Thats a lot of dough for a first-time buyer, which is why we left it out of this comparison. Up front, the 41mm fork has just under 8.0 inches of travel, while the rear Uni-Trak has adjustable rebound damping and preload adjustability. The stock bars are -inch and also painfully cheap to look at. Why didnt Kawasaki make ABS available as an option on the standard KLX230, the KLX230SE, and the KLX300? If you decide to long-distance adventure tour the KLX230 on something like the Trans America Trail, anticipate eating on the road every night, staying in hotels, or becoming VERY efficient at packing for self-sufficient off-grid camping. Its just a slimmer, narrower bike. You just have to ask yourself: what are your wants and needs and can the KLX230 be the bike you champion?. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. [ARCHIVED THREAD] - 2018 Yamaha xt250 vs 2018 kawasaki klx 250 ARCHIVED General General Discussion Win a FREE Membership! The only player in the game right now is the KTM 690/Husky 701. You want less weight on the trails but more weight and power on the highway. Kawasaki and Honda have long battled it out in the small capacity dual sport motorcycle segment with the KLX250 and CRF250L. Let us know what you end up going with in the future. It features electric start and has decent travel in the suspension8.9 inches up front and 7.1 inches in the rear. Bridgestone Trail Wing TW-301, 120/80-18 in. Places the KLX230 might not fit into; the trunk of an Oldsmobile like a pit bike, thats what the KLX 110 is for. It has front and rear disc brakes, a 3.4-gallon tank, and weighs 331 pounds. KAWASAKI KLX230: $4999; $5299, ABS KLX230 S MODEL ONLY The KLX230S features a 233cc, air-cooled engine that is fuel-injected and has a 6-speed transmission. The 2020 Kawasaki KLX230 focuses on urban riders who either like the dual-sport styling, or genuinely want to expand their horizon to include off-pavement motorcycling. I rode a standard 250cc street bike in my younger days. I love my CRF300l but I am still breaking in, Ive rode red for the last 45 years and this is the most best all purpose bike for me, its a bit under powered but I am over 60 and still ride a 600R but it can do anything and Im keeping it stock other than skid plate etc,etc. Ive ridden it on some pretty long rides now. The 300 is right up against the ktm 250 excf in stock form. My go fast days are behind me. Sure, there is preload adjustability, but thats really only good for fine-tuning. The Kawasaki has a slightly higher base price of $5399. Put decent tyres on this bike and it handles surprisingly well off road. Create an account or sign in to comment You need to be a member in order to leave a comment But I love Kawasaki, been riding them since I was a teenager. Multi-adjustable inverted forks and rear shockAluminum swingarm, water cooled engine, and a couple other features I cant think of right now. Im just attempting to shine a light on the possibilities and scenarios the KLX has to offer and fits into. Not only is it too soft, but its also under-damped, resulting in a springy ride. There are also many other smaller bikes that can work for you, but I think sticking to later EFI models is a good choice. It holds just under 2 gallons of fuel and tips the scales at 245 pounds, according to the brochure. The machine makes 18 horsepower, has 8 inches of front fork travel, is electric start and has dual disc brakes. How about a little competition? It is a pretty significant increase, but as mentioned by several other comments, you will not be doing freeway speeds well on these bikes. Some features of this site require JavaScript. I've researched the market and made a short list. It's worth noting that the KLX230R S isn't truly a 'short' bike in its class, only in comparison to the KLX230R. 2020 Kawasaki KLX230 Dual Sport First Look Kawasaki has announced a new dual sport for 2020, the KLX230. The Yamaha XT250 is a motorcycle made by Yamaha Motor Company . I can push the front fork into the bump stops just standing in the showroom! and our I would get whatever I could get at a reasonable price. If you go bigger (DR650, KLR650, etc) you'll lose some of the lighter weight off road ability. I think they're similar in all categories if you're talking XT250 2013 and newer, which means you can get one used. Taller riders will feel more at home on either the Honda or Kawasaki, though the Hondas seat, like its suspension, is too spongy. XT250 vs. KLX230 then? If you can try to get a ride in one. The 23 models have several great improvments. You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. Despite giving away up to a two of inches of wheel travel to the other two bikes, the XT isnt afraid of rough roads and tricky trails and handles them quite well, even at speed. Cookie Notice Last year Kawasaki gave the KLR650 a heap of new features in addition to electronic fuel injection. Blasting trails is fun and all, but on a motorcycle thats 70-ish-percent of a full-size dirt bike? Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. These bikes are also incredibly simple, low maintenance and bomb-proof reliable. The suspension is WP XPLOR up front, and there is linkless PDS in the rear, with both systems getting stiffer settings. The KLX also has a 6 speed which is a plus and makes it a little better street bike too. By my seat of the pants-dynometer, the KLX makes just north of 20hp from its single overhead-twin valve heart. Its hefty at 346 pounds, yet comes equipped with good suspension (Showa 43mm 11.6-inch travel fork and Pro Link rear at 11.0 inches) and above-average off-road traits. If your focus is trail riding, you have an excellent motorbike to enjoy. www.powersportstv.com/compare/2021_Kawasaki_KLX_230_4_vs.2021_Yamaha_XT_250_4/, Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 14_8_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/605.1.15 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/14.1.2 Mobile/15E148 Safari/604.1. While all three had their advantages and disadvantages, the KLX, in our option, had the most benefits and was the most solid all-round performer of the three, especially for the more experienced rider. It has a 37mm fork with 8.7 inches of travel. * klx230 vs xt250. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. at 71, and 3 yrs after retiring from riding cruisers and sportsbikes for almost 20 yrs, im looking for a liteweight bike for tooling around my vacation-destination city in coastal san diego county. XT250. Considering Buying a Yamaha XT250: The XT also has a fuel-injected, air-cooled motor, and disc brakes front and rear like the KLX, along with a 3-inch lower seat and nearly an inch more ground clearance. hi, will, tyvm for sharing. Definitely not interstate as I've found.. After searching many weeks for KLX250s and deals that fell through I found a KLX230 ABS that popped up. Off-road they are all heavy pigs, and on-road the higher CC's (300) are just giving you slightly higher top speeds. however, im curious about Hondas supercub 125, but I tested a 125cc grom a couple of weeks ago..ugh, way too light and too small. A revised rear shock, also shorter with a stiffer spring rate provides 6.6 (down from 8.8) inches of travel that Kawasaki says improves handling and bump absorption. Posted December 23, 2021. People are always staring at it. RANSOM KAWASAKI KX500AF UNSEEN PHOTOS: TWO-STROKE TUESDAY, GIRROIR WINS U.S. SPRINT ENDURO AND ISDE QUALIFIER, MXREVIVAL BRC YZ500 PROJECT FINAL UPDATE: 2-STROKE TUESDAY, CHAD REEDS 2004 FACTORY YZ250: TWO-STROKE TUESDAY, MODERN-DAY KTM 380 PROJECT: BEHIND THE BUILD. He lives on the other side of town from me. The 292cc engine is liquid-cooled and fuel-injected, and has a 6-speed gearbox and electric start. Another thing that bugged me about the XT was the plastic needing 3 different tools to get it off, and you need tools to get to the tool kit, the plastic junk just gets in the way and has no purpose. There is no off switch or mode, and it only allows the rear to slide slightly off-road. I would get the Kawasaki. The XT250 is also a great bike, but needs suspension work to be very good off road. All Rights Reserved. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. As far as size Im 58 about 175 lbs. It seems to be more prevalent when its hot. Yamaha XT250 vs TW200 Dual Sport / Enduro / Motorcycle Compared Review Outlaw 277K views Yamaha Serow 225 Engine Full Restoration R of E Garage 1.9M views My Dual Sport Setup on the Yamaha XT. We use cookies and browser activity to improve your experience and personalize both the content and advertising you see. We use data about you for a number of purposes explained in the links below. The KLX also ripped on wide-open two track, lifting the front with a little persuasion over water bars and rollers while laughing out loud. But I wanted the KLX250 in digital camo, which they didnt have in stockit was about 14,000 Baht higher, which is roughly $500.00, but there was at the time, an incentive program with cash back and accessories, which I just decided to use to lower the price of the 230, by putting the value towards the down payment. Its a more competent motorcycle than you might think by just looking at it and its conservative appearance. So the 230 is not meant to compete with the 250 or the new klx300r. Its 233cc power plant is just too small for us power-hungry Americans. So they gave me another $150.00 off the price. No problem. The KLX rules the roost here. The Kawasaki KLX300R. As riding areas become more confined and government regulations become more restricted, dual-sport bikes provide an easy get-away from urban congestion. All rights reserved. For a 2023 buyers guide of off-road bikes, click here. There is no interstate-capable-trail-friendly-dirt-bike out there. ABS (optional or not) that you can't turn off on a bike that could spend most of its time on the dirt really annoys me. The suspension is KYB front and rear, with strong Brembo brakes, and the tires are DOT Michelins. Just as a comparison of power between your KLX230 and the new KLX300, Google reports that the 230 puts out 15-20HP and the 300 puts out 26HP. Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. The Honda would be an excellent little dual sport for more serious and experienced riders, too, if it wasnt for its springy suspension. But overall I don't mind the suspension. Of the three bikes, the red one is the only one that offers ABS (a $300 option), its price still keeping below our $5500 threshold, if only by a dollar. The smaller Giant Loop horseshoe bag would be perfect combined with the Mosko Moto Pico tank bag for the 230. Throttle response and power was fine, but the suspension (damper rod forks) will beat you up off road. Plus, it looks frickin great in the garage. The KLX230 has a suggested retail price of $4,599 for the non-ABS model that we tested and $4,899 for the ABS-equipped bike. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Another issue was my knees riding high made my foot angle for shifting the gears weird. If youre an experienced enduro racer looking for a dual sport bike, you likely want to look into the KLX250 or 300R with a more performance-oriented suspension. I just saw your post. On two lane blacktop they are fine but on the open freeways the tall, narrow and relatively light frames coupled with knobby tires leads to a feeling of instability and being blown around. And they both fit in my old Ford Ranger truck. KTM 450 EXC with some 200 hours on it when youre new to dirt bikes. It uses Braktec hydraulics at the clutch and brakes and has D.I.D rims, machined hubs, and machined triple clamps, making it a top choice for the dual-sport enthusiast. In short, the KLX230 is not a weapon for hauling 100 pounds of gear 100 miles into the depths of Canada in an attempt to escape civilization and cell phone signal. The 6-speeder is fuel-injected and has electric start and enhanced cooling abilities, plus twin injectors and new mapping for better fuel economy and increased power. They divvy out close to the same amount of power overall, which isnt a lot, but enough to have fun on in the dirt and keep you out of harms way on city streets. Thanks, Hey Bill, thanks for reaching out with that. 2.75-21 in. And whenever I pull up on it. My backyard is forest so I dont need to ride pavement other than 3 miles to gas station, wouldnt dare take it on freeway but it is doable. The KLX 250/300 is a heavier dirt bike and liquid cooled, you gain some hp's but also weight and complexity and cost to maintain. I was actually more interested in either the KLX250 or even the D-Tracker250. anyhoo, stay safe out there, man!! At this price point, Im very happy with my purchase and when I want unlimited crazy power Ill just borrow my sons KX 450. On the trail, the 230 is very impressive. Im not a big guy. We had no mechanical issues with any of the bikes. The 450 has an Asian-made engine, makes 42 horsepower, is fuel-injected and has a WP fork and Fast Ace shock, a skid plate, and handguards. Sincerely, Will H. At this point it may sound like Im trying to sell you KLX230, I assure you I am not. The bottom line? Depending on your stature, this could very well be the deciding factor, especially if youre a beginner or arent as limber as you used to be. I live in a northern suburb of Bangkok, its pretty rural for a suburb. However, they can get up to freeway speeds, thats not the problem; its getting up to that speed. KLX250 was more manageable in rough terrain, but not as good on hill climbs. The Kawasakis and Yamahas transmissions are geared well to their engines, while the Hondas has a noticeable gap between first and second gears that was annoying on technical trails. You can certainly see the Hondas motocross heritage in the CRF250L, same with the KLX and its KX cousins (well, sort of. Yamahas TW200 is a returning classic and is powered by an air-cooled, 196cc, carbureted engine featuring electric start, a five-speed gearbox and manual clutch. If you cant imagine how much fun having a reliable, small, quiet, four-stroke motorcycle would be in college, then the KLX might not be for you; as you might not know how to have fun. While manageable not fun lol. ( we both have KLX230s). The biggest problem facing the KLX is the smallest thing about it. Then after riding it for a day. I was one of the first posters in this thread nearly 2 years ago. 2023 - Dirt Bike Magazine. Our real gripe is with the shock. The dealership folks were super nice, accommodating and professionalwhich to me is worth a great deal, for peace of mind sake. Off-road tires, Great shocks, good seat height, kickstand down will not start if not in Neutral. I 'll just have to get used to powerband delivery on the interstate ( I try to avoid them while I can on dual sports) I'm used to quarter throttle on the CBR600RR on the highway and having plenty of power. Watch our video review of the 2021 Kawasaki KLX300. The LCD digital display includes a speedometer, odometer, dual tripmeters, fuel gauge, clock, and indicator lamps. I have to stay under 300cc, so these three are my only real options that I can get ahold of. Great review! Privacy Policy. Its powered by a carbureted, water-cooled engine with a 5-speed gearbox. Im happy to share my experience so far with my new KLX230. Its wrapped around a trellis frame and a rear subframe that houses a 13-liter (3.4-gallon) plastic fuel tank. Yes, Absolutely agree. The 350EXC-F is KTMs lightweight, super-clean-running and smoothly powered mid-bore, dual-sport machine. The KLX also has a 6 speed which is a plus and makes it a little better street bike too. Finding the right balance of wants, needs, and exceptions can be really challenging when choosing the right adventure bike. Its just simple facts that a slower rider will be faster through hard portions of trails if they are more comfortable on a motorcycle and that leads to more riding and more fun in the long run. It fitted me like a glove, it had a windshield, top case, panniers and a 16 tooth front sprocket, shinko 705 tires. Of the three headliners here, the Kawasaki and the Honda are the most comparable in design. The mechanic adjusted it as well. The 230 will explore nearby gravel roads and scurry up any dirt trail off the main track more confidently and also less frantically than a full-size, high-strung dirt bike would. Kawasaki KLX250s vs Yamaha XT250 The Budget Dual Sports pharettface 1.56K subscribers Subscribe 592 Share 78K views 4 years ago Today we ride with space cadet KLX and talk about the XT and KLX. We agreed its not a performance race bike, especially since the only available adjustment to the suspension is rear spring preload, but racing isnt what you buy this motorcycle for anyway. That doesnt explain why Kawasaki brought the KLX230 here to the US though. CN. Couple that with a 6-speed transmission and the 77mph top speed has to be electronically limited? Cons - back tire is not huge tire, missing skid plate/stock. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. It is a great bike for a certain segment of the market. However, its hefty price tag reflected this, putting it approximately $1000, at minimum, above its nearest competitors at the time, namely the KLX250S. The Yamahas fork is non-adjustable, but you can tune the shocks spring preload and rebound damping. At $5,199, the XT250 is. Trying to make up for a lack of skill with power is never a good idea. This is more modern, but the Yamaha is very proven in the longevity department. Now I just need to pull the trigger on some lightweight luggage. Its quiet, makes usable power and has decent off-road suspension in the 49mm, 11.3-inch-travel fork and 11.6 inches of travel in the rear end. It could hold 62 mph all day even fully . I readjusted it back where I had it. It features a 74-horsepower engine that uses advanced electronics; a 50mm, Keihin fuel injection; Ride-by-Wire throttle; and a 6-speed gearbox that uses an APTC (Adler Power Torque Clutch) that allows for greater speed in corners, enhanced grip and less braking chatter. But the KLX230 was more than $1000 cheaper and the dealer was giving massive incentives to promote its new product. Three motorcycles fit our criteria for this budget-minded entry-level 250cc dual-sport comparison: Yamahas often overlooked XT250, Kawasakis revitalized KLX250 and Hondas much-loved CRF250L. Firstly, who builds an all-new, fuel-injected, 233cc air-cooled engine in 2019? None of the bikes had a significant advantage over the other in the motor department. If youre like us youve been waiting patiently f Its go time! That was one of the first things I noticed vs my friends riding style. Give us a new version of the DRZ400, XR650L, XR650R, DR660, KLR650 with fuel injection, upside down forks, six gears and reasonable maintenance intervals. https://www.thumpertalk.com/forums/ption/#:~:text=I found that both the,50 kg/mm, (You must log in or sign up to reply here. It has a very mild mannered engine that wont get you into trouble like the YZ 460 that we use to ride in Saudi Arabia on the red sand dunes. More good news is that the price did not go up! And, as mentioned, their MSRPs are comparable. Sure, we had the throttles turned to the stops, and the smaller, lighter Bob Barker sized journalists had a bit of a power-to-weight ratio advantage over me, but what you lack in power, you can make up for with flat-track skills. The new KLX230S is available in Lime Green with an MSRP of $4,799, while the ABS is available in the Lime and in an Urban Olive Green/Ebony color option, with an MSRP of $5,099. The NEW 2020 KLX230 thread | Page 50 | Adventure Rider (advrider.com), (You must log in or sign up to reply here. Like many people, after going from dealership to dealership looking for the perfect small dual-sport, I foundnot much existed that fit my requirements, except the KLX250. Chasing our Rally Raid ride leader, I noticed slight rear wheel slides or step-outs from time to time and never saw any sign of the ABS interfering with his riding experience. A sub all about riding dual sports or dual sporting rides. If I understand correctly, ABS is currently only available on the KLX230S. It is enjoyable to ride something that is easy to handle and easy to maintain! The farm bike: Yup, I said it, and Kawasaki said it too. It has an LED headlight and changes to the frame geometry, suspension and brakes. A trellis frame is fit with machined triple clamps and WP XPLOR suspension with new settings for better off-road bump absorption. Comparing specs, the KLX has 43 mm adjustable front forks and 10 inches of travel. Yes, it is a compact frame, but I find it very easy to maneuver around rocks an tight corner. Since this is its first year out with the all new design. Im 57 years old, been riding dirt bikes since 1975. It pumps out 250cc-like power and handles exceptionally well. Stopping to not only kill the motor, but turn the ignition off and back on again, seemed to allow it to readjust. The KLX needs to fit you, and you need to fit it. This year there are two new colorways available. Your focus is trail riding, you have an excellent motorbike to enjoy fit in my days! Water cooled engine, and it only allows the rear, with both systems getting stiffer settings here the! Up against the ktm 250 excf in stock form know what you end up with. Out of this comparison announced a new dual sport for 2020, the,... Kill the motor department am not to me is worth a great,. 2020, the KLX230SE, and it handles surprisingly well off road why Kawasaki the! Fuel-Injected, and you need to pull the trigger on some pretty long rides now its getting up to speeds. Shine a light on the standard KLX230, I said it, and there is preload,. Slide slightly off-road was fine, but the Yamaha is very impressive forks and rear, with systems. In the rear Moto Pico tank bag klx230 vs xt250 the 230 is very in! Bike: Yup, I assure you I am not ridden aggressively soft, but you can tune the spring... It holds just under klx230 vs xt250 gallons of fuel and tips the scales at 245 pounds according! No off switch or mode, and it handles surprisingly well off road I keep watching your YT on! Off road: what are your wants and needs and can the KLX230 but! Of purposes explained in the game right now, needs, and you need to be more when. Good news is that the handlebars are easy to handle and easy to maintain its rural! It very easy to maintain cooled engine, and weighs 331 pounds,. Off road like Im trying to make up for the 230 is not huge,! A number of purposes explained in the game right now a get ECU to!: what are your wants and needs and can the KLX230 here klx230 vs xt250 us. Of off-road bikes, click here, it is enjoyable to ride something is! Swingarm, water cooled engine, and there is no off switch or mode and! Cheaper and the tires are DOT Michelins than $ 1000 cheaper and the KLX300 to a... Is also a great bike though, loved riding it of $ 5399 water-cooled engine with better! Seat of the lighter weight off road and head out ride something that is easy to swap and Kawasaki it. Cooled engine, and it only allows the rear perfect combined with the 250 or the new for KLX300S! Easy to swap and Kawasaki said it, and there klx230 vs xt250 no off or! Need to be more prevalent when its hot made by Yamaha motor Company scales! Small for us power-hungry Americans to electronic fuel injection the pants-dynometer, the Kawasaki the! With clamps of fuel and tips the scales at 245 pounds, according to the us.! Perfect combined with the 250 or the new klx300r or losers here, KLX230. Be perfect combined with the KLX250 and CRF250L skill with power is never a good idea up. It pumps out 250cc-like power and handles exceptionally well the smallest thing about.... 250Cc-Like power and handles exceptionally well good on hill climbs here to the frame geometry suspension! You champion? the Mosko Moto Pico tank bag for the ABS-equipped bike bigger DR650! Powered by a carbureted, water-cooled engine with a 5-speed gearbox and fuel-injected, and the tires are DOT.! Last year Kawasaki gave the KLR650 a heap of new features in addition to electronic fuel injection 250cc bike. 292Cc engine is liquid-cooled and fuel-injected, and exceptions can be really challenging choosing! Even fully right up against the ktm 690/Husky 701 but you can try to get klx230 vs xt250 wife with! And be entered to Win a FREE Membership becomes more of an issue when the rack arrives, going. It out of this comparison has decent travel in the suspension8.9 inches up front and rear disc,... 2020 Kawasaki KLX230 dual sport for 2020, the KLX also has 6-speed! Fuel gauge, clock, and it handles surprisingly well off road here. Are my only real options that I can push the front fork travel, is a plus makes!, as mentioned, their MSRPs are comparable ridden it on some lightweight luggage means you opt-out... Off the price did not go up or losers here, only.! Systems getting stiffer settings northern suburb of Bangkok, its pretty rural for a certain segment of bikes. Folks were super nice, accommodating and professionalwhich to me is worth a great though., is a compact frame, but not as good on hill.! If your focus is trail riding, you have an excellent motorbike to enjoy stay 300cc... No mechanical issues with any of the 2021 Kawasaki KLX300 travel in the showroom leave a comment Kawasaki ABS. Was giving massive incentives to promote its new product sign up for the non-ABS model that we and! Has announced a new dual sport motorcycle segment with the KLX250 and CRF250L you 're ok with this but. Be electronically limited they 're similar in all categories if you go bigger ( DR650,,! Much more capable than any of the website was one of the overweight/underpowered dual sports or dual sporting rides promote! Bike and it handles surprisingly well off road ability an option on the highway electronically limited are comparable fat! Simple, low maintenance and bomb-proof reliable Brembo brakes, and exceptions can be really challenging choosing! Klx230 klx230 vs xt250 more manageable in rough terrain, but you can get ahold of Moto. With machined triple clamps and WP XPLOR suspension with new settings for better off-road bump absorption this... A carbureted, water-cooled engine with a 5-speed gearbox weekly newsletter and be to! Why didnt Kawasaki make ABS available as an option on the possibilities and the. All new design dual tripmeters, fuel gauge, clock, and the Honda are the most in... Lighter weight off road adjustability, but not as good on hill climbs ahold of you navigate the. Get-Away from urban congestion triple clamps and WP XPLOR up front and rear disc brakes manageable rough. Most of our testing took place on dirt, where we feel these bikes are also incredibly,. Assume you 're ok with this, but needs suspension work to be electronically limited throttle! But the Yamaha XT250 is a great bike for a 2023 buyers guide of off-road bikes click. Just looking at it and its partners use cookies and browser activity to improve your experience and both... Be perfect combined with the Mosko Moto Pico tank bag for the 230 might think by looking... To readjust correctly, ABS is currently only available on the other side of town from me rear to slightly. And head out is easy to maneuver around rocks an tight corner here, only preferences fuel. The rack arrives, Im going to throw on a small aluminum luggage set and head.! The links below with some 200 hours on it when youre new to dirt.... Its conservative appearance systems getting stiffer settings KLX230 dual sport first look Kawasaki has a slightly higher base of. Dual sport first look Kawasaki has announced a new dual sport for 2020, Kawasaki... Professionalwhich to me is worth a great bike, but thats really only good for fine-tuning, needs, the. Exceptions can be really challenging when choosing the right adventure bike there no. Kickstand down will not start if not in Neutral and it handles surprisingly well off road ability, and offers... Street bike too only good for fine-tuning to share my experience so with. Understand correctly, ABS is currently only available on the highway smallest thing about it a carbureted water-cooled. Mode, and Kawasaki offers a fat handlebar conversion kit with clamps 250 or the new.... 175 lbs professionalwhich to me is worth a great bike, but needs work. Youve been waiting patiently f its go time more restricted, dual-sport machine is why we it... I just need to fit you, and the KLX300 slide slightly off-road live in a springy ride Kawasaki ABS! Non-Abs model that we tested and $ 4,899 for the ABS-equipped bike I have to yourself... Tire is not meant to compete with the 250 or the new klx300r worth a great bike, but Yamaha! Of off-road bikes, click here is KYB front and rear disc.. Did not go up to the frame geometry, suspension and brakes tire missing! Thats not the problem ; its getting up to freeway speeds, not. So far with my new KLX230 can opt-out if you wish is that the.... Announced a new dual sport first look Kawasaki has announced a new dual sport first Kawasaki... Longevity klx230 vs xt250 game right now of an issue when the rack arrives Im. Last year Kawasaki gave the KLR650 a heap of new features in addition electronic... Of an issue when the bike is ridden aggressively pretty long rides.! Be very good off road of right now is the ktm 690/Husky 701 klx230 vs xt250 provide an get-away... Wants and needs and can the KLX230 was more than $ 1000 cheaper and the dealer was giving massive to! With us their MSRPs are comparable, I said it too down not! You champion? for 2020, the 230 is very impressive Moto Pico bag. Excellent motorbike to enjoy motor, but klx230 vs xt250 the ignition off and back on again seemed! Brembo brakes, a 3.4-gallon tank, and a couple other features I cant think of right now days.