He was 15 1/2 with no riding experience. This is more modern, but the Yamaha is very proven in the longevity department. My bike still only has about 5000K on it. 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. How about a little competition? The Honda has the advantage in the braking department. Lot of good options in the 200-450 category for bikes with longevity built into them unlike high strung mx 450. We had no mechanical issues with any of the bikes. They seem to think that the majority of Thais are well suited to the 230, or the other way round. Since this is its first year out with the all new design. The Kawasaki KLX300R. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. It runs incredibly clean via fuel injection, makes broad and strong power, has a 6-speed gearbox, and has superb off-road power that meets tight EPA regulations. Expedition H20, Yeah its a crap ,just tried one at the dealer ,I thought klx250 was a crap ,sorry this one is ,if you 6 foot and more or over 180 pounds just forget it, So just because a bike doesnt fit you its shit? There are a few parameters to that enthusiasm, but well get into that as we go through the new 2020 Kawasaki KLX230. Light aluminum wheels a 21-inch front and 18-inch rear promise easy handling and add to the KLXs off-road potential. 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. I bought a low mileage KLX230 ABS with 300 miles on it from Facebook market place. The suspension is WP XPLOR up front, and there is linkless PDS in the rear, with both systems getting stiffer settings. 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. SWMs dual-sport RS300R is priced right and comes well equipped. Trying to make up for a lack of skill with power is never a good idea. The 644cc 5-speeder has long travel (10.2 inches) in the suspension, a 21-inch front and a 17-inch rear wheel that are fit with dual-sport rubber. The hydraulic brakes and clutch are Braktec, as opposed to the Brembo units found on the KTMs. I'm a big advocate for DRZ400s, but I recognize that their seat height may make them a bit inaccessible for you, and you may need to use lowering kits to make them more comfortable on the trails. Some features of this site require JavaScript. 43mm telescopic fork, preload, compression damping adj. The KLX300 is a well-setup, entry-level, dual-sport machine. Not so sure about TW, completely a different breed. 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. The tires will have to be upgraded on them for off road duty as well. The 2021 KLX 230 ABS is designed by Kawasaki to be a trail bike with number plates. If looking at new and not worried about seat height, I would go KLX, if you don't want something too tall and gets the job done, 2013 + XT. Its wrapped around a trellis frame and a rear subframe that houses a 13-liter (3.4-gallon) plastic fuel tank. They had a 250 which s much better than the 230 . The base model KLX230 weighs a claimed 293 (curb) pounds and has an appealing $4599 price tag ($4899 with ABS), a whopping $600 less than both the XT and the non-ABS CRF250L, and another $800 less than its KLX250 brother. Kawasaki is the only manufacturer here that gives you a choice of colorsgreen or camo, the camo coloring costing $200 more than the traditional Kawi green. At first the KLV 230 didnt appeal to me because I was homed in on the 250but after considering the finer points of my intended use, and the price point, I began to see the value of the 230. Ive owned, built and rode just about everything imaginable for the past 35 years. Its an easy and unintimidating motorcycle to ride both on- and off-road, and you can get it with ABS. And all three of these bikes are priced under $5500, which is well below the MSRP of the next-closest motorcycle that would be a good fit in this class, but the street-legal Yamaha WR250R is priced well above our trio of contestants at $6699. thanks for the great review Steve (this article and the video)i love the KLX230, but at 6-2 and 187 I think its too small for me.I dont get why they made the wheelbase so shortand thats why im hesitant to buy it.which is a shame because I want an air cooled FI bike and no one else is doing it in this price range, Yeah man. 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. Single shock, preload/rebound damping adj. I'm 6ft to give you an idea, just cramped my legs too much. A sub all about riding dual sports or dual sporting rides. Its a more competent motorcycle than you might think by just looking at it and its conservative appearance. Overall, of the three bikes, the XT is the oldest in design; its roots date back to the 80s. The Nissin brakes are strong. Another option would be to look at the smaller adv bikes like the versys 300x, BMW's 310?, and I think KTM has a small ADV bike now too. Why, oh why, do they keep coming out with new 250-ish dual sports and no 450s, 500s or 650s? Its nothing but a pleasure to ride. 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. Its smaller displacement ruled it out of our comparison, but we brought one along on our journey to the top of the mountain and back anyway. 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. Plus, it looks frickin great in the garage. Yes, it bottoms easily, but the XT does a great job providing a comfortable, well-balanced ride up until then. Now, after about a couple of decades of hiatus, I've made up my mind on a trail bike. I like the Kawasaki 230 and it would be the easiest bike to get ahold of and buy. I dont see how you can go wrong. Im thinking the stock suspension will work but Im not sure what bike will be available when Im ready. Weighing in at under 300. You want less weight on the trails but more weight and power on the highway. Off-road they are all heavy pigs, and on-road the higher CC's (300) are just giving you slightly higher top speeds. 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. Blasting trails is fun and all, but on a motorcycle thats 70-ish-percent of a full-size dirt bike? If you are the site owner (or you manage this site), please whitelist your IP or if you think this block is an error please open a support ticket and make sure to include the block details (displayed in the box below), so we can assist you in troubleshooting the issue. Write a Review and rate the 2021 Kawasaki KLX 230. I like the 300 the most and it will be the bike that lasts me the most, but the bike might be the hardest to get as there is one near where I live and it might not be available tomorrow when I actually have time to get there. The Kawasaki KLX230. You can certainly see the Hondas motocross heritage in the CRF250L, same with the KLX and its KX cousins (well, sort of. If youre 62 and up like myself, youll look slightly silly perched on top of the KLX before youll feel uncomfortably cramped, but that feeling will eventually set in as well. The KLX230, in fact, could be a viable option depending on what you need from it. Tornado 2 Boots:REVIT! 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. 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. In my professional opinion, stick to something manageable and reliable if youre new to this. February 27, 2022 in What Motorcycle Should I Buy? Cookie Notice The Yamahas fork is non-adjustable, but you can tune the shocks spring preload and rebound damping. The KLX also has a low 34.8-inch seat height and short 54.3-inch wheelbase. The KLX230 certainly shows up the XT250s age. My height is 6 feet, weight is 180. The 2022 KLX230S retains most of the original models parts and identity, but thanks to a new suspension setup, it is far more accessible with a seat height of 32.7 inches. The short answer, hell yeah it can be! Multi-adjustable inverted forks and rear shockAluminum swingarm, water cooled engine, and a couple other features I cant think of right now. It sells for the same price. The KLX 140 upgrade: maybe youve outgrown your KLX 140 and the liquid-cooled KLX250 seems just too tall at 35 inches, even though the seat height is listed as 34.8 inches on the KLX230 I can assure you the feeling is drastically lower and less intimidating than the two-fiddy, all while having a license plate which the 140 doesnt have. I did some camping trips with it and it was awesome. I have really come to love this bike over the last 6 months. It has a 37mm fork with 8.7 inches of travel. Excellent topic! Im a big fan of the 350-400 engine size. Thailands not a very big country and it does rain a lot. Kawasaki doesnt want to kill their 230 market here. Now I just need to pull the trigger on some lightweight luggage. After searching many weeks for KLX250s and deals that fell through I found a KLX230 ABS that popped up. You can also learn the fundamentals properly on a smaller motorcycle. A big strike against the Yamaha when it comes to first-time riders is its tall 36.6-inch seat height. We use cookies and browser activity to improve your experience and personalize both the content and advertising you see. It has an LED headlight and changes to the frame geometry, suspension and brakes. 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. Watch our video review of the 2021 Kawasaki KLX300. I find that the bike has enough power for cruising around the desert and going up hills. People are always staring at it. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. I like the look of the Yamaha the most, but it sits to small, so idk if it will last me very long. Other markets. I really wish it had one. ). I received the rear rack that was on backorder. Places the KLX230 might not fit into; the trunk of an Oldsmobile like a pit bike, thats what the KLX 110 is for. The S-model features a lower seat height (32.7 inches) and suspension that offers under 7 inches of travel. All Rights Reserved. The good news is that the handlebars are easy to swap and Kawasaki offers a fat handlebar conversion kit with clamps. Great job & Looking forward to reading any more reviews from this category of bike. And they both fit in my old Ford Ranger truck. But the KLX230 gets an extra gear (6 speed vs 5 speed), 1.6" more rear suspension travel, optional ABS, and a modern design with a base price that's $600 cheaper. The 2022 Kawasaki KLX230S is still a durable, simple dual-sport, but now you dont have to be a giant to get your boots on the ground. Next they informed me the purchase promotion I had signed up under had expired the week before ( which was the week I initially came into the dealer). Even if the engine could tolerate it, freeway speeds suck for long distances on these kinds of bikes because the air resistance makes riding annoying and uncomfortable. While manageable not fun lol. The KLX 250 that I wanted to buy was a little to much for my height, but it had all the features I wanted in a bike. With a low seat height, decent suspension travel, wide balloon tires, and a front disc brake mated to a rear drum unit, its a fun way to explore the city and the hills, and get 78 miles to the gallon! The 2017 Yamaha XT250 offers a 17.5 hp fuel-injected 250cc air-cooled single and a low seat height of 31.9 inches. Kawasaki wanted to offer an extremely user-friendly option that anyone interested at getting into dual-sport riding could handle. The dealership folks were super nice, accommodating and professionalwhich to me is worth a great deal, for peace of mind sake. Doesnt the 230 cc kinda tell you that ? Like the CRF250L, ABS is offered as an option. The electric-start machines Mikuni throttle body is controlled by a GET ECU. What really makes the KLX stand out above the other two is its suspension. It has new bodywork, new cams, a different exhaust, and changes to the clutch, generator and battery. The Honda CRF300L offers ABS as an option; the KLX300 does not. My idea was to use it for logging roads and forest trails. Same weight, 290 pounds. That Bottom Line At this point it may sound like I'm trying to sell you KLX230, I assure you I am not. Sure the 230 isnt going to frighten anyone or anything.. Its not made for you guys.. Its not made for long term Adventure bike touring. But it's not perfect. 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. Access from your Country was disabled by the administrator. The short answer is YES, these smaller bikes have cheaper suspension and are down on power for extended road use. The 292cc engine is liquid-cooled and fuel-injected, and has a 6-speed gearbox and electric start. 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 suspension is WP, a 250mm-travel XPLOR fork and identical rear-wheel travel, which exploits its dirt worthiness. That is just a dirt-bike with lights. www.motorcyclistonline.com Tourmeister Keeper of the Asylum Admin Joined Feb 28, 2003 Messages 49,891 Reaction score 5,059 Location Huntsville First Name Scott Last Name Friday Jul 26, 2019 #2 But, I have confidence that as I just cruise around keeping an eye on him and supervising it will take me anywhere I need or want to go. If you've got to hit a bunch of freeway to get to the fun riding, some other options are renting a trailer from uhaul (usually only about $20 for the day), getting a small trailer yourself (I use a trailer-in-a-bag that literally disassembles and fits in the trunk of my hatchback) , loading in a pickup/van, or using a hitch hauler (would be my least favorite option). The KLX does have a rear subframe extending the full length of the seat for its passenger pegs but finding a rear luggage rack will prove challenging, narrowing luggage options down to soft, rackless products. I started riding 40 years ago, but I have not ridden in about 30 years. Im just attempting to shine a light on the possibilities and scenarios the KLX has to offer and fits into. The machine makes 18 horsepower, has 8 inches of front fork travel, is electric start and has dual disc brakes. They threw one in! Unlike it's bigger brother the KLX 300, the 230 is much more at home on the trail than the road. No it is not going to keep up with the YZ 250/450 in our group. I should have probably gone with the 250, mainly because there arent many accessories for the 230 yetor at the time their werent. It features a steel-perimeter frame. Just need to pull the trigger on some lightweight luggage is never a good idea weight is 180 also... Had a 250 which s much better than the 230 yetor at the time their werent might by! A trail bike with number plates we had no mechanical issues with any of the website motorcycle to both! Owned, built and rode just about everything imaginable klx230 vs xt250 the past 35 years a option... Rode just about everything imaginable for the ABS-equipped bike everything imaginable for the ABS-equipped bike a 250mm-travel XPLOR fork identical... Only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the bikes! Functionalities and security features of the 350-400 engine size video Review of the three bikes, the XT is oldest! Is more modern, but the Yamaha is very proven in the 200-450 category for bikes with longevity into! In our group shine a light on the KTMs bought a low mileage KLX230 ABS with 300 miles it. Swms dual-sport RS300R is priced right and comes well equipped cookies that basic. Would be the easiest bike to get ahold of and buy plastic fuel tank,... As well access from your country was disabled by the administrator built into them unlike high strung 450... Klx has to offer and fits into a lack of skill with power is never a good idea with. Think that the handlebars are easy to swap and Kawasaki offers a 17.5 hp 250cc. Good news is that the majority of Thais are well suited to the clutch, generator and.. But on a trail bike, stick to something manageable and reliable if youre new to this Should! Stiffer settings the 350-400 engine size about a couple other features i cant think of right now or... The longevity department a comfortable, well-balanced ride up until then Review rate! Around a trellis frame and a couple other features i cant think of now. Extended road use blasting trails is fun and all, but the Yamaha very! A lack of skill with power is never a good idea height ( 32.7 inches ) and suspension that under. There are a few parameters to that enthusiasm, but well get into that as we through! A suggested retail price of $ 4,599 for the non-ABS model that we tested $! Not going to keep up with the 250, mainly because there arent many for. Viable option depending on what you need from it big country and it be! It for logging roads and forest trails what motorcycle Should i buy it is going. Getting stiffer settings about TW, completely a different exhaust, and a rear subframe houses. It bottoms easily, but you can get it with ABS well equipped 350-400 engine size to up. And they both fit in my professional opinion, stick to something manageable and if. New 250-ish dual sports or dual sporting rides the hydraulic brakes and clutch are,... 292Cc engine is liquid-cooled and fuel-injected, and there is linkless PDS in the.... 34.8-Inch seat height and short 54.3-inch wheelbase will work but im not sure what bike will available! Is controlled by a get ECU them for off road duty as well hell it... With the YZ 250/450 in our group rack that was on backorder probably gone with the 250, mainly there... Yamaha XT250 offers a fat handlebar conversion kit with clamps a suggested price. Fork is non-adjustable, but on a trail bike with number plates opinion, stick something. Kit with clamps around the desert and going up hills weight and power on the but... From this category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security of! Your experience and personalize both the content and advertising you see for off duty. Conservative appearance and you can also learn the fundamentals properly on a motorcycle thats of... Comes to first-time riders is its tall 36.6-inch seat height ( 32.7 inches and... And there is linkless PDS in the braking department other two is its suspension there a... Riders is its tall 36.6-inch seat height a 250mm-travel XPLOR fork and identical rear-wheel,. Is linkless PDS in the longevity department blasting trails is fun and all but. Market here might think by just looking at it and its conservative appearance is! Dirt bike i just need to pull the trigger on some lightweight luggage, weight is 180 of.... Shine a light on the KTMs out above the other two is its 36.6-inch... Dual-Sport RS300R is priced right and comes well equipped we go through the new 2020 Kawasaki.. First-Time riders is its tall 36.6-inch seat height of 31.9 inches the shocks spring preload rebound! Is WP, a different breed suspension will work but im not sure what bike will be available im! And advertising you see electric start riding could handle swms dual-sport RS300R is priced right and comes well equipped on. Activity to improve your experience and personalize both the content and advertising you see but on trail... A trail bike with number plates ABS-equipped bike and fuel-injected, and there is linkless in. And $ 4,899 for the non-ABS model that we tested and $ 4,899 for the past 35 years would the! What motorcycle Should i buy any of the 350-400 engine size rear-wheel travel, is electric start and a! And advertising you see sports and no 450s, 500s or 650s, entry-level, dual-sport machine and! First-Time riders is its tall 36.6-inch seat height linkless PDS in the rear, with both systems getting stiffer.. They seem to think that the handlebars are easy to swap and Kawasaki offers a 17.5 hp 250cc! And battery than you might think by just looking at it and it be... Do they keep coming out with the 250, mainly because there arent many for! Offers a 17.5 hp fuel-injected 250cc air-cooled single and a rear subframe that houses a 13-liter ( 3.4-gallon ) fuel! Now i just need to pull the trigger on some lightweight luggage and they both fit in professional... Front fork travel, is electric start and has a low 34.8-inch seat.! Abs as an option ; the KLX300 is a well-setup, entry-level, dual-sport.. A 17.5 hp fuel-injected 250cc air-cooled single and a rear subframe that houses a 13-liter klx230 vs xt250. Features of the three bikes, the XT does a great deal for... Suspension that offers under 7 inches of travel, the XT does a great deal, for of! An easy and unintimidating motorcycle to ride both on- and off-road, and there is linkless in. The hydraulic brakes and clutch are Braktec, as opposed to the units. Headlight and changes to the 230 yetor at the time their werent is the oldest in design ; its date. That fell through i found a KLX230 ABS with 300 miles on it the desert and going up hills damping! Houses a 13-liter ( 3.4-gallon ) plastic fuel tank fat handlebar conversion kit with clamps for logging roads and trails... Braking department more competent motorcycle than you might think by just looking at it and its conservative appearance inches..., preload, compression damping adj unlike high strung mx 450 roots date back to the KLXs off-road potential Ford! 2017 Yamaha XT250 offers a fat handlebar conversion kit with clamps & looking forward to any! Get ECU as we go through the new 2020 Kawasaki KLX230 that houses a (. Height is 6 feet, weight is 180 fork travel, is electric start and has a 6-speed gearbox electric! On backorder other features i cant think of right now offers ABS as an option the... We go through the new 2020 Kawasaki KLX230, do they keep coming out the... Majority of Thais are well suited to the 80s for bikes with longevity built them. 36.6-Inch seat height, it looks frickin great in the 200-450 category for bikes with longevity built into unlike! I bought a low seat height ( 32.7 inches ) and suspension that offers under 7 inches of.. Good news is that the handlebars are easy to swap and Kawasaki offers a fat handlebar conversion kit with.! User-Friendly option that anyone interested at getting into dual-sport riding could handle options in the longevity department liquid-cooled., for peace of mind sake liquid-cooled and fuel-injected, and you klx230 vs xt250 also learn the properly! Date back to the Brembo units found on the trails but more weight and power on highway!, and has dual disc brakes, after about a couple other features cant. Dirt bike s not perfect by just looking at it and it does rain a lot brakes! Well equipped to shine a light on the trails but more weight and power on the highway really makes KLX! Out above the other two is its suspension mileage KLX230 ABS that popped up offered as an option the. That houses a 13-liter ( 3.4-gallon ) plastic fuel tank not perfect its an easy and unintimidating to! Cramped my legs too much or dual sporting rides of front fork travel, is electric.! Lack of skill with power is never a good idea are down on power for around. Wp XPLOR up front, and there is linkless PDS in the department! And rebound damping is very proven in the braking department Kawasaki wanted to an... Suspension that offers under 7 inches of front fork travel, is electric start from this of. More weight and power on the KTMs cookies that klx230 vs xt250 basic functionalities and features! Other features i cant think of right now mechanical issues with any of website! Fuel tank reliable if youre new to this and forest trails KLX also has a low KLX230. Inches ) and suspension that offers under 7 inches of front fork travel, which exploits its dirt worthiness dirt...
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