Kawasaki KLX230 Unveiled In India: The New Hero XPulse 200 4V Rival Is Here

Kawasaki India has finally unveiled the much awaited Kawasaki KLX230 in India. Bookings for the KLX230 have begun for a price of Rs 5,000 at the nearest Kawasaki dealership.

The Kawasaki KLX230 features a typical dirt bike design and styling, with the raised fender, braced handlebar, an overall slim profile with a single piece seat, and long travel suspension with fork gaiters. Overall, the bike manages to look the part and gives that serious offroader vibe which we expect from a dual-sport bike like this.

The KLX230 is powered by a 233cc, 4-stroke, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine producing 18.1PS and 18.3Nm and comes paired to a 6-speed gearbox. When compared to its closest rival, the Hero XPulse 200 4V, it produces 1PS less but 0.95Nm more. The XPulse, for perspective, is powered by a 199.6cc air/oil-cooled single-cylinder engine that produces 19.1PS and 17.35Nm. 

Regarding the underpinnings, the KLX230 is built on a perimeter frame. It has a long travel suspension setup that comprises a 37mm telescopic fork and a linked monoshock. The suspension offers 240mm wheel travel at the front and 250mm wheel travel at the rear. 

The ground clearance stands at 265mm, which is 45mm more than the Hero XPulse 200 4V’s 220mm and 15mm less than the XPulse 200 4V rally's ground clearance of 280mm. When it comes to seat height, the KLX230 is quite tall, with its seat height of 880mm. Compared to the XPulse 200 4V's 825mm, this is a big jump of 55mm. The XPulse 200 4V rally on the other hand, has a seat height of 891mm, which is 11mm more than the KLX230.

The bike rolls on a 21-inch front and 18-inch rear spoke wheel. The braking setup consists of a 265mm front and 220mm rear petal disc, with dual-channel ABS.

In terms of features, the Kawasaki KLX230 offers smartphone connectivity and related features via the Kawasaki Rideology App, which brings call, SMS and email alerts. Other features on offer include, switchable ABS due to which riders can turn off the rear ABS, allowing for controlled slides.

The bike is set to be launched in December 2024, with the deliveries set to start from January 2025. We expect the bike to be launched in India at a price that is around the Rs 2 lakh mark (ex-showroom). Kawasaki is also planning on localizing the manufacturing of the KLX230, so we can expect the bike to be priced reasonably. The dual sport segment in India has limited options and most off road enthusiasts who were looking for an entry level bike had to be content with the Hero XPulse. Whereas the more serious riders had no option other than the ADVs in the market. 

With the Kawasaki KLX230, this segment has now received a much needed addition and will hopefully go a long way in bringing offroading culture to new heights, like the Hero XPulse 200 4V once did.