Kawasaki KLX230 Road Test Review

The Kawasaki KLX230 is a one of its kind dual-sport motorcycle available in India. We all know of Kawasaki's popular off-road machines but they are expensive, and if you own one, you also need a pickup truck or trailer to transport them to your off-road riding destination because they are not road legal. That is a lot of work, especially for people who don't have the budget and resources, which is Kawasaki’s main reason behind introducing the KLX230 in India. When we first got to ride the bike, it was a fun experience but we did not have any idea about the pricing to better put things into perspective. We now spent around a week exploring what the bike is capable of in different conditions and here is what we think. 

Design

The KLX230 might just be the best looking off-road bike that is available in India. It is a compact motorcycle that shares its design with the KLX 230R S and gets additional parts to make it road-legal. These parts include a headlight, a license plate holder, grab rails, an LCD dash, dual-purpose tyres, and a kickstand. As expected from Kawasaki, the fit-and-finish of the bike is really good. There are two colour options to choose from including Lime Green and Battle Grey. 

Performance

Sitting in the perimeter frame is a 233cc engine putting out 18.1PS and 18.3Nm of peak torque. The bike gets a six-speed gearbox where the gear ratios are short. While the power figures on paper might seem just okay, the motor has a really good punch to it. As expected from Kawasaki, the engine is refined and paired with an extremely light kerb weight of 139kg, it is really great fun to power through off-road trails. The clutch action is also light and shifting through the gearbox feels really slick. In our tests, the bike took 12 seconds to get to 100kmph.

Out on the highway, the bike is easily able to cruise between 90-100kmph without feeling stressed. In the city, it is also usable with its tractable nature and the compact proportions allow it to quickly and effortlessly cut through traffic. Despite the light weight, the bike still feels very stable even at higher speeds. In sixth gear the bike can get up to an indicated 120kmph but that is where the engine does feel stressed.  

The KLX230 has a fuel tank capacity of 7.6 litres, which is small and not a bike that is recommended for touring. Considering that this is a dedicated off-road machine, it is acceptable and Kawasaki claims the bike has a riding range of approximately 250km on a full tank which is not too bad. 

Ergonomics

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The KLX is a slim and purpose-built motorcycle that has perfect ergonomics for off-road use. The seat height is tall, standing at 880mm and it has a ground clearance of 265mm. That being said, the suspension setup is soft so as soon as a rider gets astride, it sags depending on their weight and slightly decreases the seat height. With my 5’7 frame, I was obviously not able to flat foot to the ground but it was easily manageable, thanks to its light weight. The wide handlebar and slim profile of the seat make standing up on the pegs and riding through trails feel natural. There is also an accessory seat available which further brings down the seat height by 14mm. 

Handling and Ride Quality 

The KLX does not get adjustable suspension and in my opinion it is not really needed because of how well it is set up, especially for a lighter rider. Paired with a 21-inch front wheel and an 18-inch rear wheel, it gives the bike its superb capabilities. It takes on off-road sections with precision and glides over rough terrain with ease.  Even after making big jumps, it settles well, always feels stable and easy to control. And these off-road abilities also mean that the bike is great to ride through our unpredictable pothole ridden roads. 

The bike does make use of MRF dual-purpose tyres which are decent for the road but not the most confidence-inspiring off-road. Swapping out these tyres for grippier off-road rubber will allow riders to fully exploit the abilities of the chassis. We do feel like better tyres could have been offered as standard considering the price of the motorcycle. The braking setup is also pretty good with minimal ABS intervention getting the bike to stop quickly when necessary. 

Features

In this department, the bike is fairly simple with an LCD screen that displays basic information. It is Bluetooth compatible as well but does miss out on a tachometer and a gear position indicator. The rear ABS can also be disengaged simply by using the red button on the left hand switchgear. 

Verdict

After our first ride experience, we did expect the bike to be priced between Rs 2.50 lakh and Rs 2.70 lakh, but it comes in at a whopping Rs 3.30 lakh (ex-showroom), unfortunately putting it out of reach for many enthusiasts. The Hero Xpulse 200 4V can be considered its closest competitor but the Kawasaki is still a more dedicated and purpose-built off-road bike.

It is a desirable machine and one you really would love to have in your garage. A combination of the punchy acceleration, light weight, and the suspension setup makes for an engaging and confident riding experience. Throughout my time spent with the bike, I felt like one with the motorcycle and was able to push harder, so it surely is a motorcycle that can teach you a lot and one that you just can’t get bored of thrashing through off-road trails. We do hope that Kawasaki can find a way to maybe localize the product and reduce the price because we are sure there would be many takers with it being more affordable.