2020 KAWASAKI KLX230, KLX230R & KLX300R
R I D E R E V I E W
P76
for a while without feeling too guilty. And
Kawasaki did a great job keeping vibes to
a minimum, which can be a problem with
small-bore singles on the road.
But it's off the pavement that the little
230 really shines. Basically, this is a nice
street-legal dirt bike that isn't afraid of
anything, except for perhaps long, steep
and soft hill climbs. It makes respectable
power, about what you'd expect from a
230cc four-stroke single, and it's deliv-
ered smoothly and predictably. Throttle
response is spot on, and since it's fuel-
injected, there is zero warm-up time. Just
hit the button and go.
The suspension is excellent, though a
little on the soft side for heavier riders and
aggressive riding, in which case it will bot-
tom easily, but aggressive riding isn't what
this motorcycle is all about. Instead, it's de-
signed for casual trail and street riding, and
when you keep these things in perspec-
tive, the 230's suspension is hard to fault.
There isn't much suspension adjustability
(just rear spring preload), so you're pretty
much stuck with what you get.
At a claimed 293 pounds (for the ABS
model that I rode), the KLX230 is not ex-
actly a light motorcycle. But for casual trail
riding, it's hardly a factor at all, only when
you drop it. For some, picking the 230 back
up after a tip-over might be an issue.
Overall, the 230 is an excellent addition
to Kawasaki's KLX lineup, and I wouldn't
be surprised if it turns out to be a big hit
with the company.
The KLX230 is a very capable dirt bike
and excellent for exploring back roads.
