RIDE REVIEW I 2023 KAWASAKI KLX230 S
P82
Don't get me wrong; there are
suspension gurus out there that
can do it right, but even at their
best, it's still an extra step for
the consumer, and odds are that
someone seeking a lower seat
height is often on the young or
beginner end of the spectrum and
looking for a less complicated
way to reach the ground.
Kawasaki decided to take an
-
other look at this consumer, and
also at the overall size and dimen-
sions of the "average" rider. Upon
reviewing the metrics, it became
clear that there is a substantial
subset that is underserved by to-
day's dual-sport market. "A deeper
dive into the data showed an op-
portunity to satisfy more potential
customers by prioritizing lower
seat height," came a quote from
the Kawasaki team. "With this,
we also recognized that it was
critical to stay authentic to the
'KLX' concept by offering a lower
seat height while maintaining true
dual-sport capability."
The Kawasaki team urges the
importance of balance in the
overall execution of their products
and further explained the key to
finding balance between low seat
height and off-road suspension
capability. "There was a priority in
the development of this model to
maintain comfort for small bump
compliance as well as controlling
suspension bottoming to enable
the rider to tackle more difficult
off-road obstacles. This was
achieved by a total redesign of
A progressive shock spring
does an excellent job of
maintaining a plush initial feel
while providing excellent hold-
up throughout the stroke.
The platform isn't all-new, but there is a lot more to the
KLX230 S than shortened suspension.
