Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1531445
P80 RIDE REVIEW I 2025 KAWASAKI KLX230R & KLX230R S Kawasaki again chose a 21-inch front and 18-inch rear combination with bead locks, al- lowing for lower tire pressures if desired. This 18-/21-inch setup provides numerous tire options when the stockers wear out. Staying true to the KX aesthet- ics, Kawasaki opted for black aluminum wheels and silver spokes, giving it the authentic full-size KX appearance. The braking system features a 240mm petal front disc paired with a two-piston Nissin caliper. In the rear, there is a 220mm petal disc paired with a single- piston Nissin caliper. The completely redesigned shorter wheelbase (54.1 inches for the R and 53.3 inches for the RS) and a steeper rake. Showa provides the suspen - sion, including a long-travel, non- adjustable 37mm telescopic front fork that offers ample travel—9.8 inches on the R and 8.7 inches on the RS. The updated Uni-Track rear suspension incorporates a Showa shock with preload adjustability and benefits from new, stiffer springs and updated damping settings, delivering 9.8 inches of rear-wheel travel on the R and 8.5 inches on the RS. The fork is carried over from the previous model. Kawasaki redesigned the smaller airbox to integrate with the new subframe. To comple - ment these engine modifications, the ECU has been reprogrammed to optimize the enhanced low- to mid-range torque, which is trans- mitted via the 230's versatile six-speed transmission. The KLX still utilizes a steel perimeter frame but has signifi- cant changes to the rear sub- frame, making it more compact and achieving a lower seat height than the previous models (35.6 inches for the R and 34.4 inches for the RS) without re - ducing seat foam or suspension travel. The bike also features a A lower-seat version of the Kawasaki KLX230R, the RS (right), is now available for the 2025 model year. Both models can be had in either green or gray trim.