2021 Kawasaki KLX230 Review

Team Green’s smallest-displacement dual sport motorcycle is much more than just a commuter. There’s lots of fun to be had on the KLX230.
Full story here: www.dirtrider.com/story/tests...
Video By: Evan Allen
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[@bransonbasher6534]

I've got one, I love it. It's my daily commuter, back road explorer and trail bike. Here in the Ozarks I really don't want a bigger bike, I spent the savings on accessories, tires and plenty of gas. After breaking in I get low to mid 60mpg. If I ride like an old guy (I am) I creep up on 70. I cruise at 60mph.

[@TehSpury]

What tires did u get

[@Achilleas7]

That's one descent bike for the budgets of 2022! Cheap enough, reliable, but pretty fast while also very silent! Added to your superb riding on these tires, showing the bike's potentials while also hearing you clearly, makes this one of the best review videos i've watched! Cheers and thanks for the review!

[@TommyNitro]

I know a guy who got one of the S models. It has more cockpit room than my xr650l. I think they really hit a home run with this bike.

[@Normie2388]

I went from r3, to crf250l, to gsxr600, to street bob, to street glide, and now I want to go back to a little duel sport, most fun and most comfortable of all the bikes

[@lostwithasmile485]

Bought one of these a year and a half ago as my first ever motorcycle. I sold it and bought an Aprilia Tuono 660, sold that for an Africa Twin and now selling the Honda for another KLX 230l! Right back were I started.

[@1lixuanyu]

why?

[@lostwithasmile485]

@@1lixuanyu I think just being new I wasn't sure what I wanted and thought I wanted things I really didn't, lol! I actually ended up with a ktm 690 enduro r. It should be a perfect fit.

[@James-bn5dk]

I've had mine 18 months here in Verdi,Nevada and with the low seat and easy sharp turning in the woods make it great for fishing and exploring.Great cold starting,quiet,good torque,highway legal,bright headlight,great mpg,seat too hard had to be replaced.Crappy tires,mushy forks,good brakes.Keep my cr250r to rip with friends.these bikes are for slower,easier cruising,it gets the job done there nicely,get out there!!!!😊😊😊

[@oliverrojas3185]

Thanks for the descriptive commentary and dispaly of excellent riding. Yes, I can see myself buying this bike to return to motorcycling.

[@kaleolll5374]

Man. I don’t have one but been hearing so many great stories I just got to grab myself one. It’ll be my first bike.

[@mitchwinder1204]

I’m looking for a street-legal plonker to explore on for days when I’m not feeling my 450. The 230 is at the top of my list, especially if it’s as highway-friendly as it seems.

[@jt3366]

Great review, you’ve got me convinced this bike is probably adequate for me as a new rider. I am probably going to buy one tomorrow. I really wanted the Klx 300 but they are a bit scarce and the dealers that do have them in my State seem to want about $7500+ out the door for those. It may be worth the difference but that’s out of my budget. These are available for about $5000 ish out the door which is a bit more within reach.

[@charlesmorris8491]

Stop that minute I don't know somewhere around 10:00 or 11:00, just wanted to say finally finally somebody that can ride a motorcycle!

[@lostwithasmile485]

Nice work on this review!

[@JacobSnover]

Never heard the transmission explained that way, but agree totally! I have the klx300r and the shifter feels very vague, hard to tell when upshifting alot of times. Also very hard to get my boot under, I raised it up so high once that i couldn't pivot my angle far enough to upshift, and one notch lower for the shifter makes it so I have to hang off the fornt of the bike to get my toe under it lol. Luckily most the trails in Michigan I can stay in 2nd or 3rd for the most part. This bike looks like sooooo much fun!

[@drpork1360]

Love the Revzilla Daily Rider style video.

[@GrotrianSeiler]

I’m really having fun with mine so far. Great little bike. I hope it opens up because it’s a little short on power but so far I don’t care. Comfortable ergonomics too.

[@BluePatch-pc7sx]

Thanks for great review, sir!

[@sujaymadhok5700]

Outstanding riding !

[@oldmanriding]

Wish I could ride mine like that. But iam old and still love it.

[@boerplaas388]

I’m going to go and buy one of these bikes after watching your video . Thank you . Great video and looks like a very comfortable bike to do a little dual riding .

[@hwardoyo]

Thanks for the awesome ride along review.. gonna get one. I am a newbie.

[@EGGZ1983]

Fantastic review mate. Very knowledgeable. My question would be why would you get this compared to the KLX 250? There's a KLX 230, and a KLX 250 where I live here in Oz.

[@brucecatlin4036]

Where are you riding the trails? And thanks! 2022 KLX230S in Urban Olive Green is Mine now!

[@ronwest7930]

That looked like the CAP canal, I used to ride in it when it was empty. I liked riding wheelies on the sides.

[@TheWhippetmaster]

I have the 300 version, and tho its faster in the taller gears and soaks up the rough stuff well, that 230 would leave it stranded on the technical single track. I have to avoid those rutted tight trails, Mojave desert is no joke.

[@ericromeiro6688]

Kool 👍 Where are you test Riding ? Thanks

[@robertlapin813]

Hey if you can get it through that then it should work great for me as a dirt road bike. Just want to be able to legally ride the roads a few miles to get to the dirt without loading and unloading my truck and leaving the truck as fodder for the thieves. My kid has a KTM 105 supermini, a KTM 125, and a Honda CRF150R so if I need heavy dirt riding I could use one of those. I can accept a dual sport will kind of suck at both the street and the dirt.

[@BillyBlaze7]

you ride well young man

[@DoodMangSpeaks]

I like this bike over the klx300

[@oceantri]

Where are you riding!

[@tomnwmi]

I had been thinking of getting a nice Trail Bike (what I call em) and my local dealer having a 2023 230S leftover at a great price had me pulling the trigger. Now I just have to wait for some of this lake effect to melt off. My last "trail bike" was a 71 (as in 1971) Suzuki TS185. Anybody remember those?

[@Mc3premium]

The bad thing on this klx is the high idle and the tendency to raise the rpms when you you are gentle with the gas and pull the clutch in order to help new riders from stalling the bike, according to Kawasaki. What an awful thing. They destroyed the bike. You want to downhill and it gives you high rpms when you're not pulling the gas. When you're stopping, it raises the rpms. It sucks that way in the fuel economy because of this symptom. Everything else is right as you said it.

[@NickCorona]

This bike is electronic, it changes the idol on the fly. It will even try to prevent you from stalling out, no issues with the idol here.

[@simonfournier6480]

The rpm is high when u start the bike because it heat up the bike and take time to mesure how much fuel to air he gonna use i usually let the bike idle 1-2 minutes before riding and its gonna be fine

[@johndickinson8848]

There is a fix for that if is a deal breaker.

[@TheWhippetmaster]

@@johndickinson8848 Explain the fix plz? I think they did it to counter the slipper clutch on the Honda, I like both ideas because they allow enhance downshifts especially clutchless downshifts.

[@johndickinson8848]

@@TheWhippetmaster kzbin.info/www/bejne/epC5ooeEiZhorMU

[@playerpromedio9561]

Hello, can the suspension of that motorcycle be changed (both sides)

[@packfan1946]

230 cc engine sounds strange when the competition all have 250 cc bikes, and now 300 cc bikes that come in a dual sport version. What would you recommend for a rider of cruiser bikes for many years who wants a duel sport? I like the Kawi 300 KLX, the Honda 300 Rally, and the Yamaha 250 or Tenere 700.

[@rolandthompsongunner1843]

Honda CRF450RL, KTM 890 Adventure R or that Tenere is a great bike too. ( I ride a lot of Adventure style and the first 2 are my favorites)

[@user-lq5hx7ve4d]

I was looking at the 2023 CRF 250 F Honda and now I see this bike!!! I see this Kawasaki you can ride the street!!! The Honda you can't rigester!!! The only thing the Honda is great for a old man like me!!! I can load it up and drive to the trails but not much jumping it because the soft suspension!!!!

[@josephfogus6735]

I'm 6'2 240lbs would I fit on this bike?

[@EGGZ1983]

I'm 6ft7 and heavier. I'd still buy one

[@mmaaddict78]

How does it compare to the KLX300 dual sport offroad? The 300 is obviously better on the road.

[@NickCorona]

The 230 maxes out at 76, that really limits it's highway use

[@TommyNitro]

@Nick Corona if you are thinking of highway use, neither bike is a good option.

[@yteb08]

2021 Kawasaki KLX230 Dyno Test

[@agentdoubleo7636]

left headphones only yikes

[@Dont.Tread.On.Me1974]

Yikes???? Is it that big of a deal? 🤔

[@Cd55650]

You know?

[@exp4x4v6]

The stock tires are terrible. I have a 2022. They wash out at the snap of a finger

[@jt3366]

Did you replace them?

[@NickCorona]

Awesome review, however I am pretty sure the gas tank is 1.125 gallons :( 4+ hour rides need spare fuel

[@dirtridermagazine]

Hi Nick, thank you for the compliment! The KLX230's fuel capacity is two gallons (link to Kawasaki's site below for reference). In which case, you may need to carry less spare fuel than you think: www.kawasaki.com/en-us/motorcycle/klx/dual-sport/klx230/2021-klx230-abs?cm_re=VDP-_-2022KLX%C2%AE230

[@NickCorona]

Turns out to be 1.70 real close to 2

[@joshuastallings9792]

@@NickCorona i put 1.9 in mine the other day. the fuel light flashes at a half a tank remaining, which is a gallon. I carry an extra gallon on me.

[@chuckwright8694]

​@@NickCorona California bikes always have less capacity

[@gtptvanbuuren3795]

Metric

[@junuchi-cb7yl]

Weak

[@jt3366]

You are?

[@TheDogDad]

good video