I own a Honda crf300L and a KLX 140RL and I love them both for different reasons. So many people think they need 50Hp but sometimes less is more. The 140 has a great note, really great bottom end grunt and you can’t beat the confidence it gives you by not being overwhelming and heavy like a lot of bikes. People don’t realise until they own a bike like this how you can do just as much, it goes everywhere on very little fuel, is basic to maintain… it’s the best.
Excellent one AARON! I would have to agree with your review! Growing up on 125cc I always wanted more! The most important thing for a new rider no matter the size of the motor is respect! -🤘
I'm a 5'5'' adult rider., i switched from a kawi 125 smoker to this bike and it was a blast.. not as poweful as a 125 2 stroker but very light and torqy. i think ill do the 63mm bore kit to increase its power
Thanks for the videos. This bike is getting harder to find(at least for me). I’ve tried to get one twice in the last 3 weeks but both times they sold right before I could put money down. Finally put a down payment on one that arrived yesterday but I have to drive a few hours to pick it up. Be grateful you got one!
It was a 6 month wait of watching marketplace for one that i could get and it was still a 3 hour on way drive for it! So worth it tho! You’re gonna love it!!
I really wish more new adult riders would start out on bikes like this to build the fundamentals. I started out riding street bikes, and some friends convinced me that I needed a full-size dirt bike. I ended up picking up an XR400. They're great bikes, but way too much power and seat height for a beginner, even if you have street experience. I "downgraded" to a DR200, which has manageable power, but the full weight of a dual sport makes me hesitant to try more technical stuff (270 lbs is a lot to pick up on a trail). I'm looking to trade in my DR200 for something like this so that I can feel more confident on gnarly terrain and trying out new stuff. You progress way quicker on a small bike.
100% agree with you! I think it has to with people just wanting big power to impress there friends on the wide open roads. (Boringggg) Anytime you go with a dual sport bike it does neither street or trails fantastically, hence why i whent with a full on dirt bike. Totally 270lb bike is a shit ton of weight to toss around in the trails and try to pick up when you dump it! Its great to progress to the max potential of a bike and then moving up sizes as your skill increases! Too many people now a days getting too big of bikes and end up hurting themselves or hating the bike and stop riding. Excited to hear what you get next!
Ok Aaron, I’ve been doing a bunch of research on this particular Kawasaki. This has been the best overview video of this bike I’ve seen so far. I’m really happy to hear you say it rides great and you’re 6’1”. I also am 6’1” and hear in other videos saying people over 5’10” shouldn’t ride this bike. I’m 160 lbs so not sure if I’ll be too heavy for this suspension or not. I’ve also heard recently that the 2023 models are having carburetor issues, running too lean and aren’t adjustable. It looks like there’s a good Mikuni carburetor kit to swap in it’s place to fix that though. I’m not into bigger bikes at all, I love my XT250 for on/off road use. I’m mainly looking for a dedicated woods trail bike and this really seems to fit the bill. Again really appreciate your overview video
Should someone over 6’ get this bike based of height, no, can someone 6’ still ride it and have a blast, absolutely. Id suggest getting the BBR suspension i have linked in the description itll help a ton with keeping you from bottoming out (which i did at 140lbs) Now i never bottom out no matter how hard im thrashing with the BBR suspension . I also have the carb conversion covered in another video on my channel. You can also see the big bore kit build i did on the bike
I’m 5’9 160 and this is all the bike you will need for recreation riding. Serves every purpose especially grinding with lower end power akin to trail riding. The larger wheels and ground clearance gives ve a big bike feel. I just came off a CrF 125 big wheel which is great for my teenagers and me to share for what we would call general fun trail riding But this model klx 140 is a lot more bike. I have both still and choose to ride this one more often than not.
Great Job on reviewing this little bike! One thing I Like most it is very reliable. I had a Honda wave z 100 which I converted into a custom Dirtbike. It was never 100 % running and took me a lot of test and trail to get the carb, exhaust and Airbox in best combination. But it will NEVER be a perfect running bike with fantastic stability and it sucks after stalling it on the hill to get it started with the kickstarter - it SUCKS. After so much pain I could not happier with my KLX 140 RF.
Thanks for the great review, especially the details like throttle response compared to fuel injection and comparison with drum brakes. I’ve been riding a friends old XL100 on trails and loving it, and now thinking of getting a KLX 140L. (I’m 5’ 5” and the smaller wheels look a bit easier)
ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Ewo01IARIgM.html this is part 1 of the suffering. If you thought these trails were impressive watch these two episodes
@@AaronsEnduro I'm 48 I had a 1979 yz80 it didn't make much power but it was the best bike I ever owned,I have many superbikes but nothing is better than the yz80,That us why I think the klx 140 would be the best bike for my son ,He will, learn to ride and enjoy it.he doesn't need a high maintance mx bike to ride trails.
Hey brother, like the new bike man. You got me started on the apollo, then you was gonna go with a build, so I did the same and got a 2001 ktm 200 mxc 2 stroke. After putting 3000 bucks worth of fixes in it I got the bike running good. Still got to tweak the carb but its most definitely a ripper! But its way to tall and way too powerful and I crashed it yesterday and flew over the handle bars and bruised my ribs....the bike is a rocket! Whisky throttle into a boat trailer! Think I'm gonna sell it and get me a kawasaki too. But through the learning how to work on it I've neglected the most important thing.... practicing my riding... Love you bro and keep riding!
Glad you’ve been able To come along the channels journey across different bikes! That ktm is forsure a handful to ride , especially if you’re still learning to ride and its too tall for you! This kawasaki is the ultimate learners bike, thing fires up everytime, goes everywhere, light enough and low enough to toss around, high ground clearance and tons of aftermarket parts! Practicing your riding is very much so important! Thanks for watching friend!
Great vid mate, I’ve just got Fantic xe 125cc Friday just gone not had chance to rip her open or take her on any trails yet. Just waiting to insure the bike and then I’m good to go.
@@AaronsEnduro hopefully it’s been a while since I’ve been on a 2smoker just need to get used to using that clutch more and don’t whiskey throttle her 🤦🤣
The low maintenance on these kind of bikes is the best part. The power isnt there like on the high compression 250s or 2 stroke 125s. But you will be riding a lot more and spending a lot less money on repairs on these kind of bikes.
I like it and very impressive at 5:20 on the hill climb in second gear ! Trying to decide on this Kawasaki 140 verses the Suzuki DR-Z125L . Both look like great trail bikes ! I have a 2004 Suzuki RM 250 now and like it but looking for something tamer that myself and kids can all ride . Thanks for the review !
Great video! I just got the 22 klx 140r and I love it, I am 5’5 and i want to start riding trails but I’m a little concerned about the small wheel and lower ground clearance.. can this bike be made higher by adding bigger wheels like the 140rl.. Or am I stuck with this size? Do u think it will do just fine on the trails with me being 5’5 using the regular 140r?
I dont think you can go to bigger wheels as the L and RF both have longer and taller forks and swingarms. I think itll be fine for learning, but it 100% helps with bigger wheels
We use big bore kits to 200 stroked crank big heads and cams 30mm flatside pwk they absutley fly bullet proof engines just the clutch has problems drill the baskets and
Its worth the price, lemme tell you friend. After one year of owning the apollo i had over 3000$ into it in total, and then when i sold it the motor was puking smoke. The apollo fell apart nearly every ride. The klx has never broken once
@@AaronsEnduro Went and checked it out at dealership today. Sat on that and the KLX 300. The 300R is a huge heavy bike. Nice,but too heavy. 140rf felt like perfect sized machine for me. Will probably do the 170 kit and springs/ shock like yours eventually. Too expensive for what it is brand new IMO, but you only live once!
The bike itself, yes. But having the smaller wheels will increase rolling resistance over obstacles. The larger diameter wheels offered on even the L model will help with rolling over larger obstacles/rocks/roots etc
Stock this bike has a 13 tooth, so no definitely not a 18tooth. And actually i planned on gearing it down to 12 tooth front as i rarely spend time riding the main roads at wide open (majority of my days are spent in the single track enduro trails) and i want to get as much torque out of the engine as possible (with the lower gearing) until i do the bbr big bore kit
I read where you said you had not rejetted the carb and I was curious if yours is very cold natured? Iv read where people say they are jetted very lean and are having troubles with them starting during the cooler months and I was wondering how yours has been in that aspect and possibly your thoughts. I’m stuck between the crf125fb and the klx140RF.
If you asking how does it run in the cold, its absolutely shreds it up! Check this out: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ROqskX-5Sog.html
@@AaronsEnduro love that video! but I was mostly curious about it when it was all stock. This bike will be mostly for my wife so I don’t plan on adding anything to it to soon till she gets better so I was mostly wondering how it was completely stock.
@@AaronsEnduro alright awesome! Iv really enjoyed the fuel injection of my Honda but have really been considering the klx for the wife. Iv just been worried about the reliability of a completely stock bike being tuned lean from the factory.
I was thinking about buying a new one. I bought my son a yamaha yz 85 and it's a rocket. I need something more tame for him. He likes the power in speed though. What would you recommend he's just a beginner.
Its a frame guard for the Philippines “150rf” Its relatively the same as the klx140rf in north America. The bolt hole doesn’t line up but two zipties and she aint going no where. Has already saved my frame from scratching
So, Im 13 years old i weight Around 60kg, Im 5.6-5.7 (1.67m-1.70m) and im looking to buy my first dirt bike. I loved them since i was little but never had the opportunity to try one or to own one, this is a very good option but im seeing the bike doesnt feel very fast in camera, i say this cuz i can ride my dads suzuki ltz 400. Should i still get this bike or will i want to change to a faster bike soon? I still have a long way to save money since new is 4.5k and i cant find any of them used here in spain. But will i upgrade or fall in love with her?
I had an ltz400 prior myself. This will feel very slow compared to that. But this bike will be great to learn riding on two wheels. If you want to ride fast, this isint the bike for you
@@AaronsEnduro i might remove the idea of the klx, my dad isnt happy with that, he says i need a registered bike, that i cant do anything with a bike like that.
I am 5’10”, 150 lbs and in my fifties. I used to ride an xr 250 four stroke until about 10 years ago. I have since been riding Quads. Lately I’ve been getting the itch for a bike again as well. I’ve been looking at the new crf 250F and klx 230r but I used to find bikes in the 250 lb range kind of heavy in the chop. I like this bike but I am worried I will miss the power and stability at higher speeds with this bike. What is your opinion?
Klr230 is 290lb and only 17hp Klx140 is 206lb but 9hp Yes you’ll miss the raw power compared to the xr250. The 140 is a fun play bike, but not something id want to cruise backroads with. The 140 excels in the trails and playing around
Has it been done yes, is it very expensive for this bike, also yes. Would I recommend it, no. Do i think the bike needs it as a backup, also no. Ive never had a single issue with the electric start with 140 hours of riding and never hear about e start issues with these bikes
I am a bit more on the shorter side. Kind of looking for something to putt around with kids nothing serious. Single income family provider can't afford and unnecessary risk so maybe it could work.