On this ride, we discuss why the KLX 230 exists along side the KLX 300 in the same markets, rather than only in separate markets and smash some awesome trails along the way!
I'm glad to see the trails looked as nuts/fun as they did when I was doing them on theTW. I was surprised to see the 360 last as long as it did! I was watching it nearly clip trees and thought for sure it was going to be a total loss. Great vid and review!
I bought it vs the other larger models because i wanted a bike as maintenance free as i could get and so i went with the bike with the air cooled engine.🤷♂️
@@dementedspirit1359 if you're towing the bike to the trails sure...but the beauty of the KLX 230 and Yamaha XT 250 is, they are dual sports and are street legal.
Thanks for taking the time to make such really well done videos and reviews. Its important to show what some of these smaller, less expensive and more simplistic machines can do. I had two Yamaha XT250's, years apart, and they were both great bikes. I miss having a light and simple dual sport, which lead me here. I'm in the market but the tire thing about this bike has me on the fence...maybe a third XT in my future instead. I'm going to research it more and see whats available... I'm not planning on anything crazy so maybe I could make an available option work for my needs. Thanks again...also, should have way more subscribers than you do, seriously excellent channel!
XTs are 2500 more than this bike and worse at everything overall. Yamaha is insane, I know the 225/230/250 platform inside and out. They haven't changed much at all since 1983, and the price should reflect that. Yamaha builds these machines for less than a grand, charging 5500 for a XT or TW is robbery and greed
I love my KLX230. I’ve never ridden the 300, even though that’s what I originally wanted but it wasn’t available at the time. After about a year and 1700 miles of mostly dirt and gravel I have no envy of the 300’s or any strong desire to try one. Regarding tires, most of Kenda’s dirt bike tires are street legal (front only) so I went with Trakmaster rear and Washougal front. Works awesome. I did lower the gearing a bit to compensate for the more aggressive slightly larger tires.
People get very confused regarding Adventure riding in general, and to be honest, spending a ton of money on a big BMW 1300 GS is prob not a good move if you have not got the skills, and you haven't been ring in say 15 years. The other thing is simple cost effective entry, ease of use, ease to fix and run and replace parts, upgrade or whatever. Some people might just be happy to learn on this first and never get anything bigger than the CRF300 Rally.
It was designed in Indonesia where vast majority of the riders ride 110cc bikes, either automatic or semi automatic. 230cc for us is already considered luxury. Even more hilariously, KLX230 was designed as less hardcore option to Kawasaki KLX150 and KLX250 which are more dirt focused and have liquid cooled engines.
It's the factory tire width that's odd, not the wheel diameter (in the context of street legal dual sport tires). The stock front tire is tire is 80/100-21 on a 2.75x21 rim which is a bit of an off size compared to the wider swath of available options for something like a 90/90-21 on a 3.0x21 rim which is what bikes like the KLX300 run. The rear is a 100/100-18 as opposed to the more common 110 or 120/100-18 on a 4.60x18 rim, which also has more readily available options. There are not as many options for a 100/100-18 in a street legal tire, so I ended up with a 110/100-18 on that narrow 4.10 rim. That gives the tires a really round profile when installed.
@@FreeTimeAdventures hmm...makes me think and wonder...I was considering this bike but tires are super important and if there aren't good choices I might not go this route.
Was just in the local Kawi shop in January 2024, and they told me KLX230's are not being shipped yet, or maybe never? They are getting 300's. The Kawi website still shows the 230 and 230SM models tho.
Oh dang, that's wild! I could see them only selling it in other markets though, depending on what sales were like in the US between their launch in 2020 through 2023...
Awseome trails and nice video! I've read some riders find the high idle speed (1800 RPM) annoying when going downhill. Did not seem to be a problem for you. Have you fixed not, or not found it to be an issue? Also, the brake lines seem to block the dashboard - is that what you've found?
Thanks! Personally, I find the high idle odd, especially bc it doesn't always do it. But it has never really impacted my riding anywhere, even downhill. As for the brake line, not really, I can generally see the dash just fine at my height. But if a rider were a 3 or 4 inches shorter than me (I'm 5'9") then it might obscure their view, but I cannot say for sure.
i got the ABS version thats way i got it . been waiting for klx 300 to have ABS . not yet ? why not . i can only ride it during winter here i S.O.A.Z. near tucson .AZ. becouse of aircooled heat in summer . the 300 water cooled dont have ABS deal breaker for me . make sure always check the hamdle bars brackets by pulling up and down before every ride . mine lost one while riding becouse of vibration off road . almoust had the handle bar come off . lucky it came off in town slow ridding . angels ridding with me that day . i checked every day now .
I'm just using a 360 cam on a roughly 3ft pole. It's on the bike for about the first third of the video before I busted the mount and pulled it off. It works, but it's a pain trying to ride without catching it on stuff along the trail side.
I prefer the simplicity of air cooled bikes. With typical maintenance, this bike will last a long time with little cost. That bike's front end looks really soft, some spacers(old tech) on the top of the springs and slightly thicker oil would help a lot. If you don't bottom once in a while you essentially have less suspension travel. a very scenic ride, where is this? PNW?
Definitely, I love dead simple tech like this. These days, suspension really isn't too bad in terms of cost. I'm having another bike re-sprung front and rear with new oil and some valve work on the front by a professional for about $700. Doing that on this bike would really take it to the next level. Also, yes, this is out in the Tillamook State Forest in Oregon, at one of the many OHV parks over here.
Reminds me of my old KL250 supersherpa. Great little bike. 6 gears, so it can get up to highway speeds, and it's just simple and does the job. I had to make some comfort improvements like handlebar risers, and stiffer springs, but nothing else besides basic maintenance and I've driven it across the country a few times. Little bikes like this will serve you well if you can handle giving up a few horsepower or creature comforts.
It's funny I was just looking at a couple of Super Sherpa's the other day. I'm in the market for another dual sport...sold my last one a few years ago but miss doing it so want something decent and easy to maintain. My only negative about the Sherpa is dealing with a carburetor...fuel injection has definitely spoiled me in the past decade or more. I had a Yamaha XT250 last and considered another, or maybe this KLX230...but if I can get one of those Sherpa's for a good enough price, maybe... anything I should look out for on them?
I think these Japanese manufacturers know something about upcoming EPA crackdowns all over the world. You have lots of E-motorcycles making advancements and even E-MountainBikes comparing VERY competitively with dual sports. Also the Japanese companies already sell similar versions of these bikes all over the world, so I guess they might as well sell some more units before the changes take root. (I am 270lbs, I own a 2021 KLX 300 DS and a 2022 KLX 300 SM)
