2025 Kawasaki KLX230 R/RS First Ride Review
You and I didn’t start with a full-on race bike when we climbed onto our first motorcycles. The play bike segment has its place in the riding community that has launched many riding careers. This segment has been growing over the last 10 years, and manufacturers have been improving their models ever so slightly along the way. Kawasaki successfully debuted the KLX 230 in 2019, offering dirt-only and dual-sport versions. And, for 2025, the model received its first significant updates since its introduction.
• Engine
Kawasaki went to town on the engine for 2025, doing a hefty revision, all focused on a smooth, easy-to-ride powerplant. The fuel-injected electric-start 233cc air-cooled four-stroke now offers a single-axis primary balancer that reduces vibrations across the RPM range. A reworked head with a narrower intake port and smaller intake valve allows ease of use in the low-mid range. And finally, Kawasaki redesigned the airbox to work with the redesigned sub-frame. With all the changes to the engine, a re-programmed ECU is optimized to match the increase in low-mid torque range that puts the power down through a six-speed transmission.
All the improvements in the engine department make this bike easy to ride and maintain that we rode it without hiccups or issues.
• Chassis & Suspension
Returning is Kawasaki’s steel perimeter frame. But Kawasaki again went to town redesigning the rear sub-frame, making it more compact while achieving a lower seat height (35.6-in. on the R and 34.4-in. on the RS) without taking away seat foam or suspension travel. A shorter wheelbase (54.1-in. on the R and 53.3-in. on the RS) and steeper rake allow for a responsive and quick-handling chassis. The resulting change in handling dynamics on the RS was noticeable while carving the tighter trails.
The suspension comes from SHOWA using long-travel 37mm telescopic front forks, allowing plenty of travel (9.8-sin. on the R and 8.6-in. on the RS) while soaking up the terrain and jumps. Even at 200 lb., I had to push the bike hard to bottom out the front forks, especially on the R model. The new Uni-Track rear suspension uses a SHOWA shock with preload adjustability only, with new springs and damping settings giving you (9.8-in. on the and 8.5-in. on the RS). Overall, the suspension was impressive for a bike at this price point.
As a woods rider, I was happy that Kawasaki went with a 21-in. front and 18-in. rear combo with bead locks, allowing the rider to run lower tire pressures. This combination offers endless tire choices for the consumer. Keeping with the KX looks, Kawasaki went with black aluminum wheels and silver spokes, giving it the full-size KX look.
The braking department has a 240mm petal front disc with a Nissin two-piston caliper. Out back is a 220mm petal disk with a single-piston Nissin caliper. Braking was adequate and predictable for the varying terrain we traversed.
• Styling/Ergos
With all the new updates, Kawasaki wanted to make the bike look like the race KX line, and boy, did they hit it out of the park with the styling! The all-new bodywork is designed with the rider’s safety in mind. The panels have an almost seamless fit, which allows the rider to move around without worrying about catching a boot or clothing on the plastic. We saw this with the MX bikes years ago and are happy to see it trickle down to the trail bike segment. Two colors are available: KX Green and Battleship Gray.
Kawasaki even widened the seat for the comfort department and added 6mm of foam, all while keeping the seat lower than the previous model, thanks to the redesigned subframe. Footpegs have been repositioned 9mm rearward, and the handlebars 25mm farther forward and 13mm higher, allowing more room to move around the bike.
Since Kawasaki likes to let the “Good Times Roll,” they increased the capacity of the all-new keyed steel gas tank to two gallons, which is up from the previous 1.7-gallon plastic tank. Rounding out the cockpit, Kawasaki added a keyed ignition and low-fuel light to the handlebar area.
I had a blast testing out the new KLX 230R/RS, getting to blast around Hollister Hills SVRA off-road park for a day, and putting the updated KLX through the paces. This was the most fun day of riding I’ve had in a long time, and the KLX 230R made that possible. If you are in the market for a new trail bike, the new KLX 230R/RS is worth a look.
MSRP: $4,999
PROS:
- Awesome price point for what you get
- Smooth, easy-to ride power band
- Available in two colors
CONS:
- Not a fan of the steel tank
• 2025 Kawasaki KLX 230R/RS Specifications:
Engine: 4-stroke single-cylinder, SOHC air-cooled
Displacement: 233cc
Bore and Stroke: 67.0 x 66.0
Compression: 9.4:1
Fuel System: DFI with 32mm Keihen throttle body
Ignition: TCBI with electronic advance
Transmission: 6-speed
Front Suspension: 37mm telescopic fork (9.8-in. R and 8.6-in. RS)
Rear Suspension: Uni-Trak linkage system with adjustable preload with (9.8” R and 8.5” RS)
Front Tire: 80/100-21
Rear Tire: 100/100-18
Front Brakes: 240mm disc with dual-piston caliper
Rear Brake: 220mm disc with single-piston caliper
Ground Clearance: 11.4-in. R and 10.6-in. RS
