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Kawasaki has announced two spectacular-looking new off-road bikes for 2020: the KLX 300R and the KLX 230R. Both strive to capture the distinctive feel and style of Kawasaki’s KX race bikes while being affordable and accessible for a variety of everyday riders.
The KLX 300R is intended, in Kawasaki’s own words, to “bridge the gap between a weekend play bike and a full race bike.” It has a 292-cc liquid-cooled four-stroke engine with electric start and a six-speed transmission. It uses a high-tensile steel frame and an aluminum swingarm to shed some weight. It has 21-inch wheels up front and 18-inch wheels in the rear, and offers 11.2 inches of travel for bump absorption from its Uni-Trak long travel suspension. It comes with adjustable handlebars and brake levers. It will start at $5,499.
The smaller KLX 230R, on the other hand, is a bit more of an accessible weekend bike. It uses a 233-cc air-cooled four-stroke engine connected to a six-speed transmission. It has a steel frame and 9.8 inches of suspension travel. It has a low seat height, and is designed to be handled by family members of all sizes. And while it may be more diminutive than the KLX 300R, it’s also significantly cheaper, starting at $4,399.
Lime green is the only color available for both machines — what dirt bike aficionado would want anything but? — and Kawasaki says both bikes will be available by late summer 2019.
