2023 Kawasaki KLX230S - Answer to China

[JohnC]

Just saw a review of the new 2023 Kawasaki KLX230S. Seems almost like an answer to China bikes. It has a 233cc injected engine, with 6 speed trans. Also has optional ABS. Seat height is a little low though. MSRP, $5K.


https://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/kawasaki/2023-kawasaki-klx230-s-review-first-ride.html


Certainly looks familiar.........




John

[IdahoRider]

I considered one of these, standard model without ABS, but ended up purchasing in Lifan/Venom KPX 250 for several reasons.

1) $2000 less.
2) 2 year / 12,000 mile warranty vs Kawasaki 1 year warranty.
3) Slightly more power.
4) Kawasaki doesn't have gear indicator, RPM, and only 2 gallon tank. Dumb.

Lifan/Venom has so far been good for everyone on warranty and shipping damage claims. If you absolutely don't want to do any maintenance or repair work on your own, then the Kawasaki is the way to go.

[tknj99]

Not sure $5k is an answer to $2k though? unless my math is wrong

[JohnC]

Not sure $5k is an answer to $2k though? unless my math is wrong




Agree. I didn't mean to imply it is a good answer. But it is awfully close, design wise, to China bikes.





John

[IdahoRider]

There are very few differences between the KLX 230 and KPX 250 other than the price. I have a friend who recently bought a KLX 300 Supermoto. He loves the bike but can't get over the lack of a gear indicator. (He also paid nearly $7000 for the used bike with 300 miles on the odometer). I tried to talk him into buying a Chinese motorcycle but he has zero interest in doing his own maintenance. He asked the salesman about Chinese motorcycles and he said he predicts they are going to become a much bigger player in the US market over the next few years.

[tknj99]

All they need is a dealer network with support (repair and maintenance) and they could definitely grow to be player... but that ofcourse would drive up the lovely prices we benefit from.. so i say, stay as is.. send me the crate and it better not be damaged!

[Thumper]

Not sure $5k is an answer to $2k though? unless my math is wrong

Lifan KPX 250 costs $3000, but it also has a bigger engine. However... I agree that really comparable bikes are closers to $2000-$2400. Personally, I prefer to do my own maintenance anyway (more reliable). Comparable bikes would include the Hawk, Storm, Brozz. As far as warranty is concerned, these bikes make it past the 24 month period easily. Issues are almost ALWAYS at the outset, not two years down the road! There are exceptions, but NONE justifying the $2500-$3000 price difference. My Storm has nearly made it to the 2 year mark with no problems whatsoever, and it cost me $1500 plus under $200 shipping. Definitely no buyers remorse here :p

[tknj99]

Same here.. 2 years strong on the Brozz and has taken a few downers by my son (and maybe once by me). The only issues have been a recent rear blinker that failed. cost a cool $8 to replace the pair with trick flowing signals

[JerryHawk250]

I've done an actual side by side comparison of the two bikes. KPX has heaver duty front forks and rear swing arm and a full 250cc engine. The KLX has Hawk like forks and swing arms. IdahoRider nailed the rest. :tup:

[JerryHawk250]

All they need is a dealer network with support (repair and maintenance) and they could definitely grow to be player... but that ofcourse would drive up the lovely prices we benefit from.. so i say, stay as is.. send me the crate and it better not be damaged!
Lifan is already working on this with just over 100 dealers across the US and growing. American Lifan had this in the works for years. At one time there were plans to build an assembly facility in the US but think Covid had threw a monkey wrench in the gears. Who Knows, This may still be in the works. :shrug:

[IdahoRider]

Or you can look at it this way. You can buy a Templar, XPect, and Hawk 250 for the same price as one KLX and have three times the fun!

[IdahoRider]

I have a local dealer who sells Templar's, Titan's, KPX 250's, and GPX's. I would have loved to have bought my KPX 250 locally but they are selling (last check) the KPX for $4000 (includes assembly and the first service). I couldn't justify paying $850 more, when I wanted to do all of my own maintenance anyway. Sales must be pretty good though as they were selling them earlier in the year for $3500 so they must be selling well if they could raise the price another $500. It really does pay to take the time to learn to do as much as possible by yourself.

[IdahoRider]

Lifan is already working on this with just over 100 dealers across the US and growing. American Lifan had this in the works for years. At one time there were plans to build an assembly facility in the US but think Covid had threw a monkey wrench in the gears. Who Knows, This may still be in the works. :shrug:


Reading through the EPA's list of certified motorcycles, there are ALOT of motorcycles and engines available in the US and more coming. Looks like more bikes are made in China and Southeast Asia including the smaller BMW adventure bikes.

https://www.epa.gov/compliance-and-fuel-economy-data/annual-certification-data-vehicles-engines-and-equipment

This Zongshen powered, street legal, rally bike coming next year looks interesting.

https://www.advpulse.com/adv-news/new-kove-450-rally-bike-hitting-north-american-showrooms-soon/

[JerryHawk250]

Reading through the EPA's list of certified motorcycles, there are ALOT of motorcycles and engines available in the US and more coming. Looks like more bikes are made in China and Southeast Asia including the smaller BMW adventure bikes.

https://www.epa.gov/compliance-and-fuel-economy-data/annual-certification-data-vehicles-engines-and-equipment

This Zongshen powered, street legal, rally bike coming next year looks interesting.

https://www.advpulse.com/adv-news/new-kove-450-rally-bike-hitting-north-american-showrooms-soon/
The KLX Engine is made in Indonesia

[Megadan]

I will establish that I would take the kpx250 over the Kawi off the bat.

That now out of the way, y'all don't need a gear indicator. I rode without one for years and you just learn how to count and keep track in your head. After a while you actually keep track subconsciously, and even if you do lose track you figure out how to know. For me I can tell just by speed and rpm.

The deal breaker for me on the Kawi is the teeny weeny tank. Not sure why the new trend for bikes is microscopic fuel tanks, but it's annoying.

[JerryHawk250]

The deal breaker for me on the Kawi is the teeny weeny tank. Not sure why the new trend for bikes is microscopic fuel tanks, but it's annoying. Well Dan these bikes are more efficient now so don't need all the fuel. :lmao: Yeah, i don't get it either. why not slap a huge tank on it.

[tknj99]

On the flipside.. i'd love to have an option of bypassing local dealers and having Japan ship the bike thru an importer who then delivers the bike in a crate and i put it together to save 40% of what the dealers are asking.. that would be sweet

[JerryHawk250]

On the flipside.. i'd love to have an option of bypassing local dealers and having Japan ship the bike thru an importer who then delivers the bike in a crate and i put it together to save 40% of what the dealers are asking.. that would be sweet
Back in the 80's the local Honda dealer would sell dirt bikes and three wheelers to the guy's that raced in the create. You could save a few hundred bucks back then. Of course you got no warranty anyway because you were using for racing.

[tknj99]

Yea i figured that was the case when the big-4 was first getting their foothold in the US market.. eventually the same will happen with the China bikes and then we'll have to wait for another newcomer.. maybe Yugo-bikes.. wait what!

[Bruces]

Back in the 80's the local Honda dealer would sell dirt bikes and three wheelers to the guy's that raced in the create. You could save a few hundred bucks back then. Of course you got no warranty anyway because you were using for racing.

That is still going on ,my 3 new crf450r’s I got in the crate this summer for almost half price,and my sons new snowcross race skidoo’s also came in the crate .No warranty on the Honda’s but 70% off on parts and equipment ,and when you race for factory team skidoo they send us multiples of anything we need for free .

[Sport Rider]

it's not an answer on China. Kawasaki can't compete on price.

[Twowheeler]

Reading through the EPA's list of certified motorcycles, there are ALOT of motorcycles and engines available in the US and more coming. Looks like more bikes are made in China and Southeast Asia including the smaller BMW adventure bikes.

https://www.epa.gov/compliance-and-fuel-economy-data/annual-certification-data-vehicles-engines-and-equipment

This Zongshen powered, street legal, rally bike coming next year looks interesting.

https://www.advpulse.com/adv-news/new-kove-450-rally-bike-hitting-north-american-showrooms-soon/
That would be awesome, but way out of my budget.

[Boatguy]

I will establish that I would take the kpx250 over the Kawi off the bat.

That now out of the way, y'all don't need a gear indicator. I rode without one for years and you just learn how to count and keep track in your head. After a while you actually keep track subconsciously, and even if you do lose track you figure out how to know. For me I can tell just by speed and rpm.

The deal breaker for me on the Kawi is the teeny weeny tank. Not sure why the new trend for bikes is microscopic fuel tanks, but it's annoying.


I definitely agree with this. What’s important is a neutral indicator. Especially on these Chinese bikes. :lmao:

[Hunnicutt]

No tach, no gear indicator, more $$ than the KPX250, smaller fuel tank than the KPX250, inferior forks = NO THANKS!

[JohnC]

it's not an answer on China. Kawasaki can't compete on price.




Agree, it's not a good answer. But comparing the bikes, Kawasaki definitely is trying to answer.




John

[culcune]

The deal breaker for me on the Kawi is the teeny weeny tank. Not sure why the new trend for bikes is microscopic fuel tanks, but it's annoying.

I have a feeling it is to please California CARB's gods. On the EPA Excel sheet, they list bikes intended as '49S' and '50S' and some state both '50S + 49S' as the KLX does. Not sure why smaller tanks make a bike more eco-friendly, but that is my theory.

[Discoveror]

I've had to rule out a number of ~300cc options, especially the little 'Sport' bikes, because they have ~54" wheelbases (as does the KLX230, CF Moto 300NK). Coupled with low seat heights, I couldn't fold myself (6'2", 220 in gear) onto one.

We often hear "I wouldn't ride that long on the highway." ... without explaining 'why'. While dizzying rpm with small displacements and low torque is one reason, those short wheelbases are going to feel/be less directionally stable than longer wheelbase 'cruisers' (which won't 'turn' as easily or be as 'flickable' as short wheelbases). ... same with cars, btw. Ahh ... the compromises. :hmm:

I noticed that the popular dual-sports (CRF300L/Rally, KLX300, KPX250, Templar x250) run ~57" wheelbases. I'm not inclined to assume that design engineers don't know what they're doing! :tup: