00:00We just wrapped up the day riding the 2025 Kawasaki KLX230R and KLX230RS, the short version.
00:09Behind me is the new KLX230R, heavily updated for model year 2025. Kawasaki has done a lot to
00:15update this bike, not only to give it a little bit more performance, but to also make it just
00:19a little bit more approachable and accessible to new and beginning riders. Updates to the engine,
00:25there's now a counterbalancer, smoothing out the vibration, airbox has been redesigned,
00:31subframe has been redesigned, all new styling, making it a little bit more aggressive,
00:35kind of matching the KX250 and KX450 motocross bikes, giving it just that aggressive look.
00:40You got some real nice Dunlop tires on here, Sports D952, see a big chunky knobby hooking up,
00:47nice. The levers have actually been shortened too on both sides to give it a little bit of a more
00:51modern look, but also prevent it from hanging out a little too far if you have a tip over and
00:56bend or break your lever. The fuel tank is now larger too, right around two gallons I believe.
01:01Suspension has also been updated, I believe valving and springs. Seat height is now shorter
01:06as well. 230R and 230RS that we'll ride later have both have reduced seat heights for 2025.
01:13Now all the bikes have this key ignition and a gas cap that you got to use the key for.
01:18It used to be only the California models, but now all 50 states have it, which I like actually,
01:22like if you weren't camping, you know, you know, overnight you can just pull the key,
01:25bring it in your tent, not have to worry about your annoying friends stealing your bike or
01:30something. Both bikes $4,999, really good price point. We're going to go throw the helmet on and
01:36see what this thing's like to ride. All right, we're getting our first time on the 2025 Kawasaki
01:43KLX 230R. I've always loved the bike. It was a little bit vibratey, some kind of old school
01:49feeling. This counterbalancer, it's a lot smoother. I noticed that instantly. For some reason, it
01:54almost feels like it revs a little quicker too. Still a two valve head, but just a little bit
01:59more lively and free revving. There's also been updates to the suspension and the subframe. The
02:05suspension, they actually revised the valving and the spring rates. It's feeling really agile. It
02:11turns into the corner really easily. It's got a short wheelbase, lower center of gravity,
02:16transfers onto the side of the tire really nicely. Just kind of look where you want to go and it's
02:21just an easy bike to turn and steer. Makes it super confidence inspiring and just like a nice
02:26little torquey engine, puts the power down really well. This is a recreation bike, you know, it's
02:31not, but even there, you know, this fork did not bottom. It's really comfortable, absorbs it nicely,
02:37but has enough holdup for jumping and stuff like that. But yeah, the whole thing here is this bike
02:43is like a play recreation bike. It needs to be, you know, approachable and accessible for the
02:48new and beginning riders. But then Kawasaki emphasized that they still wanted to have some
02:54performance to entertain the experienced riders. And that's what I like about the soft suspension.
02:59It makes the bike really playful. You know, you can kind of bounce around the trail, but then it
03:03also helps keep and maintain traction. Another thing too, is I'm about 5'7", 125 pounds. The
03:11suspension doesn't feel overly soft for me. It's just right for this kind of play riding. And then
03:16also the rider triangle. For me, I'm standing up right now. I feel like I'm in a really good
03:21aggressive standing riding position. Some of these downhills, the brakes are really nice and touchy.
03:26Lock up the rear, skid into a corner, load the front. There's almost like a mountain bike style
03:31trail. And this thing is just so fun to ride on this stuff. It doesn't feel too big for the trail
03:36or too powerful. They actually reduced the wheelbase on both the R that I'm on and the RS,
03:42which are the gray bikes we have today. This helps make the thing turn like a tight corner like that.
03:48Just come in, make the corner. Both bikes, the R and the RS is available in both colors. This
03:54lime green and they call it battle gray. This is not just a beginner's bike. This is
04:00just a fun play bike for an experienced rider, kind of a toy maybe. Or if you haven't been riding
04:06a long time and you want to just get back into the sport, this is a really good option. It's just fun.
04:11All right, now I am on the 230 RS, the gray bike here, shorter version. Shorter seat height,
04:19little bit less suspension travel, but same chassis, same engine, same suspension components.
04:25Definitely a similar riding experience. Maybe the suspension almost feels just slightly stiffer,
04:32but by no means is it harsh or anything. It's just a little subtlety there. A little bit
04:39lower center of gravity. I believe the wheelbase is actually slightly shorter on this one. A little
04:44bit more agile, but just barely. They both are very similar. Same braking components. Man,
04:50these brakes are good. The rider triangle standing up, it doesn't really feel too different
04:55for me. Maybe you feel a little bit more over the front, especially on a downhill with a little less
04:59travel, maybe deeper in the stroke. I think either way, you can't really go wrong. It does seem like
05:05it kind of can just, you can steer the front with a lot of handlebar input a little bit easier than
05:10on the other bike. It's really splitting hairs between these two. Let's see. Surprisingly,
05:16the suspension did not bottom there. That's nice. Good direct throttle response,
05:21blowing up a berm, kicking up some dust. It's got a six-speed transmission. Yeah, I think for me,
05:27I like the suspension action for just a little bit of a faster pace on the R a little bit better.
05:32These are kind of those areas where the R was kicking me in the butt on some downhills with
05:36some bumps like that. Right there, some of this chop. Yeah, a little bit harsher feeling in my
05:40hands. You're going to kind of charge bumps on the RS than on the R. The saying for this bike is
05:46get out and play. And that's exactly how it feels. All right, I got three pros ahead of me right
05:52here. I got Axel, Sean, and Leonardo. I think that's how it's pronounced. A couple of Monster
05:57Energy athletes. They're having fun on these things too. Big updates to this platform for 2025.
06:03They really pumped some R&D into this bike and just made it even better. One of the updates I
06:08noticed and appreciated the most was the updates to the engine. They have that primary balancer
06:14that reduced the vibration. Something that I kind of knocked the bike for in the past. Being just a
06:19little bit buzzy and vibrating. It's air-cooled single. Obviously, there's going to be some
06:23vibrations and buzzing, but a lot less for 2025. You get some internal updates, some ECU tuning
06:29to increase the load of mid-range torque. And that's something I noticed very quickly while
06:34riding the bike. It always had good mid-range in the past, but the bottom end, you had to get the
06:40thing past 2,000 or 3,000 RPM or so. Really get into that mid-range and keep it happy. Now, this
06:45thing, right off idle, just has a super good, just hunchy feeling, and tractable. And yeah,
06:50whether you're popping a wheelie over an obstacle, or sliding a corner, or blowing up a berm,
06:56it just has a really nice direct feel and throttle response. Expansion updates. The bike is still
07:02super plush, which I really appreciate out of a play bike. It absorbs the bumps in the road and
07:06the trail really nicely, especially at moderate paces. And then it has holdup if you're kind of
07:11charging through stuff or you're jumping it. Yeah, I bottomed it out a couple times, kind of
07:16jumped into flat, but kind of got to expect that. They shortened the wheelbase, made the steering
07:21geometry a little bit sharper, and it's just such an agile motorcycle. Changes direction super
07:27easily, and that's kind of the theme here. Accessible, approachable, beginner-friendly
07:32motorcycle, but it still has plenty of performance to entertain the experienced, or even pro riders.
07:38You can pass it over to your friends or family members that are less experienced. It's going to
07:43be a very confidence-inspiring motorcycle. It's not going to scare them, and just a great segue
07:48into off-road riding. I like the R a little bit better, just the additional suspension travel
07:53for jumping and that kind of stuff. Don't overlook this bike. You're not too good to be
07:57riding a KLX 230R. If you enjoyed the video, consider subscribing to let me know if you
08:02have any questions about the bike, which one you would get, the R or the RS. Drop a comment below,
08:08we'll get back to you. Thanks for watching. We'll see you in the next one.
Comments