Fremont motorcycle riders find themselves in an interesting spot. On the one hand, they’re in the heart of the Bay Area and need a bike that lets them navigate busy city streets and interstate highways. At the same time, riders don’t need to go far to find off-road trails worth exploring. Heading for the Greenbelt Trails, the Sierra Vista, or the Coyote Hills Regional Park can be an adrenaline-pumping experience if you have the right motorbike.
The good news is that you don’t need multiple motorcycles to experience the full breadth of Northern California. With the Kawasaki KLX 230 and KLX 300 dual-sport motorcycles, you can navigate backroads and trails using the same bike as the main roads. SF Moto has a Kawasaki for sale near Fremont that lets you go anywhere as the mood strikes. Why are the KLX 230 and KLX 300 such great dual-sport bikes, and which one is right for you? Let’s delve into these small but mighty bikes and how they suit the evolving needs of Bay Area riding.
Kawasaki: A History of Dual-Sport Performance
To understand the significance of KLX 230 and 300, we should start with a quick recap of Kawasaki and its dual-sport motorcycles (also known as dual-purpose, adventure, or enduro bikes). They first entered the fray in 1987 with the KS-I and KS-II. These single-cylinder bikes helped kickstart the popularity of the “Superbike Mini Racers” category and dual-sport bikes. Similar Kawasaki bikes followed, leading to the debut of the original KLX 300R in 1996. Though still running a single cylinder, these bikes featured a four-stroke, liquid-cooled engine and an updated suspension for serious adventure riders.
Kawasaki discontinued the KLX 300 after 2007, replacing it with the KLX 250. With dual-sport popularity booming in the late 2010s, though, they saw an opportunity to double down for motorcycle owners who love pavement and dirt equally. They introduced the Kawasaki KLX 230 in the summer of 2019 as a clean-sheet bike offering aimed at newer and more casual riders. A year later, the KLX 300 R was rescued from the scrap heap, returning to traverse everything the Pacific Northwest can offer. They’ve become two of our favorite bikes for navigating from daily life to the region’s greatest wonders.
What’s Great About the KLX 230 and KLX 300
Despite one being a new design and the other being a resurrection, these two bikes have a lot in common. Both of them will delight Fremont bikers as they jet from Interstate 880 to the nearest park or wilderness reserve. Each has an electric start four-stroke engine that quickly hits the high end of the rev range so you can take off from red lights or soar over jumps. With the uniquely tuned long-travel suspension, you’ll feel equally stable on fresh-paved asphalt or well-worn back roads that wind through the redwood trees.
Both bikes are built on a tubular steel perimeter frame inspired by motorcycle racing to maximize strength and minimize flex for pinpoint handling. It’s a must for weaving through crowded city streets or around obstacles like rocks and stumps. Other shared features include full-size wheels for added grip, a high-visibility LED headlight, disc brakes with available ABS (which you can turn off if desired), a comfortable upright seat, and full smartphone connectivity using the Rideology app. The bikes also sport visual styling inspired by the KX motocross series, helping you feel ready to dominate when you get away from the city.
Differences Between the KLX 230 and KLX 300
Which bike should you have your eyes on? The short answer is that the KLX 300 has more for riders who want to go the extra mile. Here’s a head-to-head on some of the most important specs:
- The KLX 230 has a 233cc, single overhead cam engine, while the KLX 300 comes with a 292cc, dual-cam engine that delivers more power and torque.
- The KLX 230 uses a regular telescopic front fork and an adjustable preload rear shock. The KLX 300 has an inverted front fork, adjustable front compression, and a gas-charged rear shock with three-way adjustability for further fine-tuning based on terrain.
- The KLX 230 has 9.4 inches of ground clearance and a 33.3-inch seat height, while the KLX 300 offers 10.8 inches of clearance and a 35.2-inch seat.
- The KLX 230 is almost five inches shorter and slightly wider than the KLX 300, and it has a little less rake and trail. This makes the KLX 230 more agile and the KLX 300 more stable.
- The KLX 230 is available in lime green, while the KLX 300 also comes in a battle gray color scheme.
To sum it up, people in the Bay Area who are new to dual-sport riding, spend more of their bike time in the city, or stick to lighter-grade off-roading, will be right at home on the Kawasaki KLX 230. Serious Fremont dual-sport enthusiasts, especially if they’re tall and want to conquer more serious terrain, will love the added power, stability, and adjustments of the KLX 300.
Get Ready for Competition with KLX Supermotos
The dual-sport KLX 230 and KLX 300 will suit on- and off-pavement adventurers just fine. However, some riders want all the toughness and agility of this kind of bike, but optimized for the paved urban jungle. The Kawasaki KLX 230SM and 300SM supermoto models are perfect for this crowd. They take the already-great base bikes and update them with features to maximize their performance on pavement rather than dirt. To start, the supermoto bikes have much bigger front brakes to reduce stopping distance, which is useful for the Fremont rush hour. The 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels are swapped for 17s across the board to reduce ride height and enhance street performance.
Both SM models have decreased rake and trail, a shorter overall length, and a slightly narrower body. These tweaks make them even more nimble to zigzag through and around almost anything. The seat is lowered by 0.2 inches on the KLX 230SM and a whopping 1.3 inches on the KLX 300SM, getting the rider out of the air for superior hangling and better aero at top speed. Finally, the KLX SM bikes have a little less front wheel travel to make handling more responsive, and Kawasaki swaps the lime paint for gray and light blue hues.
Find a Kawasaki KLX Bike at SF Moto
The Kawasaki KLX 230 and 300 are two of the finest dual-sport motorcycles available, and riders from Fremont and beyond will love riding them to work or taking them for a weekend pleasure cruise. Whether you prefer the easy city-friendly dynamics of the KLX 230, the amped-up power and suspension of the KLX 300, or the race-ready design of the supermotos, these bikes are eager to get rolling as you are.
Come in today or call us to discuss which Kawasaki enduro motorcycle is right for you. As the leading Kawasaki dealer near Fremont, we have been helping riders since 1945 who need the right bike for the Bay Area and beyond. Our entire staff rides, and they use that knowledge to guide you in the search for your next motorcycle. Great financing is available, and we also have a full motorcycle service shop and gear center, so you are well-equipped for adventure from Main Street to the shoreline.
