This Approachable Dual-Sport Is Basically A Dirt-Bike With Lights
With the rise in popularity of adventure bikes, dual-purpose machines of all shapes and sizes have been given a new lease on life. For a time it seemed as though the dual-sport segment, most especially the more affordable and approachable bikes, was on life support. But, manufacturers were quick to realize that these bikes offered budding adventure enthusiasts the ideal point of entry.
The Best Way To Learn
Although this might seem like an unpopular opinion to some, for those in the market for their very first motorcycle, a dual-sport is the single best option. We are obviously not talking about one of those crazy enduro bikes that promise unrivaled off-road capability, but naturally one of the smaller Japanese bikes. All of them are light, economical, and allow you to get off-road without worrying about breaking expensive components.
This rings especially true for anyone looking to eventually buy an ADV, but familiarizing yourself with low-traction environments is a fundamental, often overlooked skill. One of the things counting against these bikes is that most of them have fairly tall seats, but there are a handful of options for shorter folks. The other, more pressing issue is that people tend to look at a first bike as nothing more than a stepping stone. While it may have a tall seat, this Kawasaki is the kind of dual-sport that you can hold onto indefinitely.
The Kawasaki KLX300 Is An Underrated Trail Bike
MSRP: $5,649
The KLX300 shares more than just a passing resemblance to the KLX250R, a 90s legend that was widely considered a dirt-bike with lights back when it came out. Three decades later, the model has gained 43cc of displacement, fuel injection, some weight, and modern plastics. At its core, it is still that same exceptional off-road bike we came to know and love. While it isn’t even half as powerful as some of the modern enduros, it is just as fun to ride, and won’t need to be serviced after every ride.
The KLX300 Has A User-Friendly Single
Power: 25 Horsepower
Anyone looking for an enduro racing bike will be barking up the wrong tree here. With just 25 horsepower, this is an approachable motorcycle that offers the kind of performance that will not intimidate new riders. It is also ample for an off-road focused bike like this, but for those who need a bike that can be ridden on the highway, we will be the first to admit that there are better options in this price range. While it can do it, it is very much a last resort, and it won’t be a pleasant experience for you or the bike.
When compared to other bikes in this space, it is actually a relatively modern engine (this is not saying much). It has liquid-cooling, fuel injection, and a twin-cam head. The overall reliability of these bikes is as good as you might expect from any Japanese product, and the fact that you get long street bike service intervals is a genuine selling point. Even though it has been around for pretty much as long as any of its direct rivals, Kawasaki has done a good job of keeping things fresh, and it feels like a more modern, more refined powertrain.
The KLX300 Offers Impressive Off-Road Capability
All the similarly priced options in this space have a way of differentiating themselves from the competition. For the KLX300, it is its adjustable long-travel suspension that really sets it apart from the crowd. Up front, you get a 43mm inverted telescopic fork with adjustable compression damping, and 10-inches of travel. At the rear, you get a fully adjustable Uni-Trak gas-charged shock with a piggyback reservoir, and 9.1-inches of travel. It also has a healthy 10.8-inches of ground clearance, sufficient to clear just about anything. As previously mentioned, all this makes it a relatively tall bike with a seat height of 35.2-inches.
On paper, 25 horsepower may not seem like much, but it is still enough to break traction off-road, and, in the right hands, this is a mighty effective little trail bike. Although it is not the giant slayer it used to be decades ago, it won’t leave any casual rider in want for more in terms of off-road capability. It will also afford newer riders the opportunity to learn how to ride off-road with confidence. With it being so durable, you won’t have to worry about something breaking when you start to explore the limits of the little bike. At just 302 pounds, it is also pretty light, and lifting the bike after a minor spill won’t be too much of a challenge.
A Simple Kind Of Motorcycle That Can Do A Little Bit Of Everything
With so many people looking for the “ultimate” Swiss army knife of a motorcycle, it is fair to say this is not it. It does, however, offer the ability to do a little bit of everything and a lot of “one thing.” With the only real “feature” being the fact that it has a LED headlight, it is a simple creature, and will only really appeal to a certain kind of rider. The kind of rider that needs a lightweight exploration tool that won’t break the bank. Or, the kind of rider that wants to learn how to ride off-road, or the kind of rider that just wants a proper trail bike that can handle heaps of abuse before getting much attention. You get the picture.
With so many great motorcycles on the market these days, it is pretty easy to overlook an old favorite like this. The recently released Sherpa will certainly catch the eye if you were to walk into a Kawasaki dealership, and as much as it is a fantastic option for new riders, the KLX300 is significantly more capable, and it’s actually cheaper! It is the kind of bike that you can buy, keep indefinitely, and maybe pass down to the next generation of riders one day.
Source: Kawasaki
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