In recent years, there has been an increase in demand for adventure-focused and off-road motorcycles. While there are numerous alternatives in the premium market of this type of motorbike, there are surprisingly few options on the opposite end of the spectrum. So far, the Hero Xpulse 200 4V is the most economical alternative on the market, followed by the Yezdi Adventure, the more road-oriented Suzuki V-Strom SX, and several more. Seeing an opportunity here, Kawasaki India plans to launch a road-legal version of the KLX 230 Rs off-road vehicle, the KLX 230 S. Set to be introduced on October 17, the brand has been working on localizing the construction of the motorcycle since spy photographs of the bike had been earlier.
Kawasaki KLX 230 S: Engine
Moving on to the Kawasaki KLX 230 S’s powertrain, the dual-sport bike is driven by an air-cooled 233 cc single-cylinder engine capable of producing 19.73 bhp at 8,000 rpm and 20.3 Nm at 6,000 rpm, linked to a 5-speed transmission, which is similar to the Xpulse 200 4V. The motor is housed within the high-tensile steel, box-section perimeter frame and is supported by a 37 mm telescopic fork in the front and a Uni-Trak connected monoshock in the rear. The bike has 21-18 wire spoke wheels with dual-purpose tyres. Meanwhile, disc brakes on both ends manage the braking.
Kawasaki KLX 230 S: Features, Specs
Unlike the KLX 230 Rs, the road-legal KLX 230 S will have a headlamp, indicators, mirrors, dual-purpose tyres, and registration, allowing it to be legally ridden on paved roads. The design is identical to its off-road counterpart, but improvements have been made to make it more roadworthy. In the international market, where the KLX 230 S is already available, the motorcycle has 198 mm front and 220 mm rear suspension travel, a seat height of 843 mm, and a ground clearance of 239. Now, for the Indian market, Kawasaki appears to have modified these data to make the motorcycle more suitable for Indian riders.
Exact specifications will be available at the time of launch. Furthermore, the KLX 230 S weighs 133 kg worldwide, and the addition of the skirt guard and front number plate is expected to increase that weight by a few pounds. For perspective, the Hero Xpulse 200 4V weighs 159 kg, making the Kawasaki the lighter of the two bikes.
Kawasaki KLX 230 S: Price
The KLX 230 S will be the first road-legal dual-sport motorcycle sold by a Japanese brand, and Kawasaki’s third offering after the Ninja 300 and the W175. Knowing that Kawasaki has decided to localise the manufacturing of the KLX 230 S, which is a necessary step to keep the motorcycle competitive, we expected that its pricing would be approximately 2 lakh ex-showroom. At that pricing range, the Kawasaki KLX 230 S will face off against the Hero Xpulse 200 4V, the Yezdi Adventure, and the road-focused Suzuki V-Strom SX.
