2023 Kawasaki KLX230, KLX230 S and KLX230SM Motorcycles

Kawasaki’s new KLX230 dual-purpose motorcycle has been purpose-built for serious fun on the street and in the dirt, with its engine, frame and suspension designed with trail riding in mind. Taking cues from the KX motorcycle line and Kawasaki’s racing heritage, this 2023 street-legal dual-purpose motorcycle has been designed to enable riders to get out of town and enjoy the trails with confidence. The lineup has been expanded for 2023 with the addition of the KLX230 S that features a reduced seat height as well as the KLX230SM supermoto suited for more enjoyment on the street.

The KLX230 was designed and built to be a lightweight and easily maneuverable motorcycle for a wide range of riders. Utilizing the simple air-cooled engine design along with the smooth handling perimeter frame helped keep the KLX230 compact, while the balance between the engine and frame results in optimal trail fun performance.

A smooth and reliable, 233cc air-cooled engine and compact steel perimeter frame were designed with trail riding in mind. Full-size wheels, long-travel suspension, ample ground clearance, and KX-inspired styling and ergonomics all contribute to the off-road capability of the KLX230 motorcycle. Front and rear disc brakes supported by Kawasaki’s dual-purpose anti-lock brake system (ABS) provide sure stopping power when riding on trails as well as on-road.

KLX230

New 2023 Kawasaki KLX230 Highlights

KX-inspired styling and ergonomics
LED headlight and front fender
Dual-purpose ABS disable feature
Engine tuning

Engine and Transmission

The four-stroke, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine offers smooth, reliable and durable performance in a compact package. The engine has a bore and stroke of 67-by-66 millimeters, with a displacement of 233cc. The long-stroke offers robust low-mid range torque for smooth and easy performance. A simple single-overhead camshaft (SOHC) two-valve design was chosen for its easy-to-use power character and reliability.

Fuel injection ensures consistent fuel delivery regardless of outside air temperature or elevation. It also enables the use of an electric starter for easy starting at the push of a button, whether the engine is hot or cold, and contributes to clean emissions. The fuel injection system utilizes a 32-millimeter throttle body, which delivers a precise response. Exhaust pipe length was selected to contribute to the engine’s low-mid range performance. To match the strong off-road image of the KX-inspired bodywork, the exhaust features a tapered silencer with an oval cross-section.

A smooth-shifting six-speed transmission covers a wide range of street-riding conditions and allows for more comfortable cruising on the highway, which is also effective when trail riding. A 45/14 final gear ratio was selected for an ideal balance for both road and trail riding.

For 2023, the engine tuning was slightly adjusted and offers a number of improvements. Revised engine control unit (ECU) settings offer a lower fast-idle speed to reduce engine noise as the motorcycle is warming up as well as improved power at high altitudes. The generator capacity has also been optimized to suit the new headlight.

Chassis

Designed from the start for off-road and street riding, the high-tensile steel perimeter frame offers the optimal handling needed for enjoyable riding in a wide range of environments. The engine and frame were designed together, which helped engineers achieve a low engine height, ideal chassis rigidity balance and a low center of gravity — all in a compact chassis. The short 54.3-inch wheelbase combined with the high 10.4-inch ground clearance contributes to the bike’s maneuverability, allowing riders to more easily navigate the trail.

A large, 37-millimeter diameter telescopic fork handles suspension duties up front; equipped with 8.7 inches of travel suspension offers controllability on a variety of terrain. At the rear, the new Uni-Trak rear linkage with 8.8-inches of wheel travel provides great road holding ability and bump absorption. The single rear shock absorber with pressurized nitrogen gas is adjustable for preload, allowing riders to set the bike up for their weight or a passenger.

The KLX230 S is perfect for those who are looking for a more approachable KLX. Bringing down the seat height from 34.8 inches to 32.7 inches, the KLX230 S enables more riders to take on off-road trails with confidence. The height reduction is thanks to the shorter wheel travel of the front and rear suspension, offering 6.2 inches of travel in the forks and 6.6 inches of travel in the rear. The side stand has also been shortened to match the lower seat height.

Wheels and Brakes

Full-size aluminum wheels, measuring 21 inches at the front and 18 inches at the rear, make it easier to overcome obstacles encountered on trails, contributing to exciting trail-riding performance.

The KLX230 motorcycle comes equipped with petal disc brakes, front and rear, which provide sure stopping power. On non-ABS models, a 240-millimeter front disc gripped by a twin-piston caliper offers strong, easy-to-control braking. Slowing the rear, a single-piston caliper grips a 220-millimeter disc. ABS-equipped models utilize a 265-millimeter front disc, gripped by a twin-piston caliper, which offers strong, easy-to-control braking. A 220-millimeter disc operated by a single-piston caliper slows the rear.

The dual-purpose ABS system was carefully tuned for both on-road and off-road use. Designed to assist riders to stop effectively in a short distance in most conditions, dual-purpose ABS offers additional reassurance to riders when braking on a low-traction surface. New for 2023, riders are able to turn off the ABS function for the rear brake for more active off-road sport riding by using a switch located on the left side of the handlebar. Once the bike is turned off and re-started, the ABS returns to its default setting, returning ABS functionality to the rear brake.

Ergonomics

The frame, seat, and tank of the KLX230 motorcycle were designed with a combination of form and function in mind, making the frame easy to grip with the legs, offering superior chassis control.

Similar to the lineup of KX motorcycles, the flat design of the tank and seat gives the rider greater freedom of movement when changing riding positions and facilitates sitting farther forward. In addition to trail riding, cruising comfort was also a consideration when deciding the seat shape and thickness. The seams between the shrouds, seat and side covers all fit flush, making it much easier for the rider to move around on the bike.

Styling and Instrumentation

The KLX230 gets its styling from Kawasaki’s line of KX motocross motorcycles, and for 2023, an even sportier, more aggressive styling cue was used. Replacing the previous bulb headlight, a compact, new LED headlight is the focal point of the KLX230’s front end. The headlight itself is shorter from front to back, giving the area a much sleeker look, and a revised headlight cover contributes to the overall design. To match the sporty new headlight, the front fender was given a new, more aggressive design.

A two-gallon fuel tank allows the good times to keep rolling over the course of a long day. A pair of passenger footpegs enables two-up riding. The KLX230 motorcycle is also equipped with a lockable toolbox compartment, located in the left side cover, which features everything necessary for quick, on-the-spot maintenance jobs. The toolbox utilizes the Kawasaki One-key system, which means that the side cover panel is conveniently unlocked with the ignition key. An all-digital instrument panel offers at-a-glance information care of a large, easy-to-read LCD display screen. Features include: speedometer, odometer, fuel gauge, clock and indicator lamps.

Accessories

Riders can personalize their KLX230 to meet their needs, with numerous Kawasaki Genuine Accessories to choose from, such as: skid plate, frame covers, hand covers, oversized handlebar, handlebar pad, helmet lock and a rear carrier.

KLX230SM

Complimenting the KLX230 for 2023 is the addition of the all-new KLX230SM supermoto, helping to further expand and solidify the KLX family of motorcycles. Riders will appreciate the powerful, light and maneuverable package that the KLX230SM provides, making it one of the best options for tackling any urban jungle.

All-New 2023 Kawasaki KLX230SM Highlights

Aggressive Supermoto styling
17-inch front and rear wheels with road tires
Supermoto tuned long-travel suspension
Inverted front fork
Powerful, large-diameter disc brakes
Bright LED headlight

Wheels and Brakes

The KLX230SM comes with 17-inch front and rear wheels, and they are wider than those found on the KLX230 to help riders navigate the roads with increased handling precision. A large, 300-millimeter semi-floating petal disc front brake with a twin-piston caliper adorns the front wheel of the motorcycle, delivering powerful stopping power and adding to the sleek supermoto looks. As with its KLX230 brethren, a 220-millimeter disc with a single-piston caliper is in charge of slowing the rear.

Chassis

The KLX230SM comes equipped with 37-millimeter inverted forks, adding front-end rigidity and giving the motorcycle a sportier look. Like the KLX230, the KLX230SM utilizes the new Uni-Trak rear linkage that aids in bump absorption, and the single rear shock absorber is adjustable for preload, allowing riders to easily make the necessary adjustments for their weight or for the weight of a passenger. Since this motorcycle is built for the road, the KLX230SM comes equipped with stiffer spring settings that reduce the amount of travel, offering greater overall composure while in use. Since this motorcycle is geared for the streets, the off-road rider footpegs are replaced with standard footpegs with rubber pads that add to the rider’s overall comfort.

Styling

If riders are looking to tackle the city streets in style, they need to look no further than the 2023 KLX230SM. Aggressive supermoto styling can be found from the front to the rear fender on the KLX230SM, including a compact LED headlight that is the centerpiece of the sporty front-end that is short front-to-back, giving the area a sleek overall look. The sporty front fender is matched to the 17-inch front wheel, and the blacked-out engine, frame, swingarm, handlebars and rims give the motorcycle the overall edgy, aggressive supermoto image.

Accessories

Riders can personalize their KLX230SMs as they see fit with numerous Kawasaki Genuine Accessories to choose from, including a skid plate, frame covers, hand covers, oversized handlebar, gold alumite rims, helmet lock and a rear carrier.

Kawasaki KLX230