I have the same bike 2022 blue and black Kawasaki KLX I love the thing it's fun to ride I went to take my road test I passed it with no problem with this bike it's so easy to ride and fun
I've had mine for three seasons and it's still fun. I run shinko 705s because I live on a gravel road. They stick well enough on the asphalt for a budget tire. All around fun and cheap transpo.
Just bought one. Where I live there are a lot of roads that dually trucks can't pass each other at speed. In fact they might need to put parts off the asphalt. That and in towns/cities said give it a shot. Result; so far, very happy. I do however prefer the ebony option for the color.
Most are paying $7500 out the door for these. The $6k thing is pretty much a myth. IMO, still worth it since used model sellers are asking $6.5k or so anyway.
I can't speak to what others are doing with their pricing around the world, but I will say, if someone is in the Fredericton, New Brunswick area, there's a reason that Jim Gilbert's PowerSports very quickly became the volume leader in Kawasaki sales in this country. They're worth talking to if you're ready to buy!
Really nice review. Tx. Would be, still is, a great starter bike.. But, in my opinion, this bike should have had ABS. It should have affirmed its city commuter personality by including stock a rack. Also, better display info; fuel level. Gear position.
Thanks for your kind words! We don't currently have that bike in stock, we're waiting for our full lineup of 2023 models to come in. That's definitely a bike that I plan on reviewing. I love the Versys line (I used to own the Versys 650) and I also love smaller displacement motorcycles. So stay tuned, as soon as it arrives, I'll get it up on video, and if I don't answer everything that you need in the first video, I'll continue to bring things back and get more answers.
Yeah, that's the one tough thing for motorcycle manufacturers. They want to switch it up each year, but they have limited choices. I have to admit, in person, I thought this colour scheme looks pretty good, but different people are going to have different tastes. Thanks for watching! I'm filming the KLX300 dual sport today. Feel free to subscribe to see it!
I have the 2021 klx300sm. It replaced my 2009 klx250sf. I love the bike but, almost from the start I've been having issues with the neutral light being on but, the bike still being in gear. Also, having it get stuck in neutral and not shifting up or down. I've had it to the dealer a couple of times but, they can't replicate the problem and then I have to pay out of pocket because the warranty only works if they find a problem. Have you had experience with this happening on other klx300sm bikes?
I haven't seen that problem on any of the bikes I've used. I can't speak as to how other dealers would handle things, but at Jim Gilbert's I'd be an advocate for you. I'd try to see if we can get it replicated at the dealer. It seems like a simple adjustment... Sorry that you haven't had a great experience. Great to hear that you love the bike though!
@@laxfan1238 Thanks for watching! I appreciate your kind words, and yes, I think this is an excellent beginner's bike. Every bike has it's pro's and cons, but this bike is very controllable, but still very fun, even at lower speeds. It's lightweight, which I think is a good thing for beginners. It's the kind of bike that has enough power to be fun, but not so much that you'll put yourself in danger. It's also the type of bike that can teach you to be a good rider. If you told me that you had to do a 1 hour highway drive everyday, there would be better bikes for that, but if you just want something to get around everywhere on, and have a bunch of fun doing it, I think this is a great option!
Hey Peter, do you have access to the klx230 ABS version? Is it the lightest bike on the market with abs? That would be cool to see. Thanks if possible, or if you already have a vid
Very true. For me, I'll take the Ninja 400 as my small sporty bike. This isn't going to be a high volume bike compared to a Ninja, but I'm glad it exists, and for someone looking for what this bike has to offer, I think it's a great bike.
So I film in Canada and we don't have the 230sm here. The key differences would obviously be power, but the 300 also has liquid cooling and a better dash with a tachometer. You could see if one has an LED headlight while one may not, but I expect that would be the same. For something like a supermoto, I personally would lean towards the 300 if the price difference isn't too outrageous. For trail riding, the KLX 300 and KLX 230 each have their advantages and I could make the case for either, but without having seen the KLX 230sm, it's hard for me to recommend it over the KLX 300sm that I know and quite like.
I guess I should clarify. ANY bike can be a long distance bike, but I think this is better suited to in town, or around town rides. If you compare this 300 cc to something like the Versys 300X which also has a 300cc engine, this is a single cylinder, and it doesn't have as much horsepower at the top end as the Versys would have with its twin cylinder engine. Secondarily, the the seat is designed for maneuverability on the bike to allow you to switch your position and centre of gravity around as easily as possible, so on a longer highway ride that lasts hours, there are going to be more comfortable seats than what the KLX300SM has to offer... but that all depends on what you want from your bike. I would gladly tour on a Ninja 1000sx even though the Vulcan 1700 has a "more comfortable" seat.
I'm 6 feet tall. I believe I was flat footing this in the middle of the video when I was sitting across it, but I apologize for not getting that on camera. Thanks for watching!
@@PeterLoweOne that I know, if I bought that bike it's for use on streets....I won't buy a bike in 2022 that has no abs to go on streets... between me and my spouse we currently have 7....all abs
@@philipdumont2286 Price point? Reason to move up? No engineering money to spend on building a system on this bike with these types of wheels? The Ninja 400 and Z400 share parts, and sell in higher volumes, so there's more return on investment there? I'm not sure. Also, I know that ABS brakes were hard to get on the Vulcan S for a while as there were supply chain issues across the industry. Maybe they made a decision to not offer it on this bike in order to have the parts for other higher volume bikes. These are all just my guesses.
You got taller? Sounds like you didn't outgrow it, sounds like you may have started with a bike that wasn't suited to your preferences. People don't outgrow bikes. Plenty of experienced riders enjoy this bike, it's just important to have an understanding of what you want in a motorcycle before you lay out the cash for one.
Does anyone see the (grease stained finger print on the swing arm) @4:20-4:30ish which looks like a rider sitting on his bike with a moto helmet 😮gosh I should win a free bike for this hahaha
I've heard a lot of people refer to fun bikes as boring. I love small displacement bikes and have had an absolute blast on them over my riding lifetime. If you need fast in order to have fun, get a Ninja ZX 10. If you don't need insane speed to have a whole lot of fun, this bike may be perfect for you!
It's durable and compact. It's not meant to be in the same class as their TFT displays and it's actually better than the KLR dash which SHOULD be at least this. The KLR doesn't have a tach.
@@ThatGermanFella all good. Maybe one day this channel will be big enough that they take notice! I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts!
Be a much, much better review if you rode it. Didn't even get to hear what it sounds like. I know, i know, they all sound alike. However, you could have at least started it up.
That's a great point! Don't worry, I will be riding them. I'll give you a bit of an explanation to my process. I can't ride every bike, some are demos, and some we want to keep with minimal mileage for customers. There are a whole bunch of people who have videos of these bikes in action, so I'm starting out in the fall by making sure I've done a walk around of every bike. I'll be including riding reviews in the future. Long story short, within the next year, I'm going to have MULTIPLE videos on every bike in the lineup. The goal is to get both walk around, and riding reviews. Feel free to subscribe, and if there are things you want to see in a video, let me know, and I'll get it on video. I hope that helps answer your request!
Alright sold. I’m getting this as my first bike. A damn good review of a dual sport I was curious about.
Awesome! Thanks for watching. Feel free to subscribe! I've got lots more content planned!
I have the same bike 2022 blue and black Kawasaki KLX I love the thing it's fun to ride I went to take my road test I passed it with no problem with this bike it's so easy to ride and fun
Thanks for sharing! I think you're right. This bike is so easy to ride, but still so fun! That's a rare combination in the motorcycling world.
I've had mine for three seasons and it's still fun. I run shinko 705s because I live on a gravel road. They stick well enough on the asphalt for a budget tire. All around fun and cheap transpo.
You’re doing great job man. Thanks for putting so much effort and bring really good info sessions. 👍🔥
The 2023 with the high visibility lime green looks way better than the 2022 in my opinion.
Yeah, this looks really sharp to my eyes. Thanks for watching!
I agree. The 2022 fender color to decal color seemed a shade or two off (mismatched), in my opinion. I like this 2023 aesthetic.
@@coreydavis7810 Thanks for watching!
I like the 2022 Candy Lime Green (AKA Kawasaki Green) better.
@@w.c.wilson8753 I like that there's variety! Something for everyone!
Just bought one. Where I live there are a lot of roads that dually trucks can't pass each other at speed. In fact they might need to put parts off the asphalt. That and in towns/cities said give it a shot. Result; so far, very happy. I do however prefer the ebony option for the color.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing! Feel free to subscribe! I'll have more on this bike in the future!
Well done video! Thanks for the information! Really awesome looking motorcycle!
Thanks for watching! Feel free to subscribe! I have a lot more planned!
Great review! Thank you!👍
Thanks for watching!!
Most are paying $7500 out the door for these. The $6k thing is pretty much a myth. IMO, still worth it since used model sellers are asking $6.5k or so anyway.
I can't speak to what others are doing with their pricing around the world, but I will say, if someone is in the Fredericton, New Brunswick area, there's a reason that Jim Gilbert's PowerSports very quickly became the volume leader in Kawasaki sales in this country. They're worth talking to if you're ready to buy!
I just got it brand new from dealer for 6.5k
Just a heads up, these do not come from factory with helmet lock.
Really nice review. Tx.
Would be, still is, a great starter bike..
But, in my opinion, this bike should have had ABS.
It should have affirmed its city commuter personality by including stock a rack.
Also, better display info; fuel level. Gear position.
Hi Peter, I think it is great that you are doing these reviews. Could you do a review of the 2022 or 2023 Kawasaki Versys 300 (ABS)?
Thanks for your kind words! We don't currently have that bike in stock, we're waiting for our full lineup of 2023 models to come in. That's definitely a bike that I plan on reviewing. I love the Versys line (I used to own the Versys 650) and I also love smaller displacement motorcycles. So stay tuned, as soon as it arrives, I'll get it up on video, and if I don't answer everything that you need in the first video, I'll continue to bring things back and get more answers.
Not a fan of the neon green. I like the more darker leafy green of last year's.
Yeah, that's the one tough thing for motorcycle manufacturers. They want to switch it up each year, but they have limited choices. I have to admit, in person, I thought this colour scheme looks pretty good, but different people are going to have different tastes. Thanks for watching! I'm filming the KLX300 dual sport today. Feel free to subscribe to see it!
Fredericton, New Brunswick... my grandfather's hometown
Sweet! I'm new in town and I absolutely love it!
I have 2022 version, I prefer green 💚 , it's kawi color
I kind of liked this, but yeah, with almost everything Kawasaki, I like it in green the best! How do you like your bike?
@@PeterLoweOne I like it a lot, it's very versatile, best bike for new rider - I just had to swap stock seat with seatconcepts lower seat.
@@nikomoto6757 awesome! Good to hear that you love it! Thanks for sharing!
I wish I still had my crf250l, I need this thing. My 2022 street glide special is so boring lol
I have the 2021 klx300sm. It replaced my 2009 klx250sf. I love the bike but, almost from the start I've been having issues with the neutral light being on but, the bike still being in gear. Also, having it get stuck in neutral and not shifting up or down. I've had it to the dealer a couple of times but, they can't replicate the problem and then I have to pay out of pocket because the warranty only works if they find a problem. Have you had experience with this happening on other klx300sm bikes?
I haven't seen that problem on any of the bikes I've used. I can't speak as to how other dealers would handle things, but at Jim Gilbert's I'd be an advocate for you. I'd try to see if we can get it replicated at the dealer. It seems like a simple adjustment... Sorry that you haven't had a great experience. Great to hear that you love the bike though!
@Peter Lowe One thanks for the reply. I'm just going to have to find another dealer I guess. Too I'm not in Canada. I really enjoyed your video.
@@ryans.8294 thanks for watching! Feel free to subscribe. I'll have a lot more content coming.
It might be the kick stand sensor some times it messes with the gearing on my Kawasaki verses x.took it to the dealer and the fix the problem so far
@@ryans.8294Canadian versions are more poorly put together because nobody really likes Canada
I like the energy good video 👍
Also would this be a good bike for a beginner?
@@laxfan1238 Thanks for watching! I appreciate your kind words, and yes, I think this is an excellent beginner's bike. Every bike has it's pro's and cons, but this bike is very controllable, but still very fun, even at lower speeds. It's lightweight, which I think is a good thing for beginners. It's the kind of bike that has enough power to be fun, but not so much that you'll put yourself in danger. It's also the type of bike that can teach you to be a good rider. If you told me that you had to do a 1 hour highway drive everyday, there would be better bikes for that, but if you just want something to get around everywhere on, and have a bunch of fun doing it, I think this is a great option!
Can you ship yours to another dealership in medford OR ?
Great vid
Thanks for watching! Feel free to subscribe I've got a lot more planned!
Hey Peter, do you have access to the klx230 ABS version? Is it the lightest bike on the market with abs? That would be cool to see. Thanks if possible, or if you already have a vid
I will have access to that. I'm just waiting for the 2024 models to arrive. Stay tuned!
@PeterLoweOne awesome. Looking forward to seeing.
Does it have a battery charger cord input?
That is a must have for me.
I know the KLR comes with one on,
would be a nice feature,
That's a super simple feature to add before you take delivery of any bike.
@@PeterLoweOne just checked today, it has one on it from factory.
picked the blue one, hope to pick it up this week.
does it have abs standard?
Can you ask them when will it be available in the Philippines?
wish to have one but cant afford yet
I won't have access to that information, I'm sorry.
Looks like they redesigned the frame this year.
This was all new in 2021. So the frame hasn't changed between the 2023 that I filmed and the 2021 model. I hope that helps!
Frame has been the same since ‘97 bud.
is it worth the7k price tag is the real question
Very true. For me, I'll take the Ninja 400 as my small sporty bike. This isn't going to be a high volume bike compared to a Ninja, but I'm glad it exists, and for someone looking for what this bike has to offer, I think it's a great bike.
That's the bike I want
It's a lot of fun!
@PeterLoweOne Because of watching your video I went out and bought one on 4-22-23 👍🏾
Looking at this for a second bike. What’s the difference between the 230sm and the 300sm ?
So I film in Canada and we don't have the 230sm here. The key differences would obviously be power, but the 300 also has liquid cooling and a better dash with a tachometer. You could see if one has an LED headlight while one may not, but I expect that would be the same. For something like a supermoto, I personally would lean towards the 300 if the price difference isn't too outrageous. For trail riding, the KLX 300 and KLX 230 each have their advantages and I could make the case for either, but without having seen the KLX 230sm, it's hard for me to recommend it over the KLX 300sm that I know and quite like.
@@PeterLoweOne
Here in the United States the 230sm is $4,899 - $5,499
and the 300sm is $5,579- $6,299
I'm curious about getting a bike, what exactly makes this not a long distance bike? Like highway?
I guess I should clarify. ANY bike can be a long distance bike, but I think this is better suited to in town, or around town rides. If you compare this 300 cc to something like the Versys 300X which also has a 300cc engine, this is a single cylinder, and it doesn't have as much horsepower at the top end as the Versys would have with its twin cylinder engine. Secondarily, the the seat is designed for maneuverability on the bike to allow you to switch your position and centre of gravity around as easily as possible, so on a longer highway ride that lasts hours, there are going to be more comfortable seats than what the KLX300SM has to offer... but that all depends on what you want from your bike. I would gladly tour on a Ninja 1000sx even though the Vulcan 1700 has a "more comfortable" seat.
2023 same bike its used 700 Miles 6K out the door. Is it worth ?
I don't appraise bikes. It would be impossible for me to guess.
How tall are you? Can you flat foot both feet at a stand still? Thanks for the video!
I'm 6 feet tall. I believe I was flat footing this in the middle of the video when I was sitting across it, but I apologize for not getting that on camera. Thanks for watching!
I'm 5'11" with a 32" inseam. I have a 2021 model and can flat foot it no problem.
@@circlingoverland4364 Awesome! Thanks for that. You and I are similar sized, so that's helpful information.
@@circlingoverland4364 Perfect, Than you!
I sat on one today and was surprised high low it was. Easy to flat foot at 5'11"
How tall are you and your weight. I was wondering how I would fit. Thanks
I'm about 6 feet tall and 175 lbs.
@@PeterLoweOne ok thanks you think someone 6foot 2 230 would be ok on it?
What happened to the hard plastic engine guard?
I'm not sure. This bike is stock. I film in Canada. Maybe things are different here?
Street tires with no abs is a deal breaker for me
You can get this bike with off road wheels and tires. I'll be reviewing that one soon. Feel free to subscribe!
@@PeterLoweOne that I know, if I bought that bike it's for use on streets....I won't buy a bike in 2022 that has no abs to go on streets... between me and my spouse we currently have 7....all abs
@@philipdumont2286 Yeah, I agree... I wouldn't buy a road going bike without it if I have the choice of having it.
@@PeterLoweOne Kawasaki has a abs model on the Ninja 400 why not on this bike 😊
@@philipdumont2286 Price point? Reason to move up? No engineering money to spend on building a system on this bike with these types of wheels? The Ninja 400 and Z400 share parts, and sell in higher volumes, so there's more return on investment there? I'm not sure. Also, I know that ABS brakes were hard to get on the Vulcan S for a while as there were supply chain issues across the industry. Maybe they made a decision to not offer it on this bike in order to have the parts for other higher volume bikes. These are all just my guesses.
I would love for someone to tell me if I go up there with a 1000 bucks (I work for myself so no check stubs) and a co signer will I ride one home
I don't sell the bikes, but if you connect with the team at Jim Gilbert's, they can help answer that question for you! Feel free to reach out!
How Many horse power please ...
About 26 is the number that most people agree on. Kawasaki doesn't list horsepower numbers in their Canadian specs.
Ok, thank you very much Nice bike ...
Hi, I’m late today
You may be a little late, but you're still fully appreciated! Thanks for watching!
I outgrew mine in a month
You got taller? Sounds like you didn't outgrow it, sounds like you may have started with a bike that wasn't suited to your preferences. People don't outgrow bikes. Plenty of experienced riders enjoy this bike, it's just important to have an understanding of what you want in a motorcycle before you lay out the cash for one.
Does anyone see the (grease stained finger print on the swing arm) @4:20-4:30ish which looks like a rider sitting on his bike with a moto helmet 😮gosh I should win a free bike for this hahaha
Yes. You deserve a free bike. 🙄
1st
Lightning on the keyboard! You win again!
Cooo bike. But so gutless tourqe wise.
You need the tidy tail
I’ve heard they are underpowered and boring
I've heard a lot of people refer to fun bikes as boring. I love small displacement bikes and have had an absolute blast on them over my riding lifetime. If you need fast in order to have fun, get a Ninja ZX 10. If you don't need insane speed to have a whole lot of fun, this bike may be perfect for you!
Absolute crap tach/speedo display.
It's durable and compact. It's not meant to be in the same class as their TFT displays and it's actually better than the KLR dash which SHOULD be at least this. The KLR doesn't have a tach.
@@PeterLoweOne its 2023 and they can't even manage a fuel gauge or gear indicator, and yes I know it has a low fuel light but come on ...
@@ThatGermanFella hey! I don't design these things! I hear what you're saying.
@@PeterLoweOne was not a dig against you but Kawasaki, even on a budget bike sort of, Kawi needs to do better.
@@ThatGermanFella all good. Maybe one day this channel will be big enough that they take notice! I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts!
Be a much, much better review if you rode it. Didn't even get to hear what it sounds like. I know, i know, they all sound alike. However, you could have at least started it up.
That's a great point! Don't worry, I will be riding them. I'll give you a bit of an explanation to my process. I can't ride every bike, some are demos, and some we want to keep with minimal mileage for customers. There are a whole bunch of people who have videos of these bikes in action, so I'm starting out in the fall by making sure I've done a walk around of every bike. I'll be including riding reviews in the future. Long story short, within the next year, I'm going to have MULTIPLE videos on every bike in the lineup. The goal is to get both walk around, and riding reviews. Feel free to subscribe, and if there are things you want to see in a video, let me know, and I'll get it on video. I hope that helps answer your request!
@@PeterLoweOne Thank you. I totally understand. Forgot to mention that it was a very good review. Seriously considering one. Best wishes.
@@jjpac2011 Thanks. I really appreciate you taking the time to watch.
If you are man sized get a Drz400