I love mine. I truly need a dual sport for getting around the farm and running errands around town. Have only put about 1,000 miles on it as of today, but no issues so far
My dealer had them marked down $1700 below MSRP so I picked one up for around-town errands when I don't want to deal with my VFR or DL650. It's a hoot. As for ergos, I'm 5'11 with a 32 inch inseam and can easily be flat-footed at a stop. It has an excellent front brake. It has great instrumentation, once you move the brake hose out of the way. The suspension is fine for my 175 lbs, which is fortunate because other than shock preload, there's no adjustment. But what do you want from a mini Super Moto that costs a bit more than a Grom? Yes, my mower has a bigger engine, but the SM is perfectly happy around town. Yes, the seat is a plank, but I'm only going to the hardware store. The auto idle control, which bounces all over the place at a stoplight, stinks, (I'll be fixing that later) but the fuel injection is fine anywhere off idle. I have more capable bikes for "serious" motorcycling, but for strafing city streets this thing is a lot of fun.
It's really insulting that people keep using the term "beginner" with these small displacement, simple design bikes. So because someone wants a smaller bike with less unnecessary power an a simple air cooled engine they are a "beginner"? It's a trick my the motorcycle industry to make people think they need bigger, more complicated and MUCH more expensive bikes when in fact they do not.
I love mine. I truly need a dual sport for getting around the farm and running errands around town. Have only put about 1,000 miles on it as of today, but no issues so far
My dealer had them marked down $1700 below MSRP so I picked one up for around-town errands when I don't want to deal with my VFR or DL650. It's a hoot. As for ergos, I'm 5'11 with a 32 inch inseam and can easily be flat-footed at a stop. It has an excellent front brake. It has great instrumentation, once you move the brake hose out of the way. The suspension is fine for my 175 lbs, which is fortunate because other than shock preload, there's no adjustment. But what do you want from a mini Super Moto that costs a bit more than a Grom?
Yes, my mower has a bigger engine, but the SM is perfectly happy around town. Yes, the seat is a plank, but I'm only going to the hardware store. The auto idle control, which bounces all over the place at a stoplight, stinks, (I'll be fixing that later) but the fuel injection is fine anywhere off idle. I have more capable bikes for "serious" motorcycling, but for strafing city streets this thing is a lot of fun.
It's really insulting that people keep using the term "beginner" with these small displacement, simple design bikes. So because someone wants a smaller bike with less unnecessary power an a simple air cooled engine they are a "beginner"? It's a trick my the motorcycle industry to make people think they need bigger, more complicated and MUCH more expensive bikes when in fact they do not.
unless thousands of less dollars most people would probably just get the kawi 300 sm
Not me. Who wants to lug around a radiator and tank of coolant when one can get an air cooled bike, save some coin, and have more fun.
@1122redbird agree. The kawasaki 230 motor is proven. No abs for me neither