That handlebar insert/weight is a spoiler...when I eventually get wrap-around handguards, I’ll definitely take your advice and get an aftermarket bar rather than wrestle with that insert. I was up in the air whether or not to keep the stock bars, but you convinced me. Great review, one take!
I actually sold the bike and moved to a different state. More TH-cam videos to come on my new crf450rl and putting a new engine in my Chinese two stroke coming up.
Bravo on drilling out the bars. It took so long and so many drill bits I eventually gave up and bought new bars. Your motocross comparison is on point. Most don't race so that's important. The low and mid torque is the 300r strength. Again, not a race bike nor does it have the race bike price tag but for real world mountain fun it's been worth every dollar. Great review Mark. Thanks for sharing.
Not sure if something changes between years but my 2022 has AT LEAST a 2 inch insert so cutting the bar that short wouldn't be possible. I just drilled and tapped it for the bolt and didn't use the expanding insert. Took 20min.
I looked at these very seriously, a dealer here in Virginia has them for $4,183 new plus fees about 5 grand. I bought a 2020 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 instead. By the way, my F-13 Fantasy (boat) is a 1993.
I grew up in the 80s and 90s when we had real trail/enduro bike and kids today don't know what to think when they come across a bike like this one. Still compare trail bike to track bike...might as well to compare an apple and a banana. This could be the only real trail/enduro bike in a long time, even KTM and Husaberg aren't real trail bikes, more like track bike adjusted for trail use. I will check it out at the dealer and make an opinion for myself. Not a bad review tho.
Awesome review! I am really thinking about getting this bike. Seems to get loads of positive reviews and at a really great price. I seriously want the KTM 300 XC-W but not sure if that's the smartest choice given the price is more than twice what the Kawasaki is. Cheers from Peoria :)
I've been riding for about 5 years now, and I'm 52. I have a 500 dual sport and a KLR. Im looking at this for an OHV trail bike. This seems to be made as a "gas n go" type of bike. Low maintenance, not high strung, yet enough fun to make it seem crazy to buy a KTM or Yamaha that is 3-5k more in price. Thanks for the review.
liked the review. I wanted this bike to be better. Sounds like kawasaki really cheaped out on the forks. I'm 51 and currently ride a yz125 and would take the weight as long as it had good power. Sounds like i'd be disappointed. Any idea what they rate for horsepower?
It’s somewhere around 33hp at the crank, 20ish ft pounds of torque. Has a ton of low end grunt for trails. Basically the opposite of the power band of a 125 two stroke.
If you plan to do a lot of motocross/track riding, get the KX for sure, if you plan to do mostly woods riding, maybe a few veteran track days the KLX is a better all-around I would say. Seat height is very similar, the suspension will be a little softer ton the KLX, also better low-end power band which is nice for single track riding. For WOT desert-sand riding and little single track, the KX would be more fun!
If you bump up the preload on the rear shock it will be fine for most trails if you plan to do some jumps or spirited fast riding you will probably for sure want to get stiffer front springs, the back shock is pretty stiff stock.
Thanks for the review. Just picked up two of them for my son and I. Any issues after removing the fuel evaporative canister? I read somewhere that a guy removed it and it stopped idling after two hours of riding. If you’ve had no issues can you share a few details about what you did? We’re in Utah - no idea why they would order a CA emissions bike unless that’s all Kawasaki was making...would love to get rid of that big box on the tail!
the gas tank vent line I just ran down the triple clamp and crankcase vent or what not I put a rubber plug and clamp on the line and removed the box. If you want I can make a video of how I did it when I get back from vacation. It did not affect the idling at all.
Mark McGinnis that would awesome to see a short instructional video!! Enjoy the weekend. We’re going to try the new bikes out. Also got the 230R for my daughter. Should be fun
The front forks have compression adjustability but not rebound.
I mixed it up, with a little thicker oil and crank them adjusters in it is decent. Rear shock is pretty stiff and hard to bottom out.
Can you please show me how you took off your evap canister
Don’t have the bike anymore just removed all the tubes and capped the line.
@@markmcginnis1759 why did you get rid of the bike? I just got one any advice
That handlebar insert/weight is a spoiler...when I eventually get wrap-around handguards, I’ll definitely take your advice and get an aftermarket bar rather than wrestle with that insert. I was up in the air whether or not to keep the stock bars, but you convinced me. Great review, one take!
Most of the $12 thousand dollar European bikes still have steel frames.
Power commander and a FMF pipe will help with the power
I actually sold the bike and moved to a different state. More TH-cam videos to come on my new crf450rl and putting a new engine in my Chinese two stroke coming up.
Bravo on drilling out the bars. It took so long and so many drill bits I eventually gave up and bought new bars. Your motocross comparison is on point. Most don't race so that's important. The low and mid torque is the 300r strength. Again, not a race bike nor does it have the race bike price tag but for real world mountain fun it's been worth every dollar. Great review Mark. Thanks for sharing.
Knock on wood I used a set of Kawasaki drill bits I had in the garage lol
@@markmcginnis1759 Everyone interested in a KLX300R should watch your real world review.
I'll stick with my old KDX200 with goldvalves in the forks. I can launch 20 feet of air & land on flat ground without bottoming.
you don't have to drill it out the handle bar ends , just cut of a half inch :)
Not sure if something changes between years but my 2022 has AT LEAST a 2 inch insert so cutting the bar that short wouldn't be possible. I just drilled and tapped it for the bolt and didn't use the expanding insert. Took 20min.
A steel frame often has better flex characteristics for trail/off-roading than an aluminum one, giving the rider a better 'feel' of the terrain.
I looked at these very seriously, a dealer here in Virginia has them for $4,183 new plus fees about 5 grand. I bought a 2020 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 instead. By the way, my F-13 Fantasy (boat) is a 1993.
Yeah that's a nice boat, for that price I would get the KLX in a heartbeat too, the Royal Enfield is a good all around explorer type bike.
I grew up in the 80s and 90s when we had real trail/enduro bike and kids today don't know what to think when they come across a bike like this one. Still compare trail bike to track bike...might as well to compare an apple and a banana. This could be the only real trail/enduro bike in a long time, even KTM and Husaberg aren't real trail bikes, more like track bike adjusted for trail use. I will check it out at the dealer and make an opinion for myself. Not a bad review tho.
I grew up in the same Era. This bike is way easier to ride then the bikes back then.
Awesome review! I am really thinking about getting this bike. Seems to get loads of positive reviews and at a really great price. I seriously want the KTM 300 XC-W but not sure if that's the smartest choice given the price is more than twice what the Kawasaki is. Cheers from Peoria :)
You should!
@jeckyll858 jus get a kx 100 its a real motocross bike and cost cheaper than this klx 300r which is not a race bike.
When you say you can only adjust dampening and not compression maybe you mean you can only adjust rebound and not compression?
Yeah, correct my bad
You can adjust compression only on the front forks, not rebound. Rear shock has compression and rebound but no high speed compression.
I've been riding for about 5 years now, and I'm 52. I have a 500 dual sport and a KLR. Im looking at this for an OHV trail bike. This seems to be made as a "gas n go" type of bike. Low maintenance, not high strung, yet enough fun to make it seem crazy to buy a KTM or Yamaha that is 3-5k more in price. Thanks for the review.
Exactly, perfect trail bike for 90% of riders
Excellent feedback
Any chance you could compare it to a DRZ 400?
Great honest review!
liked the review. I wanted this bike to be better. Sounds like kawasaki really cheaped out on the forks. I'm 51 and currently ride a yz125 and would take the weight as long as it had good power. Sounds like i'd be disappointed. Any idea what they rate for horsepower?
It’s somewhere around 33hp at the crank, 20ish ft pounds of torque. Has a ton of low end grunt for trails. Basically the opposite of the power band of a 125 two stroke.
@@markmcginnis1759 Thanks
I saw somewhere it was 26 horsepower maybe that was for the old one
Cool machine buddy
I really like it 🤜🤛
Thanks 👍
Great review! Very informative.
Thanks for sharing, great review
Getting ready to buy a bike, not sure whether to get a klx 300r or a kx 250. Probably going with the latter 🤷🏻♂️
If you plan to do a lot of motocross/track riding, get the KX for sure, if you plan to do mostly woods riding, maybe a few veteran track days the KLX is a better all-around I would say. Seat height is very similar, the suspension will be a little softer ton the KLX, also better low-end power band which is nice for single track riding. For WOT desert-sand riding and little single track, the KX would be more fun!
So this will be same as new 300sm
basically with the dot stuff added, emissions is the same
So this would not be the bike for someone who is 220 pounds?
If you bump up the preload on the rear shock it will be fine for most trails if you plan to do some jumps or spirited fast riding you will probably for sure want to get stiffer front springs, the back shock is pretty stiff stock.
Great question !!! I'm 5'11" + 220 pounds, brand new to dirtbikes.. Didn't know what would suit me better, the 230R or this 300R......
The 300 hundred would probably be a better fit for you.
Nice Review Mark- keep up the good work
Thanks for the review. Just picked up two of them for my son and I. Any issues after removing the fuel evaporative canister? I read somewhere that a guy removed it and it stopped idling after two hours of riding. If you’ve had no issues can you share a few details about what you did? We’re in Utah - no idea why they would order a CA emissions bike unless that’s all Kawasaki was making...would love to get rid of that big box on the tail!
the gas tank vent line I just ran down the triple clamp and crankcase vent or what not I put a rubber plug and clamp on the line and removed the box. If you want I can make a video of how I did it when I get back from vacation. It did not affect the idling at all.
Mark McGinnis that would awesome to see a short instructional video!! Enjoy the weekend. We’re going to try the new bikes out. Also got the 230R for my daughter. Should be fun
@@purtnearperkins Sounds like a fun group of bikes to ride. I'll post a video in the next two weeks of how I did it
Mark McGinnis would still love to see a DIY video on removing the CA emissions device. I’m looking to remove mine as well.
@@markmcginnis1759 hey can you still make a video on how you did it I would really appreciate it
Nice review
Thanks!
seat height is for 6 foot + folks
I'm 6ft 2 I can touch, if you adjust the shock preload in the rear you can get it to lower an inch or so to help.
I beg to differ I'm at a good day 5' 10 " and I can handle the bike .
Hey Bud, what handguard kit is that?
Steel frames are better!!
Can you do a motovlog?
I filmed a few other riding vids, just need to upload. Just got a go-pro so I am new to this lol
Mark McGinnis ok nice
th-cam.com/video/mIrRLmR4Jm8/w-d-xo.html
Shock socks help seal life.
Ditch the stock pipe 🤮
It is pretty bulky looking lol