You and I didn't start with a full-on race bike when we climbed onto our first motorcycles. The play bike segment has its place in the riding community that has launched many riding careers. This segment has been growing over the last 10 years, and manufacturers have been improving their models ever so slightly along the way. Kawasaki successfully debuted the KLX 230 in 2019, offering dirt-only and dual-sport versions. And, for 2025, the model received its first significant updates since its introduction.

Engine

Kawasaki went to town on the engine for 2025, doing a hefty revision, all focused on a smooth, easy-to-ride powerplant. The fuel-injected electric-start 233cc air-cooled four-stroke now offers a single-axis primary balancer that reduces vibrations across the RPM range. A reworked head with a narrower intake port and smaller intake valve allows ease of use in the low-mid range. And finally, Kawasaki redesigned the airbox to work with the redesigned sub-frame. With all the changes to the engine, a re-programmed ECU is optimized to match the increase in low-mid torque range that puts the power down through a six-speed transmission.

All the improvements in the engine department make this bike easy to ride and maintain, and we rode it without hiccups or issues.

Chassis & Suspension