MOTOCROSS BIKES, dirt bikes, off-roaders, dual-sports-you may call it whatever you want but they all have one thing in common: the ability to take the road less travelled.
The Kawasaki KLX 230 is the latest entrant in this space to support this statement, aiming to end the monopoly of a certain other Indian manufacturer with a 200-cc off-roader.
The KLX 230 is a smashing-looking motorcycle with a splash of green colour, an upswept exhaust, a raised suspension set-up that makes the bike taller, and a minimalistic design language that makes it easy on one's eyes.
Looking at the bike for the first time up close, I was instantly reminded of that scene from the film Terminator 2 where Arnold Schwarzenegger rides a Harley-Davidson and chases a young Edward Furlong who speeds away on a dirt bike.
The KLX 230 might seem like an intimidating bike with its 880-millimetre seat height but it is like a fluff ball once you swing a leg over it. It is an incredibly easy bike to ride.
The 233-cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine is tucked neatly inside the perimeter frame. The motor is good for 18.1 hp and 18.3 Nm of torque and is mated to a slick-shifting six-speed gearbox.
The idling sound of the motor is normal, like any other single-cylinder, but it really comes to life with a deep grunt when you hit the top end. We only used the first three gears around the dirt-tracks and that was enough to navigate all obstacles. The first gear was quite short, so I found myself upshifting to second most of the time. It has good pull in the low end and ample power to carry momentum through the obstacles.
Bu hikaye Bike India dergisinin November 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye Bike India dergisinin November 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
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