Kawasaki’s been teasing a big motorcycle release for November for a while now, and it’s finally here. There’s a new superbike (Kawasaki ZX-10R), a new hyperbike with electro suspension (Kawasaki Z H2 SE), the Versys 1000 LT is back in the lineup, and the KLX lineup gets an upgrade. Finally, we’re getting a KLX300 dual sport, and even a KL300SM supermoto.
Both of these machines are based on Kawi’s KLX300R enduro, which is closely related to the KLX250 dual sport, long a staple in Kawasaki’s lineup. This liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine gets bumped up to 292cc for 2021. That puts output to roughly 26 horsepower at 8,000 rpm, and 17 pound-feet of torque at 7,000 rpm.
In years past, big-bore kits were a common upgrade for KLX owners. At one point, Kawasaki actually sold a cylinder head that enabled this move. However, when the KLX changed to EFI, the procedure became much more tricky for the DIY crowd. Now, they won’t have to worry about re-tuning the big-bore for the upgrade, because it will come like that from the factory.
As you’d expect, the new engine has more torque through the low- and mid-range, and more jam at the top end. Kawasaki also says it’s designed a new radiator that guides hot air away from the rider, something riders stuck on tight trails or congested traffic will no doubt appreciate. It comes with a six-speed gearbox, as you’d expect.
The steel perimeter frame is based on the 300 trail bike. The street-legal machines come with LCD clocks, and compression-adjustable 43mm USD forks. The rear shock is also compression-adjustable, and you can tweak rebound and preload too.
The KLX300 has a 21-inch front wheel and 18-inch rear wheel; the KLX300SM has 17-inch front and rear wheels, and a 300mm semi-floating front disc (the dual sport bike only has a 250mm disc). Obviously, Kawi reckons supermoto buyers will be keen to hoon about town on the new 300. It also has some “aggressive” mirrors, allowing you to look angrily behind you in case of police pursuit.
Curb weight is 138 kg for the supermoto, 137 kg for the street-and-trail bike. The Su-Mo is priced at $6,799 for the Lime Green and Oriental Blue versions; the dual sport is $6,499 for the Oriental Blue/Ebony paint job, and $6,699 for Fragment Camo Gray. See more specs below.
2021 Kawasaki KLX300SM
MSRP: $6,499 (Lime Green), Fragment Camo Gray ($6,699)
Key Specs:
Engine: Liquid-cooled, 292 cc, four-stroke single
Power: 26 ps @ 8,000 rpm
Torque: 24 Nm @ 7,000 rpm
Transmission: Six-speed
Drive: Chain
Chassis: Perimeter, high-tensile steel
Suspension, front: 43 mm inverted telescopic fork with adjustable compression damping and 230 mm travel
Suspension, rear: Uni Trak, gas-charged shock with piggyback reservoir, adjustable compression and rebound damping, adjustable spring preload and 205 mm travel
Wheels: 110/70-17 front / 130/70-17 rear
Brakes: 300 mm semi-floating petal disc with twin-piston caliper front, 240 mm petal disc with single-piston caliper rear
Curb weight: 138 kg
Wheelbase: 1,435 mm
Length: 2,145 mm
Width: 790 mm
Ground clearance: 215 mm
Seat height: 860 mm (34 in)
2021 Kawasaki KLX300
MSRP: $6,499 (Oriental Blue/Ebony), $6,699 (Fragment Camo Gray)
Key Specs:
Engine: Liquid-cooled, 292 cc, four-stroke single
Power: 26 ps @ 8,000 rpm
Torque: 24 Nm @ 7,000 rpm
Transmission: Six-speed
Drive: Chain
Chassis: Perimeter, high-tensile steel
Suspension, front: 43 mm inverted telescopic fork with adjustable compression damping and 255 mm travel
Suspension, rear: Uni Trak, gas-charged shock with piggyback reservoir, adjustable compression and rebound damping, adjustable spring preload and 230 mm travel
Wheels: 21-inch front / 18-inch rear
Brakes: 250 mm petal disc with twin-piston caliper front, 240 mm petal disc with single piston caliper rear
Curb weight: 137 kg
Wheelbase: 1,440 mm
Length: 2,195 mm
Width: 820 mm
Ground clearance: 250 mm
Seat height: 895 mm (35 in)
Don’t these have 33hp? The KLX250 is 24hp
Lmao those bikes look like they came out in 2005. Come on it’s almost 2021 LED all around lighting should be standard now
It’ll be interesting to see how it compares to the CRF300, if and when it shows up here.
I fear at those prices (especially the supermoto) they will be bolted to the dealers floors.
Knock $1500 off the msrp and let’s talk.
I can remember the last KLX250 supermoto sitting on the showroom floor during the last economic crisis for $4799. At that time just a rename of the Japanese D-Tracker. Sticker shock ? A weak effort then and with 26 hp also now. Just look to the KTM Duke range outputs per cc for comparison.