KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Kawasaki KLX 230 Sherpa S ABS and DF ABS revealed for International markets.
- KLX 230 in India costs Rs 3.30 lakh (ex-showroom).
- It competes with the KTM 390 Enduro.
Kawasaki has revealed the new variants of their popular affordable adventure motorcycle, the KLX 230 - Sherpa S and DF - for international markets. In India, we get the standard KLX 230 at Rs 3.30 lakh ex-showroom, and as of now, there is no information about it launching anytime soon in India. However, here's a quick overview of what these two new trims are all about. Let's start, and in the meantime, make sure to join the 91Wheels WhatsApp Channel to never miss out on automotive updates.
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Kawasaki KLX 230
The photos say so much about these two new variants, as Kawasaki has swapped the colours completely and made the KLX 230 appear like a camouflage - to align its appearance with the forest, especially the DF. The Sherpa is intended for more hybrid use case, as it also features a low seat height and lower ground clearance. That said, both use the same 233 cc 4-stroke engine mated to a six-speed gearbox, producing 17.8 bhp and 18.3 Nm of torque. Other commonalities between the two are the braking setup - 265 mm front disc and two pistons at the front, while a single piston at the rear with a 220 mm disc. Dual-channel ABS is there and can be switched off. Lastly, an LCD screen with Bluetooth connectivity, which also shows basic information.
On to what each variant offers different - beginning with the Sherpa S, it's more user-friendly, made to cater to a wide range of audience. The seat height of Sherpa S is 825.5 mm and ground clearance is 213.3 mm. An important point to note is that the standard KLX 230, which is sold in India, gets 265 mm of ground clearance and 880 mm of seat height. Clearly, Sherpa S has opened to a larger audience. Moreover, the front telescopic forks record 157.4 mm, and the mono-shock at the rear offers 167.6 mm of travel.
Moving on to the DF, the suspension travel is 198 mm at the front and 221 mm at the rear. Ground clearance is 238.7 mm and seat height is 845.8 mm. Lastly, there is a small luggage rack and added protection for the engine, which have been made standard.
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Verdict
With the introduction of these two variants - in the USA, the KLX is available in a total of 4 trim levels, with different settings altogether. Plus, there is a huge price gap, because in India we get these bikes through the CBU route, which includes a lot of taxes. Here, the KLX 230 competes with the KTM 390 Enduro R, which offers a bigger engine that produces more power, USD forks, and surprisingly, costs almost the same price. Which one do you prefer? And do you want to see these two new variants in India?
