Kawasaki KLX230R S image gallery

The Kawasaki KLX230R S is a dedicated off-road motorcycle (not road-legal) built around the same 233cc air-cooled, fuel-injected single-cylinder engine shared across the KLX230 range, producing 19hp at 7,800rpm and 19.1Nm at 6,200rpm, paired with a 6-speed gearbox. At 129kg, it is the lightest of the three KLX230 models and gets the most committed off-road setup – a 37mm telescopic front fork with 220mm of wheel travel and a rear monoshock with adjustable preload and 223mm of travel. Seat height is 900mm, and the bike runs on 21-inch front and 18-inch rear knobby tyres suited to trail use.

Design cues are drawn from Kawasaki's championship-winning KX motocross series, with a flat seat profile for unrestricted rider movement, a race-style number plate, minimalist bodywork with flush seams between panels, and an electric starter as standard. Unlike the road-legal KLX230 and KLX230 S, the R S does not get a headlamp, road-going instrumentation or ABS – it is built purely for off-road use on private trails, motocross tracks and riding schools.