2021 Kawasaki KLX300SM Review – First Ride

Peon Maface · March 26, 2021

2021 Kawasaki KLX300SM

Editor Score: 86%

Engine	17.0/20
Suspension/Handling	13.5/15
Transmission/Clutch	8.5/10
Brakes	8.25/10
Instruments/Controls	4.0/5
Ergonomics/Comfort	8.5/10
Appearance/Quality	8.25/10
Desirability	9.0/10
Value	9.0/10
Overall Score	86/100

The 2021 Kawasaki KLX300SM might be the best new beginner motorcycle on the market. Did that get you fired up? Lemme ‘splain. It’s obvious that the new KLX300SM can be a lot of fun for riders of all levels, but there are some clear advantages of a supermoto-style motorcycle for the uninitiated.

First, the price isn’t bad. It’s not the cheapest, with even Kawasaki’s own Ninja and Z 400 undercutting it by a grand, but $5,999 isn’t too expensive either. Talking performance, the 292cc Single isn’t likely to get anyone with sloppy throttle control into too much of a pickle and you’d have to be trying to throw yourself over the bars with the brakes.

Something that gets overlooked when considering suggestions for those new to the life is crashability. Tip-overs happen. For new riders – or most riders really – it’s a bummer to see a big ol’ scuffed fairing due to a silly mistake. The KLX300SM will take that damage just like a dirtbike – meaning better than any street bike laden with plastic fairings. Even if you do go down you’ll probably scuff some small areas and maybe break a lever (install wrap-around handguards to lower this potential). Even if it happens, your bill for replacement parts will be nil.

And then there is maintenance. Most single-cylinder machines are easy bikes to cut one’s teeth in the art of motorcycle maintenance, but a supermoto like the KLX300SM will be about as easy as it gets when performing open-head surgery (which will need to be done every 7,600 miles) on a four-valve DOHC engine.

Don’t agree? I know you’ll let me know in the comments, but for now, let’s take a closer look at the 2021 Kawasaki KLX300SM.

More than a few choice changes

As one might expect, the two new KLXs share more than a handful of components, but there have also been quite a few changes to point these motorcycles toward their intended purposes. Kawi spent the time making the changes necessary to deliver a sporty supermoto-style 300.

2021 Kawasaki KLX300 Review – First Ride

Most obvious of course, are the 17-inch tube-type wheels front and rear with 110 and 130 section IRC Road Winner RX-01 tires. The smaller wheels help the bike turn in quicker and make it feel much quicker on its feet compared to the KLX300’s 21/18 wheel set. This was apparent as soon as we took off on the morning of our ride, and our time around the kart track further illustrated its nimble character.

Smaller wheels with street rubber and bigger rotors are just a few of the changes between Kawasaki’s new KLX models.

A larger, 300mm front brake rotor is used to provide better braking power up front from the two-piston caliper both KLXs share. In the rear, the same 240mm disc and single piston caliper are carried over from the dual-sport model. ABS is not available, but really, on a supermoto that would just spoil the fun and drive up the cost.

While the frame is the same, the steering head angle is now 1.7-degrees steeper at 25° and trail has been reduced to 2.8 inches, making the KLX300SM effortlessly agile. Concurrently, the wheelbase has been slightly reduced by 0.2 inches. The bike feels even lighter than its 304.3-pound (claimed) curb weight while in motion, too. Again, the overall size of the bike and how slim it is should help to make the KLX300SM an intriguing choice for new riders.

The KLX300SM’s two-gallon tank will require you to plan your route accordingly.

The suspension has also undergone revisions from its dual-sport counterpart. Travel has dropped about an inch front and rear, to 9.1 and 8.1 inches respectively, while the spring rates have gone up considerably. The fork now uses a 10.8 n/mm spring rate while the rear has been bumped to 66.5 n/mm. This stiffens up the ride quite a bit to provide better stability for sporty riding on tarmac. It also means you’ll feel bumps coming through the seat and bars more. The fork still offers 16-way adjustable compression damping, while preload, compression (20-way), and rebound (30-way) are adjustable on the Uni-Trak linkage-type shock.

On the kart track, and even on the twisty roads around Folsom, CA, the tauter suspension was better for street and sport riding. Road imperfections weren’t swallowed up like on the dual-sport model, but less dive under hard braking was appreciated.

The seat is 1.3 inches shorter on the SM model, at 33.9, and it’s fairly comfortable for a dirtbike style one-piece seat. The lower seat height in conjunction with the overall slimness of the motorcycle helps riders touch the ground easier as well.

Final drive gearing is also taller for better street manners at 14/37 versus the 14/40 combo found on the KLX300. The gearing, counter-balancer, slimmer handlebar, and rubber footpeg inserts all help the KLX300SM feel surprisingly smooth at highway speed – moreso than the standard KLX300. The 292cc Single still puts out nice mid-range torque and will rev out fairly high before hitting the rev limiter.

Color choices are Oriental blue or Lime green.

The price has gone up from the standard model with these changes to $5,999, which still seems pretty reasonable for how much fun can be had on the KLX300SM. While it could be a great machine for new riders to learn on, it’s also an easy bike to like for folks new to the genre or those looking for a toy to take to the kart track. Under an experienced rider, the SM can be tossed around and pushed to its limits in a fashion that will have even the most jaded moto-journo smiling – or at least that’s what the experienced riders tell me.

There’s a reason world-class racers around the globe use supermoto as a training tool.

Really though, we’ve said it a dozen times, a dozen different ways – going to a track will help anyone be a better rider and it allows one to test the limits of their machine in a safe environment. A supermoto is probably the easiest and cheapest way to get on track and again, will be the best off should the unfortunate lowside occur.

Don’t forget to have fun

Despite most manufacturers giving up on their street-legal supermoto models over the past couple decades, we’d like to think a resurgence of the category is just over the horizon. Kawasaki obviously does too. The supermoto is the modern interpretation of a motorcycle that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s not a big deal if you crash it, you can take it on-road, off-road, on-track, or jump it off of the loading ramping behind your local Wal-Mart (Motorcycle.com accepts no liability for damages to property or person during the act of supermoto-induced hooliganism, nor are we responsible for legal fees caused by having fun on two wheels).

Interested in having a sit for yourself? The 2021 Kawasaki KLX300SM is already in dealerships.

Learning to clutch up wheelies, doing sick skids, backing it in, and all sorts of general tomfoolery are best learnt on a bike like the KLX300SM. Of course, you could just ride it around like a responsible adult too. Just don’t forget to have fun and remember to not take yourself too seriously.

2021 Kawasaki KLX300SM
+ Highs Agile Resilient to damage A good bike for learning (to be a hooligan)	– Sighs Suspension can feel a bit jarring over poorly maintained roads Could always be less expensive

In Gear – Street

Helmet: Shoei Hornet X2 $600
Jacket: REV’IT! Mantis $460
Gloves: REV’IT! Sand 4 H2O $140
Boots: Dainese Axial D1 Air $530

In Gear – Track

Helmet: Shoei Hornet X2 $600
Suit: Dainese Misano 2 D-Air $2500
Gloves: Dainese Druid D1 Discontinued
Boots: Dainese Axial D1 Air $530

2021 Kawasaki KLX300SM Specifications
MSRP	$5,999
Engine Type	4-stroke single, DOHC, liquid-cooled
Bore x Stroke	78 mm x 61.2 mm
Displacement	292cc
Transmission	6-speed
Clutch	Return shift with wet multi-disc manual clutch
Starter	Electric starter
Final Drive	chain
Frame	High-tensile steel, box-section perimeter
Front Suspension	43mm inverted cartridge fork with adjustable compression damping /9.1 in
Rear Suspension	Uni-Trak® gas-charged shock with piggyback reservoir with adjustable rebound damping and spring preload/8.1
Front Brake	Single 300mm petal disc with a dual-piston caliper
Rear Brake	Single 240mm petal disc with single-piston caliper
Front Tire	110/70-17
Rear Tire	130/70-17
Tires	IRC Road Winner RX-01
Rake/Trail	25°/2.8 inches
Wheelbase	56.5 inches
Ground Clearance	9.3 inches
Seat Height	33.9 inches
Fuel Capacity	2 gallons
Curb Weight	304.3 pounds (claimed)
Colors	Lime Green/Ebony, Oriental Blue/Ebony
Warranty	12 months