There is a motorcycle for everyone. 2026 proved that again.
You like cruisers? Yamaha has you covered. Their V Star 250 has that classic air-cooled V-twin sound. It stays light enough for daily use. Highway stints will hurt your back though. Stick to back roads. It’s a decent weekend toy.
Maybe you want to explore? Grab the Honda CRF30 Rally. Better wind protection than the rest. The single cylinder is efficient. Commuting on this thing is less painful. None of these bikes are fast. This one just feels… better.
But let’s talk about the Kawasaki KLX250SM.
MSRP: $5,799.
It’s small. It’s cheap. It’s a supermoto.
Don’t call it a beginner bike. That insults it. It appeals to anyone who hates traffic and hates boring motorcycles. Most bikes in this price bracket are sleepy. So is this one. But “different” pays dividends in traffic. You aren’t following the herd when you’re bouncing over bumps on a dirt-derived chassis.
Air-cooled simplicity
Power output is 17 horsepower.
Laugh all you want. Novice riders need torque, not redline panic. That power hits early. Perfect for stoplight crawls. You rarely see third gear anyway.
The engine is old news. That is good. Proven engines don’t break.
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” — Or something like that.
Kawasaki uses fuel injection here. Carburetors are still a thing, strangely, so count yourself lucky. Fuel economy? Owners say ~80 MPG. With a two-gallon tank, that is roughly 160 miles of range. You won’t use half of that in a day.
It is air-cooled. Less stuff to fix. Want to learn mechanics? This is the playground.
Light and dumb (in a good way)
Wet weight sits at 302 pounds. That is light. It flicks around town like it owes the pavement money. Canyon roads are fine. Don’t get too wild. It’s still a dual-sport at heart. The chassis is basic. Kawasaki isn’t trying to sell you a racebike.
ABS is standard. Good.
Smartphone connectivity? Also standard. Who knows what that does. We don’t ask questions.
The changes from the dirt bike version are minor.
- 37mm upside-down forks. Stiffer.
- Larger front brake. Actually stops things.
- 17-inch wheels. With street tires.
- New colors. Neon green. Ugly? Maybe. Fun? Undeniably.
Swap the plastics if the color burns your eyes. Cheap fix.
Why bother?
Supermotos peaked in 2005. Then they died into niche obscurity.
People don’t get it. Dirt bike chassis on the street sounds wrong. Try it. The standing riding position makes the bike feel lighter. More responsive. Funner is a word now, isn’t it?
You don’t need speed for joy. Legal limits work fine.
This isn’t for everyone. If you want serious pace, look away.
If you are new and weird? Buy this.
If you are experienced and bored of your 600cc sportbike on the weekend? Buy this for Tuesday. It puts a smile on your face when nothing else can.
The Competition
Cheapest supermoto around.
The Suzuki DR-Z4S costs more. It has a 398cc engine and ~40 HP. Torquey enough to pop wheelies. Bulletproof engine.
Two problems:
- Only five gears.
- Higher price.
The extra cost kills the value proposition for a city bike. The KTM 390 SMC starts at $6,049. It has 44 HP. Aggressive. Tech-heavy. Also a great buy. But expensive.
Then there is the bigger KLX300. It exists. But the 230? Simpler. Cheaper. Easier.
For the city, smaller wins.
