Kit Palmer | August 25, 2016
So, you just taught your young son or daughter (girlfriend or wife, brother or sister, or just somebody new to motorcycling) how to ride a dirt bike. Now what? Point little Johnny off into the open desert and say, “have fun”? No, you can’t do that.
Bigger wheels makes the small Kawasaki KLX140G handle more like a big bike.
Photography by Kit Palmer
You need to follow along and make sure everything goes well, and if at times it doesn’t, you’re right there to bail him out, get him pointed in the right direction again and send him on his way again. Question now is; what do you ride to do this? Your KX450F? A bit overkill, don’t ya think? Plus, no kickstand or e-start, what a hassle! How about something a little more like what they’re riding? Something small, mellow, light and ultra user-friendly, and with an electric start and kickstand.
If you’re a Kawasaki family, there is a good chance that your off-road newbie is already on a KLX110, or maybe a KLX140 or 140L, but you need something a little bigger to fit your own adult or full-size frame. That’s where the all-new 2017 KLX140G comes into play.
To read this in Cycle News Digital Edition Magazine, click HERE.
Photography by Kit Palmer
The KLX140G is the exact same motorcycle as the KLX140 and KLX140L, except for one (well, two actually) key thing—the wheels. They are larger on the G model; the same size wheels that are found on full-size motorcycles, a 21-inch front wheel and an 18-inch rear wheel. This makes a huge difference (for the better) for larger riders, experienced or not, but more so for the experienced.
Still, even with the larger-circumference wheels, the KLX140G is a small motorcycle in comparison to a full-size bike, but, for a larger rider, it will fit and handle better than the KLX140, with its 14- and 17-inch rear and front wheels, or the KLX140L, with its 16- and 19-inch wheels.
(Left) The G’s 21-inch front wheel, combined with the 18-inch rear wheel, improves stability over rough terrain. (Right) The 144cc carbureted four-stroke motor is easy to control for the beginner rider.
But the KLX140G isn’t just designed for Dad or Mom to follow the kids around on; it’s for him/her to have a little fun on, too, and for larger people to learn on.
The KLX140G is a new addition to Kawasaki’s off-road lineup. It joins the KLX140 and 140L.
Without question, the KLX140G is a fantastic bike to teach anyone how to ride a motorcycle or to explore the trails for the first time. It’s un-intimidatingly light at a claimed 218.2 pounds (fully fueled and ready to ride), which is 15.7 pounds less than the claimed curb weight of the Honda CRF150F, a close competitor of the KLX140G. The Honda, however, comes with 19- and 16-inch wheels. Compared to bikes similar to the KLX140G with the same size wheels like the Honda CRF230L and the Yamaha TT-R230, the Kawasaki is over 30 pounds lighter! That’s a huge difference—for many it’s the difference between being able to pick up a dropped bike or not. Very important.
Even experienced can have tons of fun on the larger KLX140G.
Beginners will love the KLX140G for its narrow profile and low 33.9-inch seat height. While the larger wheels might make the seat height 3.2-inch higher than the KLX140 and 2.4 inches higher than the KLX140L, it’s still confidently and comfortably low for most older kids and adults.
The newbie will also love the KLX’s electric starter (but none more so than Dad and/or teacher). The bike doesn’t even have a manual kick-starter, which is great for helping reduce weight but not so great if the battery goes dead out in the hills, which really isn’t likely to happen.
The larger wheels of the KLX140G give it a distinct advantage over the smaller KLX in performance, like when being ridden over soft or sandy ground, or bumps and rough terrain, especially at higher speeds. The bigger wheels tend to roll over the bumps rather than into them; this makes the bike handle better and give it more stability, especially in sandy conditions. You also get more ground clearance. These are all things a larger and more experienced rider will appreciate. Kids on a KLX 140 or 140L, on the other, won’t care about these things, they’re just happy to be riding.
An experienced rider will, of course, want more power out of the 140G, that’s a given, but there’s definitely enough in this 144cc, SOHC, carbureted four-stroke engine to make fun out of. The beginner will appreciate the KLX’s smooth powerband, controllable power delivery and light-clutch pull. And they will also think it’s pretty fast, too, when they open up the throttle.
Suspension is quite good. The rear shock is rather adjustable. It has the usual spring preload adjustment as well as 22-way rebound damping adjustments; the fork is none adjustable, but it’s dialed in nicely right from the factory. For a bike designed for beginners, the KLX’s suspension can really take a beating from an experienced rider. We were impressed.
Suspension is remarkably good for a small motorcycle.
Just because the KLX140G is a small bike, Kawasaki didn’t cut corners with it. Besides some of the things already mentioned, it also has aluminum rims, a generous 1.5-gallon gas tank, and front and rear disc brakes. The TT-R230 and CRF230L have drum rear brakes and heavy steel rims.
The KLX140G is priced considerably less than both the Honda and Yamaha, as well. At $3699 it sells for $500 less than the CRF230L and is nearly $300 less than the TT-R230.
Overall, the KLX140G is the perfect addition to Kawasaki’s off-road family. It’s a great bike for larger people to learn off-road on and a great fun bike for either Mom or Dad to chase the little ones on, because this little bike has a lot to offer: light weight, narrow profile, low seat height, electric starting, rear disc brake, a beginner-friendly motor and, of course, big wheels, which we found out truly does equals big fun. CN
GEAR ID’D
GEARSET: Shift – Tarmac
HELMET: Shift – Tarmac
GLOVES: Shift – Air Glove
BOOTS: Sidi – Agueda
GOGGLES: Klim
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SPECIFICATIONS: 2017 Kawasaki KLX140G
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ENGINE:
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Air-cooled, SOHC, 4-stroke, single
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DISPLACEMENT:
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144cc
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BORE X STROKE:
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58.0 x 54.4mm
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COMPRESSION RATIO:
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9.5:1
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FUEL SYSTEM:
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Keihin PB20
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IGNITION:
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Digital DC-CDI
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TRANSMISSION:
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5-speed
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FINAL DRIVE:
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Chain
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FRAME:
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Semi-double cradle, steel
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FRONT SUSPENSION:
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33mm telescopic fork
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REAR SUSPENSION:
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Uni-Trak, linkage system, single piggyback shock with preload and 22-way rebound damping
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FRONT WHEEL TRAVEL:
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7.5 in.
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REAR WHEEL TRAVEL:
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7.9 in.
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FRONT TIRE:
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2.75×21-in.
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REAR TIRE:
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4.10×18 in.
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FRONT BRAKE:
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Single disc, 1-piston caliper
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REAR BRAKE:
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Single disc, 1-piston caliper
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RAKE/TRAIL:
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27°/4.6 in.
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O/A LENGTH:
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78.9 in.
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O/A WIDTH:
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31.1 in.
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O/A HEIGHT:
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44.7 in.
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GROUND CLEARANCE:
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12.4 in.
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SEAT HEIGHT:
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33.9 in.
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CURB WEIGHT:
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218.2 lbs. (claimed)
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WHEELBASE:
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52.4 in.
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COLOR:
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Lime green
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WARRANTY:
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6 Months
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To read this in Cycle News Digital Edition Magazine, click HERE.
For more Cycle News Kawasaki motorcycle reviews, click HERE.
For more Cycle News Off-Road motorcycle reviews, click HERE.
