Kawasaki Klx140l

KAWASAKI KLX140L

Quick Ride

Muscled-up Mini

KAWASAKI HAS UPPED the ante in the play-bike class with its new KLX140L, bringing big-bike features to a category that usually leaves the fancy stuff behind.

How so? Kawasaki didn’t hold back when building the little KLX. To ensure a high-class playbike, the company put its top KX engineers on the development team and even subjected the KLX to many of the same standards as the KX motocross line. Further, the high-tensile-steel perimeter frame is equipped with an aluminum swingarm, large KX-style footpegs, front and rear disc brakes, stout suspension and RK Excel aluminum rims, all of which give the chassis a quality feel much like that of a fullon racebike.

Up front, the fork is a larger-than-average 33mm-diameter unit that provides great stability. It does an excellent job of soaking up the small bumps encountered on trail rides, even though it’s a little harsh on bigger square-edge hits-but that usually is the case when you only have just over 7 inches of wheel travel. The 140L uses the fully adjustable shock from the KX85, and the stock settings work just fine for different levels of riders.

For this class, the 140L has an exceptional chassis, with a light and agile feel that’s ideal for newbies. In the past, playbikes with electric starting tended to

be too heavy for beginners, but that’s not the case with the KLX.

Propulsion comes from an all-new, I44cc, air-cooled, sohc, two-valve Single, whereas most bikes in this class have I25cc engines. The power is perfectly suited for rank beginners and novices alike, making riding a breeze, and progressive clutch engagement allows clean getaways. The bike isn’t lightning-fast, and expert riders will have to keep the throttle pinned to make quick corner exits, but that’s part of the fun of riding playbikes.

Working with the notion that seat height is one of the most important factors in the sale of such bikes, Kawasaki also produces the standard KLX 140. Differences between it and the 140L are few. To accommodate smaller riders, the standard 140 has a 1-inchlower seat than the 140L, thanks mostly to different wheel sizes. The L-model has a 19-inch front wheel and a 16-inch rear, while the standard 140 has a 17/14 combination. The two also use different shocks, swingarms and final gearing.

For our larger-size testers, the L was the ride of choice because of the seat height and the ability of the bigger wheels to roll over bumps more easily. The upgraded suspension was also a plus. But for smaller riders just starting out, the L is probably overkill. The standard model will also save you money because it costs $2699, which is $300 cheaper than the L.

This new mini is full of big-bike KX style and performance. The chassis is solid, the motor is friendly, and our expert and beginner riders all had fun riding it.

Is it the perfect playbike? Could be. -Ryan Dudek