Kawasaki KLX300R
Kawasaki KLX300 | |
Manufacturer | |
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Also called | KLX 300 R, KLX 300R, KLX300R, KLX 300 |
Production | 1997 - 99 |
Class | Dual-purpose |
Engine | Four stroke, single cylinder, DOHC, 4 valve |
Compression ratio | 11.0:1 |
Ignition | Digital CDI |
Transmission | 6 Speed |
Frame | High tensile steel perimeter |
Suspension | Front: 43mm inverted cartridge fork, 20-way compression damping Rear: Single shock, 20-way compression damping and 18-way rebound damping |
Brakes | Front: Single 250mm disc 2 piston caliper Rear: Single 220mm disc 1 piston caliper |
Front Tire | 80/100-21 |
Rear Tire | 100/100-18 |
Wheelbase | 1435 mm / 56.5 in |
Seat Height | 924.5 mm / 36.4 in |
Weight | 105 kg / 231.5 lbs (dry), |
Recommended Oil | K-tech 10W-40 |
Fuel Capacity | 10 Liters / 2.6 US gal |
Manuals | Service Manual |
Engine[edit | edit source]
The engine was a Liquid cooled, 50% distilled water & 50% ethylene glycol base antifreeze cooled Four stroke, single cylinder, DOHC, 4 valve. The engine featured a 11.0:1 compression ratio.
Drive[edit | edit source]
Power was moderated via the Wet, multi-disc, manual.
Chassis[edit | edit source]
It came with a 80/100-21 front tire and a 100/100-18 rear tire. Stopping was achieved via Single 250mm disc 2 piston caliper in the front and a Single 220mm disc 1 piston caliper in the rear. The front suspension was a 43mm inverted cartridge fork, 20-way compression damping while the rear was equipped with a Single shock, 20-way compression damping and 18-way rebound damping. The KLX300R was fitted with a 10 Liters / 2.6 US gal fuel tank. The bike weighed just 105 kg / 231.5 lbs. The wheelbase was 1435 mm / 56.5 in long.
Photos[edit | edit source]
Overview[edit | edit source]
Kawasaki KLX 300R
We're willing to bet that most off-road enthusiasts
are acutely aware of this by now, but in case you haven't heard, two-stroke
off-road vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1997 are now prohibited from
operation on public lands in California. For those of you operating two-stroke
machinery outside of the Golden State take note, for this may very well
foreshadow the future of off-road vehicle design. Sure, consumer demand still
influences direction of the motorsport market, but laws have a funny way of
creating rapid change. No need to remember the Alamo, just think back to when
three-wheelers were on showroom floors. It's a raw deal for many reasons but
let's face it - are you really going to wait for clean-burning two-stroke
machines to go into mass production? Give us a call when they're ready - we'll
be out enjoying the latest thumpers until then.
Different Strokes
A while back we were invited by Kawasaki to their KLX300R introduction in Idaho. We were so completely delighted by the bike's handling prowess that we hurried to compare it side by side with one of our all-time favorite four-stroke trail bikes - Honda's XR400R. The XR is powerful, nimble, and way too much fun. Both bikes present great values, but which one is right for you and why?
Apples to Oranges We admit that comparing a single cylinder motorcycle to another that has nearly 100cc of additional displacement may initially seem unfair. However, we found that given the proper conditions the KLX could hang with the Honda. Sure, we initially considered throwing the XR250R in the ring, but after spending considerable saddle time on the smaller Honda and the Kawasaki, it's clear that a fair fight would have to include the 400. Let's get the displacement issue out of the way. Using the highly accurate MO Dynojet dynamometer to measure rear wheel torque and horsepower, we've generated plots to illustrate the unique power characteristics of each bike:
Source Motorcycle.com
Make Model | Kawasaki KLX 300R |
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Year | 1997 - 99 |
Engine Type | Four stroke, single cylinder, DOHC, 4 valve |
Displacement | 292 cc / 17.9 cu-in |
Bore X Stroke | 78 x 61.2 mm |
Cooling System | Liquid cooled, 50% distilled water & 50% ethylene glycol base antifreeze |
Compression | 11.0:1 |
Induction | Keihin CVK34, constant velocity, diaphragm |
Ignition | Digital CDI |
Starting | Kick |
Max Power | 33 hp / 24.1 kW @ 8500 rpm |
Max Torque | 28.4 Nm @ 7500 rpm |
Clutch | Wet, multi-disc, manual |
Transmission | 6 Speed |
Final Drive | Chain, 520, O-ring, 14-tooth front, 50-tooth rear |
Gear Ratio | 1st (30/10) 2nd (30/15) 3rd (27/18) 4th (25/20) 5th (21/20) 6th (19/21) |
Frame | High tensile steel perimeter |
Front Suspension | 43mm inverted cartridge fork, 20-way compression damping |
Front Wheel Travel | 285 mm / 11.2 in |
Rear Suspension | Single shock, 20-way compression damping and 18-way rebound damping |
Rear Wheel Travel | 280 mm / 11.0 in |
Front Brakes | Single 250mm disc 2 piston caliper |
Rear Brakes | Single 220mm disc 1 piston caliper |
Front Tire | 80/100-21 |
Rear Tire | 100/100-18 |
Rake | 26.5° |
Trail | 106 mm / 4.2 in |
Wheelbase | 1435 mm / 56.5 in |
Seat Height | 924.5 mm / 36.4 in |
Ground Clearance | 320 mm / 12.6 in |
Dry Weight | 105 kg / 231.5 lbs |
Fuel Capacity | 10 Liters / 2.6 US gal |