This Kawasaki dual-sport nameplate arrived for the 2021 model year as an all-new lightweight on/off-road machine aimed at riders who wanted a simple, approachable bike for both pavement and dirt. Kawasaki positioned it as a modern successor to the long-running KLX250 concept, bringing a fresh chassis and a revised liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine to the category. The model was introduced at the same time as the closely related street-focused supermoto version, but the dual-sport version kept the more versatile wheel and suspension package intended for mixed-surface use.
From the start, the bike’s identity centered on usability rather than outright performance numbers: manageable size, practical ergonomics, and trail-friendly hardware made it attractive to newer riders and to experienced riders looking for an easygoing back-road or trail companion. Its launch marked the return of a true Kawasaki 300-class dual-sport to the lineup after a long gap, and it quickly became the brand’s core small-displacement go-anywhere motorcycle.
Kawasaki has continued to update the model within the same modern era, and it remains a current offering. Because the nameplate is still in production, there is no final model year to report yet.