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Riders — or aspiring riders — who want a small, classically retro motorcycle for stylish around-town use probably don't constitute a huge segment, but it's an enthusiastic one, and those riders haven't had much to get excited about since the Suzuki TU250X disappeared. For 2025, however, Kawasaki has something even better.
The 2025 Kawasaki W230 is not the kind of motorcycle that's going to inspire oohs and ahhs with its spec sheet or hard parts. But as we've seen before, it's the kind of motorcycle that can get non-riders excited when they realize there's a way into motorcycling that is both stylish and accessible, and doesn't require knowing how to rebuild the transmission on a 1970s UJM.
The W230 is the picture of classic simplicity, with an air-cooled, single-cylinder, 233 cc engine. Its light weight and low seat height make it easier to handle for new riders or shorter riders, but the W230 also adds another feature I think is critical for a first-time rider, and it's one that's not always found at this price point and displacement size: ABS is standard.
Anti-lock brakes are worth having for even the most experienced street riders, in my opinion, but especially valuable for new riders. Sure, some salty old riders will retort that they got along just fine for years without ABS, but even if you are an expert rider and are paying attention, you can still miss that spilled diesel fuel or wet manhole cover in the dark. Why not have the backup?
The engine at the heart of the W230 is a version of the one found in Kawasaki's mild-mannered dual-sport KLX230, so it's a known unit. It's wrapped in classic styling to make a second entry in Kawasaki's W line, which until now consisted of the W800, whose style may have you thinking 1960s British bikes, but Kawasaki is quick to point out that it has its own heritage. The W line draws on the look of the 1965 Kawasaki 650-W1.
If you're shopping new motorcycles today in the U.S. market, the most obvious competitor for the W230 is the Royal Enfield Classic 350, which is a little more powerful and $900 less expensive but is also a significant 115 pounds heavier. How you feel about that extra 100 pounds likely depends on your own size and what riding you plan to do.
In a hallway at RevZilla HQ, there's still a similarly sized and styled 2018 CSC San Gabriel 250, a Chinese import Spurgeon tested back then. When our former colleague Andy Greaser took it out for a test ride, one of his main impressions was how many non-riders asked him about it. Despite its cheap suspension, weak brakes, and (literally) no-name tires, the San Gabriel's obvious approachability and style got a lot of people thinking that maybe motorcycling was within reach, after all. Though not as inexpensive, the W230 will no doubt be a far better motorcycle and has the potential to draw in new riders who care about style. And that's what really makes the W230 interesting.
| 2025 Kawasaki W230 | |
|---|---|
| Price (MSRP) | $5,599 |
| Engine | 233 cc, air-cooled, two-valve single-cylinder |
|
Transmission, final drive |
Six-speed, chain |
| Claimed horsepower | N/A |
| Claimed torque | 14 foot-pounds @ 5,800 rpm |
| Frame | Semi double-cradle |
| Front suspension | 37 mm fork; 4.6 inches of travel |
| Rear suspension | Dual shocks, adjustable for preload; 3.7 inches of travel |
| Front brake | Single two-piston caliper, 265 mm disc with ABS |
| Rear brake | Single-piston caliper, 220 mm disc with ABS |
| Rake, trail | 27.0 degrees, 3.7 inches |
| Wheelbase | 55.7 inches |
| Seat height | 29.3 inches |
| Fuel capacity | 3.1 gallons |
| Tires | 90/90-18 front, 110/90-17 rear |
| Claimed weight | 315 pounds wet |
| Available | Early 2025 |
| Warranty | 12 months |
| More info | kawasaki.com |
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