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“Everything is bigger in America,” goes the saying.
It’s easy to see why. Be it super-sized fries or super-duty pickups, Big Gulps or big-bore baggers, proportions tend to be larger in the United States. To that effect, manufacturers often earmark their biggest, most advanced, and most expensive models for the U.S. market. It’s what we’ve come to expect.
That’s why I was surprised when Kawasaki announced the new KLX230 Sherpa S and KLX230 DF for 2026. I wouldn’t have been if I were paying closer attention to recent market trends.
Laying the groundwork
Kawasaki introduced the KLX230 in 2020. It not only arrived as a lightweight, user-friendly offering, it also sided with simplicity, featuring an air-cooled, fuel-injected 233 cc single and minimal electronics. The model’s $4,599 ($4,899 with ABS) MSRP was a big draw, too. For 2026, the KLX230 will return (now $4,999 non-ABS, $5,299 ABS) with two new variants in tow.
Kawi positions the KLX230 Sherpa S as its “rugged, yet approachable, package designed for the modern-day trekker.” A lower seat height of 32.5 inches (versus the base model’s 33.3-inch seat height) and tubeless rear wheel account for much of the Sherpa’s added approachability.
The KLX230 DF, on the other hand, is prepped for off-road exploration. At least that’s what the model’s long-travel suspension, engine guards, and tail rack suggest.
The Sherpa and DF are just the latest low-capacity air-cooled models to hit the market. Mainstays like Yamaha’s TW200 and XT250 are still around, but Honda wears the crown in this category. While its miniMOTO range is the primary reason, Big Red isn’t putting all of its eggs in one basket.
The XR150L found success in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand before Honda sent the model Stateside in 2023. Built by Sundiro Honda, a subsidiary of the Japanese marque, the diminutive dual-sport houses an air-cooled 149.2 cc single that’s fueled by a Keihin carburetor. Talk about simple. The model’s $3,299 price tag says as much, too. The XR isn't just an outlier in American Honda's lineup, though. It might just be a sign of more things to come from the brand.
In May, Honda pulled the covers off the CRF300F at the Festival Interlagos in São Paulo, Brazil. The trail bike will harness the same air-cooled 293 cc one-pot mill that already powers several models in Brazil, including the CRF300F Twister, XR300L Tornado, and Sahara 300. Recent California Air Resources Board (CARB) documents indicate that Honda intends to send the CRF to the States as a 2026 model. If that comes true, the U.S. market could welcome yet another price-conscious, bare-bones option in the months to come.
Welcome change
The United States is still a destination for premium motorcycles. That won’t change anytime soon. What is changing is how many low-tech, low-cost models are arriving on U.S. shores. With the first tariff-related price increases arriving — and more on the horizon — budget-friendly motorcycles are more relevant than ever. It seems, not everything is bigger in America.
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