The massive price reduction Kawasaki made for the KLX 230 has properly reignited the competition between the Japanese motorcycle and the Hero XPulse 210. With a price tag of Rs 1.90 lakh, ex-showroom, the updated Kawasaki KLX 230 sits right in the domain of the updated XPulse 210, which is priced at Rs 1.75 lakh.
What are the similarities?
The two motorcycles are focused off-roaders. They both feature long travel suspension at both ends in the form of telescopic forks and a monoshock at the rear. The Kawasaki KLX 230 and the Hero XPulse 210 both feature a 21-18 spoke wheel set up, disc brakes at both ends, and switchable ABS.
On the features front, the Hero XPulse has an edge as it comes with three ABS modes, and gets a TFT instrument cluster with smartphone connectivity. This is something to consider, given that the XPulse 210 is slightly more affordable than the Kawasaki KLX 230.
| Features | KLX 230 | Xpulse 210 |
| Suspension (F) | Telescopic 240 mm travel | Telescopic 210 mm travel |
| Suspension (R) | Monoshock 250 mm travel | Monoshock 205 mm travel |
| Brakes (F) | 265 mm disc | 276 mm disc |
| Brakes (R) | 220 mm disc | 220 mm disc |
| Tyre (F) | 21-inch | 21-inch |
| Tyre (R) | 18-inch | 18-inch |
| Seat Height | 880 mm | 830 mm |
| Ground Clearance | 265 mm | 220 mm |
| Weight | 139 kg | 170 kg |
| Fuel Capacity | 7.6-litres | 13-litres |
What are the key differences?
The biggest and most important difference between them is the engine. The Kawasaki sticks to an old school air-cooled single-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed gearbox. The XPulse, on the other hand, uses a more modern liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine, which is also paired to a six-speed gearbox.
The XPulse 210 makes more power compared to the Kawasaki KLX 230, but at the same time, it carries more weight. Also, the Japanese machine offers more suspension travel at both ends, resulting in more ground clearance for off-road situations. However, on the highway, the XPulse 210 is more comfortable to sit at decent speeds all day.
| Specifications | KLX 230 | Xpulse 200 |
| Displacement | 233 cc | 210 cc |
| Power | 17.5 bhp | 24 bhp |
| Torque | 18.3 Nm | 20.7 Nm |
| Gearbox | 6-speed | 6-speed |
| Price | Rs 1.90 lakh | Rs 1.75 lakh |