I have a 23 xr150 and a 23 klx230s and you guys gave a great assessment of these 2 bikes.  I love the buttery smoothness of the xr as well as the comfort and fuel range.  I love the snappiness of the klx and it looks great.  My out the door costs were $1500 difference but I got the klx $800 off on a year end sale.

1:28  sea level is the lowest point in the US? You're only about a 5 hour drive to the actual lowest point.

Thanks for all the vids you put out. Love my XR150 and looking forward to getting a bigger bike in the future, your comparison vids help rationalize a lot of the choices a lot more than a spec sheet can cover.

Subscribed, since both of these bikes are on my short list as a new rider. great review!

I’m going for the xr150

I've owned both and the KLX 230 is FAR more capable and rugged. The XR 150L , although very nice and reliable, didn't give me much more than power than my CT125 Trail. I would have to downshift on steep hills (like my CT), whereas the KLX 230 pulls great uphill in forth and even fifth gear. Top speed is much higher on the KLX. The knobby tires also make the KLX the clear choice for dirt freaks. If you're on a budget, see if you can find good deal for last's years model, and go with the basic model, not the Sherpa or DL models. Kawasaki has been aggressively building market share, so deals can been found. Mine is non-ABS and I don't miss the ABS at all.

Subscribing because you took an hour to go through these bikes thouroughly and I appreciate that

On the used market I see more folks selling the 230 than the 300 by far. I get the feeling folks use it as that first bike and really out grow it. See more of them more than the xr150 even.

Just picked up a klx 230 Sherpa s can't wait to start riding

If you want more suspension travel and ground clearance on the KLX, they sell a version called the KLX230DF, definitely a good option for taller riders.

Ahh,  I appreciate your dropping this link,,,,, when I got here I realized I had seen it already - I had already "thumbed it UP" but I'm watching
this again.  Thank you for jumping to promote your work,  you do a good job.  peace man

Thank you for the video…I am torn between these two.

Excellent video man! Really appreciate it!

I'm looking at selling or trading my Ducati scrambler full throttle for the Sherpa, just fits my riding more & I'm so excited at that idea

Great video, lots of information, to bad you had a puncture.
❤ From Denmark 🇩🇰

Cool bikes and cool video. Makes me wonder how a Versys-X 300 would fair.

I have both xr-150l with 1000kms and klx250 Camo with 13000kms of only Dempster Highway riding. Given the xr-150l gives us far more fuel range needed for trans-Dempster rides. Was dissapojnted the stock rear gas shock failed completely before 1000kms and became a 'bouncy castle'. But was fully capable of 80km/hr cruise. The klx250 front fork had a leaky left fork which I had to replace the seal twice, to no avail. Otherwise, engine remained surprisingly smooth at all speeds. Although max fuel range was 180km @ 80km/hr. Carry spare gas! Both bikes are great Dempster bikes, although the 150 rear suspension problem effected safe handling.. Note! Peg standing on klx was great in corners with cornering a simple matter of peg weight-shifting

I wanted to get the 150 but at “74 inches tall I had to sit on the back hump which was uncomfortable and weird. The Sherpa fits my body better and the seat seems soft enough when I sit on it. I ended up buying a Dax which I really like and also own a Honda CRF300L Rally which is good for my height.

I had the XR150L and now have the KLX230. Love both! Honda was smoother and better mpg (I got 97-107 with mine, consistently) and very functional. Kawasaki is more dirt bike like so it has more pop and faster, but not nearly as comfy and gentle feeling and I had to put a Seat Concepts aftermarket seat on it to make it tolerable. Both are great bikes and will be enough for the average person. One thing about the version of KLX230 in your video that you didn't mention is that one comes with a tubeless back wheel which is nice. Mine didn't come with that. Also, the Honda comes with a rear storage rack which the Kawasaki does not. So I am not sure I agree with your assessment that the Kawi is ready to go right from the dealer but the Honda needs things. I think it's the opposite. If using the Honda for what it's made for - light offroad/dirt roads and riding around town but not highways - it needs nothing. But the Kawi needs the aftermarket seat and rack to be complete. Just my opinion and I've had both.

It's crazy how expensive the KLX230 actually is. It's only like $600 MSRP cheaper than the KLX300. Hell, you can throw a big bore kit, full exhaust, and a re-jet kit on the XR150L for less than the KLX230's MSRP.

It would be fun to throw the wr125 R into the mix and see how it Compares I kind of like the taller height