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TEST RIDE

Kawasaki KLX15O

Words: Akram Hosen PHOTOS: RAHIN SADMAN ISLAM
In the late 90s, dirt bikes could cause instant palpitations of desire in pretty-much every kid about to finish school or just get into college. Only the coolest dance-pop fans had one. The top of the class was Honda's XL 185. The sensation you had doing a sudden first gear pull was the most fun thing you could do, legally. Or with pants on. The XLs have long disappeared from view and the popularity of dirt bikes seems to have waned, although the motorcycle market expanded and saturated with new inventories over the years.
It is not surprising that Kawasaki has launched in Bangladesh with just four bikes and two of them are for off-roading. With tyres made for dirt, the more serious, no-nonsense one is the KLX 150.
Although the wide fender and ground clearance may suggest otherwise, it's so light and manageable that anyone could step into the world of two-wheels with it. The carb-fed 144cc engine delivers 11.5 HP and 8.3 Ib-ft torque, which may not seem particularly impressive when compared to other bikes of similar displacement. But with a wet weight of just 118kg it more than compensates for the couple of missing HP. If snot the lightest dirt bike in the world, but there is hardly anything that can come close in the local market.
The monstrous fender clearance and seat height partially disappears with the weight of an average person. Since we tested it on the potholed and bumpy streets of Dhaka, the rear mono shock was lowered. As the front wheel is
bigger than the rear by three inches, it looks astonishingly poised in that setup, not to mention the additional stability gained from the stiffer shocks.
You sit on it the way your grandma taught you to sit: upright, no crouching or leaning forward. When it comes to low speed maneuvering and turning within small spaces, the KLX is almost idiot-proof. If it falls, you can just pick it up effortlessly. Everything is within easy reach as well, from the 'bars, to the controls and foot controls, with both the gear change lever and rear brake in just the right spot for ease of use. One downside is that the dash only displays speed and fuel level— nothing to tell you which gear you are on, a feature you find quite useful once you get accustomed to it.
Although the price is close to the premium range, it'll enjoy a niche market created by both young riders and those looking for proper off-reading. There is nothing in the segment to compete with this in the market.
The KLX 150 is available through Asian Motorbikes Ltd, starting from a price of TK 3,70,000.
This is a shortened version of a review that was originally published in Shift's 5 year special anniversary magazine, available at outlets near you. Check our Facebook page for details.