No matter how good you are at something, you can’t be 100 percent perfect. That applies to every person, brand, or thing. So even the companies that sell billions of products each year have products that aren’t considered by buyers. It’s not too different with your favorite bikemakers, either.
A large part of their revenue is from a handful of products, while many other bikes remain underrated, overlooked, or simply on sale for the sake of it. We’re looking at one such bike today from the stable of Team Green, aka Kawasaki. This is one of the new additions to the US lineup, and most buyers don’t consider it while shopping for a motorcycle.
Why Small Bikes Are Still Relevant Today
With cheap middleweight bikes becoming the norm, small-capacity motorcycles have had a difficult time in recent years. After all, why would someone spend $5,500-6,000 on a bike they will have to replace in a couple of years when they can spend $7,000 on a mid-capacity bike with 2x the performance? While that logic is valid, small bikes remain relevant for a couple of reasons.
First, if you’re a true beginner, nothing will teach you the basics of motorcycling like a lightweight small bike. Secondly, these are easy to fix and cheap to maintain, so you can be hands-on with them if that tickles your fancy. Even if you do something wrong, the fix won’t break the bank. Finally, these bikes make great commuters or city dwellers. You can keep them as secondary machines to ride around the city, where your big bike would guzzle gas and cook your legs.
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Most Buyers Don’t Consider The Kawasaki W230 In 2026
Kawasaki has an assortment of small-capacity bikes in 2026. Out of these, we think the W230 deserves more attention than it usually gets. This is a great little retro roadster that can putter around the city effortlessly without making your life difficult. Bonus points for the impeccable claimed efficiency of around 100 miles per gallon. It also promises to be a head-turner, courtesy of its old-school aesthetics.
Other than this, there are other small Kawasakis that deserve more attention. The KLX230SM comes to mind, which is based around the same engine as the W230 and serves as a mini-supermoto machine. It often gets overlooked due to the more capable KLX300SM that costs just a few hundred dollars more than the 230, while promising better equipment and performance. Supermotos generally make up a niche segment anyway.
The other two Kawasakis that most buyers don’t consider are the EVs: the Ninja e-1 and Z e-1. These marked a significant step in Team Green’s sustainability journey, serving as the first full electric motorcycles from the brand. However, the hype hasn’t really materialized. The e-1 duo has very low performance and range figures. Whereas, the MSRP is right up there with middleweight bikes, which doesn’t help, either.
A Frugal Single-Cylinder Engine Powers The W230
Engine sharing is a common affair in Japanese lineups, and the W230 is a product of the very same approach. It has Kawasaki’s 233cc, single-cylinder mill we’ve previously seen on the KLX230, KLX230SM, and KX230R. The compression ratio is super low at 9:1, there are two valves, and this is a simple SOHC setup. Add to that the air-cooled nature, and you get modest performance figures (17 horsepower and 14 pound-feet).
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You Can Achieve Close To 100 Miles Per Gallon
The power comes in at 7,800 RPM and the torque at just 5,800 RPM, so there should be ample tractability here. Accordingly, Kawasaki claims a fuel efficiency figure of 94 miles per gallon. While the engine isn’t really modern, you do get a six-speed transmission–something the Royal Enfield 350s don’t have. You shouldn’t expect freeway speeds from the W230, though.
A Steel Chassis And Simple Suspension Make Up The Underpinnings
Like the engine, things are basic in the underpinnings department. A steel semi-double cradle chassis serves as the centerpiece, relying on 37 mm telescopic forks and dual rear shocks for suspension duties. You only get preload adjustability at the rear. Moving on, each end has spoke wheels (18-inch front and 17-inch rear) with super skinny tires (90-section front and 110-section rear). These hoops house single disc brakes to help shed speed, which should be enough given the low weight.
The W230 Weighs Just 315 Pounds
Speaking of weight, the W230 tips the scales at just 315 pounds fully fueled. That is super light by 200-300cc bike standards and almost 85 pounds less than Royal Enfield’s retro roadster (the Hunter 350). Other dimensions are accessible, too. The wheelbase is 55.7 inches, the seat height is 29.3 inches, and the ground clearance stands at 5.9 inches.
Retro Charm Is In Abundance
Finally, there’s the design and features. The former takes a proper retro approach, evident from elements like the round headlight, curvy fenders, fork gaiters, and teardrop fuel tank. Pea-shooter exhausts, chrome touches, and a bench-type single-piece saddle round things off. There’s only one color for 2026, though: Metallic Matte Green.
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As for features, all the basics seem covered. The instrument cluster has a dual-pod layout with an LCD to show you crucial information. Dual-channel ABS is a standard inclusion, too, and so is a dual-tone seat cover. ABS, in particular, is a nice touch, considering even Kawasaki’s flagship bikes like the Ninja ZX-10R don’t have it as standard.
2026 Kawasaki W230 Specifications
|
Capacity |
233cc |
|
Layout |
Single-cylinder |
|
Power |
17 HP @ 7,800 RPM |
|
Torque |
14 LB-FT @ 5,800 RPM |
|
Transmission |
Six-speed |
|
Compression ratio |
9:1 |
|
Chassis |
Semi double-cradle |
|
Front suspension |
37 mm forks (4.6 inches travel) |
|
Rear suspension |
Twin shocks (3.6 inches travel) |
|
Wheels |
18/17-inch spoke wheels |
|
Tire size |
90/110-section |
|
Wheelbase |
55.7 inches |
|
Ground clearance |
5.9 inches |
|
Weight |
315 pounds |
|
Seat height |
29.3 inches |