2027 Kawasaki KLX300 XPL ABS Joins Lineup at $6,499

Front ABS from $5,999; new XPL explorer at $6,499

The Short Answer: Kawasaki’s 2027 KLX300 lineup grows to four models, starting at $5,999 and topped by the new KLX300 XPL ABS explorer at $6,499. Every model gets front-wheel ABS, a new digital dash and Rideology smartphone connectivity, while the 292cc single gains a plain-bearing big end and, per Kawasaki, more power. U.S. horsepower figures aren’t published yet.

For years the KLX300 lived a simple life: one dual-sport, one supermoto, lime green optional. For 2027 Kawasaki opened the menu. The base ABS returns with switchable front ABS, the SM keeps 17-inch wheels, and the new DF and XPL add hand guards, a rear carrier and—on the XPL—a tall windshield and round LED headlight that looks borrowed from a 1990s KX brochure.

This was part of Kawasaki’s Oct. 13 street-lineup drop that also launched the 2027 Versys 900 SE LT ABS, the updated Ninja 650 ABS and the KLR650 DF ABS. Among the dual-purpose news, the KLX300 family’s new XPL and DF models are the clearest “new bike” stories.

What Is the 2027 Kawasaki KLX300 Lineup?

Think approachable dual-sport DNA: a 292cc liquid-cooled DOHC single, slim high-tensile steel perimeter frame and KX-inspired bodywork. Dual-purpose models keep 21/18-inch wheels for fire-road tires; the SM swaps to 17-inch street rubber and a larger front brake disc. Seat height on the dual-purpose bikes is 35.2 inches—tall for short inseams, short next to a KLR650. Kawasaki’s U.S. release does not list fuel capacity, so plan your gas stops like an adult and verify tank size with a dealer before a long day.

Four Models, Four Personalities

• KLX300 ABS ($5,999; $6,199 Cypher Camo Beige): The core dual-sport in Lime Green, Bright White or camo. Early January 2027.
• KLX300 DF ABS ($6,299): New Durable Force trim in Medium Cloudy Gray with blacked-out bits, hand guards and a rear carrier. Early January 2027.
• KLX300 XPL ABS ($6,499): New explorer model in Ebony with round LED headlight, tall clear windshield, hand guards, rear carrier and retro KX brush graphics. Early January 2027.
• KLX300SM ABS ($6,399): Supermoto in Neon Green/Ebony or Battle Gray/Ebony. Early December availability (the release does not specify the year; with today’s calendar that means late 2026).

Destination/freight charges are not listed in the U.S. press release or on a verified kawasaki.com 2027 model page at press time, so treat MSRP as base only. Warranty length is likewise unpublished in the materials we could verify.

Engine: 292cc Single With a Quiet Power Bump

The liquid-cooled, DOHC, fuel-injected single stays at 292cc. For 2027 Kawasaki swaps the connecting-rod big-end needle bearing for a plain bearing and says that helps improve performance and increase power compared with the previous model. Cam profiles come from the off-road KLX300R, with an electrofusion cylinder coating and lightweight piston, pin and rod. Kawasaki has not published U.S. horsepower, torque or compression figures for the 2027 KLX300 family—only that the engine makes more power than before.

Electric start, optimized ignition timing, a gear-driven balancer, a honeycomb catalyzer, secondary air system and spark arrester finish the street-legal dual-sport brief. Fuel injection is credited with reliable starting across a wide range of conditions; optimized gear ratios support on- and off-road use, and the cooling system is described as directing hot air down and away from the rider.

Front-Wheel ABS You Can Turn Off (Sometimes)

Every 2027 KLX300 gets front-wheel ABS. Dual-purpose models can disable it with a left-bar switch for off-road use; restarting restores ABS by default, and Kawasaki notes ABS must stay on where the law requires it. The SM’s front ABS is always on. Leaving the rear free supports the active dual-sport style Kawasaki wants—lock the rear, slide in, carry on. Per the release, the ABS unit and wheel-speed sensor sit on the right where a radiator used to live; a single left-side radiator handles cooling. The left fork axle bracket and rear caliper were reshaped for wheel-speed sensing. Short-style brake and clutch levers finish the update.

Dual-purpose brakes: 250mm front petal disc with a twin-piston caliper, 240mm rear with a single-piston. The SM gets a larger front disc than the dual-purpose bikes (exact diameter not published in the U.S. release). Dunlop dual-purpose tires wrap the 21/18 wheels; IRC street tires and 17-inch wheels handle the SM.

Chassis, Suspension and Ergonomics

Dual-purpose bikes use a box-and-tubular-section high-tensile steel perimeter frame, an aluminum D-section swingarm and a 26.7-degree rake with what Kawasaki calls a short wheelbase. A 43mm inverted cartridge fork offers compression adjustment and 10.0 inches of travel; the Uni-Trak gas-charged rear shock adds preload and rebound adjustment with 9.1 inches of travel. Footpegs sit close to the centerline; the handlebar position is upright and relaxed.

The SM shortens the plot on purpose: the release lists a different rake angle, shorter suspension travel and that larger front disc, plus always-on front ABS. Exact SM rake, travel, seat height and dry weight are not in the U.S. press release, so we are not inventing them. Dual-purpose seat height is 35.2 inches—confident at a stop without climbing a stepladder.

New Dash and Rideology Connectivity

A hexagonal all-digital LCD replaces the old cluster, cutting about 6.4 ounces and shrinking to roughly one-third the previous size. It shows speed, odometer, dual trips, current and average fuel consumption, clock, battery voltage, a Kawasaki service reminder, Bluetooth status and call/email alerts, plus a range of indicator lamps. RIDEOLOGY THE APP MOTORCYCLE adds GPS riding logs, maintenance tracking and the ability to share profile, location and logs with other app users; navigation and voice command are available through the app, with Kawasaki noting a separate voice-command license and market-by-market feature differences.

New KLX300 XPL ABS: The Explorer

If you only remember one bike from this release, make it the XPL. The 5.1-inch round LED headlight uses separate low- and high-beam chambers with position lamps and a thick grooved ring that fakes a classic bulb look, casting light in a wide arc for road and trail. A tall clear windshield covers chest-to-chin wind, hand guards protect levers and cut wind blast, and a rear carrier with built-in tie-down hooks is standard. Ebony paint and 1980s/90s KX brush graphics finish the explorer brief. At $6,499 it tops the KLX300 ladder and squares up with adventure-flavored 300s like Honda’s CRF300L Rally—screen and rack included, middleweight ADV curb weight not invited.

New KLX300 DF ABS: Gray and Ready

The DF is the XPL’s quieter sibling: Medium Cloudy Gray earth-tone bodywork, blacked-out engine/frame/swingarm, minimalist Kawasaki tank logos, plus the same hand guards and rear carrier with tie-downs. Less flash, same trail brief—built to blend into dirt and downtown without looking like it skipped the car wash on purpose.

2027 Kawasaki KLX300 XPL ABS Specifications

Price, Availability and Where It Fits

From $5,999 for the base ABS to $6,499 for the XPL, the family undercuts many middleweight dual-sports while including explorer bits people usually bolt on later. Cross-shop the 2025 Suzuki DR-Z4S at roughly $9,000 for a premium 400-class dual-sport, or step up to Kawasaki’s 2026 KLE500 for twin-cylinder freeway composure and a bigger tank. For a 300-class tall-screen rival, see our Honda CRF300L Rally Yoshimura install.

The SM lands first (early December), then the dual-purpose trio in early January 2027—soon enough for a holiday deposit, late enough that nobody can claim they “didn’t know.”

The Bottom Line

Kawasaki did not reinvent the dual-sport wheel for 2027—it just finally offered four ways to mount it. Front-wheel ABS you can kill on the dirt, a phone-friendly dash and a plain-bearing power bump on the 292cc single keep the base bike relevant. The new DF and especially the $6,499 XPL give the lineup a personality upgrade without the curb weight of a middleweight ADV. If your idea of adventure still fits on a lightweight dual-sport, Team Green just made the choice more interesting.

Related Moto-1 Reading

• 2027 Kawasaki Versys 900 SE LT ABS Adds Radar for $13,599: Kawasaki’s other big Oct. 13 new-model story
• 2026 Kawasaki KLE500 Real MC Commute Review: Team Green’s larger adventure twin
• 2025 Suzuki DR-Z4S Review: Premium Japanese dual-sport alternative
• Yoshimura R&D Tour and Honda CRF300L Rally RS-12 Exhaust Install: 300-class adventure dual-sport cross-shop

2027 Kawasaki KLX300 FAQ

How much is the 2027 Kawasaki KLX300 XPL ABS?

U.S. MSRP is $6,499 per Kawasaki’s press release. Destination charge was not verified on kawasaki.com.

When does the 2027 KLX300 lineup go on sale?

KLX300SM ABS is listed for early December. KLX300 ABS, DF ABS and XPL ABS arrive in early January 2027.

Does the KLX300 have ABS?

Yes. Front-wheel ABS is standard for 2027. Dual-purpose models can disable it via a left-handlebar switch; the SM’s front ABS cannot be turned off.

What is new on the 2027 KLX300 engine?

Kawasaki changed the connecting-rod big-end from a needle bearing to a plain bearing and says power is increased versus the previous model. Kawasaki has not published U.S. horsepower or torque figures for the 2027 KLX300.

What is the difference between the KLX300 XPL and DF?

Both add hand guards and a rear carrier. The XPL uniquely gets a round LED headlight, tall windshield and Ebony explorer styling; the DF focuses on Medium Cloudy Gray utility looks.