Kawasaki Lists the 2027 KLX300SM With Front-Wheel ABS in the U.S.

Kawasaki's U.S. site now lists the 2027 KLX300SM ABS, the supermoto version of its 292 cc KLX300. The model page is marked "New 2027" and gives a $6,399 base MSRP, plus a $650 destination charge, for $7,049 before taxes, title, license and dealer fees.

The headline item is in the name. The front brake, a 300 mm petal disc with a two-piston caliper, carries ABS on Kawasaki's 2027 U.S. spec sheet. The rear brake is listed without it.

Key points:

• Model: 2027 KLX300SM ABS, Kawasaki's 300-class supermoto for the U.S.
• Price: $6,399 base MSRP + $650 destination = $7,049. Kawasaki's fine print says the dealer sets the actual retail price.
• Brakes: ABS on the 300 mm front disc. The 240 mm rear disc with a single-piston caliper is listed as a conventional brake.
• Wheels: 17-inch front and rear with road tires, the setup that makes a supermoto a street bike first.
• Fit: 33.9-inch seat height, 306.5 lb curb weight and a 2.0-gallon tank.
• Still unknown: a dated U.S. announcement and when bikes reach dealers.

What a supermoto is, and why ABS fits it

A supermoto takes a dirt bike's frame, long-travel suspension and upright, wide-bar seating, then fits small-diameter wheels and street tires. You get a light, narrow bike that's quick to turn in traffic and easy to see over cars from, without the tall knobby-tired front end of a dual-sport.

Most of the stopping on a bike like this happens at the front, often on city pavement that isn't clean or dry. ABS watches wheel speed and eases brake pressure if the wheel starts to lock, so a panic stop on a painted line or a damp manhole cover is less likely to turn into a slide.

Kawasaki's general ABS explainer on the page mentions front and rear wheel sensors, but that's a shared description used across models. The KLX300SM spec table is more specific: ABS on the front brake, and the rear brake listed without it.

Same engine, a different job

The KLX300SM shares its engine with the KLX300 dual-sport family. The difference is in the wheels, brakes and suspension, and the new KLX300 XPL ABS Explorer model on the same U.S. site makes a useful comparison.

The supermoto gets a bigger front disc (300 mm versus 250 mm on the XPL), 17-inch wheels instead of a 21/18 pair, and less suspension travel. It's also the lighter of the two on Kawasaki's dry-weight figures, and $100 cheaper.

One difference worth checking with a dealer: Kawasaki's XPL page says its front ABS can be switched off for off-road riding. The KLX300SM page we checked doesn't mention a switch either way. If you plan to ride a track day or a dirt section, ask before you buy.

Engine and chassis

Kawasaki's U.S. spec sheet for the 2027 KLX300SM ABS lists:

• Engine: 292 cc liquid-cooled DOHC single, 78.0 x 61.2 mm bore and stroke, 10.9:1 compression
• Output: 26.8 hp at 8,000 rpm and 18.4 lb-ft at 6,800 rpm. Kawasaki measures horsepower under ISO 4106 and notes the figure may be higher than an SAE number.
• Fuel and drive: Kawasaki DFI fuel injection with a 34 mm Keihin throttle body, six-speed gearbox, chain drive
• Frame: tubular semi-double cradle, 25.0-degree rake and 2.8 inches of trail, 56.3-inch wheelbase
• Front suspension: 43 mm inverted fork with adjustable compression damping, 9.1 inches of travel
• Rear suspension: Uni-Trak shock with a piggyback reservoir, adjustable rebound damping and spring preload, 8.1 inches of travel
• Tires: 110/70-17 front and 130/70-17 rear
• Brakes: single 300 mm petal disc with a dual-piston caliper and ABS up front; single 240 mm petal disc with a single-piston caliper at the rear
• Ground clearance: 9.4 inches

Seat height, weight and range

These are the numbers that decide whether the bike suits you:

• Seat height: 33.9 inches. That's tall for a 300 cc street bike. A narrow seat can make it feel more manageable than the number suggests, but shorter riders should sit on one before buying.
• Curb weight: 306.5 lb, with fluids and a full tank. The 288.9 lb dry figure leaves those out.
• Fuel capacity: 2.0 gallons. Kawasaki doesn't publish fuel economy on the page, so plan your own range check before relying on it for longer rides.

Dash, colors and accessories

The instruments are an LCD panel that pairs with Kawasaki's Rideology smartphone app. Kawasaki says the app can show vehicle information such as the odometer, fuel gauge and maintenance schedule, keep riding logs, and display call and message notices on the dash.

The U.S. page lists two colors: Neon Green/Ebony and Battle Gray/Ebony.

Kawasaki also shows a few accessories with the model, including a rear carrier ($215.52), hand covers ($117.09), a tapered handlebar ($181.69) and a helmet lock ($147.92). They aren't standard equipment.

What to ask a dealer

Kawasaki's site has quote, test-ride and dealer-inventory links for the KLX300SM ABS, but no arrival date. Before you put down a deposit:

• When the first 2027 bikes are due, and whether the dealer is taking deposits
• The out-the-door price, including the $650 destination charge, setup and any dealer add-ons
• Whether the front ABS can be switched off, if you plan any track or dirt riding
• A sit-test in your riding boots, since the 33.9-inch seat is the spec most likely to rule the bike in or out

Insurance questions for a small supermoto

Supermotos are often bought as city bikes, and that shapes the questions worth asking your insurer:

• Theft and parking: ask how the insurer treats where the bike is kept overnight, and what comprehensive coverage includes if a light bike is taken from the street.
• Accessories: if you add the carrier, hand covers or anything else, ask how those parts are covered and whether you need to list them.
• ABS: some insurers ask about safety equipment. Whether ABS changes your premium is up to the company, so ask rather than assume.
• Valuation: the insurer decides what a total loss is worth under the policy's terms. That isn't automatically the price you paid.

What we still don't know

• Announcement date: Kawasaki's U.S. model page isn't dated
• Dealer arrival: when 2027 KLX300SM ABS bikes reach U.S. showrooms
• ABS switch: whether the front ABS can be turned off on this model
• Earlier models: how the 2027 equipment compares with previous KLX300SM years, which the page doesn't cover