Cheap Thrills – No, we are not talking about Sean Paul’s famous thumper song, but about on action on two wheels. There are very few affordable motorcycles which come close to the segment of dual-purpose motorcycles, which are currently ruled by the likes of entry-level Japanese machines. Such motorcycles have the perfect balance of practicality and fun, giving it the best possible amount of thrills on two wheels. Sure, they do sacrifice on fancy gizmos and electronics like their elder hardcore adventure offerings. But then, when it comes to being quick and sturdy lightweight motorcycles, the Kawasaki KLX 150L and Honda CRF 150L are two most prominent offerings in this category of fun-filled, thrilling machines on two wheels. Both these motorcycles act as the most affordable dual purpose motorcycles for their respective manufacturers. However, there is one motorcycle which outclasses the other.

Looks and design:-

Slim and minimalist, yet fully purposely designed – both these motorcycles stay true to the core theme of designing an entry-level dual purpose motorcycle.

Let us remind you – both the Kawasaki KLX 150L and Honda CRF 150L are not meant to win any beauty contest. Both the motorcycles have got a tiny and upright mounted fuel tank, minimalist rear side body panels, underseat exhaust pipe and small rear end with a tiny tail lamp. However, in comparison, the front fascia of the Honda CRF 150L feels slightly sharper in design as compared to the conventional headlamp of the Kawasaki KLX 150L.

Also, the slightly better-looking front fender and additional protection panels on the front suspension forks give the CRF 150L an added visual appeal. And it’s not only the design aspect, where the Honda CRF 150L wins by a small margin. In terms of equipment too, the CRF 150L is one step ahead the Kawasaki KLX 150L. The former is a better-equipped motorcycle, with a couple of additional features like a fully digital instrument console and clear lens turn indicators giving it a slight edge in terms of modernity.

Engine and performance:-

 

The dual-purpose motorcycle enthusiasts clearly know that design and fancy equipment is not the forte of their beloved motorcycles. The heart of the matter is the engines with which they are equipped. The core purpose of the engines of the dual purpose motorcycles has to be lightweight and punchy bottom end performance as well as top end grunt. And in this case, the engines of both the Kawasaki KLX 150L and Honda CRF 150L are pretty impressive.

 

The Kawasaki KLX 150L’s 4-stroke, single cylinder, 2-valve, carbureted 144cc engine pumps out 11.52 bhp of power and 11.3 Nm of torque. On the other hand, the Honda CRF 150L’s 4-stroke, single cylinder, 2-valve, fuel injected 150cc engine makes 12.24 bhp of power and 11.94 Nm of torque. Clearly, in this particular aspect of comparison, the displacement advantage has worked wonders for Honda in giving higher power to weight ratio. Also, thanks to the presence of fuel injection technology, the throttle response of the Honda CRF 150L is crisper and more precise in feel as compared to that on the Kawasaki.

Ride and handling:-

Another deal-breaking aspect apart from the engine for dual purpose machines is the agility with which they handle. Both the Kawasaki KLX 150L and Honda CRF 150L are equipped with inverted hydraulic telescopic forks at the front and a linked monoshock at the rear.

Even the size of the dual purpose tyres and aluminium wheels, as well as disc brake setups on both the bikes, is pretty much the same. This similarity in the hardware of both the motorcycles gives them equal agility while riding in almost all the conditions. Both the bikes have more or less the same kerb weight as well, which makes them equally fine while maneuvering and quick directional changes.

Conclusion:-

Both the Kawasaki KLX 150L and Honda CRF 150L handle and perform with equal agility and finesse on both on and off the road. However, there are a couple of advantages which make the Honda CRF 150L a slightly better-engineered motorcycle over the Kawasaki KLX 150L. The Honda looks better and has a couple of features going in its favour, making it feel a bit more premium over the Kawasaki. Also, the powertrain on the CRF 150L is technologically better, thanks to the presence of fuel injection and a bigger displacement engine, thus giving it an edge over the KLX 150 in terms of outright performance and throttle responses.