Power Wheels Magazine A Notch Above
Kawasaki Motors (Philippines) Corporation, or KMPC for short, invited members of the motorcycle media for a whole day of playing in the dirt at the Groundzero MX Track in Arayat, Pampanga on August 8, 2025. Dubbed as “Kawasaki Dirtified”, the activity showcased the off-road capabilities of Kawasaki Leisure Bike’s dual-purpose motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).
The technical motocross course around Groundzero was a fitting venue to test ride five of Kawasaki’s best on/off-road machines – the lightweight KLX150 and KLX150S dual-purpose bikes, the midsize KLR650 adventure bike, and the quad bike duo of the Brute Force 300 and Brute Force 750.
KMPC allowed us to play dirty around the Groundzero MX Track in Arayat, Pampanga.
Kawasaki KLX150 and KLX150S
The KLX150 is a dual-purpose on-road/off-road motorbike that can easily hurdle through rough terrain as it can smoothly cruise and filter through the traffic in the city. As a successor to the KLX150BF, it has been completely revamped with more power, better looks, and refined functionality with LCD digital instrumentation and LED headlamp.
The clean, brand-new 2025 Kawasaki KLX150 on display at the venue…
… compared to the one we played in the dirt with. The KLX150 is a lot of fun to ride!
The 144cc air-cooled single-cylinder motor with single overhead camshaft (SOHC) pumps out 11.53 hp at 8,000 rpm and 11.3 Nm of torque at 6500 to catapult this 119-kilogram motorbike ahead of its nearest competitors. Around the Groundzero MX Track, it was in its element with its svelte dimensions and sure-footed handling conquering the course with ease.
Air-cooled 150cc SOHC single-cylinder with 5-speed manual transmission made short work of the MX track.
LCD instrument panel remains legible under the scorching sun and after sloshing through the muddy course.
The KLX150 retails at P134,900 while a more accessible version, the KLX150S, retails at P123,000.
The more accessible KLX150S is equally fun to ride around the technical course.
KMPC displayed a more powerful liquid-cooled KLX300 but we didn’t get to ride it.
Kawasaki KLR650
The KLR650 adventure bike was a bit heavy (at around 210 kg) and big for the tight and technical course. During our first run around the muddy course, we went inside the curve instead of outside towards the berm and slid the KLR650 on its side. Thankfully, because it was a slow drop, nothing was damaged and, once it was upright, the adventure bike started and ran like nothing happened.
We felt that the Kawsaki KLR650 adventure bike would be more at home going up the trail around Mount Arayat (in the background) than around the tight Groundzero MX Track.
Simple, informative and effective LCD instrument panel tells the KLR650 rider all he/she needs to know.
Its 652cc air-cooled single-cylinder motor churns out around 53 Nm of torque, which is more than enough for this adventure bike to conquer tough trails or travel effortlessly on highways. The 21-inch front and 17-inch rear semi knobby tires handled the Groundzero course with minimum fuzz while the front and rear disc brakes ensured quick, positive stopping power.
The rear 17-inch semi-knobby tire and disc brake of the KLR650 showed how tough it is and how much fun we had with it in the dirt.
On a side note, the KLR650 showed me that I may have the same excitement of riding off-road bikes when I was younger but my 60-year-old body needs to be reacquainted with the disciplines of motocross riding before I can ride fast again.
Even after I dropped it around a curve, the KLR650 ran flawlessly save for my bruised ego.
Kawasaki Brute Force 300 and 750
All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) are great fun, especially on the beach and on rough trails. For riders with balancing issues on rough terrain, these ATVs, or “quad bikes” as some seasoned riders call them, may be their ticket to off-road fun. KMPC showcased two of its Brute Force ATV models – the 300 and the 750. The Brute Force 300 is fun, engaging and easy to ride. Its lightweight and compact design makes it handy for work and play. Its 271cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine pumps out around 22 Nm of torque to its CVT transmission with H-L-N-R selector to effectively tow 500 pounds (226 kilos) plus the rider.
The Kawsaki Brute Force 300 packs a lot of features in such a small and robust package.
Its liquid-cooled 271cc Single pumps out 22 Nm of torque to easily pull 500 lbs (226 kgs).
Kawasaki taunts its Brute Force 750 as “Built Tough To Take On More”. As the big brother to the Brute Force 300, the 750 is bigger, larger, and more powerful. Its 749cc liquid-cooled V-twin SOHC engine churns out 58 Nm of torque to allow this muscular 320-kilogram ATV with selectable 2WD/4WD traction to tow 1,000 pounds (452 kilos) and carry 120 kilos on its racks. A H-L-N-R CVT selector, dual hydraulic disc brakes at the front wheels. and a single multi disc brake at the back makes riding this big ATV easy as the 300.
The Kawasaki Brute Force 750 is powered by a liquid-cooled 749cc V-Twin engine that makes 58 Nm of torque.
It can carry 120 kilos evenly distributed on its racks and it can tow 1,000 lbs (452 kilos) with ease.
The afternoon after the test rides, the organizers led by Groundzero MX Track Coach Rick Sharpless held fun games such as the slow race on KLX 150s and a tandem foot race using a rubber globe. It was a fun day to be out in the sun after the devastating typhoons in July and a great day to play in the dirt. Let’s get dirtified and do this again sometime soon, eh, Kawasaki?
Fun games were held after the test rides, starting with a “slow race” on KLX150s…
… and a tandem foot race with a rubber globe between the runners to signify Kawasaki’s “green” efforts to help the environment.
KMPC also displayed a Kawasaki Mule Pro Transport 4×4 6-passenger ATV…
… and a sporty Kawasaki Teryx KRX1000 sand buggy ATV.
For more information about the Kawasaki KLX 150, KLX150S, KLX300, KLR650, Brute Force 300, Brute Force 750, Mule Pro Transport 4×4 and Teryx KRX1000, please visit the nearest Kawasaki Leisure Bikes showroom nearest you or log on to https://kawasaki.ph/.
