It seems like the new bikes are just flowing in lately. We’ll admit... it’s a fun time of year for us, and it gets even more fun when a few minis get thrown in the mix! The most recent new face in the class of 2010 is Kawasaki’s new and improved KLX110 and the all-new KLX110L.

We were fortunate enough to recently spend an evening on the new green machines at the Fox Racing Headquarters where media and industry got to do some riding and racing. The mini motocross track surrounding the Irvine office provided a great place to showcase the aggressive capabilities of the new Kawis. We were joined at the intro by national champion Jeff Emig, world champion Tania Satchwell, and champion-in-training Andrew Silverstein... and there may or may not have been some take-outs involved.

The fact that more adults ride the KLX110 more often than kids (which it was designed for) did not escape the attention of Kawasaki engineers. So in making revisions to the popular play bike they took the "big kids" into consideration, and gave the little 111cc more power, better suspension and roomier ergos. Taking it a step further, they decided to fuel the fire even more by offering the all-new KLX110L - a backyard-ready pit bike with longer-travel suspension, manual clutch, four-speed transmission and of course, more power!

Between the two, it doesn't take a detective to figure out which bike we spent the most time on at Fox's mini moto track: the all-new KLX110L! Two inches taller than the new standard model and with nearly an inch more travel on each end, the L was a little too much fun - the kind of fun that keeps you more focused on take-out moves than actually critiquing the bike. Still, we got a good feel for the newest member of the Kawi family after spinning quite a few laps on it.

According to Kawasaki, the little 111cc air-cooled four-stroke mill churns out 15% more power for 2010 thanks to a new ignition, new valve timing and a more open exhaust system. We definitely felt a difference in the overall stronger pull of the little KLX, and noticed a quicker response between the throttle and rear wheel. Still, the 110 is whisper quiet, and is equipped with a USFS-approved spark arrestor silencer.

The four-speed gearbox is all-new - not just the old transmission with an extra gear. The top overall gear ratio is actually nearly identical to the previous model, but the new four-speed closes up the gaps between gears, making it easier to stay on the power.

When it comes to clutch coordination, the two models offer it both ways - with or without. For little people still learning, the auto-clutch of the standard KLX gives them one less thing to worry about. But for those looking to blow up berms and squeeze every bit of torque out of the little mill, the L features a manual clutch. And speaking of one less thing to worry about, both versions are equipped with a push-button electric start for 2010.

So far we've only had one evening on the new Kawasakis, but we're looking forward to more fun on the new KLX110s. Oh, and we may even get around to putting some actual kids on them, too!