New Kawi Street-tard Candidate?

[SVforMe]

KLX250S - Street legal out of the box, 6 gears, lightweight (for a street-going bike)... velly interesting.
I'd love to see this and the Yammie WR250 duke it out in SM trim.

EDIT: MSRP is listed as $4899

http://idisk.mac.com/ecsongradi-Public/Images/klx250s.jpg

Spex:

http://idisk.mac.com/ecsongradi-Public/Images/klx250s_specs.jpg

[FrigginChi]

a better candidate :)

http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/motorcycle-reviews/yamaha/yamaha-wr250x-ar45965.html

http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/crop-460x325/wr250x_1_12801_ew.jpg

[HOTRODHAIRY]

I had my mind made up on a DRZ after the first of the year but now I'm liking this better.No HP numbers on this thing?Hopefully it will be at the show this weekend.6 speed and injection are nice.I need a supermoto.I love my CBR but I live 10 miles from Stockton and 25 dollar track days sure are appealing.

[RRR70]

DRZ 400SM, 35HP, 295lb, $6199
VS
WR 250X, 30HP, 282lb, $5999

:dunno

[supertireguy]

For pure city riding or the SM track a 250cc bike will be lots of fun.

On the other hand 250cc bikes will get wheezy real quick above 55mph.

You'll want a 400cc bike for any 55-75mph kind of riding.

[jake28]

I have a 1999 KLX300 dualsport, which is identical to the 250, but with a bigger jug.

I bought the KLX fully plated with a clean Baja Designs kit froma guy in Belmont who commuted 2 miles a day. When I bought the bike it had 287 miles on it. It was all stock except for being regeared for the freeway, a big front rotor and a few free mods. Once I got it jetted correctly, the thing was a blast. It currently has the stock wheels with Dunlop D606 rubbers mounted.

The KLX is light, reasonably powerful and great around the city. It does not hoist wheelies in third gear, but the even with the freeway gearing I can clutch up in first and second. I use my bike primarily around the city and for runs up Mt. Tam. Even thought the freeway distance between SF and Tam Junction is pretty close, I get a little worried running the green machine on the freeway. I keep it at sixty and try to ignore the quick humming that comes from the engine. Once in the curves, the bike rules. It flicks like no other bike and I have led groups of sportbikers down highway 1 (they were squids). You will find yourself shifting alot, I am usually in third every single block, I do find myself doing 45 in fifth at low RPMS, primarily to keep the bike happy and my ears from ringing.

I recently did a 120 mile loop on the KLX which was SF to Tomales and back, it was awesome but your gas range is about the same distance that your butt can take.

I recently purchased a pumper carb and a pipe which should boost the power considerably. I come from a dirtbike background rather than sportbikes so I do not really feel as if I am missing alot of power. That being said, the KLX is not a particularly fast machine, nor will it ever be. For me it is simply a cheap, light, and fun dualsport.


The KLX engines are pretty solid but are known to eat valves pretty quickly if not maintained. Check planetklx.com and thumpertalk.com for reviews.

If you are looking for a good cheap city bike that is doesn't pretend to be what it isn't, the KLX is great, if you want to do four hour long rides with 40 mile freeway sections, find something bigger. As with all supermoto bikes, the KLX is a tradeoff.

Pros:
Light
Cheap to buy and maintain
Fun factor is great

Cons
Kind of slow
Small gas tank
Potential engine probs (avoidable if maintained)
Not good on the freeway

[SVforMe]

Thanks for the info :thumbup

[Roadstergal]

a better candidate :)

That R might be mighty tempting once the first wave buys and they come up used. :teeth

It's only a 250, but FI, water-cooled, and six-speed. It might have just enough poke and speed to get to the trails. I'll be interested to see.