I sold my DR350S a while back because it was kick-start only and I'm getting too old and weak to kickstart that bike if I dump it. So I was looking for something a little smaller. Looking for a Kawasaki Super Sherpa or XT250. Found an '08 in very nice shape, 5K miles, and I've owned it about a week now. So far I like it a lot. Not awesome power, nor is it a MX bike, but for what it is, it's great. Easy handling, competent off roader, that instills a lot of confidence when you ride. It has a Moose Racing rear rack, that I think is too big. May get something smaller there. I also want handguards and a skid plate. Any other recommendations on mods you've done and liked? The stock tires are on it (the previous owner swapped them out for street treads, and so the originals were in nearly new shape). They're not awful, but they're not great either. I haven't decided which way to go there. The bike will probably end up being a light trail bike, no big highway duty. I have a DR650 also, so that will handle more long asphalt trips. Anyway, glad to be here and see others with the same bike. Is it worth doing that carb mixture adjustment and stock exhaust drill-out? Any advice is appreciated.
Hello everyone, Got my new '12 XT250 this morning! Took it for a short 20 mile ride, cold here this morning, and some dirt roads. I sold my '11 KLR650 because it was too big for me and this one is just perfect. The KLR was great on the road, but I didn't feel comfortable at all on gravel. Best I could do was 30 mph. I took the XT down one of the same roads that would scare the crap out of me and was able to maintain 45 mph and felt anchored to the road. VERY NICE! Just what I was wanting. I noticed a lot of people that complained about the stock tires. Yamaha must have been listening as mine came with Bridgestone TW301's. Nice tires. Overall, I'm very happy with the bike and can't wait to get out onto the forest roads. This is, afterall, why I wanted a dual sport in the first place. Just bought the wrong one at first. Happy Trails! Rick
Has anyone had trouble with the helmet lock? Mine won't stay locked into the hole. Any advice welcome. Thanks.
Mine wouldn't stay in either, but I just figured it was from all the mud! Anyway, we messed with it and can get it to catch when we really shove the lock into the hole HARD. Keep working it, hopefully it'll catch.
Thanks for both replies, I figure it's better to ask people that know before I start to work on things. Thanks.
2012 XT 250 https://mail-attachment.googleuserc...334112251009&sads=pNbCds-Gy0hs7ljs9TA9ppUA84c 1982 XT250 I was 17 when i got my 82, had alot of memories with it, loved it so i decided to get the son of the great bike =)
Hello everyone! just finished a short 4 day ride around Alabama on my xt. Just wanted to share. Riding around Alabama was one of the most enjoyable trips I have taken. Met a lot of nice and interesting people and also saw a lot of beautiful scenery. I went with two other buddies of mine who rode some pigs (XR650) http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=780984
Hello. I have an XT225 set up for off road use, it is still street legal, but so heavily modified it is not much fun on the street. It has 606 tires, no turn signals, and very stiff suspension. I mainly ride it on the street just to get it to the dirt. Now I am looking for a small displacement bike to ride around town and local paved country roads. But I am 6' 220 pounds, and too big to fit comfortably on small street only bikes. I also have a Goldwing, but it is more of a highway bike, too big to be much fun around locally, and it gets 35 mpg. So, I am looking for a more street oriented dual sport, and the XT250 seems to be the only one out there. The Honda CRf230L is too small, it feels like a mini bike compared to the XT. And the KLX250 and WR250 are too dirt oriented. So what are your opinions about the XT250 as a mostly street only bike? I was planning to put Avon Distanza tires on it.
I'm in Australia, so what I have to say will be metric. I'm 200cm and 115kg. I have a 1200GSA, my wife has a stock XT250 (2009). It's a live wire, even for someone of my size! It's fun in the bush and is lively on road too. My wife's previous bike was an XT225, and that was a little ripper too!
Unfortunately, no one makes them for the XT. Clarke does make one for the XT225, I've overlain the XT225 and 250 in photoshop and I think it's a doable swap, but will require making a new front bracket as the front mounting point is quite a bit different on the 225. It apparently took years to get enough interested parties for Clarke to make a tank for the 225, I am not holding my breath for the 250 at all.
Hello fellow XT250 owners, my name is Ron and i have owned my 2009 xt250 for a bit over 6 months now, and have put 3,000+ miles on the bike so far, I bought the bike litterally brand spanking new from a guy that rode it maybe once, i love this thing, and have done lots of good useful mods to it, here's a list of my mods. TUSK handlebar risers TUSK fork seal guards TUSK rear fender pack WR250R skid plate WR250R white front bumper TURBOCITY rear brake master cylinder guard TRAILTECH spark plug temperature meter #140 main jet FMF power4 core exhaust air/fuel screw 3 turns out air box cover removed jet needle shimmed SUPERIOR SPROCKETS 16 tooth front sprocket CYCRA probend crm's handguards ACERBIS dual sport rear taillight/brakelight WESTERN POWERSPORTS 3 wire dual sport turn signals with running lights, front and rear NGK iridium spark plug built in garage door opener 1'' copper tube spacers added to front forks Full synthetic oil used Battery Tender pigtails Shinko 244 rear (new not yet installed) Pirelli dual sport XCMH (not yet installed) Additional tool kit on the spare side I use this bike for everything, from freeway riding at 75+mph to the hardest trails around me, i beat the snot out of my bike, and use it to the max, it has done everything i have needed it to do, been dropped plenty of times on trails, but still runs like a champ. I have lots and lots of trails around me, all within 10-25 miles of my house, so i usually go out dual sporting every weekend, it has been a great and comfortable bike for me. Heres some pics i just snapped If anyone needs any info on any of the mods ive done, ill be happy to post up pics or any details. Looking forward to doing lots of reading on this forum,
Look at a TU250. Its comfortable for a full size person, has a good seat, and is a hoot to ride. 80 mpg, fuel injected.
After 3+ years, almost 5000 miles (figure 3/4 trail or gravel) and a good deal of hard use - mostly as a loaner bike, still working fine. Brake pads (muds eaten them up), oil changes - crankcase and fork, valve adjustment, yearly grease and air filter maint is all thats been required. 606s look about half done - not expecting anything more in the next 5k. Some crappy photos of its life with us. Then Now \ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ron > Nice Clean look, how"d you strip the decals?
I have a 2008 XT250. I have the OEM Yamaha square silver back rack with a top case. Recently I bought 2 surplus night vision goggle cases (only 20$ each!) and I want to mount them as panniers. I was thinking of fabricating my own, when I saw this: https://www.yamahagenuineparts.com/TopPicks/moreinfo.asp?ID=184&shopcat=toppicks Do you think that it would be sturdy enough to support the cases? Maybe I could add some reinforcement, like linking them in the back. I know that I have other options like the happy-trails SU rack, but it's pricey when you add the shipping. I'm a cheap bastard and I don't want to spend 400$ on luggage only to be broke and unable to ride my bike! And no I'm not interrested in soft luggage, I live in the city and I want lockable secure luggage for when I go shopping. Thanks!