Long term KLX250S review

[Delta88]

Originally Posted by cjbiker

Thanks! I was concerned about the screw for the rear of the brace. Looks like it's a non issue. Now I get to spend another $275 on this little money pit... LOL

Ditto here. I just finished the installation and had no problems with the Unabiker guards. Just checking back in because I said I would.

My plastic shrouds didn't go back on as easily as some others have reported. They took quite a bit of coaxing and cajoling to get them back on using all of the original mounting points and hardware. Not an issue with the Unabikers, just a wonky fit. Eventually, they went on but not perfectly. Not a big deal. Just an FYI.

[Spinalcracker]

Anybody have any ideas on how to make the brake peddle a little larger so it is easier to use? I have a 2007 KLX 250 and I need the peddle a little wider.

[IDRIDR]

I saw a post on wider foot pegs where a flat piece of steel stock was bent, cut, notched, and welded onto the footpeg making a nice looking wider peg for the KLX (just about doubling its width). The same could probably be done for the brake.

[newdaze1]

Originally Posted by mugwump

At the risk of repeating a post....

7K miles on a KLX250SF, Counter shaft endplay bad enough to hit the case. Lost teeth on the cam chain sprocket on the crank, the chain was still tight. I'm having the shop do it, split cases are beyond my resource and skill set. They asked me to see if this had happened anywhere else. Anybody?

Hope I'm wrong with this constructive criticism but this situation could be the result of running the chain too tight - when the rear suspension compresses and the swingarm becomes more or totally parallel with the ground it could tighten the chain to the point where it puts excessive strain on the countershaft sprocket. When it comes to dirtbike chains too loose (to a point) is better than too tight.....

[bumblebee1]

Originally Posted by newdaze1

Hope I'm wrong with this constructive criticism but this situation could be the result of running the chain too tight - when the rear suspension compresses and the swingarm becomes more or totally parallel with the ground it could tighten the chain to the point where it puts excessive strain on the countershaft sprocket. When it comes to dirtbike chains too loose (to a point) is better than too tight.....

+1

I just loosened my new to me bike's chain yesterday.
Should have checked it before but the seller mentionned the bike had been set up by her mechanic at the dealership.
That should have been a warning right there.
The ground wire was also very loose on the battery.
It caused the headlight to flicker at fast idle(choke).
Probably didn't help the highway missfires that I was complaining about.

[Lil' Steve]

Originally Posted by RedRiderofMA

Anybody have any ideas on how to make the brake peddle a little larger so it is easier to use? I have a 2007 KLX 250 and I need the peddle a little wider.

You can bend/pry the brake pedal outwards slightly so you can dab it easier with your boot. I've also seen guys weld on a partial small footpeg to their brake pedal for a larger surface area.

[newdaze1]

Originally Posted by bumblebee1

+1

I just loosened my new to me bike's chain yesterday.
Should have checked it before but the seller mentionned the bike had been set up by her mechanic at the dealership.
That should have been a warning right there.
The ground wire was also very loose on the battery.
It caused the headlight to flicker at fast idle(choke).
Probably didn't help the highway missfires that I was complaining about.

Not the end of the world, I can't say I have always checked out used bikes/cars as thoroughly as I should have - hope the shop you brought it to gets it all worked out. The KLX 250 is a very underestimated and great bike in my clearly biased opinion - and I'm a Honda DIEHARD !

[bumblebee1]

Originally Posted by newdaze1

Not the end of the world, I can't say I have always checked out used bikes/cars as thoroughly as I should have - hope the shop you brought it to gets it all worked out. The KLX 250 is a very underestimated and great bike in my clearly biased opinion - and I'm a Honda DIEHARD !

I try not to take it to a shop if at all possible.
I thought the DR650 was the ultimate fun machine until I rode this little thing.
What a blast!

I just installed a 15 tooth counter-shaft sprocket and love what it has done to the bike.
First gear doesn't run out as fast (obviously) and sixth gear at 120kph indicated is not bad now.
Any need for more acceleration above 100, I can drop it down to fifth and still have room to accelerate.
Hills will most likely require a downshift.

[rgoers]

Originally Posted by bumblebee1

I try not to take it to a shop if at all possible.
I thought the DR650 was the ultimate fun machine until I rode this little thing.
What a blast!

I just installed a 15 tooth counter-shaft sprocket and love what it has done to the bike.
First gear doesn't run out as fast (obviously) and sixth gear at 120kph indicated is not bad now.
Any need for more acceleration above 100, I can drop it down to fifth and still have room to accelerate.
Hills will most likely require a downshift.

Any chance you could record some RPM vs KPH for us? Us Yanks can do the math to convert it to MPH.

I just put the 14 back on mine. I took it on the highway the other day with the 13 still on it - I was winding out at almost 9000RPM at 75 MPH! Poor little bike. I'll leave the 14 on it while my busted collar bone finishes healing up, since I'll be sticking to road for a while. No dirt for me for several more weeks. Don't want to be messed up for the upcoming snowmobiling season!

[JensEskildsen]

Check out www.gearingcommander.com very usefull for gearing vs speed

[bumblebee1]

Originally Posted by rgoers

Any chance you could record some RPM vs KPH for us? Us Yanks can do the math to convert it to MPH.

I just put the 14 back on mine. I took it on the highway the other day with the 13 still on it - I was winding out at almost 9000RPM at 75 MPH! Poor little bike. I'll leave the 14 on it while my busted collar bone finishes healing up, since I'll be sticking to road for a while. No dirt for me for several more weeks. Don't want to be messed up for the upcoming snowmobiling season!

I just came back from a 400km(250 mile) ride.
My GPS was conected all along.
I can say it's almost exactly 10% off
Anyways. I'll relate this in MPH taken from the GPS, not the speedo.
The bike can hold about 70 mph in 6th going uphill on the highway(no wind) at 7500rpm.
Most car speedometers are off too so it has no trouble keeping up with the trafic.
Coming back I had a strong headwind and chose to ride a twisty road with more hils.
The bike felt better in 5th gear for this kind of driving at 60 mph never going past 7500rpm.
So that is my report for the 15 tooth sprocket.
The bike has a Dynojet kit and KDX snorkel

[turnsleft]

Awhile back Tom told me about a gas tank recall. as per usual I put it off.

Then next thing I knew the gas was running out the bottom[side bolt hole] about as fast as I was putting it in. Local Kawa shop said they would get me a new tank, can you say back order. IMS here I come. On the 26th of Aug. I ordered up a clear and it showed up today.

UPS stopped by with a box; big yawn, the wifes middle name is QVC. But this showed up.



So out to my shop to move some orange out of the way and give Tom a call.



Tom just put one of these tanks on his fast red KLX and knew all the ins and outs. I have to paint on the house this week end and didn't want to waste all my bad words putting on the tank.



With Toms help all went good cept for me loosing a few bolts a few times. It turned out looking pert good. Near as I can figure it holds 3.2 gallons.



We put in half a gallon and headed for the station. Made a mark on the tank at 1/2, 1 and 2 gallons just to see how it works.



Thanks for the help Tom. Can't hardly wait to go empty it all out.

[rgoers]

Originally Posted by bumblebee1

I just came back from a 400km(250 mile) ride.
My GPS was conected all along.
I can say it's almost exactly 10% off
Anyways. I'll relate this in MPH taken from the GPS, not the speedo.
The bike can hold about 70 mph in 6th going uphill on the highway(no wind) at 7500rpm.
Most car speedometers are off too so it has no trouble keeping up with the trafic.
Coming back I had a strong headwind and chose to ride a twisty road with more hils.
The bike felt better in 5th gear for this kind of driving at 60 mph never going past 7500rpm.
So that is my report for the 15 tooth sprocket.
The bike has a Dynojet kit and KDX snorkel

Thanks very much. Sounds very reasonable with the RPMs! Might check out a 15 for road riding... With the stock 14, I'm at 6000 RPM at 52 MPH.

BTW - My speedo was off exactly 9.7%, before I fixed it with a SpeedoDRD.

[bumblebee1]

Originally Posted by rgoers

Thanks very much. Sounds very reasonable with the RPMs! Might check out a 15 for road riding... With the stock 14, I'm at 6000 RPM at 52 MPH.

BTW - My speedo was off exactly 9.7%, before I fixed it with a SpeedoDRD.

I must say that I don't miss the 14 tooth sprocket at all.
I ride mostly dirt roads and trails but the highway is the only way to get there.
First gear isn't a problem at all and I use the clutch when I get into tricky stuff.

I like the idea of a 351 but hate the lost mileage with it.
So far I get about 180km(110 miles) per tank and another 150km(95 miles) with the Kolpin tank.
I push it hard on the highway and the dirt roads too.

I'm now looking to store the tools and spare tubes lower on the bike but haven't found a good spot for it yet.
A permanent place would be better.
Next are custom saddle bags and that should be it for farkles (ya right ).

I LOVE THIS BIKE!

[cjbiker]

Does anyone know if the KLX250S shift lever is longer than the SF shift lever? I know the "S" is different, with a knurled aluminum tip vs rubber on the SF. I'd be happy to find out that it's longer, as the SF lever is too short for me. Thanks!

Edit: I'll make it easy, here's my SF shift lever for comparison: