I think I made a rookie mistake by putting the kick stand up while trying to kick start. Not sure why I did that as I’d been having no trouble starting it while straddled with kick stand down. Kick stand up a no no? It started to lean to the left and I did my best to stop it but alas it went over and I got out of the way. Hurt my ankle somehow and lower back picking it up. Shoulda asked for help. This is my first kick start. Hope I don’t regret it and end up getting an XT250. Also, I let it sit for a couple hours, read the internet on how to start a flooded engine. After that long I thought it’d start back up. Tried choke. Turned gas off and with gas off it started. Then I turned gas on and rode away. Lesson learned! Never kick start with kickstand up! Ouch my back.
Honestly, I think the first thing you should do to your brand new dual sport when you get it home, is kick it over on its side.
The first new motorcycle I ever bought way back in 1977 got dropped in my truck leaving the dealer and creased the tank. The dealer said the same thing to me about dirt bikes. I swapped the tank with another junker I had anyway.
I'd suggest learning to kick it w/o the kick stand. Unless you're idea of technical riding is jumping the curb at Starbucks you won't always have the luxury of being able to put the stand down. Just ask any KTM rider It's hard on the stand anyway and you don't want one of those bikes that leans way over when parked.
I don’t stand on the pegs, just straddle the bike but leave stand down. I’m terrified to try it again with stand up. Would only do again if I had to. I should just get an electric start.
You have a nice area to ride in where you are. Can you go out there and start it ten times right now? Either get really good at it or swap to an electric start bike.
I can start it easy while straddling it, kickstand down but me NOT standing on pegs(I don’t care for that method). I do have an electric start NX125 I’ll probably sell soon as I wanted a 250 pretty quickly after getting back into riding with the 125. I’ll try this KLR for a while but could definitely see getting an XT250.
Why cant you stand on the pegs and kick it? I doubt you will bend the stand. You sound physically small.
I think you can learn to kick start this bike proficiently if you want to. Some folks run 200 miles in one shot.
First bike (XL250R) was a kick start. Neat at first I guess, but it did lose its luster after awhile.
There should be a mandatory 4 year apprenticeship period for kickstart only , first 2 years on a four stroke , last 2 on 2 strokes . Wives are exempt .
If you become used to starting on the kick stand, which IS the rookie mistake. You will one day fall to the right when the stand stabs the ground upon the kick when the suspension compresses and tosses you right..... Physics!
I would say in your shoes, You should find yourself a veteran rider friend to give you a tutorial!.... That's the way to learn most of what you want to know about ridin, and bikes. Buddies that have been around the block.....
Competence in kick-starting, sidestand in EITHER up or down position, will be your friend and give you confidence riding far and wide. If somewhat vertically-challenged, you DO NOT have to start your kick at the absolute TOP of the kick-start lever stroke: You can, "choke up" (to use a baseball batting term), by rotating the lever some degrees downward BEFORE you start your vigorous downward push. Most times, a KLR250 in good tune will start without requiring the full kick-start lever arc. May you develop your starting technique, allowing you to enjoy one of the most under-rated dual-sports ever manufactured!
Suggested exercise for developing kick-starting skills: Put an ATV/Motorcycle lift under the bike; raise the lift to just touch the underside of the vertical, level bike (bike weight still on the tires). The bike now can't fall; straddle the bike and practice kicking it off. Keep it up until you feel you can control the bike even WITHOUT the lift (or kickstand down). No lift? Block it up with bricks, wood stack, whatever . . . just enough support available to prevent dropping it while practicing kick-starting. Good luck!