A tale of two kawi's.. and maybe a third.

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  #1  
Old 06-19-2015, 10:59 PM
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Default A tale of two kawi's.. and maybe a third.

Kawasaki one

2010 KLX250sf. 1600km. FMFq4 and stock header. dyno jet. shinko 244 tires. Led tailight and blinker kit. fender eliminator. pro taper bars. Bought for 3900 sold for 3800 a year and 7000km later

Kawasaki two

2009 KLX250s. 30000km. FMFq4 and stock header. dyno jet and kdx snorkel. Heidenau k60 and k76 tire. stock bars, stock grips. skidplate, clarke tank. bought it for 2200 and sold it for 2750.

The potential third

He wants 4000 firm to upgrade his cummins diesle truck...and it would cost about 500 in taxes and registration to get it on the road... not to mention travel costs to see the bike.

2009 KLX250sf. 200km. FMFq4 and mega bomb header. "jetted for the pipe" Stock tires, stock everything. Would need to dump at least 300 on it just to get it up to speed and then who knows what else. Doesnt come with stock exhaust or jets...

Normally I would pass on this, due to the price being higher than necessary and the chances of getting a fully modded S for less or exactly the same price.
(I have no problem with a bike that has seen miles.. ie the 30000km klx250s..) and I would like an S ideally. My geographic location restricts the options for bikes... and this SF is a fish out of water for around here...


Just looking for a second opinion on the subject, as my GF probably would say to keep the TW200. I want a dr650 eventually but again not available close by. The SF will always be worth at least 3000.. so I could trade up eventually.


Thanks, and its good to be back...
 

Last edited by CC_Rider; 06-19-2015 at 11:01 PM.
  #2  
Old 06-19-2015, 11:22 PM
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That's a hell of a lot of money for a bike that has spent most of the last 6 years sitting.. Could be a rusty fuel tank and totally goop'd up carb ? That tank would have had to sit totally filled to the cap with treated fuel to keep the rust out.. I love my TW200, they do it all (up to 55mph), work well with GF's learning to ride, and they are one heck of a good investment..

And if he is the original owner, where the heck is the exhaust system?
 
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Old 06-19-2015, 11:30 PM
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He's crazy! It better be in perfect condition.
$3,000 cash tops, and I bet you ride away.
A 2009 with 200km is possibly going to need more attention than a bike that's been run regularly.
And if you really want an S then you need to find S wheels, a skid plate, etc.
It's not often my strong suit, but it seems some patience might pay off. If you can wait for an already set-up S to appear you might be better off, IMO.
Or just put knobbies on the SF and call it good.
 
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Old 06-20-2015, 12:17 AM
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Are we talking usd or Canadian? $4000 Canadian is about $3600 usd. Still, I got my 09 S with 15,000 miles for $2000 usd, so that doesn't sound like a bargain on sheer dollars. But 200km!? Even if a zero is missing that is like either 124 or 1240 miles! That's stupid low. Pull the carb have it professionally washed out - aka a carb washer or ultrasonic. And hinge that $4000 tag on firing up and running, put a grand in escrow to guarantee it doesn't have a crap engine or something.

Then see if you can swap out a set of S wheels for your SFs or just get a 21 and lace it up and get a used KLX250S/300R/650R rear wheel, which is a bolt in not counting the rear rotor.
 

Last edited by klx678; 06-20-2015 at 12:23 AM.
  #5  
Old 06-20-2015, 12:51 AM
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Thanks for the second and third opinions... I had a feeling it was going to be a stretch to make it happen.

Age has brought me patience, and a younger man may have jumped on the bike without calculating future costs, taxes registration etc. There are better bikes for less or equal cost, just slightly further away. For a price tag of 4000 I can score a dr650 or even a nicely done up klx250s mostly any day of the year up here... Just a matter of having the cash when the bikes become available. It's tough to say goodbye to the TW.. but the gf has bee a bit of a disappointment in the learning department and I need something for longer distances and bigger bumps. Paid 2750 for it, with a cyclerack and zeta barkbusters, jetted and tuned. Not a scratch on it. Got a guy who responded to my ad listing the T-dub for 4000obo so even if I get 3500 I'm making money. Another 2000 dollars out of the piggy bank and I'm looking at a whole other level of bike. Maybe a drz400 or dr650.

Thanks again for the replies. I messaged him and he is stuck in the mud on 4000. He "is in no hurry" and neither am I, so unless he comes down in price I will keep looking.
 
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Old 06-20-2015, 11:35 AM
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Personal opinion, the DRz is one heck of a bike. It does lack the 6th speed, but the engine will easily do the work to run highway speeds. Light compared to the DR650 and probably not far off the pace if at all. Some well established power gains can be had too. If the roads to be ridden are relatively twisty and any off roading might be in the mix the DRz400 is hard to beat - plus a decent look.

Now the DR650 will have great power and more comfort so I'm not counting it out. I ride a KLX650 and do enjoy it, but that light and agile for off road is why I have a 250 as well. Totally different animals. The 250 feels like a mountain bike under me, while the 650 just plain has the power when on the road.
 
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Old 06-20-2015, 02:40 PM
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hell, ill sell you my 2010 351 for $3500
 
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Old 06-20-2015, 07:58 PM
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hey subasaki, that would be great except I'm on the other side of the continent and 6 hours across the ocean :P

The fella sent a text around 9pm (probably after a few beers) and said he would take 3500.

I estimated approximately 800 dollars to get the bike in my possession and capable of doing some light trail or FSR. That takes me up to 4300.

Would you have paid 4300 for essentially a brand new KLX250sf already jetted and piped for 700 less than msrp for stock? KLX goes for 4999 up here. This is all in canadian dollars, so subtract a few hundred from the total for ballpark

The worst part of me wants a brand new drz400s.. but that would be just awful wouldn't it.. put 4000 down and pay off the rest :P
 
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Old 06-20-2015, 10:36 PM
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Have you ridden a DRZ? They have power for sure, but I found the weight is too high on the bike, for me and my weight at least, to effectively throw it around, like I can with the KLX.
 
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Old 06-21-2015, 11:53 AM
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I've ridden all three - a KLX650, a DRz400, and a KLX250.

Even if they all weighed the same the 250 would feel lighter because it will have the weight lower - the cylinder is shorter, putting the head, carb, air box, and all sorts of components lower. The 400 would feel heavier than the 250, but lighter than the 650, the 650 is cumbersome in comparison. Thus my comments that when I ride the 250 it feels like a mountain bike. The weight is closer to the axles than that on the 400 and 650, aka weight centralization, Honda mentions it all the time, and less weight. Added weight on the 400 and 650 amplify the situation since it is adding most up higher.

If I was 6' tall, had at least a 35" inseam, the DRz would be great. It takes some leg length to "lever" the bike around when off road. The 250 would even feel lighter!
 


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