What's your gearing combination and chain length?
#21
On the street, I can take off in third with the low gearing.
#22
I must be missing something. I've only had my 09 klx250s for about a month now, but right away I thought the previous owner geared it down since I felt 1st was almost useless and a shift to 2nd was immediately needed the second the clutch was out in first. I took off in second a few times my first real dirt ride. Upon closer inspection, 14-42 stock. I hated it on the little bit of road I have to do to hit trails. Yesterday I tried a 15 up front. At 65mph, it dropped the rpm's 1000 and on the trail, first felt a hair too tall, but at least it was usable instead of always needing second. But then I read on here people are dropping one on the front and adding 8 on the back. I feel like you'd be able to take off in third. I guess to each their own... I have a dj jet kit and klx mffler.
#24
Just depends on your riding. I creep up and down steep, narrow, twisting, rocky trails going around and between trees and cacti. 90% of my riding time is in first or second gear. Wouldn't mind even lower gearing.
#26
My dirt excursion was really tight trails. Imagine the trails in the video except not maintained so a bunch of ferns and face slappers all over. I'll admit that for the super tight-make your own trail that we have in the Pacific Northwest, the stock gearing was better as you could let the clutch out in first and not even have to worry about applying throttle. It just seems to me like folks are doing themselves a disservice by gearing so low. But the whole dual sport thing is about compromise, that is for sure.
#27
I got the 13/49 sprockets installed, I think its going to be good on the trails, I'll hopefully find out next week. What did you guys do with the lower chain guard with the larger rear sprocket? The stock one wont work anymore.
#28
With the 351 and the rest of the engine work i've done it will pull the stock 14/42 gearing but the problem I sometimes run into is that with that setup the rpm drop on upshifts when going up some of the terrain I encounter requires covering the clutch to make sure it would make it. I'm talking about slopes greater then 45 deg with some switchbacks thrown in for good measure.
I have ended up with a 14/45 combo(works out about the same as the 13/42) and it lets me grunt up hills with no problem and still lets me travel at 60mph when connecting trails over the road. If I stayed completely offroad I wouldn't hesitate to add 3 or 4 teeth on the rear. The other advantage of running steeper gearing offroad is that you have better control on downhill descents due to more engine braking.
I have ended up with a 14/45 combo(works out about the same as the 13/42) and it lets me grunt up hills with no problem and still lets me travel at 60mph when connecting trails over the road. If I stayed completely offroad I wouldn't hesitate to add 3 or 4 teeth on the rear. The other advantage of running steeper gearing offroad is that you have better control on downhill descents due to more engine braking.
#29
With the 13/47 gearing, I'm usually in 2nd or third on these trails, unless it's a really steep hill (the one at the start is pretty steep, but doesn't look as steep in the video.)
Last edited by rgmr250; 12-17-2014 at 02:22 AM.
#30
We put a 13/49 combination on my son's 2009 KLX250s and didn't have a problem with the stock chain guide/guard. I have a Moose racing (stronger than stock) lower chain guide on mine and had to dremel out a little slot (about 1/4" deep) in the upper plastic guide for the sprocket, otherwise the sprocket hit it.