so i've driven my 07 klx a lot this year. im just about to hit 5000km and i've heard from people that its not long after that when things could start going wrong with the bike. so just curious what problems you fellow klxer's have came across just from wear and tear. and is there anything i should be keeping an eye on? i know to check for sure is oil, gas, coolant, and tires, and chain lube too. thanx for your input.

 

Oil changes you should be doing them roughly every 1000 miles not the several thousand that the manual recommends. Keep an eye on your sprocket teeth. They will start to get sharp points or look like a hook when they get really worn which you should have several thousand KM before that's an issue but keep an eye out. The coolant is easy to check, just look at the overflow bottle when the bike is cold. I think its recommended to change it out every 2 years. By now you should have pulled the swingarm and triangle linkage off and greased the bearings as they come pretty dry from the factory. I've had no maintenance related problems, or problems period. Keep an eye on your valve clearances as well. By 5000 KM you should have checked them at least twice. If you don't have it already I recommend the service manual, an in-lb toque wrench, and a ft-lb torque wrench. There are alot of bolts on the KLX which I would have thought took a great deal of torque, when in reality they require very little according to the manual.

I've got 7000 miles (11,265KM) on my 06 and aside from2 front tires and 3 rear tires I've had nothing wear out yet.

 

[sm=icon_quiet.gif]

 

Dang, and I just started on my 2nd set of tires @ 2,000miles. Which now have 1,200 miles on them.

 

I've got 6,200km (3,850 miles) on my bike and other then tires I have not had to replace anything or had a lick of trouble.

Change the oil regularly and check for loose fasteners and you should be good to go.


My owner’s manual recommends the first valve adjustment at 7,500 miles (over 12,000km's).
I checked my valve clearance at 2,500 miles and all four valves were dead on.
I asked my buddy that owns the local Kawasaki dealership about the KLX250's and he told me (after speaking to his service manager) that they had a dozen or so of the bikes in this past season for valve checks and only a had to re-shim a couple exhaust valves on one bike, the rest all were all to spec.

These are pretty lazy little 250cc motors that require little in the way of maintenance compared to their high performance cousins.

 

Good timing on this thread. I just checked my valve clearances, and I needto shim. I'm at just over 4.3K miles.

Anyone recommend a good shim kit for our bike.

As far as general maintenance. goes all I've done is change the oil and tires, and add some coolant. Bike seems bullet proof so far. Knock on wood.

 

If you don't mind me asking which valves were out and how far?

 

All were close or beyond lower limits. Front left exhaust was tight with the minimium clearance feeler. Rear right intake, I could not get my smallest feeler in, just below the specified clearance.

When re-shimming I assume one should set the clearance toward the upper end of the clearance range.

Any cam kits besides hot cams and where to buy for best price.

 

i got a hot cams shim kit, they are typically 80$.... I havent had a for sure answer, as the valvetrain wears will the clearances get tighter or looser? i have checked mine a few times but its been apart more than i like to think about..... and the new top end.... and all valves.... [>:]

 

Thanks.

I have always shimmed valves on the loose (upper) side since they always wear tighter.

HotCams makes a decent shim kit for the KLX, 7.48mm kit.