I saw a 2009 in person last weekend at the cycle world international motorcycle show (www.motorcycleshows.com).I also saw/drooled overa wholelot of other bikes. Here's my $0.02 on the '09 (yes, Deej, I'm confused too):

I like the new headlight, tail light and turn signals. The spokes are thicker, which I can't see being a bad thing. The kawasaki rep that I talked to also mentioned the different suspension and the "upgraded" transmission and brakes. The tires are a little more "pavement friendly". All in all, a cool looking bike withno big changes from the 2006-2007. The one thing that I didn't like is the loss of the rear rack, which was a selling point for me on the 06-07. I also prefer the squishy seat of the 06-07.

Really, it's up to you, but I'd saytry to get a deal on an '07 if you can. Nothing against the '09 though...if the "upgrades" are worth thewait, or you want a red one...

 

Im breaking in by bike &it hauls my 250# frame arround good for being stock. I haven't had my bike on the highway yet but I have had it to 60mph & it felt stable.

I don't know how the changes in the braking & geometry will be. The only thing that I don't like is the suspension travel change, the rear swingarm design& loss of rack. The rear fender& digital dash I dont care for, I like analog. It is yet to be determined if these changes will be a benifit or not. To those who like them, great, to those that don't, the 07 is the ticket.

All I can truthfully say is there are many bikes available, but I love mine!

 

So what does the 6th gear change mean? Which bike will have lower rpm's at 50-60mph? There is an 07 sitting at my local dealer. I thought the 09 was suposed to be better at higher speeds (more road worthy)?

 

They moved 6th closer to 5th. So RPM will be higher in 6th.

 

Q: How is this feet accomplished without altering a gear ratio?

A: It isn't; 6th gear is lower on the 09 model (ie: no longer the .90 ratio as on the 06/07 models)


The marketers at Kawasaki made the ambiguous statement “Closer ratios between 5th and 6th gear” simply because it sounds better then “We lowered the top gear ratio because the bike was a dog in 6th gear”.

It appears to me that Kawasaki has made the 09 KLX more road worthy, probably after discovering that this bike is being used as many individuals mode of transportation and not just the weekend trail machine.
Most of the changes for 09 are aimed at improving the bikes high speed stability and road manners.
The lower 6th gear ratio is pretty much to address the bikes sluggishness in top gear which is used primarily on the pavement.
The new tires are less aggressive then the D603's.

The suspension is lowered, has less travel, is stiffer and the steering rake angle is increased, none of these features are typically found on any MXer's wish list.

 

if you read the specs on the new model instead of making kawasaki brochures yourself, you'll see that the ratios between 5th and 6th have been brought closer together. Nowhere does it say that 6th gear has been lowered. Also, I don't know about you but a one degree increase in rake is a good thing to MX since it raises the forks and makes the front end respond quicker, no more "chopper" look like the current KLX has with the forks. The suspension has been firmed up which the old bike severely needed as it is as soft as a 20-year old couch. Beefed up wheels/spokes is also a good thing to a MX'er. Yes a slight loss in travel is something to be concerned about, but as tremor pointed out it may not be as big a deal as some of us think. If the suspension has been revalved it may make up for the 1.5" lost or whatever. Either way, I'm not thinking that many of you guys actually jump the bike hard enough to bottom it out and if you do, you're probably too big for the oem suspenders anyways. Also, the new swingarm is a good thing as well- it's more rigid and easier to adjust plus it's not 15 years old in design. I'm still undecided on whether to get a new red one of these as well, but it's not as bad as you make it sound. If anything, it's better suited for off-road now with all of it's new weaponry, the only thing against it is the loss of travel which may or may not affect you depending if you use this type of bike to take MX triples. Everything else is a definite positive. Just adding thicker spokes is pretty cool to think about in my book. I didn't even mention it's better brakes, no more worry about that stupid front brake line hanging down in the rough ready to be snapped off.

 

READ YOUR OWN ADVICE![sm=owned.gif]

Updated Six-speed Transmission
- Allows engine’s full potential to be used
- Provides excellent acceleration as well as relaxed highway cruising
- Gear ratios amended to set 6th gear closer to 5th for improved performance
- Revised shift cam offers better feeling and allows gears to click into place with more precision

 

NOTHING is easier to adjust than snail adjusters (eccentric does not count)

They need to rake out the suspension after lowering it--duh.

Now its better off road & its not even out yet.

 

???It still does not say that 6th gear has been lowered, just that others have been "amended"- maybe they've raised 5th or changed the whole gearbox. Compare the current model rake to the new one, the new one is still sharper. I did not say it's better off-road, just that with it's improvements it sure would make sense to say it may be. Thicker spokes means more rigid wheels, common sense tells you that that makes it stronger for off-road obstacles. A more rigid swingarm says the same thing. If snails are so good, why doesn't the new KX's have them? Before you say you "owned" someone, you should really have the money to buy it, and you are broke so far KLX'er.[sm=icon_stickpoke.gif]

 

IG - is right...
I think we all assume that they lowered 6th gear (probably did), but the statement above is not synonymous with that fact.
They could have brought the ratios closer by making 5th gear taller - but I doubt it.