Hey all. I'm very undecided on what to buy here. I've been wanting a street legal supermotard style of bike for quite some time and I'm torn between the suzuki DRZ-400SM and the kawasaki KLX250SM. I've been riding for 8 years, recently quit motocross and been wanting a street bike. Will the KLX250SM be capable of 60-65 MPH without turning out un-godly RPM's in 6th gear? I think the only bike shop in my area wants MSRP for a damn DRZ-400 SM and I aint willing to pay 6699 for one, so it seems like the kawi is it. So if anyone could answer that one question, you've basically sold me on my 3rd kawasaki.

 

In 6th gear, the Rpm's are always just slight lower than the speed times 100. ie; 6300 rpm's=65 MPH Indicated. I can run My stock KLX at 80 Mph indicated No Problem and the Rpm's are at 7700+/-. Hope that helps.

 

Thanks! Looks like I'll be getting the SM then. I might look at the KLX250S just to see because of the lower MSRP but I'm still unsure with the knobbies and street riding and such. Don't they go out quicker on the street versus street tires?

 

You can up the front sprocket one tooth and down the rear to around 39, that will lower the RPM's by a few hundred.

 

Yeah. I remember reading somewhere about going down 1 tooth on the countershaft.

 

One thing to remember is raising the gear ratio will cut the power considerably. Especially up hills in 6th. But yes it'll lower the Rpm's.

 

How do the little block knobbies do on the street on the KLX250S? Just incase I buy that instead... How long do they last? How is the control on the street?

 

They ain't no street tire that's for sure, but they do alright for a 50/50 tire. As for wear. I find they're on the soft side and seem to be wearing down quicker then I thought. But I've been using my bike almost every day sense I got it at the end of April. That's with using it as my daily driver on the streets and my bushwhacker on the trails.