Going to work is very hilly, depending on the route I go, the hilly route is also twisty and I prefer it, the last mile is a dirt road about 1 mile long and climbs about 300 feet in elevation.
When I go to night school, there are a two big hills, each about a mile long. the rest is flat. Change in elevation is about 600 feet overall

 

If you get a slip-on you'll probably have to do some jetting.

Get yourself a 13 for the front. You have the 6 speed tranny that, unlike the '09s & up, has a real 6th; the 6th in the 09s + is more like 5.5.

Having the 13 will help with the hills. Just ride it for a while, then decide IF any more changes are needed.

I'm a fan of K.I.S.S.

Have fun, keep the rubber side down

 

No, you should not.

I commute daily on my bike weather permitting. 105 miles or about two hours round trip minimum, more if I take anything but the most direct route. Almost all of those miles are on 55 mph speed limit roads. I just checked my odometer a couple weeks ago, and I'm at 11,000+ miles. Basically 10,000 miles of that were on the stock gearing. Oh yeah, I have an '09 with the stupid low sixth gear.

Given the above, the cruise RPM my bike has seen over most its life has been between 6000 and 8000 RPM for hours at a time, and I have had no engine related problems. I checked the valves at 7407 miles, and one of them was slightly under spec, the others were in range.

 

I have my speedo calibrated with that $80 chip thing tapped into my wiring
at 65 my tach was at 7800

I installed a 15t and now at 65 im 7000

but because its calibrated I honestly dont think I could get it over 75mph and that would have to be flat ground

 

No. You are reducing your final drive reduction (torque). To compenstate for this, you would need a substantial increase in power and rejetting & a slip-on would not achieve this.

I installed a 15T c/s sprocket on my '09 as I do a lot of commuting. Stationary take off requires extra throttle to get moving & it doesn't like crawling around in first gear @ idle. No difference to fuel economy and I'm thinking of going back to the stock 14T gear.

 

Thanks everyone, this helps a lot. It's nice to know I am not hurting the motor with the range I ride in. I have acually been considering a Versys this spring, but I think I am going to hold off for another year or so. I really like the KLX just wish it had a little more power, plus at 39 I am just getting into riding and the KLX is my first bike. I think I will change the front sprocket first like ol'klx-er wrote and see if that does it for me. Then do other things if needed. I like the idea of keeping the bike as stock as possible but I want to enjoy it more too. I read here that people have drilled 1/2" holes through their baffles..curious what type of jetting and needle changes would be needed for that. Seems like a cheap way to boost power if needed..BTW how hard is it to replace the front sprocket? Is it counter-clockwise to loosen?What size socket do I use? My manual has an enrty were a PO supposedly replaced the sprockets, not sure why but it was done at 900 miles.

 

Dont waste your time drilling the exhaust baffle, it does nothing and isn't a baffle at all, its the spark arrester.

 

As above ^ don't drill the baffle. Lots of riders did that early on. Very few do it now. Slip on and rejet for a couple extra ponies.

The CS nut is normal thread. CCW to remove. If the sprockets were changed, you should count teeth and see what they are. Stock is 14/42 on the S model.

Don't worry about riding at those rpms. It's not hurting the 250.

see Gearing Commander: Motorcycle Speed, RPM, Chain & Sprockets Calculator

 

full exhaust, rejet..."problem" solved

 

The Versys would be a nice streetbike with a bit of back roads tossed in, but the KLX is definitely better on dirt and actual off road. If you're in the kind of area where there are lots of dirt/gravel back roads to play around on you will find the 250 to be every bit as good as anything out there and better in woods riding. If the 250 had been around when I got my bike I'd probably have had one, but that was in 97.

You could keep riding the 250, then maybe pick up a regular streetbike for the commute, keeping the 250 for the fun. That was what I did, having a KLX650 and buying a 550 Zephyr for the road. I actually do ride both about equal amounts... but the KLX is more fun.