Maintenance intervals for dirt riding
 

Last year I bought an ‘09 KLX250S for those situations where I have to ride a bit of pavement between trails, such as Black Bear through Telluride to Ophir.

I have not kept detailed notes but would estimate this bike has been 95% dirt by hours ridden.

My average speed is 9.4 MPH = 1800 miles in 191 hrs, 53 rides, 11 months. Which makes maintenance intervals interesting. According to the manual:

Change oil and filter: 6000 km or 3700 miles
Air cleaner: 12000 km or 7400 miles

So how to get hours from miles?

3700 mi @ 30 mph = 123 hrs
3700 mi @ 40 mph = 92.5 hrs

I have decided to change oil and filter every 100 hours. Given the amount of dust, I will also clean the UNI air filter at this interval.

Is there an hour meter on the KLX250S?

nope.....

Could easily add one for $12



but I just keep a tally from GPS tracks.

If you ask 20 people, you’ll get 21 opinions, but here’s my two cents: My rides average 20-60 miles each day. I try to clean the air filter after every ride, but probably average every other ride. I try to change my oil every other ride, but end up changing it every 3-4 rides. I change the oil filter every other oil change. I have yet to change the spark plug or check the valves, but I don’t even have a year of riding on it yet. The plan is to do both this winter, and probably once/year thereafter. HTH

interesting..................change oil and filter once a year and be done. just my opinion.

Well I change the oil/filter every 2 years whether they need it or not. Oil air cleaner about once a year unless it is a very dry dusty year, I don't follow in dust unless we are on it. If it is dusty clean it.

Changing the oil after 50 miles is ridiculous. It isn't a fuel dragster.

I confess, my regimen might be overkill, but my ride barely ever sees pavement. The maintenance I perform is on par with the enduro and hare scramble racers I am friends with. As hard as the bike is driven, it needs to be cared for just as hard. I can't hurt it by changing the oil too much, but not enough and I'm left with something I can't ride any more. Just my humble opinion.

Although, in my opinion, your maintenance schedule seems a little overkill, I certainly agree that the only harm to changing the oil so often is a little lighter wallet. I use Shell Rotella, which is fairly cheap where I live, and figure I'll change the oil more often. I change the oil about every 1,000KM (sometimes sooner), and the filter every 2nd oil change. I've been told that my maintenance schedule is a little overkill, but I have the same thought process as you - changing more often isn't going to hurt anything, just costs a little more, so why not.

I figure if I go for an extra ride between oil changes, I'm not going to ruin anything. If I wait until a mile marker, I might forget, and then I'm in trouble.