Hey. I just bought a 2013 KLX 250s. I live in central Ontario Canada. I really did my homework on this bike and honestly I`m not disappointed at all. It`s exactly what I was hoping it would be.
It`s my first road bike. I rode an RM 125 for a few years, but wanted the best of both worlds...anyways...

I`ve only had it a week and I have a couple of questions. First, I feel a slight 'balancing' issue between 60 and 70 kms/hr. Is this normal for dual purpose tires? Nothing scary. It`s just noticable. All looks good with the tire.
Secondly, the motor has a funny noise almost like slight knock or rattle after 6k rpm. I know it`s hard to discern on an internet forum and obviously I can`t get a recording of it... I`ll nead to the dealer anyways and have them listen. I was just wondering if there were others with this sound.

Looks like a great forum with LOTS of help available!

Ian

 

Welcome to the forum.
DS tires can be that way, at least in my experience. They are not always balanced well.
That tick around 6K could be the automatic cam chain tensioner. I wouldn't expect an issue with a new bike, but that stock auto tensioner isn't the best engineered piece. Many of us replace with Krieger's manual tensioner. Do NOT let the dealer force an adjustment of the auto unit as you could then have an overly tight cam chain.

Edit: When the "tick" at 6K rpm starts to rattle like rocks in a tin coffee can....check on that adjuster.

 

Hey Ian, welcome to the forums, the wobble at higher speeds it quite normal, and as far as the noise after 6 grand, that too is probably normal. We all experienced different noises at times that come and go. Just make sure to change the oil soon, and by soon we mean like before you hit 300 miles. There will be some metal color in the oil and that's also normal on a new bike, but you want to change oil pretty often at first. I did mine at 100, then 500 then 1000 and from then on out it has been around the 3000 mark.

 

My stock tires didn't wobble even at 90 MPH. It's just the luck of the draw, I guess...

As for the 6k rattle - Put a Kreiger manual chain tensioner on it.

 

As for the tires they're 95 dirt/5 street so they will ride differently on the blacktop. I do mainly street riding so I put on 70 street/30 dirt and they handle much better. So if you're going to be doing a fair amount of street riding you might want to consider switching out your tires.

Also, try and keep the RPMs down for the first 200-300 miles. Then change the oil and filter. After that you can open that baby up! Enjoy and welcome to the forum. You'll find a wealth of information here.

 

I would not say the stock D605's are 95/5 at best I would say 50/50. If I ride a lot of street I would keep the D605's but I dont so I switched to AC-10's

 

Welcome to the fold Ian.
The RM 125 is on my list for possible 2T to race.

cmott426 - how do you like the AC-10s? They look pretty good, tread wise and $$$ wise @ $150 a set.

 

They work Great! I would recomend them to any one that rides 75% or more in the dirt.

 

I appreciate all the replies! I'm happy for now with the tires...trails aren't open here yet in Ontario but should be shortly. I'll get a better idea of how they handle then.
As for the sound...ya I'm assuming it`s a Kawi sound but will keep my ears open. I'm used to a 2 stroke (louder)and it`s easier to hear the engine on the KLX. At least stock it is! The Kawi seems geared more for street than dirt. At least it doesn`t have that low down torque. No complaints at all, but yes...as soon as I can I'll look into that tensioner alot of you have installed.
Lastly, yes...I will change that oil sooner than the book says to. It's the cheapest way to ensure a long healthy ride!

Ian

 

Don't expect much performance out of the stock tires. My first ride I almost dumped it. Literally in the first 5 feet off the pavement, there was a little bit of mud and the front washed out. After that I got stuck on a flat ground in about 2 inches of mud. The back tire just spun. Now that I think about it, I will take back my statement about 50/50 and say more like 20/80 on the street side.

Whoo Hoo! My 426th post on 4-26! No I did not plan that............just so you know my screen name is partly because I use to ride a WR426F.