Well guys, I am new to this forum and am looking for some advice. Let me give a little background before getting into the questions. I am currently sitting in a room in Iraq, waiting for my deployment to come to an end so I can get back and get riding again. When I get home I will be working about 10 miles from my house and have started thinking more and more about going with a dual sport instead of having a street bike I don't ride enough and a dirt bike that I wish I rode more. I am new to this type of market...I currently own a Yamaha dirt bike and I sold my GSXR before deploying, don't hate...the Ninja was my first bike. I have been doing a lot of research on dual sports and the Kawasaki seems like the right choice. With that being said, here are a few questions I have...

I am 5'10" and 190lbs, is a 250 going to be big enough for me?
What year do you guys think was the best for the 4 stroke KLX250S? I have been on Craigslist and am finding 2009's with less than 1000 miles for $3000! So if I am going to buy I should buy an 09...right? I have seen a lot of comments that some guys think the 07 is a better model. I am going to be using it as a daily commuter, and then will be hitting the trails on the weekend for pretty much 6 months out of the year. Let me know what you guys think. Thanks for helping me out! Can't wait to get home to hit the trails.

 

I would go for 06/07. Better off-road and still great on road. 10 miles is nothing for commute, I used to do 45 daily on it.

As for power, on-road you'll definitely want more.. Off-road, you can get by but you'll still want more

If I did it all over again I'd look for something just a little bigger.. Like a WR450 plated, or a KTM450 plated..

The 351 kit does it, but might as well just start with something bigger if that's what you want.

Good luck

 

THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY IS THE FIRST THING I WILL SAY !!!!
There are some differences between the 07 and the 09. I love my 09 with the mods I have done. I'm 6' and 170 lbs and the bike does just fine for me. Being a younger guy than me, you may want more power depending on what off-road you will be doing. I'm guessing if you will be commuting that the 250 will be enough and you won't be doing real tough off-road riding. Just guessing. That is the main question I would have. Where will you be based and what kind of off road riding will you be doing? From what you are describing I think you will be happy with the KLX. I am! Hope you are home soon!!!