Hi group. I am now the owner of a 2009 KLX 250S! I've had my eye on these bikes for years and finally made the big purchase. I am using this bike mostly off-road. There are many great trails within minutes of my house, including the Wayne National Forest.
I have been riding for about 15 years and I also own a 1995 Vulcan. I forgot how much fun and work it is to ride the trails.
This bike is tons of fun, although a little under-powered for me(6'0" 210lbs). I knew that going in though. I also don't care for the stock tires as they don't have the bite I am looking for. In the future I am planning a lot of mods, but I'll wait until the warranty is out before I get into the engine, just in case. I have already purchased new LED turn signals and rear taillight from Baja Designs. The next thing I will get will probably be some good hand guards.

 

Congrats on the new bike/!!! Sounds like you did your homework and knew the few shortcomings the KLX has. Handguards are a great idea, mine have paid for themselves a few times over.
Dan

 

I couldn't agree more! Well, proper Bark Busters with the aluminium bar that bolts in the end rather than just plain hand guards anyway. They saved my hands and levers several times this weekend alone.

A good quality bash plate is also a must IMO - again, mine saved my engine from nasty rocks several times just this last weekend alone.

 

Welcome.

 

For tires, I`m currently running a Kenda 760 trackmaster II on the rear, and a Pirelli Scorpion Pro FIM on the front. Both are DOT legal knobbies and seem to be working well for me offroad so far. I would also recommend you switch to a 13 tooth countershaft sprocket if your doing mainly offroad as you stated. Provides a bit more punch in low end. Search the forum as there is plenty on this. Depending on the elevation you`re at, you may also want to remove the snorkel from your airbox to make the bike breath better. I`m in Eastern British Columbia and did this without the need to rejet.
May be different at lower elevations.

Cheers and enjoy the bike.

 

Welcome OLAldridge to the forums. Don't worry about the warranty, the mods you do have no affect...effect on the warranty. So you are 6.0 and 210 lbs? Light weight...LOL Trust me jetting and a good pipe along with a slight change on the sprockets will simply amaze you man. Good luck and post up some ride pictures sometime.

 

+1 on solid hand guards and bash plate!

 

Thanks all.
I am for sure getting bark busters. I think I read here that you have to drill and tap the ends to mount them? Is it easier to just get new bars? Bars are relatively cheap.
I think the skid plate is a good idea as well. I turned wrenches for a number of years and know all too well the fragility of aluminum engines. I was looking at the bike the other day and noticed how vulnerable it was under there.

In the future, I'm planning at least tires, exhaust, jetting, and an intake mod of some sort.

I was thinking I would need a new gear but I'll see what it feels like after the above mods.

 

forget the stock bars,, when you order the bark busters get the klx high bend bar.
i tipped over in the sand and bent the stock bars and all the work getting the hand guards on was for nothing. Plus, you are a tall dude and soon enough will want a taller bar.
Go the extra $40 and replace them with a stronger bar from the get go.

 

Funny that you say that, coz this last weekend I had quite a big and nasty get-off, but ther bars were only slightly bent. They proved to be a lot stronger than I originally thought. That being said, I think the bark busters stopped the end of the bar from diggning into the dirt too much, and save the bars from bearing the full weight of the bike pivoting over on the bar.

I am thinking of going for a new set of high-bend bars anyway, mainly coz of my size. I need to do some research on options and what it involved in changing them.