DUDE! I laughed so hard I almost coughed up a lung on that one. Hahahahahahahaha AWESOME!

 

Your call on the majority of Japanese dual sports is dead right. With the exception of perhaps the KLX250, WR250R, and DR400, most of those other so-called DS bikes are downright pathetic. If we were comparing these bikes to cars, it would be like still trying to market a 1975 Buick LeSabre against a late model Cadillac CTS. The Japanese know how to design and build up-to-date and very competent motorcycles of every kind. They just don't generally believe there's a market for a high quality DS bike. It's a shame, really.

 

Your automotive analogy is precisely what I was thinking when I typed that.

If you want to laugh, look at the CRF 230, and compare it to an 80's XR200.

Same bike, same market, but the 30 yr old XR is a FAR better bike than the CRF, so they're selling less bike for more money.
That's Japanese progress

 

I'm not unhappy with my purchase. There have been a few moments while fitting a TM33 carb where I let loose a few 4 letter words. And the first time I changed my oil and the oil filter spring wouldn't stay where it's supposed to, even though they've been making KLRs without that problem for the last 20 years. Those are my only 2 times I've been really pissed at Kawasaki. I think all of us are the same way. We understand the shortcomings and we deal with them. They are an awesome bike. The point I'm trying to get across is Kawasaki screwed up with that kind of stuff because regular people who buy these things have the typical problems and probably very few of them come to internet forums to learn how to deal with it. Instead they do a few laps to the dealer. Then after the wallet stops bleeding they sell it and get a DRZ or whatever. Then they go tell all their friends "Don't buy one of those pieces of poop."

You know how many guys have a negative attitude towards my new KLX? About 90%. I have to make a sales pitch of "No. really. it's not a piece of crap. Once you take the EPA crap off and put a pipe and a decent carb on there, it's a pretty decent little bike." It takes some convincing. Most people out there already have their minds made up to stay away from it.

Sorry, I don't mean to point out that Elvis is a false prophet and the Easter Bunny is a superstition so you guys don't get all Jihad on me. Like most Engineers, the engineers at Kawasaki need their regular scheduled beatings. Keeps them on their toes.

 

So really, it's the fact that they have to be compliant in California that causes the problems...From what I've heard, once the bike doen't meet CA specs, it rocks.

 

Feral, are you insinuating that the Easter Bunny isn't real?...you a-hole.

zomby, it makes no sense that they had the XR250L, dropped it, and have a 230L to replace it. Though the 250L's tech is 80's vintage, the 230L is absolutely prehistoric. I swear they've found fossil records of this engine going back to the Triassic period.

 

My older sister had a honda CB125 in the 70s. I was a little fella then and thought it was a cool bike. I liked the seating position and the way it was laid out. When I went looking for a smaller bike to run errands with. I went to honda first. Then I went to kawl suz dealer. What a difference. Water cooled, digital dash, inverted forks. NICE BIG brakes. Adjustable front and rear suspension. Close to the same money. It was a no brainer. I returned to the honda dealer for a windshield. Even the salesman admitted I had a better bike for the money.

I don't think there is much call for these bikes compared to sport bikes, so maybe that is part of it. I sure like mine.

David
Over and out.

 

I have no regrets about my KLX. I moved to a county with 1700+ miles of legal forest system roads and a history of street riding only. The KLX was my first experience of "go anywhere" highway/county road/dirt road/trail riding and it has been an adventure. The KLX is easy to work on, low maintainance, and dead reliable.

 

I'm liking my '09 after putting 400 miles on it. It feels very small and nimble after the KLR. If you want a hauls ***** machine off the floor buy a KTM. You'll spend more on service and oil changes. You get what you pay for. Most bikes these days are great the way you buy them. This one takes me back to the early Honda days, trail 110's and my first one a 160 scrambler. I had a lot of fun then and am having fun with the KLX now, not to serious, just fun!!

 

Sarcasm never comes across the internet very well it seems.