To start, it has been years, literally around a decade since I have been on here. DeeJ was the man then, not even sure he is still around. If you are, I hope you are well. This may be a bit rambling (my apologies), but I have put some thought into this.

I have been wanting to get into dirt bike riding since I was around 8 years old, could never afford one. Fast forward today, and I will hopefully be getting one now that I am in my 30s. Have been gone from the kawasaki forums for the past decade in school, follow on training, family, etc. Anyway. my intent is to get in DS type riding. I appreciate what an unsung, bang-for-the buck hero the klx is. However, it has some stiff competition in the WR and DRZ (why in the world anyone would choose the bloated crf250l over it is beyond me), which typically outshine it in popularity from what I have seen.

The pros of the WR: Lightweight (low center of gravity), reliability, modern suspension, six gears.
The cons of the WR: low torque!, cost for a 250, the rear shock tends to be pogo-ish from the factory.

Pros of the DRZ: Aftermarket support, Torque!, reliability.
Cons of the DRZ: Heavy (top heavy, specifically), five speed transmission, older suspension (meh, moot point for my type of riding).

In comes the KLX. For a good while I didn't consider it. However, I think it could be a good answer to the short falls of the WR and the DRZ. It is lighter (lower center of gravity) than the DRZ with a more modern suspension and a sixth gear. As per the power of the WR over the klx, the WR needs to rev to get its ponies. Here's where it gets interesting. Longer stroke = more torque. The bore and stoke of the WR is 77 x 53.5 mm. The bore and stoke of the KLX is 72 x 61 mm (same stroke as the DRZ). Longer stroke goes to the KLX. In addition, it seems the klx has an ace up its sleeve with the vaunted Bill Blue 351 kit.

It seems this would slide the KLX into that sweet spot of lower center of gravity, modern suspension, sixth gear (meeting the short falls of the DRZ ) in addition to creating plenty of torque for trail riding (meeting the short fall of the WR). All a fantastic price to us budget minded individuals (they are going brand new for $4700 near me so with mods would be torquier than the WR and around the same overall price).

Any input on this from those of you who are veterans of this bike? I'm not looking for a monster machine (aka orange), but do want to make sure the bike will perform well in my home state's terrain (WV, so lots of long, steep rocky hills).

 

The KLX is indeed a winner in my book. It's worked great for my kind of riding. The bike being a bit shorter than the others is a nice bonus.
The 5 gears vs 6 is probably a push. The rpm at 60 is probably similar.
Don't discount the DRZ suspension. Being not "upside down", does not make it inferior. It's adjustable for compression & rebound front and back. The KLX is not.
Each bike has some advantages.
That all said, Your heart, your head & your wallet will figure it out for you.

 

Thanks for the response. It is nicely shorter than the WR, but has similar ground clearance if I'm not mistaken. Either way, my 34" inseam isn't too worried

I have seen many complain about the close ratio transmission on the DRZ. My dad has an xr650. It has a similar problem. Geared well for the trail (tight Appalachian trails) and it's buzzing at 55 mph. Comfortable RPMs at 55-60 mph and first is too tall for the trail. I agree with your assessment of the suspension. I think that is way overblown for most people. Just a "con" I have seen many list, and for sure moot for my type of riding.

Thanks for informing about the klx suspension. Fortunately I'm not an extreme of weight, so I doubt getting it set properly would be too big a deal. Whatever bike I get (really leaning towards the klx), I'm just excited to get on two wheels and explore.

 

My thoughts for what it's worth.
WR, awesome bike, likes high rev riding style. Feels racier.
DRZ, heavier and more powerful overall, outdated suspension that works good. Great all rounder. You notice the weight over a 250. You will be looking for 6th every time you ride.
KLX, least powerful, prefers a lower rpm from my experience and suspension is soft. 6 speed. Steeper rake which makes it nicely manoeuvrable. Somehow the KLX is just super fun if being the fastest isn't your thing.
If you can test ride all of them you will make a more informed decision but that is my take.
🙂

 

Last December on my annual 2-3 week stay in the Big Bend, TX area, I met up with some of my usual friends for dirt bike riding. One of the first KLX250S users I got to know is always there as he and his wife winter there from Illinois in their camper. He had the first year U.S. model, an '06, like I would buy later. Last December he had sold the KLX and bought a WR250R, a 2012, I believe, with only 5K miles on it...very well cared for.

I was familiar with this bike because I camped and rode with the previous TX owner in BB, and it was the first WR I had ridden. It was a well modded bike with an FI controller, modded airbox flap(?), aftermarket pipe, etc. I rode it around camp one afternoon back then and was impressed with its top end speed/power but not its low end torque. To be fair it's a little apples-to-oranges since my '06 has a factory KLX300 cylinder(292cc), full Muzzy exhaust, and a 36mm Mikuni pumper carb.

Last December my buddy wanted to do some speed/acceleration tests between the two bikes for grins. Both bikes are geared at the sprockets identically, 14/50. On a couple of drag race starts from stopped, my KLX pulled him several bike lengths and then planed off equally at speed. It was the same on a roll-on from first gear. As we got to 60-70 mph in both cases, the WR seemed to creep up on me very slowly. If we had screamed both bikes to the max at top speed, I'm sure the WR would have caught and passed me at revs I didn't want to subject my bike to. Top end is where the WR shines.

This is somewhat anecdotal because neither bike is stock, but it points out what I felt when I rode the Yamaha before on dirt. It has plenty of adequate power to ride a trail at low speeds in rough terrain, but it is no torque monster. You really need to have the revs up to keep it in its sweet spot. In the motard version the WR is a screamer and will often hit 95-100 mph depending on gearing. The KLX is more tractable in sketchy terrain and a modded one like mine is extremely torquey.

These days with the FI I have no idea how the KLX responds, as I haven't ridden one. I would imagine better than the sluggish OEM carb model. I didn't buy a KLX to be a pavement screamer. I use it almost exclusively as a street legal dirt bike in my area and on trips out west. I raced my state's enduro circuit for decades and had more competition level bikes for that effort. Still, the KLX will take me just about anywhere, and I'm not concerned with any lack of power as it has more than enough for serious trail riding. Take this info for what it's worth.

 

I really wanted a DRZ. Loved the WR250 but just too expensive. Honda was out of the question.This is used two summers ago ,I came really close to a drz for 4,200 or so with 20,000 miles on it . Then I found the same day on craigslist a KLX '09 for $2,000 with 1,000 miles on it. Could not pass up that deal. I like the idea of it being light ,reliable with good suspension and most importantly a sixth gear. Just needed something to get me up to the mountain for summer camping that was more modern than my 1980 XT250. I've been very happy with my purchase . Been running it stock and about to rejet and put on my Muzzy full exhaust which will, I'm sure make it a feel like a new bike. Called Bill Blue about a 351 kit but there's a hold right now.

Mods I've done... Banchee aluminum shifter for my size 13" feet, Protaper handlebars "a must" .Bashguard , racks and most Importantly ... Custom seat from Mr. eds moto with a 2" raise ,widened and flattened. This new seat made the most significant difference on the bike as the stock seat sucks. Me being 6'0" the 2" raise really saves my knees on longer rides.

 

Thanks for the input, everyone. I'm not looking for a top end screamer. I'm looking for some low end torque in a bike that will live most of its life off road on the trails. From what you all have said, the KLX seems the best fit to that end. Especially given the ability to upgrade it to the 351 BB. I'm getting pumped!!

 

I've owned my '12 since 2013 and did the usual bolt-on mods and it made the bike very trail useable.
The best change I feel you can make to the bike is adding displacement-either a 300 or 351 kit will really wake up the engine. Torque is what allows this bike to navigate some pretty gnarly conditions.
Some basic suspension tuning will complete the package.
It may not be the latest tech out there, but it gets the job done.