would a piece of heat reflective tape work if placed on the rear of the blinker?

 

No, it won't. As you can see, I tried to put some aluminum tape over the part that got melted off, but it didn't last. As of now, I'm still using the melted blinker.



Another issue I have with the FMF is that the opening on the spark arrestor insert is WAY too big for a 250. I found it to be VERY loud. I replaced it with the insert that came stock on my KTM 450xcr-w. What you see above, is the the FMF pipe on the 250 with the insert from the pipe on my 450 installed. The stock insert opening is 1.30" and the one from my KTM is 1.05" diameter.

Here they are side by side. The stock insert for the 250 is on the left. Way too big.


If you call FMF, they will tell you that they don't have any smaller tips. That's BS. If you want to buy one, you have to ask for the insert that comes in the FMF silencer part number SXS89450512. You'll need to do a little trimming though.

This is the side view, too long. In addition to the smaller port size, this part comes with an extra baffle plate.



Using tin snips, I cut the screen about 1/4" past the baffle plate and bent it inwards.


The result is a quieter pipe without being restrictive. I have a decibel meter that I may use to measure the actual difference sometime soon.

Another complaint that I had with FMF is that the forward mounting bolt hole doesn't line up. It's at least 1/4" off on mine and there's no way to get the bolt in. It's secure with the pipe clamp and the one bolt though. I don't ride it off road so I think it'll be ok. If I could just go back in time, I'd just modify the stock pipe to have a larger diameter tip.

 

The stock blinker on mine turned brown-black and the outer housing (black plastic) melted a tiny bit on the bottom. But, it still works fine and doesn't show nearly the damage that some on here have shown. You can hardly even notice it. FWIW.

 

use the EDGE plate bracket and there are no issues with the signals at all. Much cleaner look too!!!

 

have a 09 klx250sf...with a fmf q4 max 96 db...2,000 miles....mostly long rides...blinker is fine...no signs of melting or darkening...looking from behind..the circle exit tip sits about 1 inch below the blinker on mine...sounds like quality control issues with the fmf q4...

 

I went out and looked at my 09 KLX. My stock blinkers did fine till the left one lost a fight with a fir tree. I went with LEDs out back.

Looking at akarobs and mine I see that mine seems to be at a different angle. Kinda makes me wonder if some adjusting the head pipe might line things up raising the front and lowering the back of the muffler?

I can post different views tomorrow if any one wants. These are great little bikes and I hate to see any one have trouble.

 

Just wondering if there's a chance some people with 2009's ended up with cans for pre-2009's? Not sure how different they would be - maybe enough to cause minor fitment issues? That's one thing I've been leery about when looking at exhausts online & on Ebay.

 

I agree. I have the same exhaust and the opening doesn't look anywhere aiming at the signals like some of these pics. And I don't think it is an install issue, the exhaust fit on super tight even before I put the bolts back in. It looks like the proper year exhaust for the 09 aims downward and away from the turn signals. I took my spark arrester off so the opening is bigger and it still doesn't point at the signals.

 

Another second thought is if maybe some ended up with a Powercore rather than a Q4, especially since there seems to be a wide range of opinion on how loud some sound.

 

Yea, I need to check the part number engraved into the silencer and look it up. It's certainly possible they mixed it up.