I'm planning to get a D-Tracker (KLX250SF) here in Thailand since I can't get a street legal WR250X or DRZ400SM without getting totally ripped off.
Seriously a used DRZ is $9000 here, ridiculous import and registration taxes.
The D-Trackers are made in Thailand so they're less $ than in the States.

I like the idea of alloy wheels (no need for innertubes) but I'm not into buying $1800 Marchesinis for a $4500 bike.
I'd also favor the cush drive in the Ninja's rear wheel.
So after researching the schematics at bikebandit.com, it seems the current D-Tracker (KLX250SF) and Ninja 250R share identical axles for both the front and rear.

I've read the Ninja has 3.0" front & 3.5" rear rim widths.
I'm guessing the KLX250SF has a 3.?" & 4.0" rims?
Still, both bikes use the same size tires 110/70-17 & 130/70-17 (from pictures I'm guessing the exact same tires).
With narrower alloy rims and no innertubes, I'd guess you'd shed some weight over the spoked setup and make flat tires a simple plug fix.

An immediate problem is the KLX250SF has bigger brake rotors (300/240mm vs. Ninja's 290/220mm) and the front rotor is on the opposite side.
Flipping the front wheel and getting new rotors of the proper diameter will correct the side/size problem, but the offset of the rotors and sprocket from the wheel's centerline are my big concern.
If these are way off, the chain will fall off and the brakes won't fit.

Some questions from owners of either bikes.
1. How heavy are your front and rear wheels with the tires mounted?
If you can weigh your wheelsets minus the axles, spacers, and axle nuts; then we can see what weight advantages either setup has.

2. Centerline offsets. I've made this diagram to measure your wheels.


http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/x...ata73/rims.jpg

If measurements A and B match, then these wheelsets should be interchangeable between bikes give or take an axle spacer.
If B is not identical: rotor, caliper, and/or sprocket adapters may be needed, but they wouldn't be too expensive to make.
That is why I also need measurements C and D.

So if you think this is worth pursuing, please whip out the bathroom scale and some accurate calipers/rulers and post your measurements.

Am I missing anything obvious? I don't have access to either bike but thought some of you owners would be interested in finding out too.

Here's some photoshop to roughly see what things will look like.

 

i've wondered this as well. i think the new ninja 250 rims look awesome on the klx.

 

how's this look for a swap

 

Ed,

That looks sweet.

 

that looks like a KTM front end on a KLX...looks nice

 

Yep, that's sweet but that's from a Dorsoduro. Sure it can be done, but it'd be a $10K+ swap. I'm thinking the Ninja rims wouldn't top a $1000 to swap if they fit. So can anyone measure their wheels?

 

Sorry I havent responded sooner. I have one of the older ninja 250's and might have some free time this weekend. I'll try and swap the wheels and see what happens.

 

the older ninja's run 16inch wheels. i found it a lot harder to find good tires for them. but with that said you can find the older style ninja rims on ebay for dirt cheap.

 

Shameless bump, anyone get a chance to try out the ninja 250 rims on their KLX?

 

does anyone have a how to on this conversion? like i know the speedo would be off, but would the speedo even hook up and read to the ninja wheelset?