Trying to decide upgrade path
Da dirty moderator
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 12,584
From: Pittsburgh, PA
RE: Trying to decide upgrade path
ORIGINAL: tremor38
If you somhowend-up going with BG, go with thequiet core VS the Vortex tip. The tip isn't designed to be used for long periods of time and people who have ignored that have reported disastrous results.
If you somhowend-up going with BG, go with thequiet core VS the Vortex tip. The tip isn't designed to be used for long periods of time and people who have ignored that have reported disastrous results.
IG, no offense and this isnt directed towards you, I have herd numerous people say "i used to race" and i dont know if they are trying to impress me or what but i ride better than everyone i herd say that..... So to me " i used to race" doesnt mean anything, until i see that your a good rider i wont believe anything. Just one of my pet peeves, i expect them to be all good and stuff.. and [sm=smiley21.gif] Maybe im a better rider than i think i am... i dont know. Just because you "used to race" doesnt mean you were good or are good. ("you" in general ) Like i said IG that wasnt directed towards you.... you just happen to be the one who said it.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 130
RE: Trying to decide upgrade path
whoa Eric, if it wasn't directed at me I don't know who it was since I am "IG" I think. Anyway, no offense taken. Well, let me tell you this. My "I used to race" statement was a jab at deej for bragging about his KLX being "built by a racer" and I was just kidding him saying that I used to race and I indeed turned all the wrenches on my bike's mods. I was just asking him if mine was special too.
but until you have been in the trenches in a MX season, raced against guys all year long that know you, your bike, and how you'll run; have gone to the gate every sunday for a summer and survived each holeshot w/out getting killed and actually won a handful of races, you haven't raced. Does this make you a better rider? Well, to me heck yeah. Wouldn't you think so? I mean there are guys who just get out there in a MX race and let guys pass them or aren't serious about moving up in position and then there are others who want to win. Either way I think it makes one a better rider. Does MX racing translate to other areas of riding improvement? Well, look at past MX champs and see what they've done in other areas of motorcycle racing. I started out in the woods and trails before moving to MX to race and am here to tell you that riding in that tarmac prepared me for MX plus the fact that I started riding when I was 4-years old on a Honda Z50. So if someone says they "used to race", chances are they are pretty fast once they learn the trail. But otoh, maybe they used to follow when they raced and still do. But either way, they've been to that gate with the other bikes and to me, that deserves respect.
but until you have been in the trenches in a MX season, raced against guys all year long that know you, your bike, and how you'll run; have gone to the gate every sunday for a summer and survived each holeshot w/out getting killed and actually won a handful of races, you haven't raced. Does this make you a better rider? Well, to me heck yeah. Wouldn't you think so? I mean there are guys who just get out there in a MX race and let guys pass them or aren't serious about moving up in position and then there are others who want to win. Either way I think it makes one a better rider. Does MX racing translate to other areas of riding improvement? Well, look at past MX champs and see what they've done in other areas of motorcycle racing. I started out in the woods and trails before moving to MX to race and am here to tell you that riding in that tarmac prepared me for MX plus the fact that I started riding when I was 4-years old on a Honda Z50. So if someone says they "used to race", chances are they are pretty fast once they learn the trail. But otoh, maybe they used to follow when they raced and still do. But either way, they've been to that gate with the other bikes and to me, that deserves respect.
Da dirty moderator
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Joined: May 2006
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
RE: Trying to decide upgrade path
ORIGINAL: Iowaguy.
maybe they used to follow when they raced and still do.
maybe they used to follow when they raced and still do.
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 21,060
From: Washington
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RE: Trying to decide upgrade path
ORIGINAL: KLXer
& lets not forget anyone can say anything they want on the internet.
& lets not forget anyone can say anything they want on the internet.
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 21,060
From: Washington
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RE: Trying to decide upgrade path
ORIGINAL: deej
deej- you're in love with your bike I know. And I realize this is your first bike in a long time and you have never ridden a 2-stroke or numerous Ninjas/GSX-R's and think that 22 horsepower is the new benchmark. And I respect you for that. But I'm here to tell ya man as much as I'd love to take your challenge on the DRZSM I just sold- WITH THE STOCK TIRES, the KLX is slow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, in stock form it's slow and modded like yours and mine it's slow. There's just no way around it. Does this make it a bad bike? Not at all, but let's call a nail a nail and admit that the bike is not built for 260lb. 6' dudes like yourself. It's seriously under suspended for the likes of you and lacks any kind of serious power. I know you'll argue against me and that's cool because you love your bike and I respect that about you. But you know me, and I'm a realist. I will not sit here and tell anyone to "come to Iowa and I'll ride my old KLX and you can ride whatever KLXyou want and you won't be able to keep up with me". That's a dumb statement to make simply because guys like nobrakes and his KTM or older KLXwould kill us both anywhere anytime. However, the KTM dealer a mile away just had a brand new 525 sitting out in front, the EXC and it was very sweet.Love ya Deej.
ps. I'm a "racer", or at least I used to be and I 'built' my KLX as well. Would that've made my KLX special too?
deej- you're in love with your bike I know. And I realize this is your first bike in a long time and you have never ridden a 2-stroke or numerous Ninjas/GSX-R's and think that 22 horsepower is the new benchmark
. And I respect you for that. But I'm here to tell ya man as much as I'd love to take your challenge on the DRZSM I just sold- WITH THE STOCK TIRES, the KLX is slow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Yes, in stock form it's slow and modded like yours and mine it's slow. There's just no way around it. Does this make it a bad bike? Not at all, but let's call a nail a nail and admit that the bike is not built for 260lb. 6' dudes like yourself. It's seriously under suspended for the likes of you and lacks any kind of serious power. I know you'll argue against me and that's cool because you love your bike and I respect that about you. But you know me, and I'm a realist. I will not sit here and tell anyone to "come to Iowa and I'll ride my old KLX and you can ride whatever KLXyou want and you won't be able to keep up with me". That's a dumb statement to make simply because guys like nobrakes and his KTM or older KLXwould kill us both anywhere anytime. However, the KTM dealer a mile away just had a brand new 525 sitting out in front, the EXC and it was very sweet.
Love ya Deej. ps. I'm a "racer", or at least I used to be and I 'built' my KLX as well. Would that've made my KLX special too?
And you know me too well, I guess I do get carried away with my love for the KLX (don't tell the wife) All I'm saying is that at no point in the almost 7,000 miles of road, trails, gravel and whatever else this bike has taken me have I ever thought to myself "this bike is too slow." I guess I should just shut my Dorito hole and accept the fact that there are always going to be guys that think the KLX is a moped, and others that absolutely love what it is. Oh and I guess I love ya too.........ewwwwwwww I gotta go.
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 340
RE: Trying to decide upgrade path
I like men.
EDIT: Ok.... Jokes aside...
After garnering advice from this thread, my upgrade path seems to look sorta like this now:
Renthal bars 74 USD
Peg wideners 30 USD
DJ Kit 65 USD
UNI Filter 27 USD
Skidplate 70 USD
300 Can 70 USD?
D606s 120 USD? (where did you folks get your set from?)
Comes to about 466 USD
Thoughts?
EDIT: Ok.... Jokes aside...
After garnering advice from this thread, my upgrade path seems to look sorta like this now:
Renthal bars 74 USD
Peg wideners 30 USD
DJ Kit 65 USD
UNI Filter 27 USD
Skidplate 70 USD
300 Can 70 USD?
D606s 120 USD? (where did you folks get your set from?)
Comes to about 466 USD
Thoughts?
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,689
1st Gear Member
RE: Trying to decide upgrade path
Sinkoman, don't forget you need both the 300 can and headpipe, it won't fit the 250 headpipe. Anything under $100 is reasonable for the 300 setup.
For the bars I'd be inclined to run the Tusk brand cheap bars. You can get 3 sets of them for the price of the Renthals. So you can try different bends instead of having a $75 set of bars that you don't like any more than the ones you replaced. When you find a bend you like in the Tusk, run em till you bend em. Then replace with the same bend in a "better" brand.
The Trakmasters are not as bad on pavement as many people would think. I too do a lot more road riding than trails unfortunately. There was not one time on pavement where I wished I had a less aggresive tire than the TM. I paired it with a Kenda 776F front tire and it was an excellent combo, in fact its the best combo I've tried thus far out of 603's, Cheng Shin C858's, Kenda TM and 776, and Michelin AC-10's, and get this they were also the CHEAPEST! You can get the set for $85-$90 depending on where you buy them. The biggest drawback to the TM and 776F on the pavement is they are loud. So long as you don't think you are running in a supermoto race they are more than up to the task of commuting duty.
For the bars I'd be inclined to run the Tusk brand cheap bars. You can get 3 sets of them for the price of the Renthals. So you can try different bends instead of having a $75 set of bars that you don't like any more than the ones you replaced. When you find a bend you like in the Tusk, run em till you bend em. Then replace with the same bend in a "better" brand.
The Trakmasters are not as bad on pavement as many people would think. I too do a lot more road riding than trails unfortunately. There was not one time on pavement where I wished I had a less aggresive tire than the TM. I paired it with a Kenda 776F front tire and it was an excellent combo, in fact its the best combo I've tried thus far out of 603's, Cheng Shin C858's, Kenda TM and 776, and Michelin AC-10's, and get this they were also the CHEAPEST! You can get the set for $85-$90 depending on where you buy them. The biggest drawback to the TM and 776F on the pavement is they are loud. So long as you don't think you are running in a supermoto race they are more than up to the task of commuting duty.
