I have a friend that's selling his KLR650 and wants to upgrade to a new bike. He's thinking of getting a CRF450L
but at over 10,000 I told him to look into a new KLX250. Wondering what slip-on and fuel controller you guys would recommend and What would be the cost for the upgrade? He would probably get the better snorkle and keep the header. Would this make the bike capable of doing long rides on the freeway with windscreen?
Also, I just looked up info and displacent for an '09 is 249cc vs. 233cc for a 2020?

 

Well the CRF450L is in a different league. We are taking, what many might consider a playbike, and making it significantly more capable on and off road - and at a significant cost savings.

The beauty of the KLX is that it has all the correct "raw material" to allow almost endless modding to achieve any personal preference.
1. No need to replace the suspension - since it is "modern", you just revalve it and spring it to your liking.
2. Our DOHC engine can be cheaply modded to satisfy any power desire ( With many mod combos available that haven't even been tested yet !) Jeff (JH Motor Club on youtube) is about to test a mod combo that's never been done before, yet it's been available for many, many, years waiting for someone to try - 351EFI+PCFC+Lidless airbox+Ported head+Webcams #55 cam + Barker exhaust system... IMO, if fueled properly, we could see power curves never seen before - perhaps those that could make the bike "competitive" in XC racing. We know that "big carb'd" 351's, with lesser cams, make well over 30 hp..

A simple slipon, lidless airbox, and a EJK fueler gives more than enough highway performance - even two up. Add a matching performance header for top speeds over 100mph..

 

I will leave most of your question to the first reply. However, as to the displacement in 2020, Kawasaki added a new air cooled KLX, the KLX230. They still have the KLX250. Two different bikes.

 

Whoops. Ok, figured that out.