Hi folks!

Just got my KLX this past Friday. After 18 years without a bike I figured it was a good time to hop back in. (with gas prices being what they are! [:-])

I've been riding 35 of my 45 years on this rock. Everything from a Benelli 50cc to a TZ 250 that I used to race in WERA road races in the early 80's.
I had a Husky 250WR in there somewhere too.


I did all the research on the KLR650 and though that was the bike that I wanted... Until I went to the dealer and saw the KLX250s sitting there next to the KLR. I sat in the KLR650 and took it off the side stand. Leaned it over to the left just a bit. Man! This thing is heavy. And people ride this on trails? Anyway, long story short, I fell in love with the KLX very quickly after sitting on it and playing with the controls. This feels more like a dirt bike, I thought. And I can ride it to work!

I'm sure I'll be bugging you guys with question, comments and criticisms as I get to know my new bike.

It remained stock until day three. First mod was to remove the upper chain guard and the seat strap. Many more to come!

This looks like the place to be if you have a KLX250! Cheers gang!

Willum

 

Ahhh, strapless. I remember that thread from a while back. Great stuff.

Welcome!

 

Welcome Willum all your questions fill be answered here. A good group of guys for sure. I bought my bike back on the 23rd of November, in fact I ordered mine over a month before the shop even got one in and I got the first one. Again welcome (check out the camera icon under my name)

 

Welcome

 

Welcome and enjoy yourself.

 

Willum,

Welcome aboard the best dang KLX place in cyberspace. There's a whole bunch of great folks here, even a couple not so great. But we try to put up with deej as he's still a pretty good guy. He's gonna be writing a column on cleaning your dirt bike and keeping it in pristine condition.

Yep, some of us ride those big heavy bikes on trails. Never said it was easy. Either my KLR650, V-Strom 1000 or KLX250 is out and about doing that wonderul world of multisurface motorcycling! About the only place I don't take the heavier bikes any more is in the deep, deep sugar sand that surrounds where I live, the Ocala National Forest. When it gets dry, we have Dakar racers practicing on those trails! [8D]

You can do it, just the next day you wish you didn't! Kind a like waking up after one of those good old fashioned barroom brawls you always saw in the cowboy movies of old. Kind of similar to what you feel like after wrestling an alligator for 12 rounds!

That KLX250 is a great bike for that kind of riding, that's why I have it.

Glad to hear you too pulled the strap off the seat. I think it was put there by the seat designer, a direct descendant of the Marquis DeSade, to simply add to your pain and discomfort when riding the bike!

In the spring, I was up in eastern Tennessee at Tellico Plains. We rode all over North Carolina in, through, over, under, on and around the mountains. There is nothing like a dualsport up in that area! One day we rode "The Dirt Dragon" on the way over to "Tail of the Dragon" where we smoked a lot of other riders on non-dualsport bikes. It's just such a versatile little bike that I'm surprised more folks don't own one. Heck, Honda is even bringing out a product for 2007 that looks just like the KLX250S, except it's finished off in red plastic.

So, what mods do you have on your mind?

 

WELCOME Thunderchild,,

Congrats on the bike and the right choice I might add. I sat on the klr650 and thought the very same thing about it. I'm new to the Enduro thing but i'm learning fast from being on this site and just ripping up the trails. I have a buddy that has a KLX400 and we have switched up bikes once and Ive found that even the KLX400 is to heavy and cumbersome. He on the other hand once to get rid of his and by the little powerhouse that we all have grown to love and MODIFY!!!! Have fun!! and be safe...

Here is a pic of my bike after some Mods.....And my buddies KLX400

 

Actually the strap is a required item for the manufacuter. By law, there has to be a handhold for the passenger. Before anyone flames me with some comment about the rack, you have all said it before here that it is rated for 11 lbs. Not enough............
If you look at any bike sold in the US, there is some sort of device for the passenger to use as a handhold.

 

Welcome Thunderchild. I was also considering the KLR650. Every time I take my bike off road, I'm glad I bought the KLX instead. I was really sold on the 6 speed transmission and the better suspension. And also the looks of the KLX.

 

Thanks all, for the warm welcome!

Deej, Marty, Gravy Train, I looked at your pictures before I bought my bike to get an idea what can be done with it. You three and all the others have some very nice bikes.

My first mod, just to be contrary, is a skid plate. Those little welded-on chicken wings don't look like they offer too much protection to the case and water pump.

I want to pull that ugly, black growth off the rear fender and install a Acerbis Dual Sport light along with the teardrop style blinkers right on the fender. Not sure how I'm going to do the front blinkers yet. I'm still digesting all the pictures you guys have of yours.

Higher handle bars. The stock ones are too short for me while standing.

13T sprocket.

Then the carb and pipe mods. I really like the Muzzy but I'm looking at what everyone is doing about the rear peg clearance issue. I will have to shuttle the kids home from school sometime. I wouldn't mind a little deeper, bit louder exhaust tone. I'm thinking about a cloths-pin and a playing card right now until I get the new pipe. [&:] You know, to make it sound like a motorcycle.

Willum