Hello all, I'm in the process of down sizing a few bikes.
I'm looking at trading in my Tiger 800 for a KLX 300.
I'm leaning toward the 300 mainly for seat hight, I'm long legged.
Other than wheel / tire size and tread pattern, are there any great differences between the two?
It would be used mostly for adventuring on two lane backroads and some gravel, maybe an easy flat dirt road here and there.
All things my Tiger does, but I'm looking for smaller and lighter, I'm fine not going 65mph for top speed.
Thanks for any input.
RT

 

Either one would be a fun choice. Besides if you have space and the money a regular street bike used or new would complement the SM if it is desired.. The SM can handle any dirt roads and with a couple low buck dual sport 17s can handle trails adequately. I personally have a KLX250S dual sport and a 700 street bike, which fills the bill for me.

 

Thanks, I have other bikes to ride for highways and such.
I'm interested in going smaller from the Tiger, the KLX feels like a good fit.
I found a Utube comparing the two, there are some differences, but its the same basic machine.

 

The SM gives you 1 inch less suspension travel on each end, 17/17 wheels instead of the 21/18, and a bigger front brake. Aside from colors and stickers, those are the only significant differences. I think the decision between the two would depend on how you want to use the bike.

More dirt use = dual sport FTW

 

Thanks, I agree.

 

If doing off roading the 21 of the S model will work better in most terrain, being lighter weight and larger diameter to roll over obstacles. If one is mainly on dirt roads and might encounter a lot of large rocks in trails and roads then the 17 might proved better cushion to avoid a bent rim on bigger heavier bikes. The advantages of a wider fatter tire are minimal compared to the 21, but there are some circumstances. The 18-21 will also provide a lot more tire choices from a variety of off road knobbies to dual sport, and even some road tires with a lot of customs running 21" front wheels.

In an ADVrider discussion on tire size a link took me to another thread where the rider was riding in I think Utah in a lot of washes and such on KTM twins with gear for camping. In the washes he rode there were what I think was referred to as "baby head" size rocks... a lot of rocks borderline the size of the ***** we used as kids in high school playing dodge ball. That was a circumstance where the fatter tire made sense. They tended to plow through rather than around - if there was an around to be found.

Figure what's going to be most suitable and go for it. I would venture to say the S model can be lowered a couple inches with links in the back and sliding the fork sliders up in the triple clamps if that would be an issue.