Long term KLX250S review

[pluric]

This just came in the mail today.



I've got a 351 kit and Q4 already. This should be the
icing on the cake.

Problem is I took the bike up to a vacation home so I can't get
to it just yet. Maybe this weekend.

[eyedragaknee]

Man, that is one sweet looking carb.

Worth at least $400

[David R]

You are going to love the slide carb. It took me for ever to get it jetted right, but its the balls!

David

KLX 351SF

[pluric]

Originally Posted by eyedragaknee

Man, that is one sweet looking carb.

Worth at least $400

I know. I still can't believe some fool would sell it for so cheap.

Thank you. It looks great.

[surly357]

Originally Posted by TNC

This gets discussed quite a bit, but in all my years of KLR600/650's (4 of them) and now this KLX, I have never jetted for altitude from the 1500-1700 foot elevation I have at home. I've ridden with cable pull slide carb guys on XR's and such, and they would actually puff black fuel smoke at the extremes in CO. Though an extreme case like Imogene Pass at over 13,000' has made my KLR's and this KLX chuff a bit right at the top, the bike would still actually idle. This even surprises me a bit. I'm convinced the CV carb design helps this issue. While you do indeed get less power at those extremes, the slide is manipulated a bit by pressure at altitude to compensate. That mundane carb does have some advantages, and of course FI compensates even better.

in the market for a 250ds, but i wonder if i've been overrating the value of fi- i'm not a 'wind er up' kinda guy and am considering saving a pile of money by purchasing a klx over a wr250r, which early on i felt was a no-brainer..... apples and oranges maybe, but my old honda rancher atv always seemed fine at 11-12000'.....thanks for the info!

[bumblebee1]

I went riding with a group two weekends ago and one dude had a wr250w with a 290 setup.
He claimed that it was the only way to go.
it's much better now in lower revs.
He even lowered the suspension to better fit his stile of riding.
If that's what it takes, then why not just get a klx and drop a 351 in'er.
After hearing about the 351 results, I went and bought a 2009 klx
Put 70km on it and contacted Seat Consepts as I walked in the door.
I will wait a few months before installing a 351 but it's going in there for sure.
I hope this helps you make up your mind.

[Rob.G]

Originally Posted by bumblebee1

I went riding with a group two weekends ago and one dude had a wr250w with a 290 setup.
He claimed that it was the only way to go.
it's much better now in lower revs.
He even lowered the suspension to better fit his stile of riding.
If that's what it takes, then why not just get a klx and drop a 351 in'er.
After hearing about the 351 results, I went and bought a 2009 klx
Put 70km on it and contacted Seat Consepts as I walked in the door.
I will wait a few months before installing a 351 but it's going in there for sure.
I hope this helps you make up your mind.

Prior to picking up my KLX, I was approved for financing on a new WR250R at another dealer. I went over to check it out and start the battle on purchase price. When I got there, I saw a sticker on the gas tank that was a deal breaker -- "Requires 91 Octane Fuel." Screw that. I ride out in BFE too much. In Death Valley, for example, there is only one place to get 91 (Furnace Creek, and it's current over $6/gal there). In addition, the seat is so tall, I couldn't even sit on it. I know it could be cut down, but still.

The salesmen were shocked that I didn't want it for that reason, and spent the next 20 min trying to convince me that the KLX was the same way (which I knew better). I finally just said screw you guys, I'm leaving, and went to the other dealer and bought the KLX.

I have NO regrets. I love the little KLX. I think it's better looking, it's a lot cheaper, there's no EFI to have to deal with (I prefer a carb on a single cyl motor), and we have the 351 kit. And I was never a fan of Yamaha Blue.

Rob

[TNC]

I own an '06 KLX250S with all the mods and a 300 cylinder. I love the bike. However, I wouldn't ever dismiss the WR250R. The KLX carb is simple and reliable, but I'm not that fearful of modern FI. The WRR's seat height is a bit tall, and the starting price is a pain, but I think a fully modded KLX and WRR make some very competent off road DS bikes...maybe the only two true DS bikes that come close to equally competing with plated race bikes. Both bikes need suspension work to really excel, but the stuff is available to handle that easily. I wouldn't leave either bike in stock form, but that's half the fun with these two.

[tslewisz]

Originally Posted by MrHighbeam

The air filter for this bike. I've cleaned the OEM filter twice now and I must say it is a very large filter. This is good. The problem is that the airfilter box is very small. Even smaller is the hole that you need to slide the air filter through to mount it up. It's super tiny. The plastic filter cage can't even go in unless you twist it just right and allow the filter box corners to poke in between the cage bars. So the filter must be compressed to force it through. I also like to grease the filter lip so that I get a good seal. Well the grease gets all over.

On top of all of this I can't see if the filter is properly seated on the box when I'm done and after all the twisting I am not certain if the cage is properly in place either.

Ack. I like a nice clean air filter and want to keep it maintained. What has your experience been? Are aftermarket filters/cages smaller?

All of your points are valid. I have a 2001 KLX300 and it's the same way so my assumption is that it's been the same since the original KLX250 of the 90's . Just be careful reinstalling and you won't have any problems.

[tslewisz]

Originally Posted by surly357

nice shot!

just wondering, do you do some jetting mods before you come to colorado or do you 'run what ya brung'?

Originally Posted by TNC

This gets discussed quite a bit, but in all my years of KLR600/650's (4 of them) and now this KLX, I have never jetted for altitude from the 1500-1700 foot elevation I have at home. I've ridden with cable pull slide carb guys on XR's and such, and they would actually puff black fuel smoke at the extremes in CO. Though an extreme case like Imogene Pass at over 13,000' has made my KLR's and this KLX chuff a bit right at the top, the bike would still actually idle. This even surprises me a bit. I'm convinced the CV carb design helps this issue. While you do indeed get less power at those extremes, the slide is manipulated a bit by pressure at altitude to compensate. That mundane carb does have some advantages, and of course FI compensates even better.

I took my DJ-kitted 300 to CO in 2009. As the altitude went up, I had to keep upping the idle speed adj to keep it running. It DID keep running, though, and hauling my butt up the mountains. I wished I would have dropped the jetting down some, though.

[jxg]

Originally Posted by Rob.G

Prior to picking up my KLX, I was approved for financing on a new WR250R at another dealer. I went over to check it out and start the battle on purchase price. When I got there, I saw a sticker on the gas tank that was a deal breaker -- "Requires 91 Octane Fuel." Screw that. I ride out in BFE too much. In Death Valley, for example, there is only one place to get 91 (Furnace Creek, and it's current over $6/gal there). In addition, the seat is so tall, I couldn't even sit on it. I know it could be cut down, but still.

The salesmen were shocked that I didn't want it for that reason, and spent the next 20 min trying to convince me that the KLX was the same way (which I knew better). I finally just said screw you guys, I'm leaving, and went to the other dealer and bought the KLX.

I have NO regrets. I love the little KLX. I think it's better looking, it's a lot cheaper, there's no EFI to have to deal with (I prefer a carb on a single cyl motor), and we have the 351 kit. And I was never a fan of Yamaha Blue.

Rob

i am not sure that i agree with that (sold the klx with the manual), but the dealer always told me to run super in mine.

I do see this online, but I am not sure what it means:

Fuel Min 91 Research/87 Avg. Oct. Unleaded OK

so i guess maybe 87 is ok??

[kawagumby]

Originally Posted by Rob.G

Prior to picking up my KLX, I was approved for financing on a new WR250R at another dealer. I went over to check it out and start the battle on purchase price. When I got there, I saw a sticker on the gas tank that was a deal breaker -- "Requires 91 Octane Fuel." Screw that. I ride out in BFE too much. In Death Valley, for example, there is only one place to get 91 (Furnace Creek, and it's current over $6/gal there). In addition, the seat is so tall, I couldn't even sit on it. I know it could be cut down, but still.

The salesmen were shocked that I didn't want it for that reason, and spent the next 20 min trying to convince me that the KLX was the same way (which I knew better). I finally just said screw you guys, I'm leaving, and went to the other dealer and bought the KLX.

I have NO regrets. I love the little KLX. I think it's better looking, it's a lot cheaper, there's no EFI to have to deal with (I prefer a carb on a single cyl motor), and we have the 351 kit. And I was never a fan of Yamaha Blue.

Rob

The WRR comes with an adjustable link in the suspension for lowering purposes, and if that's not enough, you can buy a yamalink to lower it further. As far as the 91 octane goes, the WRR runs fine on regular without issue (many owners attest to this including me). I suspect they might do as the car manufacturers do, and run their advertised horsepower ratings using 91 octane, so that is reflected in the spec's, but it does not mean that rating is a requirement. On some Toyota vehicles, the 91 spec was on the gas caps, when the sales dept felt purchases might be affected because of that, Toyota simply removed the note from the gas cap...

Which bike is better? The one you end up buying.

[250senuf]

The KLX with the longer stroke will have more pulling power down low in the revs.
KLX - 61.2mm; WR - 53.6mm. = 14% more stroke.
A longer stroke .....

[bumblebee1]

My turn to ask.

I was wondering if some cam work would be better for low end torque.
These guys have some experience and have a mild cam mod for the klx.
http://www.webcamshafts.com/index_bl...le_search.html

I am still trying to keep the exhaust as stock as possible.
Maybe just open up the end a bit and knock out the first baffle.
I would think a 351 kit would be enhanced with the cam grind.
Any thoughts on the matter?

[aki]

Rick:

Here's another pictures of the other river crossing. That's is deep in the jungle!