Klr250

jct842 · 07-12-2015, 01:47 PM

I bought a 09 klr250 yesterday. Around 5k miles in great shape. Am really impressed on the ride it gives on my 2.5 miles of dirt road to pavement. Probably is 150 lbs lighter than the Majesty scooter I had been riding and my back can sure tell the difference. Will probably ride it as is for a week or so before I get into adjusting the shocks, will wait till I get it legal and plated tomorrow to go for blacktop riding into town.

The tires are dunlops and maybe 50% so I will be changing them out later on this summer. The clutch and front brake levers are less than perfect too. I may try to aneal the one and bend it back, the other has the ball broken off and both still very useable. Have all the service records too. I am not impressed with the rubber hand grips, so those will get replaced with some thicker ones. If it had had bark busters the levers would still be fine so an thinking about a set of them.

If the chinese bikes would come with all the paper work needed I probably would have gone that route and saved some money. I went thru that a couple times, once with a scooter and once with a car from a local dealer. 3 weeks on the chinese scooter and 32 days with the car. Never again. The dealer for car sold me a car taken in trade and apparently had a loan on it so he did not legally own it and waited till the last min to pay it off and get title! After that last time if the title or mso does not come with it I am not going to do the deal. John

Weldangrind · 07-12-2015, 04:14 PM

I have a '92 KLR250 that I'm (very slowly) rebuilding. It didn't come with a title, but that's an easy enough process where I live, although it does take about a month. Since the bike was in several boxes anyway, that didn't matter to me.

I'm hoping to get it done soon, as I'm itching to ride it.

MICRider · 07-12-2015, 04:46 PM

As far as grips, I would recommend PillowTop's. Nice feel to them and the regular ones are thicker than stock grips. If you just want to freshen up your stock grips you could throw a set of Grip Puppies on them to make them fatter and softer.

Awesome bikes the KLR250's, well built and reliable

SpudRider · 07-13-2015, 01:51 AM

Congratulations.

Let's see some photos!

jct842 · 07-13-2015, 02:20 AM

Will have to wait till tomorrow. Got them on this tablet but have no idea how to get them posted to Photo bucket. Tablets are handy but with out a mouse I am lost. Will email them to myself and big computer. Bike seems to be cherry with 5k miles and maintenance records. John

fratermus · 07-13-2015, 09:47 AM

When I get my current bike paid off I will either pick up a chinabike or a used japanese DS like the KLR or CRF.

jjn · 07-13-2015, 04:21 PM

If it's a 2009, then your bike is a KLX250, and not a KLR250. I had a 2001 KLR250. They are single overhead cam (with screw type valve adjusters) with kick only starting and carbureted, while the KLX250 is double overhead cam (shim adjusters) and electric only and fuel injected. I chose the KLR and bought a new one that year because it had kick starting. Both are fine dual sports. I'd love to have that KLR250 back today.

jct842 · 07-13-2015, 05:10 PM

Your right, KLX it does not have a kick but the engine case does have a plug where it would go. But it is carburated. Will have to get a service manual, it came with a nice owners manual. I did not want kick so the older ones I skipped over.

jjn · 07-13-2015, 06:03 PM

My mistake on the fuel injection. Must have been a brain fart on my part. I knew the KLX was still carbureted. I think the European models are fuel injected.

SpudRider · 07-13-2015, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jct842

Your right, KLX it does not have a kick but the engine case does have a plug where it would go. But it is carburated. Will have to get a service manual, it came with a nice owners manual. I did not want kick so the older ones I skipped over.

Thanks for posting the nice photos, and congratulations once again.

I'm with you; I don't want to kick start a motorcycle.

I much prefer the KLX250S to the KLR250.

jjn · 07-13-2015, 08:25 PM

I chose that KLR250 for the kick starting. I decided I wanted to be able to get way out in the boonies. Since most Japanese bikes, by that time, were electric only. The KLR was so unbelieveable easy to kick start (unlike a 1975 XL350, and a 1982 SP500, both dual sport thumpers I owned over the years). I could let that KLR sit for 6 weeks in the dead of winter, and it always started up cold with one kick. Push starting even a 250 by myself in a mud bog, or rock strewn rutted trail, would not be possible. Hence, the KLR250.

I really like the KLX250 also.

jct842 · 07-13-2015, 11:29 PM

I'll bet that some one who regularly works on and tears down the two, klx and klr could come up with a kick starter for the klx. The case has the kickstarter hole plugged on an 09.

Sure wish the importers of chinese bikes would learn how to fill out the MSO and send it with the bike. A few scooter forums claim that is so the scooter can't be registered if stolen! If it was stolen the vin number would just have to be entered the distributors motor vehicle dept computer and that number goes to all states. Just went thru that today with arkansas dept of revenue who did a check on my new bike. Took about 20-30 sec and she said it was a good number. I could have bought a chinese for a little over half of what I paided but I am happy. My lady friend isn't going to be so happy if she tries to sit behind me on it though! Its going to be real tight for the two of us and neither of us are fat! Be right cozy!

Just put 70 miles on it 45-60 mph on black top and those dunlop tires are better than I gave them credit for. I never liked dunlop, Took a new gold wing back in 86 that came with them and made the dealer replace the front tire for bad handling......got the same damn thing back with a new tire so I went to an independent bike shop and got a set of decent tires put on a month later. john

SpudRider · 07-14-2015, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjn

I chose that KLR250 for the kick starting. I decided I wanted to be able to get way out in the boonies. Since most Japanese bikes, by that time, were electric only. The KLR was so unbelieveable easy to kick start (unlike a 1975 XL350, and a 1982 SP500, both dual sport thumpers I owned over the years). I could let that KLR sit for 6 weeks in the dead of winter, and it always started up cold with one kick. Push starting even a 250 by myself in a mud bog, or rock strewn rutted trail, would not be possible. Hence, the KLR250.

I really like the KLX250 also.

I love having a backup kick starter.

I don't want to have only a kick starter.

Weldangrind · 07-14-2015, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjn

I chose that KLR250 for the kick starting.

I chose the KLR250 because it was in several boxes, and I'm a glutton for punishment.

**cheesy** · 07-14-2015, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

I chose the KLR250 because it was in several boxes, and I'm a glutton for punishment.

Boy, does that sound familiar.

07-12-2015, 01:47 PM	#1
jct842 Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: arkansas Posts: 297	Klr250 I bought a 09 klr250 yesterday. Around 5k miles in great shape. Am really impressed on the ride it gives on my 2.5 miles of dirt road to pavement. Probably is 150 lbs lighter than the Majesty scooter I had been riding and my back can sure tell the difference. Will probably ride it as is for a week or so before I get into adjusting the shocks, will wait till I get it legal and plated tomorrow to go for blacktop riding into town. The tires are dunlops and maybe 50% so I will be changing them out later on this summer. The clutch and front brake levers are less than perfect too. I may try to aneal the one and bend it back, the other has the ball broken off and both still very useable. Have all the service records too. I am not impressed with the rubber hand grips, so those will get replaced with some thicker ones. If it had had bark busters the levers would still be fine so an thinking about a set of them. If the chinese bikes would come with all the paper work needed I probably would have gone that route and saved some money. I went thru that a couple times, once with a scooter and once with a car from a local dealer. 3 weeks on the chinese scooter and 32 days with the car. Never again. The dealer for car sold me a car taken in trade and apparently had a loan on it so he did not legally own it and waited till the last min to pay it off and get title! After that last time if the title or mso does not come with it I am not going to do the deal. John
	0

07-12-2015, 04:14 PM	#2
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	I have a '92 KLR250 that I'm (very slowly) rebuilding. It didn't come with a title, but that's an easy enough process where I live, although it does take about a month. Since the bike was in several boxes anyway, that didn't matter to me. I'm hoping to get it done soon, as I'm itching to ride it. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
	0

07-13-2015, 01:51 AM	#4
SpudRider Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 25,054	Congratulations. Let's see some photos! __________________ Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894
	0

07-13-2015, 02:20 AM	#5
jct842 Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: arkansas Posts: 297	Klr Will have to wait till tomorrow. Got them on this tablet but have no idea how to get them posted to Photo bucket. Tablets are handy but with out a mouse I am lost. Will email them to myself and big computer. Bike seems to be cherry with 5k miles and maintenance records. John
	0

07-13-2015, 09:47 AM	#6
fratermus Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 131	When I get my current bike paid off I will either pick up a chinabike or a used japanese DS like the KLR or CRF. __________________ Current: bikeless for now, moved into a campervan. Past: Honda NC700x, Suzuki DR650, Taotao ATM-50-A1, Taotao Evo 150cc, Honda Spree 50 2str, 1982 Katana 550
	0

07-12-2015, 04:46 PM	#3
MICRider Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 3,274	As far as grips, I would recommend PillowTop's. Nice feel to them and the regular ones are thicker than stock grips. If you just want to freshen up your stock grips you could throw a set of Grip Puppies on them to make them fatter and softer. Awesome bikes the KLR250's, well built and reliable
	0

07-13-2015, 04:21 PM	#7
jjn Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 206	If it's a 2009, then your bike is a KLX250, and not a KLR250. I had a 2001 KLR250. They are single overhead cam (with screw type valve adjusters) with kick only starting and carbureted, while the KLX250 is double overhead cam (shim adjusters) and electric only and fuel injected. I chose the KLR and bought a new one that year because it had kick starting. Both are fine dual sports. I'd love to have that KLR250 back today. __________________ Jon, in Keaau, Hawaii
	0

07-13-2015, 05:10 PM	#8
jct842 Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: arkansas Posts: 297	Your right, KLX it does not have a kick but the engine case does have a plug where it would go. But it is carburated. Will have to get a service manual, it came with a nice owners manual. I did not want kick so the older ones I skipped over.
	0

07-13-2015, 06:03 PM	#9
jjn Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 206	My mistake on the fuel injection. Must have been a brain fart on my part. I knew the KLX was still carbureted. I think the European models are fuel injected. __________________ Jon, in Keaau, Hawaii
	0

07-13-2015, 08:25 PM	#11
jjn Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 206	I chose that KLR250 for the kick starting. I decided I wanted to be able to get way out in the boonies. Since most Japanese bikes, by that time, were electric only. The KLR was so unbelieveable easy to kick start (unlike a 1975 XL350, and a 1982 SP500, both dual sport thumpers I owned over the years). I could let that KLR sit for 6 weeks in the dead of winter, and it always started up cold with one kick. Push starting even a 250 by myself in a mud bog, or rock strewn rutted trail, would not be possible. Hence, the KLR250. I really like the KLX250 also. __________________ Jon, in Keaau, Hawaii
	0

07-13-2015, 11:29 PM	#12
jct842 Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: arkansas Posts: 297	I'll bet that some one who regularly works on and tears down the two, klx and klr could come up with a kick starter for the klx. The case has the kickstarter hole plugged on an 09. Sure wish the importers of chinese bikes would learn how to fill out the MSO and send it with the bike. A few scooter forums claim that is so the scooter can't be registered if stolen! If it was stolen the vin number would just have to be entered the distributors motor vehicle dept computer and that number goes to all states. Just went thru that today with arkansas dept of revenue who did a check on my new bike. Took about 20-30 sec and she said it was a good number. I could have bought a chinese for a little over half of what I paided but I am happy. My lady friend isn't going to be so happy if she tries to sit behind me on it though! Its going to be real tight for the two of us and neither of us are fat! Be right cozy! Just put 70 miles on it 45-60 mph on black top and those dunlop tires are better than I gave them credit for. I never liked dunlop, Took a new gold wing back in 86 that came with them and made the dealer replace the front tire for bad handling......got the same damn thing back with a new tire so I went to an independent bike shop and got a set of decent tires put on a month later. john
	0