KLX250SF In-Depth Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ส.ค. 2024
- Is the KLX250SF a bike worth keeping? Or is it just another slow, boring street 250 designed only for beginners? This in-depth review of the KLX250SF has those answers. This review covers a variety of topics, including: ergonomics and comfort, suspension, brakes and handling, load bearing and passenger carrying, engine, transmission, and fuel efficiency, reliability and maintenance, upgradeability, and I also give my personal opinion of the bike and who I think it would be good for.
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I am picking up a KLX300SM this weekend. Looking forward to it.
this is one of the best bike reviews I've ever seen. Freaking Jim on his own is beating up on all of the big-name boys with a quality review, detailed technical information and good opinions keep them coming thank you
+Chris Waltman thank you Chris!
I always love the production quality of your videos
Great review 3 years later even...Thanks for the good job done.
I have a 2014 klx250s. For me I find a bike pretty much perfect for me. The only mods I done to it I got a Sargent seat which is wider on the back which I sit father in the back of the seat and I got wider foot pegs which makes a world of a difference and a lithium ion battery which weighs less than a pound. That battery alone you can feel it when you on the trails or winding roads shaving off those two extra pounds maybe three from a battery made a big difference in handling. I'm 5-10 190 and Halls my big butt around without any issues . The fastest I got my bike is around 83 on flat land then again the bike was not designed to do long distance travel on an interstate, so that part of a comparison I did not put in any type of consideration. for that I'll never use it for that purpose. And the rest of your evaluation the bike I agree with his suspension, gear layout, soft clutch. I love this machine and I'll never get rid of it. I like the idea that they made this motor platform for years. so even on the use Market you can buy parts in The Fairly inexpensive. I guess the only real complaint about the machine that I have from the start the headlight looks good with the bike the low beam is decent the high beam it's just a flood light that gives you nothing at night.
Had a 1993 model with heavy modified frontn rears shocks was great the seat was shocking on 200 mile ride home from previuos owners house. Very reliable only did regular service and it just worked. Thanks for the memories
Excellent review as always, Jim!!!! I recently purchased a KLX250SF to commute in San Francisco. The previous owner installed a Megabomb and Powercore exhaust, but didn't jet it properly and the bike took 5 minutes or so to warm up. The Powercore exhausts are obnoxiously loud and there was no way I was going to piss off my neighbors and the entire city by commuting with one. I replaced the Powercore with a Q4 (my go-to pipe that I've had on my last 3 bikes) and since the bike needed to be rejetted, I decided to give Bill Blue's TM-34 pumper carb a try. At that time I also had my mechanic remove the backfire screen, emissions equipment and install a crankcase breather filter. While the throttle response is amazing, I'm only getting about 38mpg in the city and that's just unacceptable for me on a commuter vehicle. I understood that a pumper would use more gas, but I had no idea just how much. With my constant stop-and-go commute, I'm going to have my mechanic rejet the stock carb and throw it back on. I have a leaking front fork seal and I'll have him put in some heavier weight fork oil to help with the bad front end diving upon braking. The 110 front tire has taken a lot of getting used to and I'm going to swap it out for a 120 soon.
I just returned from Puerto Vallarta and rented a Honda Dio 110 scooter during my stay. It was really challenging on the rocky rural roads and speed bumps throughout the city and I pretty much had to stand on the passenger pegs and keep my weight back at all times....basically ride it like a dirt bike, but I had a blast! Even with only 8hp, that little bike was able to make it through some pretty gnarly stuff and up some steep hills. As you well know, it doesn't take a lot of horsepower to have a ton of fun and trading it for lighter weight and maneuverability is a beautiful tradeoff.
I'm keen to try a Sym Wolf 150 for a city commuter now. If it cuts the mustard, the KLX250SF may be sold.
I had a 2009. I changed out the stock exhaust...I put full FMF exhaust system and a Dynojet Stage 2. My guy removed all the emmision crap...set it up like the original dirtbike. UNI Filter...it turned into a totally different bike. I put Pirelli Diablo Corsa 2 tires on it since I used in on the street. I road with guys with DRZ 400's. The new exhaust trimmed off a few pounds. it was under 300. I sold it and bought an HD XR1200. I wish I could have kept it. Single Dad. I had to trade it in.
Could you keep up and perform as well next to the drz 400? I'm really torn between this or the drz.
I have an 09 sf and your review is quite accurate. FYI for fellow sf owners: I had some Shinko 700 tires on it that worked well off road and pretty sticky on road. Now I’m running Conti- Road Attack 2’s and holy guacamole those tires are unbelievable on road!!! Full FmF powercore system was on when I bought it but I’m sure it helps with power. I wish I would have gone bigger on the rear sprocket when I did the chain n sprockets recently...next time for sure. Or just nut up and big bore it. Definitely ditch the rubber peg things! Thanks for an honest and in depth review 👍 your channel is awesome
I did nut up and put big bore 351 and put pumper carb and regretted it. Lost top end speed, after couple weeks the vibration got worse and worse.
One of the best motorcycle review videos I've ever seen, very well done sir. I'm definitely a subscriber.
I would love to see more reviews from you... there great
roommate just got the some bike 10 years later. the klx300sm and ur not lying about the gutlessness below 5k rpm i had to ride his 200 miles from the dealership during break in. but the thing flicks over like a firm moutain bike
I got 2 try my buddy's 351. Wow. I have not ridden a stock one. But this one had no power issues. And on the street in twistys not many machines would keep up
It's been said before in numerous comments but I must say it myself: your reviews are exceptionally good. Very impressed! Keep up the good work.
BTW, this klx reminds me of my CRF 250M, the sumo version of the CRF 250 L.
I was just looking for these in Cycletrader and was very surprised that not a single one was for sale in the entire USA
Enjoyed your review. I have the same exact bike, (sf) with off road tires, just that i put a BB351 kit and modified tm33/34 mikuni pumper carb & FMF exhaust. I've beat the piss out the thing and she's been bullet proof.. I'd say the power upgrades are a must if she's a keeper and they do make the bike x1000 more fun than stock. Out of all my bikes, i'd say i've probably had the most fun on my KLX351sf and for that reason i'm never selling it !
I recently got to ride a KLX with the 350 as well and it is such an improvement! Thanks
I have the black 2009 klx 250sf and I get 95 mph off of it if I dont have a bad headwind but on the average day 95 is possible. I have over 30,000 miles on it now as I drive it a long ways every day to work.
@@TortureTestMagazine over all I really love it.
Good review and info. The only thing I would say is missing is any info from the owner, like long term mpg, maintenance costs, etc. You are doing a thorough yet somewhat short term review of the bike, vs the owners long term info being included. Overall vastly better than most even professional reviews on the Tube.
Thanks for the suggestions!
OMG this is an amazing bike review video!
+r0ckworthy hahaha thank you!
I own a 2012 klx250s and all those things are true for it as well. Thanks for the video. Great stuff.
Excellent review! Definitely an enjoyable and worth while watch.
Thanks!
I agree!
One of the best reviews i have ever seen. Well done
Excellent and very thorough review as usual, great work! I didn't even know there was such a thing as a klx250sf. It looks pretty cool but I like the XR250R and the CRF230 much better! I have an XR250R and it's a really really great bike!
+Trevor Jameson thank you!!
Wow I live in the same area of vegas as you! I've been down most of those trails on my wr250r. I got rid of it a few years back and now I'm considering a klx. Thanks for the review lots of good info.
In Greece and i assume in other EU countries klx comes with FI (Later models 2006+). Yamaha's wr is about +50% pricier than the Kawasaki. Kawasaki klx 250 & D-Tracker (supermoto) was being sold with carb, different swing arm from the 90's. Impressive technology for back then. Some models had non USD forks as well. I see them regularly. Common upgrade was the 300 kit from the 300r, as you mentioned, keeping 250 head could result to higher compression i think. I have ridden 4 klx's/d-tracker 2 of which converted to 300 and a proper 300r (All pre FI models). The 300r was a really nice machine with great bottom end, weight and suspension, i just don't feel really comfortable with the front end behavior for all of them in the dirt.
Rock on Jiiiim! :P
Love the color
Time to do this again on the EFI model.
I have a 2018 KLX250 with a Seat Concepts seat fitted, l am getting an engine upgrade to 300cc and fitting DTX250 17” wheels and tires soon. I noticed all the Kawasaki’s sold here in Thailand have a limiter plug fitted to the clutch lever body which restricts power through all the gears, a mod for this is a paper clip cut in half and inserted into the plug and the addition of a Yoshimura full exhaust system to give the bike a deeper exhaust sound
Which 300cc engine upgrade are you getting? I was not aware of a bore up kit for the FI klx250...
First, thank you for breaking him down so I understand why I have been struggling so much off road. Thanks for the easy mods ideas especially the bars considering that I'm 50# heavier than you @ 5' 10". I'm listening to the low torque ideas too. My original thoughts were sprockets but I like yours much better but do I need that low end torque if I'm not going wash deep? So much to to think about. Thanks once more & if ya ever want to abuse him or run him long distance, you're welcome to do so. 👍 (major apologies for the girly stickers 😄)
CV Carbs really hurt throttle response at lower RPM's. The best fix is a pumper carb, but even a regular slide carb would be a big improvement.
Thanks for letting me borrow it!!! And I am still soooo sorry about the rim dings.
NVMCRIDER - Thanks for the info, I'm learning!
Battle scars add 5hp right?
@@TortureTestMagazine Are rim dings common here? my used 2012 KLX has a bad front rim ding, but its still holding! Thoughts?
king of reviews
I would appreciate, if you added compression ratio to the specs of the reviewed engines. Great review!
I had 2009 and then I put big bore 351 kit with pumper carb and absolutely regretted it . With the big bore and larger piston you loose top end speed. It did gain alot of low end torque, and after about 3 weeks the vibration got worse and worse..
love the dedicationo to this review
Thanks for watching!
Best reviews on TH-cam!
Get that 351cc big bore kit! She flies!
Great Review. Please tell us what tyres your running.
Thanks
Can you do a video on uncorking and modding your crf230f?
i had one of these and i have gotten a top speed of 103 mph laying on the tank with some mods
but that isn't terrible.
Im 150lbs got the same bike, i can get it to 85 pretty quick, faster than i saw you did on the hwy. Just bought the bike not sure it it has any upgrades
Awesome review, but chassis has a silent S at the end because it's derived from French. Like chassee
43mm USDs, pssshhh, vintage, we had those on the KX in the 90's. of course the klx250s and sf are still based on the old 90's klx250r and 300r.
Passing the Prius reminded me of riding my KLR650 on the mountain highways. LOL
I think LJ had over 20k on here KLX-SF? I don't know ad I think she sold it.
Good review man
The cough and die fuel gauge has gotten me before. Fortunately it happened right before getting on a freeway onramp and not during or after!
I had a 250cc bike, I had to get the RPMs way high in the lower gears to get the higher gears to do anything.
55 was its ok limit.
I could get it up to 80mph.
But i had to rip the engine to peaces to get it that high.
No more getting bikes under 600cc for me.
But if i was just using one as a dirt bike, 55mph was just fine.
Out in the dirt i was never going more the 30 mph anyways.
Very wheel done..information was relevant and useful..
lol on the Joey Mac and Vroom Vroom keychains :)
It's not the same bike, but it's similar. I have a 1989 klr250 with 23000 miles on it that's still going strong.
I've ridden one of those and I have to agree. The KLX feels like a modernized KLR250. The KLR250 is actually the first thing I was reminded of when riding this bike!
There is a huge difference in horsepower though. With the old klr being 26 or 28 horsepower. Can't remember exactly.
I have 30,000 miles on my 2009 klx 250sf
solid review, thanks!!
I dropped a klr650 carb, in mine and it felt like a different machine. still not the power i want so its for sale lol
My odometer doesnt display anything but the blue light is on.. can you help?
What is your opinion on the CRF250L? I'm considering getting a street/trail bike for the summer
You said you were lanky but did not give your height or weight, inseam, etc
can you do a bmw 650gs review? thank you
Yes u said it i had the 06 h model but was faster than must of the reviewed ones i could go up to 110 miles per hour and acepts sprockets changes too 42 is too lil could be 45 btter....
Nice bike, but I have heard many comments that many owners of this bike say that the weak point is the Cam Chain Tensioner. What is your opinion on this??
Yeah the chain tensioner does suck, all I did was buy a manual chain tensioner for ~$30
Please send a shift lever link cant ride 2 months now because shift levers iv ordered won't fit PLEASE HELP
The foot pegs are for people that ride with sandals.
How would this one do power wise with the new fuel injection?
how tall are you and what do you think about the klx300 on the dirt for 6'+ guys?keep up the good work!
+TheKlrman I'm 5'11ish. I haven't ridden the klx300 but I hope it's not as cramped as the klx250, which is ultra cramped
I have a 2009 klx 250s all it needs is a bigger sprocket
Hi , what tires ur using on it
you height? would it be too small for me im near 6'2
is that rear absorbed is 8 click rebound?
nice. didn't know they had a x. I've wanted a wr250x. Fuel injection ☺
I've ridden a WR250X and I thought it was impressive
Would you take the wr over the klx? Also did you feel the klx was smaller then the wr in oem setting?
Yes, the WR definitely! The KLX feels smaller, yes
amazing review
My 2018 KLX250 high beam is odd as it lights up the trees, the low beam is better
I'd like to see you review a dr650
+BeardedRancher thanks for watching! That is one bike that I am very much looking forward to getting my hands on.
what tires are those??
Is this bike slower than the yz250fx?
+Honda Cr 500 way, way, way, way, way slower
Frickin Jim's Frickin Adventures damn why so slow for reliability reason?
5:38 🥰
drift not draft
I own a 2010 klx 250 I 've took all the smog hoses off and caped off the opening s re jetted took air box off put a fmf a 4 on the exhaust . let say this the bike is day light and dark different it will now rip for what it is . I would say to every one that owns one you owe it to your self do the mods you want be sorry
So it's a miata
You lost me on "dual overhead cam..."
Why is that?
@@sciencemilitia1853
My bad. I was under the mistaken impression that the 250 Kawi thumper was a single cam engine, but have since learned better. I'm thinking about getting the new KLX250, and am now aware that it is 4 valve/twin cam... Sorry for the confusion on my part. I am not one of those "know it alls" who considers it inconceivable that I can be wrong, so I looked into it shortly after commenting.
@@michaellovell2518 Oh I didnt know either haha. I thought maybe you just disliked dual overhead cam engines for some reason. Thats why I asked lol
@@sciencemilitia1853
No, the modern engines are more complex than what I worked on back when Methuselah was a sprat, but while the increased complexity makes them slightly more difficult to work on, they more than make up for it with their increased reliability and efficiency. Dual overhead cams were one of the best things to ever happen to bike engines. In the old days, they were simpler, but we could expect to spend considerably more time tearing down top ends. I think they were mostly a necessity to deal with the extra valves per cylinder, but having two cams also splits the load between two cam chains, which helps to address the issue of lighter vs stronger chains. What's not to like? It's one of the advances in engine tech that helped manufacturers give us more power without sacrificing too much efficiency and reliability, which means we can go faster without breaking stuff, and burn less fuel doing it.
@@michaellovell2518 True, the dual overhead cam is not much more complex than a single overhead cam. Adds only one moving part, really. And they're actually using the same cam chain. One cam chain goes up and over both cam gears. But its not a very big deal. The cam chains last a long enough time to where its rarely a headache. It opened up a lot of options for orientation of the valves in the head, since intake and exhaust run on their own seperate cams. A lot of MFGs are still using SOHC in their 4T race models though. Its a minor nuance imo. Doesn't bother me either way.
Uy
S
F
J
Eh just get a 450 people
+HOT SHOT 1500 lol nah go straight for the busa xD
no fun then
HOT SHOT 1500 Will you pay the difference?
My interpretation=Buy a Honda
I’m going to put a big bore kit on my new klx250