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I know this is a KDX group but...anyone had a chance to ride the KLX250 Dual Purpose bike? Was wondering how it fares on trails compared to the KDX. Looks like they share the same frame and suspension for the most part....

The motor is enemic... not worth having IMO.

KLX250? Be like watchin paint dry in comparison to the KDX!

With knobby tires, the klx250 will be able to do the same trails as a kdx.

But not at the same speed.

Sometimes, I ride with a guy, he own a 2006 klx250.

Nice little all around bike to have fun...forget the performance.

Got a couple days? Click here.

Sounds like a great street legal short hop commuter and trail bike.

Never heard much of anything bad about 'em

Look pretty sweet too

Looks like the fully adjustable suspension is top notch - likely better than the kdx with its conventional forks (for 09 they actually reduced the travel to 10f and 9r -(I have my KX USD's setup at 10" on my KDX and they are stellar for my favorite tight trails). It's got much larger brakes than a KDX too. It is a little heavy tho at 260 +/-, but a much cheaper alternative to the Euro small bore DOT approved bikes. I'm sure interested - looks like they make a big-bore kit for it too - a 330 cc bolt-on kit. Hmmmm. I bet a person could easily shed some pounds off of the thing.
How bout a KLR-KDX hybrid? Hee hee. A two-smoke in a KLR chassis? The mind reels.... "why, yes officer, this machine is a fully emmision-compliant two-stroke. See the KIPS power-valve? That new two-stroke innovation was developed by one of Japan's most famous anti global-warming scientists, which was quickly integrated into the new line of two-stroke street motorcycles built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, leaders in the field of air quality research and innovation."

My brother has a 06 klx 250 it's nice bike on the street in the dirt it's no kdx but with some mods is a very capable 18 hp ripper. I have ridden this bike alot the 250 is all top end 6000-11000 rpm I always feel sorry for the bike. They have a vacuum slide carb like most street bikes that kills any throttle response you can put a pumper carb on it with some mods to the frame that is supposed to help I want too try one on his but have not yet. (It is a bear to get to the carb any way) The suspension is not as good as the stock kdx stuff he had a 04 kdx 200 before the klx and got the klx on looks kinda a sheep in wolfs clothing

Not a bad dual-sport I guess. It might not outperform a KDX on dirt but it will on the street. Just always thought of the DR-Z's as the king of street w/ a little trail riding. Worlds bettet than the new CRF230L

It sure is sharp!

Looks great.

garbage, wouldnt owe one and would nover ride one of those things...1st a 4 stroke and its a 250, its gutless in the low end from what i hear and would be useless in the trails. the forum someone posted said he fromerly rode a 650, thus a 250 would seem nimble and light, only its a pig compared to the KDX...My opinion

This bike is not a kdx. This is not a garbage.

kdxquebec wrote:This bike is not a kdx. This is not a garbage.

My thought also! Not a KDX but it is also "not garbage". Just depends on what you are looking for in a bike. More like an updated version of the Honda XL250 for those who remember that bike. Bike looks nice and if the majority of your time is commuting and your not into the tight single track very often and maybe like to ride with your small kids.

I'll tell you- I have a 2006 Suzuki DR650 with quite a few mods to make it as "off-road" as it can be- I think I'd rather have the KLX.
The DR weighs a TON- but I don't use it on the road much, so the benefit that the DR offers is wasted on me.

The honda 250 has bottom-end.

I'm seriously thinking about getting one (when they get here supposedly in december). I think with a few mods it can work in single track. The weight is 260 or so, which is still about 40 lbs less than the DRZ400S (which I owned for a couple of years) - that is significant. If you can trim 10-15 lbs off it you're right in the hunt. That DRZ was just too heavy, at 300 lbs, to do any tight work.
My experience is that if you can at least loft the front wheel to clear stuff at low speed you can go just about anywhere. Total HP is not that important unless you're racing someone of like skill.

This is the only DP bike made by the japanese with cartridge USD's (other than the WR I just found out about). The rear brake is very large also, which is a big deal for me.

Well, mebbe, mebbe not. Right off the bat the yamaha is about 15 lbs heavier and 1000 bucks more. It is great that the Japanese are bringing the dual sport 250's into this century. The more the merrier.
Yamaha is fuel injected with an aluminum frame (BFD) - Kawi is carbureted- hence much of the price difference I bet.

Yamaha rear disc = 220
Kaw rear disc = 240

Both 6 speeds - for 08 kawi tightened up 5th to 6th.

WR 250's aren't known for low-end either, although the 07 model was much improved.

I bet for the extra grand the yamaha runs I can get a 320 bolt on kit (<500) for the KLR and more and have a dream bike.

Check out the seat thickness comparatively too...my 03 YZ250F got the boot because I couldn't get comfortable with the ergo's (even with expensive mods) - one instance of which was that the seat goes very thin to nothing at the rear. The KLR is nearly 2 inches lower (35" +/-) at the seat and has a thicker seat with firmer (for this year) foam - the same foam density as on my 08 KLR 650 which is primo.

Of course, we'll have to see how the real things perform to draw firm conclusions - but I do prefer green as a color.

It has a rear rack for a six pack cooler!! I'll take it!