got another KLX250

[Finesse]

picked up this 2009 KLX250s to add to my collection. it has about 8,100 miles and was loved at some point in its life, but not recently. it has a full two brothers exhaust, ebc skid plate, fancy radiator guard, acerbis hand guards, pelican case, big gas tank, pro taper bars... but the tab on the frame for the exhaust mount is broken off, the header wasnt really even mounted to the motor, it was puking oil out the top of the motor and had like none actually in the motor, and sounded like it was about to blow up. lo and behold when I looked at it, I found a huge chunk missing from the cam chain tensioner, and it was laying at the bottom of the motor intact about 1/4 inch from the water pump sprocket so I ordered a cam chain tensioner, cam chain, camshaft sprockets, and hope for the best. it was running when I got it, but sounded HORRIBLE and wouldn't idle. it also needs brakes, chain and sprockets, tires, a few other misc parts. paid $1200, clean title! the plan is to use it as a dirtbike and possibly flat track when I figure out which tires need to go on which wheels

[sharky nrk]

SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nickjpass]

very nice.

[subxero]

assuming you are planning on getting it tagged so you can ride it to and from offroading areas as opposed to hauling it as an off road only machine?

Point being, if you are not planning on getting it tagged then IMO it would make sense to sell it after you get it fixed up for some profit and then buy an off road specific model.

Either way decent pick up

[Finesse]

Originally Posted by subxero

assuming you are planning on getting it tagged so you can ride it to and from offroading areas as opposed to hauling it as an off road only machine?

Point being, if you are not planning on getting it tagged then IMO it would make sense to sell it after you get it fixed up for some profit and then buy an off road specific model.

Either way decent pick up

Definitely planning on getting it street legal. There are places to ride offroad near where I live in Pittsburgh, and I don't have a trailer or any other way to haul a bike there. Also, I wanted a street legal dual sport so my bf can come ride trails with me when he visits, or any other friends, etc! If I was looking for an offoad-only, not street legal bike, I probably would have looked for a kx250f or honda 150r.. but I might not be ready for one of those yet

[subxero]

I can see the advantage to just being able to get on your bike and go ride to some off road and have at it.

You would be good on any of those bikes the 250f mx bikes are easy to ride, just a little high in the seat, obviously there are things to help with that or just don't stop and it's not a problem :thumbsup:

The 250f mx bikes are fast don't get me wrong, not super quick though, nothing they do happens all that fast. If you want to go fast on one you need to make it a point to hammer it down and keep it there for a couple seconds, but once they are revved up they scoot.

[Finesse]

Replaced the camshaft sprockets, cam chain, cam chain tensioner, and adjusted the valves (3 times to get the right clearance... it's hard being bad at math..) and now the bike runs pretty well. The motor sounds super quiet. The cam chain was significantly longer than it should have been and the sprockets had a lot of wear on the teeth. It still needs a jet kit and a new exhaust stud and the frame welded back together but those things will have to wait until my shoulder heals. It was entirely worth the $160 I had to spend on motor parts, but I got lucky!

[EternalNewb]

Nice! Congrats on the new acquisition, and on getting the bike running well.

[Finesse]

the bike still needs a lot of work and I'm running out of time and money!

here's what it needs after fixing the motor, cleaning the disgusting air filter, re-jetting and cleaning the carb, replacing the front tire, and un-sticking the stuck front caliper slider.

-chain and sprockets
-rear brake rotor and pads
-front and rear brake fluid
-handlebars
-all four turn signals
-frame welded at exhaust pipe mounting tab
-exhaust stud in cylinder head replaced
-clutch and brake levers
-upper headlight fairing
-new air filter/airbox/install VM34 carb instead?
-new grips
-friction plates
-another oil change

I think that's it... not that bad, just don't really have time right now and when I have the time, I don't have the money!

[JohnnyBravo]

Sweet ride, best of luck with it

[verboten1]

Nice, sounds like you are getting it. In shape! Good work!

[Finesse]

Finally... it's almost acceptable!

In addition to the motor work (replacing cam chain, camshaft sprockets, cam chain tensioner, and adjusting the valves), I did these things..

-Lower internally by putting a 2" spacer underneath the fork top-out springs (required taking the forks completely apart and replaced all bushings, seals, and o-rings)
-Lower with links in the rear 1.75" made by Moose Racing
-Replace the chain and sprockets
-Replace front and rear wheel bearings
-Replace upper front headlight cover
-Clean/lube all suspension linkages (required taking the shock out, which required taking the airbox off, which required taking the exhaust off)
-Clean/grease inner wheel spacers which were, as the pic shows, horrendous

My rear axle and front sprocket were both hand tight.. actually, the rear wheel was so loose that the rear brake didn't work due to the caliper constantly moving around and not being held in place by the tightness of the axle. Everything on this bike is disgusting and in need of service. I need to take my rear axle somewhere with a wire wheel to clean it up, it is so damaged by lack of grease and lack of maintenance.

Anyway, it's about 2" lower and rides much better -- the rear end feels like it's attached to the bike, which is nice. It rained all day here in Pittsburgh but hopefully I'll have a chance to test it out in the dirt soon! enjoy pics

[CaliGrrl]

Sheesh, good thing that poor sad bike has you to help her!

["A"]

I have a street legal (kickstart-only) 99 KLX300 in my garage since 2012.
With the trailhead just 1/2 mi. from my driveway, I keep full knobbies on it.

Been trying to fit a KLX650 rear wheel (with cush-drive) to the KLX300, so that chain/sprocket life can be extended somewhat.. especially for pavement usage.
Still need to make some rear axle spacers to get the spacing corrected.

KLX300 has been pretty easy to work on, one of the main reason it's kept in my garage.. just that hot start gets difficult in the hot summer days... kicking it over takes some voodoo magic.

[Finesse]

^Sweet!!! I wish they had made the KLX250 with a kick starter. I also like the downward-angling rear fender of the 300. Nice looking bike!