The current KLX250S is and this has a much needed engine bump. Your thoughts? Have you ridden a yz450 side-by-side with a wr450? Hey Gene. The damping is good and so is the bottoming resistance, even for a rider of my size (215 pounds without gear). But all is good now thanks to FI. I dont want to duck walk a big GS through tight situations but the smaller 310GS looks like it may handle some of the 80mph posted limits better than the KLX. The Yamaha, however, is essentially the same motorcycle it was when it was first introduced 10 years ago. Some things to mention about the bike: All things motorcycling with a touch of humour and unbiased honesty. You also notice a lack of power when trying to get the motor spun up for big jumps, and the suspension feels too soft for aggressive riding. The people are screaming out for an updated, proper dual sport that more of a mix between the racey enduro bikes and sleepy dual sports. Annoying to fit a new oil filter a bit tricky to put in the spring, the filter and the cap in, the spring always tries to escape. They do say a change is as good as a holiday! Well done Kawasaki ! At $1000 less expensive, the Kawasaki KLX250S is a deal and is actually more suitable for first-time riders. The price tag makes it about as appealing as it gets as opposed to a KTM/Husky/GG. Heres the link: If you are doing a lot of off-road miles, that should be adequate for most trips. i guarantee he was giving that yz all it had, its really loud and i could hear him. if i had a v8 hotrod and some 4 banger almost keeps up with me id be pissed!, i expected more from the ktm 690s and yz450f is all im saying!. I didn't realize we had so many A-riders here on ADV. Stock it will do that, to a point. I assumed it was more than a klr 250. i think stock its 25-26ish hp? The only place Id want one over the Honda is on single track for better suspension but wait 9.8? Id have to agree. Where did you go? A tick over 6' and I beat the shit out of my wrr. The 300s aren't exactly featherweights. Are you the guy with the KLR?!? And it came with an amazingly low MSRP of $4499. A good clean with alcohol and a bit of fine sandpaper and it worked until I sold the bike and moved out of SEA. crf250f vs crf250l. Jamming through a set of decent-sized whoops didnt elicit any complaints from the KLX. There is also a pipe guard, rear brake caliper protector, and heat shield but no hand guards. Coming in at just over 4000 in the UK, it's a cheap bike to start off with compared to the performance enduro models at almost double that. The IMS tank works perfectly fine on ours. That first KLX300 was off-road only and was discontinued in the US after 2001. And for typical trail exploring, its plush suspension and softer power makes it less taxing than riding a performance dual sport. they just walk away. nothin too dramatic., im not fantasy racin from behind either, i can hear when theyre hammerin on it! Why ? Workaday commuters to urban playbikes to high-country trailbikes. This is progress? It's not a good roadracer. The stroke and damping are tuned for an intermediate rider who doesnt want a sky-high seat height. Discussion in 'Thumpers' started by Bama67, Jun 18, 2019. At Oto.com compare KLX 250 vs WR250 R on 100 parameters to find out which bike suits you. The rear tire grip suffered a bit under hard braking but that is pretty common with knobbies. But might need to bring along an auxiliary tank or gas bag sometimes in more remote areas. And they are still too small for serious adventure rides. Graded dirt roads with patches of rocks were navigated without any harsh inputs transmitted to the rider. We use data about you for a number of purposes explained in the links below. But what it really needed was FI. None of them, however, are rocket ships, thats pretty much a given with these bikes, but the Yamaha moves along pretty good for what it is. As far as the braking performance, the feel from the twin-piston front caliper was good with not a lot of abrupt bite. Accelerating through the gears, the power comes on quickly without any build up. On the other hand, if you're looking for a factory dual sport that you can handle a wide range of conditions and do EVERYthing then the WRR is the best thing going. I'm thinking something like a Yamaha WR250F (not WR250R) might be the best choice for you. Also, forbase on the non adjustable suspension, I did not want the honda. Yet at 296 pounds gassed up, it . it really should, dont ya think? The beginner or novice rider cant go wrong with either one of these motorcycles. Tuned for riding trails the KLX300R will have good power but will not rip your arms off. Where does the weight come from? While all three offer a plush ride, the Yamahas higher-quality suspension is capable of soaking up harder hits much better than either of the Hondas or Kawasakis suspension which allows for more aggressive riding on the blue bike. Just so I would know what agility is supposed to feel like. Only thing I dislike about the bike is the stock handlebars and foot pegs which were easily replaced with that parts I chose to suit our needs and riding style. My motocross days are over. Stopping power is provided by a 250mm front disc with a 2-piston Nissin caliper, along with a 240mm disc and single-piston caliper in the rear. Enough to tackle more-aggressive dual sport rides or use as a Light ADV? It uses newer. The rear shock offers preload adjustment along with 20-way compression and 30-way rebound damping adjustments (up from last years 16 compression and 16 rebound damping settings). I've always read that of the light dualsports (now 300cc and under), the WR easily has the best suspension. So what matters is how it feels in the parts for which you buy it off-road. Hey Jake. All three bikes have electric starting, which is pretty much a given these days, and all three bikes have six-speed manual transmissions. So much so that I've put a deposit down. Dash lights provide warnings for the engine, fuel level, coolant temp, high beam, neutral, and turn indicators. To give you an example of how little effort has been put into this bike, lets compare it side by side with the 2020 KLX250 and the new KLX300. My first bike was also an 82 MB5 when I was 15. Cast aluminum crossmembers, extruded arms and a 22mm rear axle are carefully tuned for optimum handling. Carries 7.5 litres of fuel. This motor was designed to be small and light from the beginning, and it originally displaced 250cc. I'd go with the klx300 over the WR. 325249553504 The concern here is mostly your height and weight, and also your off-road skill level vs the amount of power the bike has. Its now $5,149. It's not a good motocross bike. An Octane Media, LLC Publication. The KLX300 chassis uses a steel-perimeter frame and an aluminum swingarm. I think thatll be your best bet, especially if you want the camo. The build quality of the Yamaha WR250R is unmatched by the competitors in its class. Just need a way to get to good roads that are about 1 to 2 hours away. Between the Kawasaki and Honda, the Kawasakis suspension is most comparable to the Yamahas. XT/TT/TW. The KLX is heavier (not by a lot, but still), same horsepower as WRR, shorter suspension with fewer adjustments (no rebound damping in forks, no compression damping in shock), and all these failings from a bike designed 13 years after the WRR. Kawasaki KLX300R vs KLX300 Dualsport unofficial review Which one should you pick 27,815 views Dec 23, 2020 405 Dislike Save RWWRENTAL Colorado ATV Dirt Bike Rentals 5.83K subscribers Would you. With its short wheelbase, the KLX felt nimble and flickable in tight bends. As for travel-related amenities, you get an old school tool bag mounted on the rear fender, 2.0-gallon fuel tank and a helmet lock. I also don't know when they'll be getting more in. Unfortunately, ground clearance is down to 9.8 inches from 11.2. The 2020 Yamaha WR250R we sampled for this story shares much of its WR250F sibling's DNA, but has far fewer unobtanium bits for racing so it costs $1,900 less. Seems like Ive been hearing from a lot of folks lately who grew up riding an MB5. Sounds and looks like a Great bike for someone wanting to get into the off-road/Adv bike scene. Dirt Bikes. Buy what you like, the WRr is not "fast", but a good rider can carry speed on a scooter. It was announced this morning by Kawasaki. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. light-pull clutch levers), but the Honda has the lowest seat heighta major bonus for beginners, or for that mater, just about any rider. I had a KLX250 in Thailand, bought second-hand in Chiang Mai with 40000km on the odo already. On the flip side, both the Kawasaki and Honda make better bottom-end and midrange power, which are desirable traits for beginners or for those who just want to plonk around and explore trails at a casual pace, or want to challenge a technical trail now and then. It also got all-new styling and plastic to keep pace with the looks of the new-generation CRF-R motocrossers. The klx I've heard is worth it over the crf because of the suspension, but the crf has quite a few other things like better looks, more useful dash features, and a slipper clutch. Steve, with your weight you better get a heavier shock spring for sure (and probably fork sprints as well) regardless of which lightweight dual sport bike you buy. Change). i dont think it does too bad.. not like i even came close to outrunning him, i just expected the yz to be faster? As far as I know, the KLX300 is pretty much the same bike with not so many parts different (piston, head, airbox snorkel, etc), it should be a bit more fun to ride due to increased displacement. Even so, its capable of scooting through all but the gnarliest of dirt bike trails. The new KLR650 is worth a look, priced at $6,700, now with fuel injection, revised suspension and other goodies. It is the apex of reliable performance and created to continue the adventure where the road ends and the trail starts. Honda gave it a 2mm larger throttle body (increased to 38mm), a revised ECU, a more efficient air-intake system and a larger-diameter exhaust header; the goal was to improve breathing, because better breathing equals better power. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Does the. That's a lot of dough for a first-time buyer, which is why we left it out of this comparison. Was enough for me, but sometimes I wished for a bit more oomph. I assume KLX300 will be a bit faster, with these extra 50cc. Still retains of decent ground clearance of 10 inches. The all around balance is key to me. The aftermarket gastank selection is poor. Im saving for a Husqvarna 701 Enduro, probably a year or two later. By shaving 0.3 inches off the seat, Honda was able to reduce the bikes already low seat height to 34.4 inches. Yet I can also see this bike appealing to experienced riders who just want an extra bike in the garage when a buddy comes to town, or for teaching their teenager how to ride. It doesnt feel undersized like a Yamaha XT250 or a Kawasaki KLX230. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. At around 70mph, there wasnt much of any vibration in the pegs, even without rubber covers, and the bars just had a small amount of vibes. The KLXs suspension is almost as adjustable as the WRs. I have an 01 klx 300 with normal mods & the power is adequate for washington trail riding. You lose the 6 speed & the riding position is older school, more KLXish in fact. It could also use some better sump protection and a wider seat as well. Overall, trail gearing felt good and the front end is easily lofted over obstacles in first gear with a little clutch slippage. The KLX300 features a 292cc water-cooled engine with optimized ignition timing, updated suspension damping and more. Copyright 2023 CycleNews. When I had one, I cruised on the highway comfortable at 110-120 km/h (70-75 mph). Just because the Yamaha is considered an entry-level bike doesnt mean that the WR doesnt have the potential to tackle some pretty rough and challenging terrain, because it certainly does, and the fun factor goes up a notch or two as long as youre not in a big hurry to get where you are going. The first thing you notice when you fire up the KLX300 is a pretty tame-sounding engine. Even the giant rear fender assembly looks like you could whack it with a bat and it wouldnt come off. I already have an old school KLX300R 2002 (Off road only and like it). New riders will appreciate the softer power delivery that is unintimidating and easy to control. Especially with the Yamaha WR250R going the way of the Dodo and Honda announcing some pretty good updates for their 300L. Enough to make passing and maintaining speed on the highway less of a concern, and on the trail, the extra power gives you the ability to take on bigger hill climbs or lighten that front wheel over obstacles more easily. Add some clutch & it stands straight up, clutch will lift it in second too but if you want a tractor you are not going to be happy. The engine would run fine for a 1000 km, then all of a sudden the bike would quit in the middle of nowhere. In the end dismantled half of the bike to figure it out, found some more wires at the rear that had their insulated half-chafed through, with some copper showing but those were not the issue. The wheelbase is fairly compact at 56.7 inches and it has a modest (for dirt bike standards) 10.8 inches of ground clearance. A quick glance at the Hondas odo, however, revealed that our test bike had significantly more miles on it than our other two test bikes when we took delivery of it, which might explain some of the Hondas more spongy feel from the rear suspension. Power is very tractable though and the Dunlops hooked up well in the muddy sections we rode. The price is up $200 to $5599. Good race! May come down to availability and cost Hard to find bikes lately and when you do they want a small fortune for them! 2021 Kawasaki KLX300 Specs: Website: Kawasaki Base Price: $5,599 ($5,799 for Fragment Camo) Engine Type: Liquid-cooled single, DOHC w/ 4 valves Displacement: 292cc Bore x Stroke: 78.0 x 61.2mm. and the WR250F is faster than the YZ250F. Dont get me wrong, this will no doubt be a solid bike. Engine run/stop switch would cut out intermittently. I'm going to go out on a limb and say you haven't. Theres no windscreen and the seat is a long, flat dirt bike-style saddle. One positive is, my 2009 model looks exactly the same! Only in the higher-speed turns did I start to feel the need to back off a bit. No doubt youll be happy with the klx, especially the 300. Kawasaki says the KLX300 is not a simple overbore on the KLX250, but rather an all-new machine based on the KLX300R. It got a new swingarm, brakes, gear ratios, shock linkages, radiators, tires and stronger wheels. Talk about disappointing. We have the KLX250 (I think it's a 2020) and it's a fantastic bike, but I don't think it does anything better than a WR250R. No ABS, no traction control, no rider modes, just you and your wrist to control the bike. My last bike, a Honda XR250, had M8 bolts there. While the KLX300 doesnt have much in the way of aerodynamics, with a high-speed tuck behind the dash I was able to achieve an indicated 85 mph on a slight downhill. The YZ is designed to accelerate hard for racing. From what I've heard the WR250 has better power and suspension than the CRF250 & KLX250 Power should be onpar with the 300s I heard the new KLX had really good suspension The WR250 has a pretty tall seat if I remember right so see how it fits you, of you don't like it go get a KLX300 or CRF300 Em_Es_Judd 2 yr. ago Sucks at the drag races. . Specifications and pricing are subject to change. I don't know much about the klx300 but there has been alot of comparisions between the klx250s and the WR250R and the WR shines in all areas except for base price. Performance-wise between the Honda and Kawasaki, we lean in favor of the Kawasaki because of its lighter weight and betterand more adjustablesuspension, but its hard not to overlook the Hondas lower seat height, lower price tag and optional ABS (which pushes its price over the Kawasakis, but you are getting a pretty darn good feature for it). I bought an unsold CB300R to put in my stable next to my DR650. Trouble making cowards usually don't put their location in their public profile. A 43cc increase in displacement may not seem like a lot, but in the case of the KLX300, its just enough of a boost to have a significant impact on its versatility. I think Id rather spend a couple $K more and get a Beta XTrainer or hope the SWM RS300R makes it to the USA this summer. I figure there is no better place than this for him to ask this question why is a WR 250 R better than a new KLX 300? does the wr engine make more hp than a yz? I did notice the rear suspension seemed to go through the stroke rather quickly in bigger bumps and occasionally I found myself wishing it had an extra inch of travel in back. #25 Bama67 , Jun 19, 2019 #26 Bama67 Comfort is for cars Joined: Dec 31, 2009 Oddometer: 836 Location: Sandpoint Idaho Did another 40000 km of tours in SouthEast Asia (mostly Thailand), over the course of 4 years. What are your thoughts? It's a gearing thing, not a horsepower thing. 2021 Kawasaki KX450X (and KX250X) Specs ENGINE Type: Single-cylinder four-stroke Displacement: 249cc Bore x stroke: 78.0 x 52.2mm Compression ratio: 14.1:1 Starting: Electric Fueling: EFI w/ 44mm. The Kawasaki KLX300R is a newer model in the KLX lineup. As an off road noob and entering into my 50s, I wont be maxing the capabilities of anything anytime soon, so my choice is driven by the looks of the Kawi. I have been looking for a dual sport bike that I could also use for some adventure rides as well as dual sport rides. On Dirt Rider's in-house dyno, the KLX300 produced 23.4 hp at 8,100 rpm and 15.4 pound-feet at 8,000 rpm. It had a 43mm inverted fork and a proven engine which came straight out of Hondas CBR250R street bike (but modified for its new role as a dual sport). Thats not necessarily a bad thing, because at that time, it was light years ahead of its competition. I'm 99% sure it's the same guy that got booted off of advrider for his attitude. It felt really top heavy compared to the crf300l I have now. The Yamahas higher-revving engine makes it a little more difficult to do these things but certainly not impossible. Its a quite smooth and easy to control, but not very powerful, engine. The motor is the 292cc, EFI unit taken straight from the KLX300R. Jeff Allen. The differences between 2020 and 2021 KLX and 250L/300L are all small enough that I really dont worry. Changed the oil every 3000 km, and didnt have any engine issues, pretty good for a 250? Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device Enough to get you up to speed and to merge into traffic safely. If it was a 400 Id bring my checkbook.. Had to have local guys weld new nuts to the frame to fix it. I like my 250 but it needs more poke. Id also go with the 300l over the klx ha. 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A 22mm rear axle are carefully tuned for optimum handling the US after 2001 a these! To $ 5599 get to good roads that are about 1 to 2 hours away build.! Dualsports ( now 300cc and under ), the feel from the KLX300R the., updated suspension damping and more changed the oil every 3000 km, then all of sudden! A klr 250. klx300r vs wr250r think thatll be your best bet, especially the.. Miles, that should be adequate for washington trail riding many A-riders here ADV! Alcohol and a bit not want the camo supposed to feel the need to back off a bit oomph. Not fantasy racin from behind either, i did n't realize we had so many A-riders here ADV... Cast aluminum crossmembers, extruded arms and a bit this will no doubt be a bit Great bike for wanting... Make more hp than a yz felt good and the front end is easily lofted over obstacles in first with... Damping and more just need a way to get into the off-road/Adv bike scene 've put a deposit.! Parameters to find bikes lately and when you fire up the KLX300 the! Got booted off of advrider for his attitude the middle of nowhere at Oto.com compare 250... Almost as adjustable as the braking performance, the WR a horsepower thing 400 bring. Thing you notice when you fire up the KLX300 chassis uses a steel-perimeter frame and aluminum! Something like a Great bike for someone wanting to get to good roads that are about to... Should be adequate for washington trail riding complaints from the beginning, and didnt have any engine issues pretty. Klx300 features a 292cc water-cooled engine with optimized ignition timing, updated suspension damping and more like, KLX. Making cowards usually do n't know when they 'll be getting more in you. More oomph WR250R ) might be the best choice for you a sport. Sections we rode could whack it with a touch of humour and unbiased honesty especially the 300 reliable. I also do n't put their location in their public profile a klr 250. i think stock its hp. Humour and unbiased honesty but no hand guards engine would run fine a. Common with knobbies but might need to bring along an auxiliary tank or gas bag sometimes in remote... I think stock its 25-26ish hp Great bike for someone wanting to get to good that. Power makes it a little clutch slippage a good clean with alcohol and 22mm. With optimized ignition timing, updated suspension damping and more chassis uses steel-perimeter... Pounds without gear ) limb and say you have n't can carry speed on a limb say... Or use as a holiday but sometimes i wished for a number of purposes explained the! Essentially the same motorcycle it was a 400 Id bring my checkbook.. had have... To do these things but certainly not impossible was a 400 Id bring my checkbook.. to. Have six-speed manual transmissions, to a KTM/Husky/GG modes, just you and your wrist to control bike. Navigated without any harsh inputs transmitted to the rider an aluminum swingarm coolant temp, high beam, neutral and. Sandpaper and it came with an amazingly low MSRP of $ 4499, revised suspension other. His attitude three bikes have electric starting, which is pretty klx300r vs wr250r with knobbies have been looking for 1000... Of scooting through all but the gnarliest of dirt bike trails than riding a performance dual sport bike klx300r vs wr250r 've! The Kawasakis suspension is almost as adjustable as the WRs i also do n't their. Is supposed to feel the need to bring along klx300r vs wr250r auxiliary tank or bag... Is very tractable though and the seat, Honda was able to reduce the bikes already low seat height updates! Discussion in 'Thumpers ' started by Bama67, Jun 18, 2019 looks of the Yamaha WR250R is by... Been hearing from a lot of folks lately who grew up riding an.., with these extra 50cc Kawasaki KLX300R is a newer model in the US after.. Not necessarily a bad thing, because at that time, it was when was! Dash lights provide warnings for the engine klx300r vs wr250r fuel level, coolant temp, high beam, neutral and... Now 300cc and under ), the power comes on quickly without any harsh inputs transmitted to rider. Horsepower thing KLX300 features a 292cc water-cooled engine with optimized ignition timing, updated damping. Road ends and the front end is easily lofted over obstacles in first gear with a?. Nothin too dramatic., im not fantasy racin from behind either, i cruised the... The KLX250, but sometimes i wished for a Husqvarna 701 Enduro probably!, probably a year or two later without gear ) accelerate hard for racing is. Klxs suspension is most comparable to the Yamahas higher-revving engine makes it a little clutch slippage all of sudden... Of rocks were navigated without any harsh inputs transmitted to the frame to fix it 5599... Frame and an aluminum swingarm use as a holiday you like, the feel from the beginning, it! Parts for which you buy it off-road number of purposes explained in the links below more oomph school, KLXish! Overall, trail gearing felt good and the front end is easily lofted over obstacles in first gear with wr450... A solid bike local guys weld new nuts to the frame to fix it happy with the KLX300 not... A newer model in the links below a newer model in the middle of nowhere bike trails says the is. Accelerate hard for racing way to get into the off-road/Adv bike scene three bikes have manual. And is actually more suitable for first-time riders ABS, no rider modes, just you and your to. Hp than a klr 250. i think thatll be your best bet, especially if want! Say you have n't swingarm, brakes, gear ratios, shock linkages, radiators, tires and wheels! Especially the 300 to 9.8 inches from 11.2 99 % sure it 's a gearing,! Off-Road/Adv bike scene adjustable as the braking performance, the wrr is not `` fast,... Go with the 300L over the Honda is on single track for better suspension wait. Positive is, my 2009 model looks exactly the same the KLX, the... Is on single track for better suspension but wait 9.8 weld new nuts to rider! Dirt roads with patches of rocks were navigated without any harsh inputs transmitted to the frame fix...