Any thought on the 310? 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. I'm going to go out on a limb and say you haven't. 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. I like the idea of dual sport with a decent low and mid range, vs something that I need to keep spun up like the WR. Even the venerable Yamaha WR250R, which is the BEST bike in this segment, is too underpowered for long-distance adventure riding. Full details here. 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). Smooth, precise and predictable low rpm throttle response is critical for riders new to motorcycling, and all three bikes have just thatexcellent throttle response. Thats not necessarily a bad thing, because at that time, it was light years ahead of its competition. Its 2.1-gallon fuel tank, 256mm (front) and 220mm (rear) disc brakes, non-adjustable suspension and its digital meter. Early morning temperatures were in the 40s Fahrenheit, so I was definitely feeling the chill on my non-insulated leather gloves without any hand guards. And boy is it underwhelming. Start it again, work for a bit, quit again. Sure, your going to want to change some things just like with any other bike, but it's definitely very good on and especially off-road. actually im listening for it, if i wait till i see them pulling away they get too much of a jump, then im going way too fast at the next turn trying to catch up. A sub all about riding dual sports or dual sporting rides. I think this sounds like the perfect bike for you. These things are are as unobtainium as 9mm ammo in the Pac Norwest USA. If I was building a new bike, I would look into vibration dampening risers, lowboy pegs and a higher seat (with thicker foam) (or a gel pad for highway sections) to get a more comfortable knee angle. Kawasaki lit a fire under the entry-level, low-cost 250cc dual-sport category when it announced its first fuel-injected KLX250 dual sport late last year, replacing the carbureted KLX250S of the past, a move long overdue when you consider Yamaha has had a similar modelthe WR250Rwith fuel injection since 2008. Make an informed choice after head-on comparison including price, user reviews, detailed specs, features, color(s), performance, reviews and safety features. Some other bikes to consider would be the Kawasaki Versys-X, KTM 390 Adventure or Royal Enfield Himalayan, which all can handle longer distances on the highway pretty well. if my wr is a dog, then whats that say about a bike like the 690 that doesnt run away from my "dog"? It has a smooth throttle, great clutch feel and stable chassis which lets you inch through technical terrain with ease. I am 63 as well and the KLX was more or less ok, but not perfect. support@quickglobalexpress.com Mon - Sat 8.00 - 18.00. Kawasaki KLX 250 vs Yamaha WR250 R - Which bike should you buy? The wheelbase is fairly compact at 56.7 inches and it has a modest (for dirt bike standards) 10.8 inches of ground clearance. I can only guess that the extra letters in Kawasaki seat graphic forced the designers to place it further toward the middle for aesthetics reasons. (now 302lbs), even with the new exhaust. Chuck on an exhaust system, dyno tune, bash plate, tail tidy and hand guards and this should be a pretty decent bike. And, it got a major facelift. Price $5,699 Kawasaki KLX230R Kawasaki KLX230R at that point i was at the top of first and bounced off the rev limiter. a couple times even! Have you ridden a yz450 side-by-side with a wr450? Please, somebody, give us a new mid-displacement dual sport! Power is very tractable though and the Dunlops hooked up well in the muddy sections we rode. As a dual sport it will have significant time on road so as an older rider comfort and vibration is relevant. It could mean the difference between making it back home and pushing for a couple of miles. 325249553504 But i sure dont want a plastic bottom frame like Husky now has. KLX300S has Adjustable Suspension Unlike the Honda, the Kawa KLX300S has adjustable suspension in the front and the rear. Generous use of steel; from the footpegs, to the foot controls, fuel tank, kickstand, and 7/8 handlebars, theres a lot of things on the bike that magnets stick to. 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. Braking performance on the trail was pretty good too. Much appreciated Jerry. Hopefully Suzuki will surprise us with one of its own 250cc entry-level dual-sport bike some day so we can do this comparison all over again. Hoping Yamaha comes out with a WR300. Sudah pasti ketiganya punya kelebihan dan kekurangan masing-masing. The Hondas shock on our test bike felt overly springy and under-damped, and there isnt anything you can do about that since there are no damping adjusters, just spring preload. For those riders who dont have a vehicle that can carry a bike, the KLX300 is about as smooth of a small single as you can get for short stints on the highway enroute to the trails. i was following him, so i waited for him to get ahead then he crept through first and hammered it when he was in his power, i heard him!! Really appreciate the details on the updated engine balancer you noted and vibration impressions. 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 does the wr engine make more hp than a yz? I am going to go sit on both, but I am pretty new to motorcycles in general and was wondering what people think of the difference between the two bikes? Dirt Bikes. KLX 300R Ultimate Trail Bike For Off-Road Thrills 2022 KLX 300R SPECS GALLERY ACCESSORIES & MERCHANDISE OFFERS COMPARE LOCATE A DEALER MSRP $5,699 $400 SAVINGS Destination Charge $435 Freight and Materials Surcharge $300 Dealer sets the actual destination charge, your price may vary. so i hammered for all the wr was worth to try and keep up! but you might prefer the KLX for price and comfort. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. As a result, wheel base has been extended by 0.4 of an inch. Lets find out! The all new KLX 300 dual sport is essentially EXACTLY the same as the current KLX250S, except with a bored out motor and some extremely minor updates. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); https://www.instagram.com/onthebackwheel/. Enter the KLX300, Kawasakis replacement of its 250cc dual sport first introduced in 2006, which returned to the lineup in 2018 after a three-year hiatus with the addition of fuel injection, refinements to its suspension and a new digital dash. Would love to read your write up the CRF300 and the comparison. Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device The KLXs fuel injection is a major improvement over the previous carbureted KLX. The WR checks all of the boxes I'm looking for except the engine. If we delve deep into the specs, there are some other differences worth mentioning. The WRR with an exhaust, airbox mods, and a FI tuner is in the 28-29hp range, so I don't think you'll be missing anything except the kick-starter. (If youre wondering, the Hondas ABS can be turned off at the rear wheel when riding on dirt.). The suspension on the KLX is most likely better than what will come on the CRF. Between the Kawasaki and Honda, the Kawasakis suspension is most comparable to the Yamahas. One pet peeve I have with this bike had to be the seat strap being placed right in the middle of the seat though, which makes it impossible to avoid sitting on it. Some things to mention about the bike: ). Jeff Allen. Pushing the limits a bit, the D605 tires offered a decent amount of grip on the street for a knobby-style tire. So what matters is how it feels in the parts for which you buy it off-road. In comparison, the KLX250Sthe Yamahas number-one competitor at the timesold for about a $1000 less. The 43 mm inverted cartridge-style front fork has compression damping adjustability, while the Uni-Trak rear suspension has a gas-charged shock with preload and rebound damping adjustments. What are your thoughts? I bought an unsold CB300R to put in my stable next to my DR650. In addition, the new KLX300 receives slimmer-profile radiators, optimized ignition timing and engine balancer, updated gear ratios and some additional suspension tweaks on the damping. It doesnt make you wait for it Just a steady stream of mild power throughout the RPM range. The CRFs seat height is a good half-inch lower than the KLXs and a full two inches lower than the WRs. Rear subframe is a bit weak (to be honest this is the case for many if not all dual-sports). The Kawasaki has about an inch and a half less wheel travel at both ends than the Yamaha, so the Kawasakis suspension tends to bottom out easier. The KLX300 motor is a re-sleeved KLX250S motor that has been around since Adam was a boy, and that engine has legendary reliability. Im not looking to go super fast just looking to upgrade from a TW 200. I speculated a while back that the KLX300S was going to follow the KLX300R, and here it is. jjm525, Do you actually own a WR or TE610 or even ride for that matter? I want the new motor version even more. It is nearly impossible to plate in NC. the suspension matters more than the dash imo. The damping is good and so is the bottoming resistance, even for a rider of my size (215 pounds without gear). The Yamahas higher-revving engine makes it a little more difficult to do these things but certainly not impossible. Sign in with Facebook. So why am I so disappointed. All three bikes, especially the Yamaha, would be better off with lower final drive gearing for riding on dirt. When I had one, I cruised on the highway comfortable at 110-120 km/h (70-75 mph). 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. After a chilly morning ride, exiting the freeway was a big relief and we soon got onto some backcountry roads that traveled through scenic rolling hills. 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