I bought an '06 KLX250s with low miles earlier this year. It got me to my license and a little more. I've put around 1100 miles on it over the past two months and I really don't think it is the bike I need. I do bounce down the trails on a whim but I don't know how good regular street/touring bikes are at this. My biggest issues are:

1) Maintaining highway speeds driving through the mountains on I-87. I mean at least 65 mph, real 65 mph, not speedometer 65. I can't even maintain 55 mph getting to and from work on local 2-lane highways.
2) A larger gas tank. I see the aftermarket tanks available for this bike, but if I can't squeeze enough out of the engine, the tank is irrelevant.
3) I did 250 miles and my butt started hurting, I was happy when it finally went numb.

So yeah, those in that order. I like the idea of two bikes but I really don't want to have to store and keep the kids off of, and out from under two. I've seen the KLR650 knocked as a part-time touring bike as well. My thought is this, why put $1000 into a small bike to make it not-as-small, instead of just getting a bigger bike that will do what I want. Basically, I don't think the KLX250s is the right bike for me, but I don't know what is. Help a brutha out. Thank in advance.

 

If you're not making use of the small bike benefits and need something bigger, then get a bigger bike. With some mods, you should be able to pull 65 mph, hold extra fuel, and make the seat comfortable. But yes, you may be approaching a grand to put it all together.

I have a KLR also and much prefer it for riding along the highway and spending hours in the saddle. It's not much of a trail bike though, for me anyway. Forest Service and gravel roads are fine, but single track can be a bear with the heavy pig.

If you don't feel like you'll be sold on the KLX after the mods, then don't put the effort into it just to be disappointed in the end. I love my modded KLX, but that's because it spends a lot of time on the trail where I've set it up to run.

 

I've read that the KLX is great for single track but I have no idea where I'd even find that where I live. The Adirondack Park closes most of the snowmobile trails once the snow is gone so I lose that. I'm pinned between the Adirondacks to the west and south, Lake Champlain to the east, and Canada to the north I did a quick search and found this:

ATVs in the Adirondacks

I do kind of find the idea of tinkering inside the engine and mechanics exciting. I guess for the flatlanders out there, I'd need a lot more top end so I'm not in 5th doing 70 mph on the speedometer getting passed by a tow-truck towing a camper. Is it possible to get the power to the top end with gearing, the big bore kit, and streetier tires (it has the regular Dunlops)?

 

Simple mods like an aftermarket pipe, jetting and air box will gain you a couple horses. Dropping to a 13 tooth countershaft (front) sprocket will get you a little more torque. A lot of us find the 13 find for the highway. Revs are a little higher, but it puts us into a better part of the hp curve. Also, it's cheap and easily reversible back to the stock 14.

If that isn't enough, go big bore ($$) or try the Marcelino mod (cheap).

Sweet Cheeks Motorcycle Seat Cover (look them up) is a very inexpensive way to get a little more comfort out of the seat for long mileage trips.

I just don't like riding this bike at 70 mph for miles. If that's your goal, maybe think a better suited ride.

Oh, and sorry to hear about the lack of off-road riding facilities. I'm very blessed to live here...

 

Sweet cheek's cycle-analyst site is down so I can't check pricing. As for the other mods, what would be a reliable online dealer?

Yeah, the Park is so people from New York City can go camping and see leaves and trout, not for people to actually live and work.

 

The site works for me. A little slow.
http://cycle-analyst.com/sweetcheeks
$35 shipped.

I'll let others comment on on-line dealers. I like my little independent shop because they give great service and prices often lower than the best I can find on line.

 

I decided to stick with it. The bike is bulletproof and can do whatever my convoluted mind can come up with. I am going to order the Sweet Cheeks.

Has anyone pit there used ammo cans as saddlebags? I plan on picking up 2 and mounting them to the frame on the back. I need lockable storage for my cell phone at work as it is a felony to bring a cell phone into a prison in New York.

How is the bike for holding WOT for a few hours at a time? I'm talking 5th gear at 60 mph and 6th wide open.

 

Lovin my 06 klx 250s. Use it as a dirt bike only. Just finished my mods. Removed all the smog stuff and capped. dyno jet 128 main. needle 3rd slot, mixture 2 1/4 out. FMF Powercore , CC mod. Air box cover removed, 13T CS Spr. What a wake up!! Havin fun now. Thanks guys for all your suggestions. They were right on! Now if I can just figure out how to set up the suspention.

 

There's a few riders around here who've reported regular hours of WOT riding without problems.

The subframe is weak. If I were going to mount ammo cans, I'd get a Cycle-Rack system designed for it. Cycle-Rack is designed differently than most others in that it's forward mounts transfer weight to the main frame better.

 

If I was unhappy with the KLX 250 (of which I have never been) I would get rid of it and get the KLR. I rode a 2005 and it had tons of power!!! You could do 90 without even trying. If that's what you are looking for. The KLR can still do gravel roads and medium trails.