I just took an 09 KLX250s out for a test spin Saturday. It feels good and ran on the freeway at 70mph just fine. What can you guys tell me of yours? I've noticed IMS makes a 3.3 gallon tank and Acerbis a 3.9 gallon tank for them as well. I'd be using it to commute to work by freeway 20 miles each way, 5 nights a week, and 3-5 weekend Baja trips on ranch roads, farm roads and sandwashes to the Saw Mill, Mikes Sky Ranch, and San Felipe. I'm 6'3" and 270 w/o gear. Thanks guys.

 

People are different, but you're a big guy who it appears will mainly ride pavement and do some fun desert riding. I don't know...maybe a bigger bike might actually fill your bill a bit better. Obviously I love my KLX, but I ride in tighter more technical terrain on the whole and don't do many miles of pavement...if I can avoid it. I might consider the XR650L for you and your riding. I think the KLX and the WR250R will both do just about anything you want to do, but for your size and more wide open riding, an XR650L might be a bit better. You'd have to get an aftermarket tank in either case.

 

I have the same bike myself. Love it! I say go for the larger tank. I'm new to dual sports and bikes in general, but getting a larger aftermatket tank has been on my mind as well. Thanks for alerting me to the available brands. All the best!

 

Yeah at 270 without gear, you would probably be better served with something a bit larger like TNC said.

Also the DRZ400 could be a viable choice if you wanted something between the KLX and KLR/XR size wise.

 

Yep...DRZ400 would be good.

 

A bit older DR350 is another choice. I had one a couple of years ago. Just a bit better than the 250 on the highway. HOWEVER, if you'll put a big bore on the KLX (such as the 300, 331, 340, 351), I think the KLX is better. It's lighter, for one thing, and I like water-cooling as opposed to the air-cooled DR350. The DR400 is water-cooled, btw.

Just keep doing your homework, and get the bike that speaks loudest to you!

 

First off, the only tank available for the 09+ klx250 is the IMS and it is 3 gallons. That's a good tank. The acerbis is not made for this bike. Yes, it will fit but so will a 5 gallon jerry can with some big huge zip ties. The acerbis is not a factory fit, never meant for this bike.

At your weight, I'd be looking at the big bores. My wife and I together don't weigh 270.

 

For those California and Mexico deserts, these XR650L's with a few mods were made for that. They still do fine for some highway commuting and such, but the off roading with one of these at Mike's Sky Ranch and similar places is very good. I had 4 different KLR600/650's over the years, and while they're better pavement bikes, they are relative pigs in the desert when compared to the XRL. I spent 4 weeks in southern California in 2004 riding my well modded KLR650. I had a lot of fun on it, but a modded XRL would have been much better suited.

 

Oh, heck, I didn't read your size. An XR650L may be just what you are looking for. I had one of these, but, sold it, because I'm just not comfortable being on something when I have a really hard time touching the ground on unlevel terrain. That bike taught me the value of ALWAYS keeping my feet on the pegs, but, man, it's a TALL bike for someone under 6 ft tall. At 75 inches and 270, this may be the ticket for you. It's more dirt-worthy than the KLR650 (which is one of my current bikes), and as TNC said, it was born to run in the Baja.

 

Thanks guys. I had thought about a large bore kit being put on it, and have looked at the XRL650 and the DR 650. I like the way the 250 handles in the dirt, but your right. For long roads and desert 2 track, with my size, an open bike is probably the ticket. The $4400 with 500 miles price for the clean 09 looked good though. I might look for this bike on Oahu when I go back in Feb. I live about 4 miles from a large off road riding area on the North Shore. The 250 would be perfect there. Thanks again.