Well I love my little klx250, but it has come the time to consider either a big bore, or a bigger bike....

Regarding each, how does it improve freeway rides? Ive done 2hours at 75mph true speed with my 250. Never again

Does the 331 get better mpg? That's the only arguement i can think of to choose it over the 351.

Anyone miss their bike as a 250? I doubt it but i have to ask haha. Ive read all the big bore threads, but if you feel the answers lie in a thread please link it, i wont get butt hurt. Thanks in advance for your insightful answers

 

i have a 351 and i think the biggest difference on the freeway for me is i changed from a 13t to a 15t. front sprocket. That with the added power makes freeway riding much better but IMHO this bike sucks on freeway with *****, rimlocks rain grooves and LA traffic I avoid the freeway at all costs. Maybe with a wider seat I wouldn't complain as much.

 

I got a 331 & a wider seat!!

Getting a big bore kit will initially be fun & a nice little boost but for freeway rides a big bore klx will quickly become annoyingly lacking in the power department!

Seriously, 30hp is just not enough for the freeway imho. A DRz400sm with a 440BB has got about 45hp or better still a bigger Motard like a KTM would be very capable.

Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy bashing the back roads & throwing her around on the twisty mountain roads BUT long freeway rides are painfully tedious.

 

I have to agree with joel and say that the klx pretty much blows on the freeway in any trim.

I would go as far to say anything less than about a 650 blows on the freeway.

but in the end I do much more enjoy my klx as a 331. I really doubt you would see much difference between the 351 and 331. from the dyno charts posted over the years the seem to make pretty much the same power.

 

wc, I gotta agree for the most part on your 650 assessment...especially as far as dual sports go. There are some real road pocket rockets in smaller sizes, but dual sports are generally low output, low stress engines.

Joel, I know you quoted power on a highly modded Suzuki 400, but I think the stocker is somewhere around 35 hp. That's a real fire breathing 450 DR motor there to produce 45+ hp. I think a KX450F is around 50-54hp. Impressive.

 

Yeah im pretty much between klx big bore or a dr650 supermotard of course!

 

The DR was on the top of my list when I decided I wanted a 650, then a fantastic deal on a BMW G650x came along and I went for it. That was several months and ~8,000km (5,000mi) ago.

Just last week I got the opportunity to take a DR out again and I gotta say, it was awful compared to the Beemer. Poorly carburated, wallowing handling, weak brakes, and slow. If you can find an Xmoto, check it out!

 

But the DR650 has a 790 big bore kit that's some torque

 

If I was back in the Uk, I would buy a ktm 690 smcr immediately for zipping around London & doing some freeway miles! Just don't get realistic prices here for exotic non-assembled in Thailand bikes.

Good luck in finding a bike or upgrading to a big bore.

 

Thanks man! Its a hard decision to make, especially after getting so comfortable on a bike haha