In an effort to make the 09 klx250s smog legal was the oem cdi 'dummed' down performance wise compared to earlier year models?

Could a earlier year models cdi advance curve help to benefit performance? There is a 94-96 klx250 cdi for sale on ebay.

 

Your CDI is different from any other year of KLX. The 09 CDI has only one connector while the other years have at least 2.

Also the 94-96 CDI you are looking at will not work on any of the factory dual sport KLX250s.

The 94 - 96 KLX's were off road bikes with kick start only, so they have an 'AC' CDI powered directly off of the stator (same as the KLX300)wheras the 250S is a 'DC' CDI powered off the regulator/rectifier. They aren't compatible.

Anyway, the advance curve on the 06/07 can be improved with an pre 99 Japanese spec CDI or the pre 09 Aus spec CDI, but requires some splicing.

I don't know what the advance is on the 09, but the stock 06/07 provides only 25degBTDC max. The pre 09 AUS/pre 99 Japanese CDI gives you 35BTDC and no rev limiter.

Your US spec 09 wiring would be a little tougher to adapt the above CDI to, but is probably doable with all of the right wiring diagrams in hand. It won't be anywhere near plug-n-play though.

 

This is very good info, and should be put in the FAQ sticky. Thanks

 

Didn't someone do this swap and post about it over at TT? I'm 100% sure I read a pretty long thread about this topic either here or over there. The end result being, the power gain was negligable vs. the cost of the CDI and the effort to do it.