I kinda thought the same thing. Although I can afford to buy a new one if I wanted, I hate spending large $$ on toys. I have a business to run, and tend to put my $$ back into the company.
I happened to be at my Brother in Laws, helping him fix my nephews YZ250. mentioned if I got X amount of dollars for the KLX, I would look for something orange. He jumped right up and ran for his check book. I was like, "whoa". But started sniffing around. Found an 08 KTM 250 XC-F. Went and took it for a ride. By the time I hit 3rd gear, It was sold. I asked the guy what he wanted for it, fully intending to give him what the classified said. He blinked and asked me what I would give. Offered him X (the same number I suggested to my BIL). DONE.
Now I have something else to farkle. . . . . . .

 

ya, would be nice to have an all out dirtbike again. I live in michigan, so i could get the KTM 200exc plated. Would be bad *** riding a two stroke around town. That and picking up a 200lb machine in the woods is alot easier than the 300 lb klx. Dreams, it's what makes me go to work everyday.
I see you have the vapor body armor. I have the same stuff. Works great.

 

I originally bought my klx because, like so many others, I just didn't want to spend the money on a ktm at the time but I needed a bike that would handle offroad with just a little street (mostly on roads connecting trails). At first, I was really disappointed with my klx because of it's spongy suspension and lack of power. It wasn't until I started modding it that it actually became fun to ride. Now, I can honestly say that I'm pretty satisfied with it. As most everyone on this forum already knows, they become a totally different animal. I bought my 09 in late '10 for $3900 & probably put another $1000 into it (doing all my own labor). Even if I were to dump another $1k into it, I wouldn't be anywhere near the cost of most other ds's. It's a bit on the heavy side (compared to a ktm), but I ride it hard & haven't really found anything that couldn't be fixed with a couple mods. Besides, who buys a bike & leaves it stock anyway?!

I took mine to my local dealer to have them take a look at my gas tank per the recall notice & one of the guys there actually asked me what model Kawi it was

Having said all that though, the ktm's sure are sweet. I wouldn't mind adding one in the garage for those 4 day weekends in Stoddard Wells...

 

Man, this comes up frequently on many sites. Folks, a KTM and a KLX are not the same kind of bike...period. There is a real category called "DS", and the KTM isn't in it, I don't care how many plates you attach to the rear fender. There is a real category called "race bike", and the KLX isn't in it, I don't care how much you up the displacement or fix the suspension.

The KLX will do so many things with enough competence to make it one of the most enjoyable dual sport bikes around. The KTM will go off road with the best of any bike made, but it does not like commuting, crosscountry travel, or hauling loads. The KTM's engine...and the same for other competition bikes...is a noticeably higer maintenance and shorter life unit, and that's understandable for the kind of power it produces. At a certain point, higher power requires more attention to the motor producing it...that's logical. There's a lighter weight issue in a competition engine that invoves components that will have a shorter life span...that's logical.

The KLX is a hybrid of sorts that blends some decent off road performance with an engine that is overbuilt and understressed to yield a longer life span, more fuel mileage, longer service intervals, and just less fuss overall.

My "best case scenario" would be to have my decently modded KLX and an electric start KTM300 2-stroke. I think that would just about do it for me...LOL!

 

TNC, I can not agree more with your analogy. The KTM is a totally different beast. I considered keeping the KLX, but felt I would never ride it for anything more then a quick zip to the supermahkit. Once the deal appeared, it was a no brainer for me. Sell the farkled KLX to my Bro in law, get the Katoom, and ride the Concours for my street riding.
Its all good, But I will say, no way would I want a 2 smoker, the XC-F I got is a 4 stroke, has the torque of a 4 stroke, but revs like a 2 stroke, without the smoke!

 

I probably didn't get my point across the way I intended to on my last post, but what I was trying to say was that after all the mods to my klx, it's become a better bike. Night and day difference. No, it's def. no KTM - I didn't mean that. Don't get me wrong, I want a KTM baaaaad but I wouldn't ditch my KLX to get it. I couldn't afford the KTM when I bought my KLX, but doing all the mods to my KLX has made that easier to accept for the time being.

If I had it my way (which always happens eventually), I'd keep my KLX for the weekend trips where I need to connect to trails via public roads & have a KTM for the big trips where you don't see pavement for days! Totally different bikes, I know - but I think I'd have all my bases covered that way.

 

I love my KLX250s... will keep it until a different kawasaki small bore DS comes out.. (5 yrs or so from now?)

 

After reading issues on the board right now with the big mods, i am leaning towards possibly a DRZ400sm lowered a ton. I do alot of freeway riding as of late, kind of need something that can really cruise the higher speeds.

Anyone with a modded big bore cruising at high speed for 30 minute trips? Share some insight on me.

 

I'm pretty sure the only one having issues with the big bore is jhoffy... And I'm sure his issues are ALL user error.

I've had my big bore kit on my bike since it was released. Mine was #6 I believe. I inspected the cylinder walls about 500 miles ago and it looked new (about 5k on the kit I think?!).

If you take your time, and do it right, the big bore is the best mod you can do, and seems just as reliable as the 250 was.

And I've had mine on the highway for 30 mins at a time with no probs. But that is very rare for me. All my trails and tracks are within 10 miles of my driveway

 

Yeah, don't make your decision based on my experience. I went about this all wrong and am learning stuff the hard way. I'm the only person as far as I know that has problems. I was careful before I purchased the big bore kit and made sure to read through the forums to see if anyone had any problems since I'm sort of a late bloomer for the 351. Go for it man, just don't skimp on the stuff that you aren't sure about.

Also, I did the big bore kit and the camshaft/exhaust timing mod at the same time. That was probably the biggest mistake, so don't follow my lead.