Might have a cheap (read non-running) klx650 in my future. If I can't get it running w/o serious coin, I'd like to use any parts from it that I can.
Wondering what I might be able to put on my bike, or save as spares.
The wheels would be awesome if they fit, so I could have a set of studded tires mounted and just do quick wheel changes when studs are needed.
And the kick starter? Worth taking out and re-installing on my bike, if it is the same?
If the kick starter were the only transferable thing....I think I'd just get the 650 running and abuse the crap out of it riding it to work in the winter.
Does anyone know if it's as straight forward to work on as the 250?
Any thoughts?
Thanks
And yeah, serious multiple bike syndrome going on here.

 

Without any research I was going to say there's no way those two engines would interchange kickstart parts...KLX650/KLX300. I looked on Bike Bandit, and the parts don't have the same numbers, so now I guess I can say they don't interchange. I doubt much of anything interchanges between these two bikes, though I though I saw something about the plastic gas tanks possibly interchanging.

 

Thanks TNC.
That's kinda what I thought, but was hoping.
Maybe I'll just have to fix it and have 2 KLX's, big and little.
That is if I am lucky/unlucky enough to have the winning bid, on a bike I can't possibly pick up myself, I'll just have to get it shipped and hope I can turn it into a runner.
I need to learn impulse control. Doh!

 

not much if any of the parts will interchange. Great bike thats easy to work on, I have a 93 klx650r thats street legal.

 

BTW, I found you can usually find almost all of the parts needed for a kickstart install for pretty cheap on Ebay. Except for that pesky idler gear - count on getting that one from the dealer. And maybe a gasket or two.

 

My thoughts...

Fix and ride the 650. If you don't sell the 650, or if you can't then part out the 650 (the head is worth decent money if good), then if you want a kick starter (no idea why) then buy the right parts.

The only possible bolt on part other than handlebars and possibly some plastics if your 250 is old enough, is the front wheel.

As for kick starts, why bother. I've got 45,000 miles on a KLX650C with electric only. The very few times I've had low/dead battery issues over the 12 years and the miles, we simply bump start the bike. The low battery has always been my fault for not charging it up fully before riding (aka it just barely started or we took a chance on it starting after riding it a bunch - wrong answer).

If you ride alone out in the boonies, you may want a kick starter, but you'd be better off with a co-rider (help bump start). In addition if you ride alone in the boonies, in my opinion you are foolish. You are taking far more of a chance than possibly having starter problems.

Save the money make sure you have a good battery and trust the starter. If the bike ever does give you problems remember to park on a high spot to coast down. A 250 bumps off far easier than a 650 and this has worked well with the 650. I'd never bother with the kick starter... I'd save the money and first I'd bump start, second I'd get a tow rope and either put it in a tool pack, wrap it around the crossbar of the handlebars (yellow nylon would look cool) or put it in my back pack. Third I'd ride with friends who would help out with a bump or a tow. Then I'd keep the battery up... which I now do.

 

Oh, by the way, if you get the 650 and want to fix, sell or part it out, go join the Yahoo KLX650 group (I'm a moderator there). You may be able to sell off significant parts without the ebay fuss. It may not draw as much money in some cases, but there won't be fees. Feel free to contact me if you wish.

It's not the easiest forum to navigate, but it's the best for tech on the KLX650. No social stuff, just the facts.

 

Thanks KLX678, I'll check that out. And for reminding me to hit your website and order a tensioner.

So, if I win the auction, gonna need to ship the bike cross country...any shipper suggestions? I've checked out all the ads Google supplied about moto-specific shipping. Seems it'll cost between 600-900 bucks. Anyone use a specific company and like them or not? Anyone to avoid?
Thanks.

 

i know bumping isn't hard on the 250 but near imposible in some of the places i ride so now it has a kicker incase the starter goes on me, and that has happened a few times to me onece on my 300ex luckly i had just done the conversion usung a old 250x side case, and once with my old atc250sx but it already had a kicker on it, and as i just converted one of the klxs i hhave used the kicker more then the magic button.

 

check out uship.com. Got my klx650r shipped from arizona to texas for about 350 bucks.