Hi all I have been reading the posts on the KLXs for about 5 hours I currently ride 4x4's used to ride a YFZ and before that 7 sec Drag Bike but I miss riding bikes and want to buy one This bike seems like the one with the proper upgrades just like my YFZ it wa so corked shut from the factory I did the Pipe and carb and what a change. After riding the Drag bike with NOS power nothing compares but I figured before I killed myself better quit.
Any way I just really enjoy all your posts I am a certfied Motorcycle Mechanic so I no a little about this stuff. I adjusted the valves on the first Honad CBX 6 cylinder when it came out in the late 70's it had 2 cams that you had to take apart they were so long I agree most dealers don't have a clue what there doing or how to fix anything. Buying a manual is a great help and with digital cameras you can take pics as you work to help. I've had motors in boxes brought to me and say hey can you fix this [:@] .
But I hope I can help anyone with anything and I still have not bought this bike but hope to soon. I wonder if the 2007 model will be the same as 06 ???
I'm playing with a new 06 Can-AM 800 Outlander Max XT just an awsome machine so much power and handles like nothing I have rode on.

 

Hey Bad Bear, always nice to hear from someone new. The only change I could think of would be to add the kick starter. I would love to see this bike come out with both. The kick as a backup would an awesome idea. I remember in the late 80's I had a Yamaha 225 three wheeler, and it was shaft drive and had both an electric starter and a pull rope starter. I wish I still had that thing. Any welcome to the site.

Hey I found a picture on the net of the same one I had, cool.

 

Speaking of backup starters, last night when I was camping, I left the headlights on, on the Sportsman and in about 20 minutes the battery was so flat the gauge cluster was flashing low battery and the starter would just tick when I tried it. Thankfully it does have a recoil starter. For being the 500 High Output model the auto decompression on that thing makes it feel like I'm pulling over the 5 horse Briggs on our push mower. I was going to take the KLX as a pack mule as well last night, glad I didn't though as I don't think I could have pop started it either as it was a pretty technical trail to get to where we camped. Well if I had drained the battery anyway but being 4 months old it shoudln't have.


Welcome Bad Bear!

 

Welcome, Bad Bear. You'll find lots of DIY'ers here. My experiences with the stealership have been less than stellar which has convinced me that it is in my own best interests to learn to do the necessities on my bike myself. I've since checked and adjusted my valves, installed a 300cc big bore kit which replaces the stock cylinder, piston, rings, and gaskets. Not to mention diagnosed and fixed a bad igniter and a number of other smaller items such as tire changes. I figure I've saved myself around $700 by doing all this myself instead of relying on the dealer. And more importantly, I know the job is done right and don't have to guess whether the stealership actually did the work they said they did, or torqued down all the bolts correctly, etc, etc.

Hope you get your KLX soon. I'd dare say they are bit hard to find now with this the first year they are here in the U.S. and with Kawi only releasing an apparently very limited supply to dealers not knowing how quickly they would sell. Hopefully next year there will be a more ample supply to go around. Poor Muzzy can't keep up with all the KLX300 pipe orders that are going on these new KLX250S's. Should you get the KLX250, you'll find that it's pretty easy an cheap to open it up and uncork it.

 

I gotta ask Bad Bear, why would someone with your experience get the KLX instead of a TE510 which weighs less or the same. Just curious?