Hello Guys,

I am a long time lurker here on this fantastic forum, but this is my first post...

I am hoping to be able to take the plunge on a new 2012 D-Tracker (EFI) later this month or in April, and have been reading up as much as possible about the various mods available.

Quick background:
I am in Thailand where there are very few choices for this category of bike, and little to no second hand market - the next 'step up' would be a KTM Freeride 350 at more than 3 X THE COST!!! I am very keen to be able to modify this bike as much as my wallet allows!

I have been able to get loads of quality info/suggestions/ideas and general feedback from all the threads on this forum, and they will certainly be a huge help when I finally have the bike in my hands.

As this bike and the similar WR250X etc are 'low end bikes' price-wise, I am sure one big area that is skimped on is suspension. So, this is one area I am expecting to want to improve first.

Here is my question:
If money were no object, what would be the 'best' forks I could fit to the D-Tracker?

I have read that some early model KX250 forks seem to swap in relatively easy, but what other choices are available if I want something less than 15 years old?

I know I can go the racetech route - which sounds like it does the job, but I would love to have the kind of forks that say, a KLX450R uses (48mm??) but obviously these would not simply swap in.

So, what is the deal here - is it possible to use any other larger-diameter forks with better tripples etc?

Any help/direction would be most appreciated!

Cheers,
Tim

For reference, here is the little baby I am hoping to get my hands on

 

Tripple clamps are not so easily swappable as forks. It can be done but requires machined
parts and sometimes shaving the frame. It is not such a big job if you want to get it done.
Sorry I don't have any specific info.
Go to a garage and try different scrapped or stripped clamps and forks there

 

Cheers for the reply Mikk,

I assumed there may be a bit of custom work involved, and if I were back in Oz, I would certainly head to some shops and inquire about the feasibility etc. But here in the Land of Smiles I have a massive language barrier and really want to get a bit more info before I go hunting!

Big jobs/challenges are all good - like many on this forum I am super keen to try and get a 351cc big bore kit - although the EFI issue will certainly make that job even bigger!

 

I am from europe and live in Sri Lanka - which is a Land of Smiles as well.
I know it is tough
Anyway, your best bet is a good garage, possibly run by an ex-racer.

That's the way we do it here. It can't be so different from Thailand.

Otherwise wait for replies from some of the masterminds

 

Hahaha - really, Sri Lanka hey.........sounds interesting!
I think living in BKK will allow me to get to some shops like you mentioned....may even help me reduce the old language barrier....lol

Cheers again!

 

So, I guess this means that a fork swap is out of the question? Shame........
RaceTech is the go then I suppose!!

 

Yeah, I think when you start going up the mod ladder at the level you're considering on a fork swap, maybe you're getting outside the viability of considering the KLX in the first place. And don't get me wrong...modding, hotrodding, and other such endeavors don't have to be based on a fiscal responsibility scale. However, at a certain point some of these higher priced, higer performance bikes that you might initially consider too expensive, aren't really that expensive as the dollars and time add up.

I'm one of the first ones on this forum to have revalved the stock fork and shock on my KLX250S, and I think it takes the bike to a complete other level of handling performance. You're considering an SF, and you'll probably be plenty happy with the suspension modded with a revalve. Is a fork swap out of the question?...absolutely not. It's your bike, and any project or money spent on it don't have to be based on logic or money.

 

Cheers for the reply TNC, I understand where you are coming from and appreciate the advice! Very good to hear about the revalve, and I think I have read a bit more from you about this too - looks like a solid option!!

I know what you mean about higher prices - but just for a bit of further reference regarding the prices here in Thailand:
KLX250 - US$5,000
KTM Freeride 350 - US$16,000
KTM 690 SMC - US$21,000

And not much in between.......

I will have to do some further investigation and maybe be prepared to be a guinea pig!!

Thanks again,
T

 

Holy ****

 

I know, I know!!! - crazy talk......lol, all due to import taxes....
A plated CRF450X would be about US$16,000 ish......!

On the upside I can buy a used Honda Wave for about $400

At least the KLX's are made here! (maybe some other countries too??)