There seems to be a bit more action here on the KLX than on ADVrider where I usually hang out so I thought I'd sign up here as well.

I raced MX as kid but got out of bikes for nearly 20 years. I moved to Malaysia where 2/3 of the vehicles are bikes/scooters. Over here it just made sense to get a bike as:

- traffic is horrible but bikes can split lanes
- expensive tolls on most roads but bikes exempt
- parking expensive/hard to find; bikes exempt or much cheaper

It's amazing what they do with there bikes here! They carry loads that would make guys with F350's in the States consult there GVWR!















I fist got a little suzuki scooter or what they call a "kapcai"/step thru bike. It had a 125cc motor but I quickly upgraded to 150cc. Still going now after nearly 70,000 km. Beauty of this bike was I could ride it all day with the throttle pinned and it finally died after 62,000 km!




Roads can be pretty rough outside the big cities though and turn to dirt fast. Shortly after the Suzuki I got a KTM LC4 400. Loved the 12" of suspension versus 2" on the scooter! Also work was stressful and I found it amazing what popping a wheelie on the way to work could do for the rest of your day.







It wasn't so reliable but I had an amazing mechanic friend who could ---- engineer anything. Parts took a while to get but I didn't really care as he always gave me a loaner bike that sometimes I kept for a month. Most common was the Kawasaki KLE500 and then a DR800. I did put around 80,000 KM before selling it.

Went from the 400 LC4 to a KTM 690 enduro. Very fun bike but massive problems with it... 3 engines, 9 fuel pumps, usually local dealers couldn't fix and highly specialized mechanics had to be flown out to sort it. Once no one could and they shipped the engine to Austria.
I'm not allowed to say what happened next but I will say that I do own a brand new 2011 690 enduroR but it's stuck in the USA now, and I wont pay to ship it over here.

I got a 2008 KLX250 about 10 months ago. I know they don't make that year in some places. It's like the 2007 model suspension wise though it does have a unique digital speedo but no tach.




After the 690 I didn't think I could live with the lack of power and was convinced I would immiediately put the 351 and any other mods on. However I've driven it for almost 25,000 km now and finally just ordered Bill Blues 351, special exhaust and carb.

Yes it's weak... but I'm loving the reliability of it and that when something does go wrong anyone can fix it. It's probably about 30 lbs less than the 690 which doesn't sound like much but that really is a huge difference in our slippery jungle trails we have here.






















I think I kind of wanted to see if I could kill the original 250 before I got the 351... it is starting to make an interesting "clicking" sound but I haven't succeeded in killing it.
It broke one of my toes 3 weeks ago - I was finishing up a tough jungle ride and was on autopilot riding out of the jungle on some easy ATV track when a bamboo bridge I road over broke and I found myself flying thru the air and landing in a river below. 1/2 second later my bike joined me landing on top of my foot!

 

Great post!

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Dang!!!!!!!!! Welcome to the forums. Glad to have you aboard. That clicking sound is probably the cam chain, there is a manual tension-er that someone on here sells, and comes highly recommended. Again welcome and keep the pictures coming, we love seeing riders from other places.

 

ricky, you may be a newbie here, but your KTM690 headaches are well known over on ADV...LOL! Yes, there's a good deal more detailed info on the KLX here. Welcome.

 

Hi Ricky. Thanks for the post and pictures. It is always nice to see other far away places and cultures through pictures without leaving home! LOL. Ron

 

Awesome pics! Like you, i replaced my LC4 640 with a KLX 250! KTM doesn't want to give up 5hp for reliability. They win Erzbergs which is cool, but 1000 mile Bajas with .9L of oil? Not gonna happen!

So when you break a bridge, do you help fix it or run? Haha.

 

Thanks for the welcomes guys!

I ended up doing neither... I broke a bone in my foot and was pretty stuck. I could have hobbled out but certainly couldn't have lifted my bike up the 6 feet or so.
Some friends came by in a couple hours with an ATV and got me out... I'll make up their bridge to them somehow. The main guy has a '94 KX80 with a broken tank and I'd get lots of points in the locals club if I could find him one on ebay and send it over.

 

Great first post! Love the pics. I just did the 351 upgrade as well. Big difference, and well worth it. Not a 690 by any means, but a great little bike, and sometimes older technology has it's advantages.