09KLXowner,

Obviosly the instrument cluster has been revamped on the '09 model. Will he headlight numberplate/shroud assembly including the headlight itself fit an '06 or '07 model KLX by your estimation?

Mike

 

congrats on the new bike man. when i first saw the kawai in red at the dealer i never liked it... not one bit. but looking at your klx in red is pretty cool. good luck on the 09 voyage

 

'preciate it. to get the cluster/headlight to work, I would think it would if you wrangled around with it a bit. the forks are different in looks, so I don't know if the fender would bolt on to the older bike. because the fender leads into the headlight/shroud lines, it would look dumb to put the light on w/o the fender- round vs. angular lines.
so my '09 with lower suspension travel sits an inch higher in the seat? that's weird. how'd that happen? I was measuring by the farthest point in on the frame right by the footpeg.

btw KLX'er, the new KLX does not have leading axle forks. yours does, the new one does not. they stop at the axle just like the DRZSM. I guess if you wanted to argue about it you could say they may hang a couple millimeters below the axle but not as far down as the old bike.

 

IG....I was just hangin in the shop and measured my 06 klx and got 36"+ a littleseat height, now I do have the raising links, how are you guys measuring the height.....I balanced the bike and then measured....anyone measuring when sitting onthe kickstand.

Only reason I'm asking is that IG sat on both bikes next to to each other and was sure the 09 was lower....that's tough to refute.

 

**sigh** The more things change the more things stay the same---you are wrong.

 

I guess it isn't as obvious as I feel. it's just that the '06 and '07 look like they sit up higher, but in reality I guess they don't. the styling of the '09 is very freakish and if you aren't careful it can play tricks with your eyes and fool you into thinking it's a smaller bike. I removed the chainguard and that made a huge difference, it now looks larger.
anyways, I took a little 20 mile ride tonight.

first off, I'll start with the tranny. This tranny is as smooth as butter, by far the best tranny I've ever shifted on any kawi. there is no nothchiness, it just falls into gear and when you're like approaching a stop sign with the clutch in and nearly stopped, and then proceed to shift down from upper gears it is smooth. this is in comparison to the '06 I had which would seem to 'bunch up' the gears. you would then have to let the clutch out a smidge to engage a gear and then proceed all the way down. not this one, it is noticeably smoother. that isn't to say the '06 sucked, I never had any problems with my tranny after I adjusted the shift pedal. I would sometimes get neutral upon a clutched wheelie instead of 2nd, but I think that will happen on any bike. at 55 mph, you're turning 5500 rpms- that's all the faster I got to with my 4-year old on back. I don't remember what 60mph was in rpms on the '06, but I think it's close.


to be completely honest, this bike is still poochy in stock trim but it isn't as bad as I thought. after opening it up a bit I remember that it really doesn't make any power under 6 or 7,000 rpms. still no torque monster and still unacceptable in the long run to keep stock and not install a pipe or other mods imo, but just to screw around on in this still cold weather it isn't bad. it starts up really great right now too. and no, for you"told you so's"who think I'm now saying it's 'the bomb' cuz that's what I've got right now I'm not. The DRZ and my '06 with the modswould stomp it but it's not as bad as I once thought.


turning- whoa, this thing falls into turns. it corners a lot better probably because of the lowered suspension anddifferenttires,but I was impressed how well it cornered. I was caught off guard once and I had to correct it or I would have gone off the road a little. the suspension is clearly stiffer and I noticed the air screws on top of the forks aren't there anymore. don't know if they got rid of them totally or moved them. I'll have to look for them when I adjust my compression on the bottom of the forks. not that big of a deal to me, I think I only used them once on my '06.


the seat is truly more comfortable as well. don't know why as it feels hard as a brick too but my **** wasn't sore like it used to get on the '06. maybe it's a different type of foam. I've already located a line to cut the rear fender scoop off and just leave a flat piece of plastic under the taillight for the plate. It will work real good. I need to borrow a dremel and won't do this until it is at least in the 70's as I want the plastic to be warm from the sun.


now I just need to sell this helmet and buy the red version. if anyone is interested it is an HJC obviously, size large, in new condition. I still have original box and carrying bag. I think $100 is a fair price. I guess I should keep it since I am considering buying the green bodywork to have both colors so I don't have to scratch up the red when riding in the sticks which is sure to happen.

[IMG]local://upfiles/8647/B26D0BC844184E66B6D8C1062E525711.jpg[/IMG]

 

I understand. but to be honest, the pictures don't do the bike justice. I personally thought those pics sucked **** myself except the full left side one. removing the chain guard and cleaning up the swingarm really helped it out. btw, what bike would you get? there aren't a whole lot of choices when you think about it. you've got the DRZ's, KLX, and new CRF230, and new WR which is nearly as much as a new TE bought with cash which is really a race bike with a plate. the KTM's are nice but pricey. depending where you live you may be able to DS a WRF or KLX450. the rear fender is bad, but I've got a plan. there's a nice line that if cut on it would be just under and to the side of the taillight with a flat piece hanging down under the light for the plate. I will do this sometime.

 

old bike day I brought it home.



[IMG]local://upfiles/8647/5733188165624B53A69FF47FB9E38336.jpg[/IMG]

 

new bike day I brought it home.

 

Iowa, I'm not posting about what you posted, didn't read it, would you please hit the return button every once in a while, your post are usually funny but I can't read them like that ......not worried about grammer but damn that post is just a big block of words ..lol .... just hit enter every couple thoughts.