Kawasaki KLX 250

[bikermike59]

Hello,

I have found a 1997 Kawasaki KLX250 That I like the look of.
Looks in good condition for its age has plenty of service history with it.
And is very local to me.

Are these bike any good? Only really want it for green laning as I have a CBr600 for the road.
I have a limited budget of £1000 so there is probably not much to choose from.
I have also been looking at DR350s and Xt350s.
Any advice would be great!

Thanks.

[waffles]

Been off road before? If not, get an electric start bike as you will wear yourself out kickstarting it after you have fallen off. The one thing I dislike about the xr is the lack of electric start!
____________________
Theory test - 19/8/09, CBT - 11/10/09, MOD 1 - 16/8/10, MOD 2 - 27/10/10
Past rides Yamaha XT125X, Triumph TT600, Honda XR250
Current rides Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda MSX125

[Blue_SV650S]

I had a KLR (not, X) and every time I rode it something fell off. the X will be a better bike to ride as it has an mx focused chassis, but I suspect bits will still fall off it regularly...

but for your budget, it is a reasonable choice!
____________________
The purpose of life is to fight maturity.

[G]

I've seen the DRZ400 go for not much over your budget.
The KLX250 will be a better off-road bike because it's lighter.
But the DRZ will be better on the road and may be a bit easier to ride (less gear changes). It does also have electric start.

A well set up 4 stroke 250 shouldn't be hard to start at all, but a lot aren't well set up!

[Raffles]

[bikermike59]

[bikermike59]

[G]

Most dirt bikes are pretty tall. You need lots of ground clerance - and generally still want to be able to have the option of gripping the seat/tank with your knees - taller riders will sometime actually get extra-tall seats to help with this!

'Trail' bikes are often a bit shorter, but a bike intended for enduro (and motocross) purposes is likely to be pretty high whatever.

Was it the E or S DRZ you had? The E is both lighter and bit perkier too.

[bikermike59]

[G]

The XRs are decent bikes.
I'd say they are a little shorter possibly - or a little squidgier at least.

A lot of people do find them wanting - though of course it's more wanting for 'ease' than for outright speed - as they can be made to hustle decently if you put the effort in.

Not too up on prices. No doubt command a bit more because "it's a honda"; seen them go for less, but for mid not late 90s bikes.

[waffles]

I have a '99 xr250 and I can keep up with bigger bikes on the road and off of it, plus the maintainance stuff is spread out pretty far.
____________________
Theory test - 19/8/09, CBT - 11/10/09, MOD 1 - 16/8/10, MOD 2 - 27/10/10
Past rides Yamaha XT125X, Triumph TT600, Honda XR250
Current rides Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda MSX125

[BigTobyD]

I have a 97 going for a grand, just had brakes rebuilt, chain, sprockets, rear tyre, fork seals and full service. Depending on the condition £1100 could be ok money but if it's not you could end up spending a few hundred on top getting it sorted

[bikermike59]

I have heard that they can be difficult to start especially when they get hot is this true?

[G]

Can be an issue with any 4 stroke, especially if you dump it upside down. Getting a decently setup carb etc generally sorts it, but a lot of people just fight the kickstarter instead.

[BigTobyD]

I've never had a problem when it's hot - occasionally flood it when it's cold by using choke when I shouldn't have done, but that's rider error. It has a decompression lever anyway so pull that it, kick it over a few times, then one kick and it's off.

[waffles]

[eddclarke]

See if you can find an electric start XR!

I got a bargain with mine. XR250 with 6000km. It came with no MOT or Tax but went straight through with no trouble.

I got this for a bargain price of £770
____________________
Honda XR125L 06 ----> Yamaha FZ6 05 + ex SAS XR250 --> VFR800 + XR250r

[blurredman]

[bikermike59]

I have pretty much decided to go for the XR250 for £1100 delivered and he lives in Chester about 235 miles away!!

It looks in good condition and has only 7000km on it.

he's just put on a new chain and sprockets,new front tyre,oil and filter and a new spark plug.

Just waiting for a few more pic of it before I commit to buying it as I wont even see it till it gets here but the guy seems genuine enough.

And I have a pretty good knowledge of what faults to look for

[BigTobyD]

Sounds like a good bike for reasonable money, fingers crossed it's as good as it seems, they can be a lot of fun off road, my mate Stewie swears by my one but I'm more of a 2T boy these days