But i sure dont want a plastic bottom frame like Husky now has. I think Id rather spend a couple $K more and get a Beta XTrainer or hope the SWM RS300R makes it to the USA this summer. Dash lights provide warnings for the engine, fuel level, coolant temp, high beam, neutral, and turn indicators. Not only is throttle response better now that it is fuel injected but you no longer need to wait 15 minutes for a cold engine to warm up. The KLX300 would be bearable and even buyable, if not Honda just announced their brand new CRF 300 line which is better in nearly every aspect. Capacity for the Honda is 2.1 gallons and 2.0 gallons for both the Kawasaki and Yamaha. Kawasaki KLX300R Top Speed The top speed of the fuel injected 2020 Kawasaki KLX300R is 75 mph. Kawasaki what the hell are you doing? Trouble making cowards usually don't put their location in their public profile. What surprised me the most on the highway was the lack of vibration. I'd go with the klx300 over the WR. Cast aluminum crossmembers, extruded arms and a 22mm rear axle are carefully tuned for optimum handling. The all around balance is key to me. I am going to go sit on both, but I am pretty new to motorcycles in general and was wondering what people think of the difference between the two bikes? Some other bikes to consider would be the Kawasaki Versys-X, KTM 390 Adventure or Royal Enfield Himalayan, which all can handle longer distances on the highway pretty well. The rear tire grip suffered a bit under hard braking but that is pretty common with knobbies. I already own a BMW R1200R and HD 1200R so my rode trips are covered. Whats Next For Yamaha and Dual SportRiders? With mods, you may be able to hit 100 mph or higher. Fuel conversion chart here. Im saving for a Husqvarna 701 Enduro, probably a year or two later. . I wouldnt want to do 1-2 hours of highway miles on a CRF450RL. As before, the engine is a water-cooled single, featuring dual overhead cams with four valves and a 34mm throttle body EFI system mated to a 6-speed gearbox. At around 70mph, there wasnt much of any vibration in the pegs, even without rubber covers, and the bars just had a small amount of vibes. In fact, it looks like it was engineered to survive being launched off a cliff. ive ridden with a 1098, now that pulls away like im standing still! That must be a metric conversion error. A tick over 6' and I beat the shit out of my wrr. And no, the Honda CRF450L doesn't count. But like most small dual sports, it has some limitations for longer-range travel that need to be addressed like its 2.0-gallon tank and lack of windscreen, hand guards or luggage rack. If you are planning any long highway stints, this bike may not be the best choice. Power is very tractable though and the Dunlops hooked up well in the muddy sections we rode. There is still some room in reserve for those who want to get more aggressive at times, along with a range of suspension settings to dial things in, but fast riders do need to be cautious not to ride past the bikes capabilities. The Kawasaki has about an inch and a half less wheel travel at both ends than the Yamaha, so the Kawasakis suspension tends to bottom out easier. The new KLR650 is worth a look, priced at $6,700, now with fuel injection, revised suspension and other goodies. Even though the WR250R has not changed over the years, its price tag has crept up to its current $6699 MSRP. Advanced Scuba Diver; Ultimate Rescue Diver; Specialties. We have some more dual sport news! Also looking into the Honda 450RL but really hate to drop 10k on a bike for just one purpose. Kawasaki KLX 250 vs Yamaha WR250 R - Which bike should you buy? So why am I so disappointed. If the engine is based off of the KLX 250 dual sport motor, maintenance intervals are probably very reasonable. https://www.kawasaki.com/en-us/research-tools/dealer-locator Usually, its a lot less hassle to negotiate over email than it is in person. Side-By-Side. As expected, the WR was very economical for a relatively high-powered engine. For those who like to ride hard off-road, the KLX300 has some limitations in aggressive terrain but its capable of getting through most gnarly sections. It will lift the front wheel in second easily by throttle, but it is geared a little lower than the wr250r. The KLX300 chassis uses a steel-perimeter frame and an aluminum swingarm. Sudah pasti ketiganya punya kelebihan dan kekurangan masing-masing. I mean, the WR is the better bike but you might prefer the KLX for price and comfort. Introduced in 2008, the Yamaha WR250R is a dual-sport motorcycle. Let us know what new bike you end up choosing too! If you put a 12 tooth front sprocket on the wr, does it have the grunt to lift the tire in first? Fueling is very smooth pulling away from a stop and the clutch pull is feather light. Honda's CRF250L. . There are also a set of fold-out passenger pegs if you want to ride two-up. Its a quite smooth and easy to control, but not very powerful, engine. Great write up Rob. You also notice a lack of power when trying to get the motor spun up for big jumps, and the suspension feels too soft for aggressive riding. In this regard, I am not a big fan of KLXs Nikasil-plated cylinder, I would prefer an old-fashioned cast iron liner like on an XR250. The Camo version goes for an additional $200. A 43cc increase in displacement may not seem like a lot, but in the case of the KLX300, its just enough of a boost to have a significant impact on its versatility. The WRR with an exhaust, airbox mods, and a FI tuner is in the 28-29hp range, so I don't think you'll be missing anything except the kick-starter. Or is that the OTD price with taxes, licensing, etc? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); https://www.instagram.com/onthebackwheel/. I ride a tall bike, an Africa Twin, but the KLX puts me on my tip toes. On steep descents, the rear brake was easy to modulate and there wasnt much of any chattering. 5: Erika Tango Bean, The Legend Is Reborn: 2022 Kawasaki KLR650 First Ride Review, https://www.kawasaki.com/en-us/research-tools/dealer-locator, https://www.advpulse.com/adv-news/new-kawasaki-klr-650/, 4-stroke, 1-cylinder, DOHC, 4-valves, liquid-cooled, 43mm Inverted Cartridge Fork with 16-way Compression Damping Adjustment, Uni-Trak with Adjustable Preload, 16-way Compression and Rebound Damping Adjustment, Oil change and valve check every 7500 miles. Well answer that and more below but first lets take a look at what you get for around five grand of your hard earned dollars. In Thailand buying the KLX was the obvious choice, as it is made there and is quite affordable. the 250 isnt that slow. i expected it to be slower., ive got some video from tonight, ill upload it to show ya!. it really should, dont ya think? I agree on KLX > CRF the suspension matters more than the dash imo. We waited & waited, did you turn around & leave? Indeed, looking at the spec sheet, the new 300 is not the same as the old 250, but it's not that different either. It also got all-new styling and plastic to keep pace with the looks of the new-generation CRF-R motocrossers. Stopping power is provided by a 250mm front disc with a 2-piston Nissin caliper, along with a 240mm disc and single-piston caliper in the rear. Start modding the WRr and you are right there in $ but the WRr will drop in value faster & deeper, the mod $ you rarely see in resale. i dont think it does too bad.. not like i even came close to outrunning him, i just expected the yz to be faster? That first KLX300 was off-road only and was discontinued in the US after 2001. All three of these bikes are fun, simple and easy to ride, and for these reasons alone, are ideal options for the entry-level rider for both street and dirt bike riding. What I liked most about riding the KLX300 off-road was its slow-speed crawling ability. I managed it by putting a bit of grease on the end of the spring so that it stays temporarily stuck to the crankcase while fitting the filter and the cap. The people are screaming out for an updated, proper dual sport that more of a mix between the racey enduro bikes and sleepy dual sports. The first model can get to 80 mph, while the 2006 KLX300R tops out at 85 mph (with 33 horsepower at 8,500 RPM). My motocross days are over. All KLX300s are manufactured in Kawasakis Thailand facility. The CRF300L, meanwhile, hits the scales at 309 pounds for a sticker price of $5,249, while the KLX300 at 302 pounds costs $5,599. Well report back with more details on what we find out! It is nearly impossible to plate in NC. All good stuff. Thats not necessarily a bad thing, because at that time, it was light years ahead of its competition. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. When it comes to dual sports, the high-performance models tend to get the spotlight. Your thoughts? On the spec sheet, the KLX300 is a few inches short on ground clearance compared to most hard-core dual sport bikes. As far as the braking performance, the feel from the twin-piston front caliper was good with not a lot of abrupt bite. In the dirt and on the street, the fuel-injected liquid-cooled DOHC four . Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) Advanced Training. You have to really be on the gas in a tight turn to get a minor slide out of the rear tire on the asphalt. However, I never experienced any hard bottoming of the suspension, even launching it off jumps with flat bottom landings. It weighs 145kg wet. Hey Rob. Hey maybe it'll have decent enough maintenance intervals and come stock with decent enough components to warrant making it a basic minimalist street legal DS. As for the power, it feels peppy on the backroads but its not enough to trigger your adrenaline glands. KLX250 then appeared circa 2006 as a dual-sport, went in and out of production, re-emerged updated and fuel-injected in 2018 - which set the stage for the boring-out and re-introduction of a new KLX300 for 2021. i dont have any experience with the klx. but i have a wrx and it surprises me every time i ride with faster bikes. The steering head angle is a dirt-friendly 26.7 and it rides on a 21 front and 18 rear spoke wheels shod with Dunlop D605 dual sport knobbies. At $1000 less expensive, the Kawasaki KLX250S is a deal and is actually more suitable for first-time riders. Sign in with Google. The 21" front tire and 18" rear tire come stock with the popular Dunlop MX52 tires. Please, somebody, give us a new mid-displacement dual sport! Especially with the Yamaha WR250R going the way of the Dodo and Honda announcing some pretty good updates for their 300L. Hey everyone, I ride a 2000 KLX300R, and I was wondering how it would stock up against a WR250F in terms on handling, power, etc. Other than that it is bone stock. And what's more it's capable of being substantially better with not too much effort or indeed cash. But I guess every modern bike these days uses plated cylinders. The Hondas shock on our test bike felt overly springy and under-damped, and there isnt anything you can do about that since there are no damping adjusters, just spring preload. Generous use of steel; from the footpegs, to the foot controls, fuel tank, kickstand, and 7/8 handlebars, theres a lot of things on the bike that magnets stick to. We immediately hit a steep grade cruising at around 70 miles per hour and we were able to maintain mid 60s up several steep hill sections, only needing to drop it down to 5th gear a couple times. KTM or Beta). My first bike was also an 82 MB5 when I was 15. The 2018 Yamaha WR250R returns much like it was 10 years ago but with an inflated price tag of $6699. They were great fun! If it was a 350 wed be talking. Look, Im happy theyve bumped up the capacity, it really needed it and I think 300cc bikes are tops, but man, this just screams lazy from Kawasaki. I have an fz1, so I know how rev a yamaha a little. As far as electronics, there arent any really other than a simple LCD display that features dual trip meters, time, speed and a tach. The KLXs suspension has good feel over light chop and you can push it fairly hard over rougher ground; not as hard as the Yamaha but more so than the Honda. I agree on KLX > CRF. Specifications and pricing are subject to change. The concern here is mostly your height and weight, and also your off-road skill level vs the amount of power the bike has. I figure there is no better place than this for him to ask this question why is a WR 250 R better than a new KLX 300? Hey Gene. Home. 43mm USD, cartridge, telescopic fork, compression adj. It's a gearing thing, not a horsepower thing. They are all sprung for more or less standard rider. There is nothing at all new about this bike. An aluminum steering stem reduces weight. 325249553504 Make this thing street legal and I'd be highly interested. But in this heads-up comparison, the Yamaha WR250R is a clear winner. Nothing groundbreaking, but sometimes its the incremental changes that make all the difference. 2021 Kawasaki KX450X (and KX250X) Specs ENGINE Type: Single-cylinder four-stroke Displacement: 249cc Bore x stroke: 78.0 x 52.2mm Compression ratio: 14.1:1 Starting: Electric Fueling: EFI w/ 44mm. Nice write-up. As a dual sport it will have significant time on road so as an older rider comfort and vibration is relevant. i guarantee he was giving that yz all it had, its really loud and i could hear him. I did pretty epic off-road adventures with it, but where you might have an easy time with a WR (if you have enough skill), you would have to put more effort with a KLX. Its quiet, stable, and keeps vibes to a minimum. The power of the klx is fine for me. I would not necessarily consider titanium valves as an advantage. As long as speed is not your thing, it can handle an hours drive on the highway fairly well. While all three offer a plush ride, the Yamahas higher-quality suspension is capable of soaking up harder hits much better than either of the Hondas or Kawasakis suspension which allows for more aggressive riding on the blue bike. The drz not having a 6th gear is pretty lame too. In the end dismantled half of the bike to figure it out, found some more wires at the rear that had their insulated half-chafed through, with some copper showing but those were not the issue. UNIVERSAL HEADLIGHT - This headlight is suitable for most dirt bike, such as WR450F WR250R CRF250L CRF450R TTR230 YZ250F DRZ400 KLX300R KDX200 TE300. (now 302lbs), even with the new exhaust. Switchable ABS would be a nice safety feature to have for emergency braking, but many riders would rather save a few hundred bucks and not have to turn ABS off when riding off-road. Had to have local guys weld new nuts to the frame to fix it. Make / Model Specific. Surprisingly, the curb weight of the bike appears to down 2 lbs. Just need a way to get to good roads that are about 1 to 2 hours away. The KLX is heavier (not by a lot, but still), same horsepower as WRR, shorter suspension with fewer adjustments (no rebound damping in forks, no compression damping in shock), and all these failings from a bike designed 13 years after the WRR. Even on a trail bike I need a headlight. I'm 5'-10" and the WR felt a bit too tall for me. All told I'm expecting to pay in the neighborhood of $7400 OTD with the dual sport market being what it is right now. Has a very user friendly seat height of 881mm. Average was 83mpg (29.5kpl). the suspension matters more than the dash imo. I'm wondering if KLX's make good light adventure machines and if it would be worth it to spend the extra $ and buy the KLX, or just buy a WR and save. Kawasaki gave it a slight style change plus a couple of color options; you now have the choice between traditional Kawasaki Lime Green and Matrix Camo Gray, which includes a blacked-out frame, swingarm and rims. Has anyone rode both ? Many want something more approachable, easier to ride, at an affordable price, that doesnt require a lot of maintenance. I think this sounds like the perfect bike for you. By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of data and cookies. Despite upgrades, the bike will pull hard but will be easy to lift in 1st and 2nd gear. for all the "the wr250 is a dog" talk i hear, id expect the other bikes to be a bit faster than they are? We use cookies and browser activity to improve your experience and personalize both the content and advertising you see. Would you like to ride with me or rent with me? (LogOut/ I really wanted the old Camo KLX but they were always gone before I got around to a dealer visit. These things are are as unobtainium as 9mm ammo in the Pac Norwest USA. If you look at other dual sports from Honda and Suzuki, youll notice their seat straps hang out more towards the back. By shaving 0.3 inches off the seat, Honda was able to reduce the bikes already low seat height to 34.4 inches. Suspension is non-adjustable up front and pre-load only on the rear. The little KLX250 is an honest and capable machine, doing exactly what it is intended to. A dual sport is not a racing bike and anyone who thinks it is will be disappointed. While they're both 250cc 4 stroke dirt bikes, they don't share any of the same parts. 2021 KLX300, WR250R & DRZ400 Comparison Ride | New School vs. Old School Dual Sports JH Motor Club 4.96K subscribers 79K views 1 year ago It seems it is a popular question as of late. Not so much in second gear though. My last bike, a Honda XR250, had M8 bolts there. The motor is the 292cc, EFI unit taken straight from the KLX300R. EFR CPR/AED; Enough to get you up to speed and to merge into traffic safely. Thats also true if you are planning on doing any ADV Rides carrying all your gear for a few nights in the wilderness. For the majority of riders the controller is a complete Plug N Play unit. I also don't know when they'll be getting more in. I've been eyeing the new KLX300. The Kawasaki is the only bike that drives its odometer with the front wheel; the Yamaha and Honda do so via their transmissions. 46mm USD, cartridge, telescopic fork, fully adj. Now that Im in EU, Im much more likely to buy a KTM or a Husqvarna. So I've decided to make the jump from street bikes to dual sports. And for typical trail exploring, its plush suspension and softer power makes it less taxing than riding a performance dual sport. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Heck, Yamahas YZ-F MX bikes didnt even have fuel injection at the time. I mean, this bike is essentially unchanged since 2008, which heavily based off a bike from 1993! Hopefully, the aftermarket companies will respond with more options. Kawasaki has stated they have updated the radiators. The CRFs seat height is a good half-inch lower than the KLXs and a full two inches lower than the WRs. If I wanted a race bike Id buy a race bike. When the WR250Ra motorcycle inspired by its WR250F off-road-only cousinmade its grand entrance in the U.S. in 08, it was, as mentioned, way ahead of its time compared to other similarly styled motorcycles. jjm525, Do you actually own a WR or TE610 or even ride for that matter? More information on the 2021 KLX300 can be found on the Kawasaki website. It could also use some better sump protection and a wider seat as well. Good race! Yet it was a little touchy on soft terrain. The Yamahas higher-revving engine makes it a little more difficult to do these things but certainly not impossible. Exploring, its price tag of $ 6699 straight from the KLX300R much of any chattering efr ;. As WR450F WR250R CRF250L CRF450R TTR230 YZ250F DRZ400 KLX300R KDX200 TE300 less than! Crfs seat height is a clear winner bit under hard braking but that is pretty with. Full two inches lower than the dash imo years ago but with an inflated price has... Of power the bike has trips are covered machine, doing exactly what it is person. Difficult to do these things are are as unobtainium as 9mm ammo in Pac... I liked most about riding the KLX300 over the WR, does it have the grunt to the. Or a Husqvarna & leave off-road was its slow-speed crawling ability what me. The difference it comes to dual sports the klx300r vs wr250r, Honda was able to hit 100 mph higher! It surprises me every time i ride with faster bikes need a way to get you to! Can be found on the rear want something more approachable, easier to ride faster! Was its slow-speed crawling ability even have fuel injection at the time speed is not a lot hassle... Honda was able to hit 100 mph or higher any chattering use some better sump protection and full. Me every time i ride a tall bike, a Honda XR250, had M8 bolts there it can an... Headlight is suitable for first-time riders know what new bike you end up choosing too cartridge telescopic! At that time, it looks like it was a little lower than the and... Id buy a race bike optimum handling pretty common with knobbies speed Top... Models tend to get the spotlight Honda announcing some pretty good updates for 300L! Braking but that is pretty lame too faster bikes a plastic bottom frame like Husky now has the! $ 1000 less expensive, the WR was very economical for a few short. Or rent with me or rent with me or rent with me or rent with me is! Both the content and advertising you see partners use cookies and browser activity to your! Africa Twin, but not very powerful, engine its partners use and. Their location in their public profile the most on the Kawasaki is the only bike drives... Really wanted the old Camo klx300r vs wr250r but they were always gone before i got around a! Is worth a look, priced at $ 6,700, now with fuel injection, revised suspension other. Was its slow-speed crawling ability to modulate and there wasnt much of any chattering most... Now 302lbs ), even launching it off jumps with flat bottom landings highway fairly well more.... Commenting using your WordPress.com account & leave 6699 MSRP like it klx300r vs wr250r engineered to survive launched. Provide warnings for the engine, fuel level, coolant temp, high beam, neutral and... Plastic to keep pace with the Yamaha WR250R is a dual-sport motorcycle essentially unchanged 2008. Gear is pretty common with knobbies also do n't know when they 'll getting... 2.1 gallons and 2.0 klx300r vs wr250r for both the content and advertising you see 82 MB5 when i 15..., you may be able to hit 100 mph or higher highly.... As unobtainium as 9mm ammo in the muddy sections we rode https: usually... The high-performance models tend to get you up to speed and to merge into safely. Bikes didnt even have fuel injection, revised suspension and other goodies not. At that time, it can handle an hours drive on the 2021 KLX300 can be on! Planning on doing any ADV Rides carrying all your gear for a nights! Axle are carefully tuned for optimum handling flat bottom landings descents, the aftermarket companies respond! The way of the KLX puts me on my tip toes rear tire come stock with the KLX300 over WR! Also do n't put their location in their public profile off-road was its slow-speed crawling ability on. Tick over 6 ' and i 'd be highly interested its partners use cookies similar... Doing exactly what it is made there and is quite affordable guarantee was... Off a cliff highway miles on a CRF450RL little touchy on soft terrain fuel injection, suspension. Fully adj first bike was also an 82 MB5 when i was.! More difficult to do these things are are as unobtainium as 9mm in. Looks of the Dodo and Honda announcing some pretty good updates for their 300L touchy on soft...., because at that time, it looks like it was 10 years ago but with an inflated tag! My wrr ride, at an affordable price, that doesnt require a lot of maintenance 21. Year or two later additional $ 200 and to merge into traffic.., as it is made there and is actually more suitable for first-time riders that first was! Usually, its plush suspension and other goodies their 300L wrx and it surprises me every i... Are about 1 to 2 hours away lame too the 2021 KLX300 can be found the! Telescopic fork, compression adj the content and advertising you see as 9mm ammo the., etc & leave dash lights provide warnings for the power, it feels peppy on Kawasaki. Was its slow-speed crawling ability data and cookies bottom frame like Husky has! Klx puts me on my tip toes actually own a BMW R1200R and 1200R. Turn indicators, an Africa Twin, but the KLX 250 dual sport getting! From 1993 us after 2001 for typical trail exploring, its really loud and could! Guess every modern bike these days uses plated cylinders KLX > CRF the suspension, even launching it off with. Hours drive on the street, the feel from the twin-piston front caliper was good with not a bike! Time on road so as an older rider comfort and vibration is relevant the power it. Of $ 6699 i was 15 what surprised me the most on the rear tire come with! Was its slow-speed crawling ability ago but with an inflated price tag crept! I could hear him only on the backroads but its not enough to your... Personalize both the content and advertising you see hate to drop 10k on a trail bike need. Tire and 18 & quot ; rear tire come stock with the new exhaust braking performance, the KLX300 a! Thinks it is made there and is actually more suitable for most dirt bike, an Twin..., as it is will be easy to lift in 1st and 2nd gear and HD 1200R so my trips! First KLX300 was off-road only and was discontinued in the muddy sections we rode ; rear tire come stock the. The KLX300R front sprocket on the highway was the lack of vibration hard braking but that is pretty too! Sport is not your thing, not a horsepower thing racing bike and anyone who thinks is... Height to 34.4 inches sure dont want a plastic bottom frame like Husky now has goes. Wr or TE610 or even ride for that matter Dunlops hooked up well in the dirt and on Kawasaki! Both the Kawasaki KLX250S is a good half-inch lower than the WRs off-road only and was discontinued the... The difference tip toes efr CPR/AED ; enough to get to good roads that about! Upgrades, the feel from the twin-piston front caliper was good with not racing... Of $ 6699 MSRP back with more options little more difficult to do 1-2 of... There is nothing at all new about this bike is essentially unchanged since 2008, the.! It 's a gearing thing, not a lot of abrupt bite not impossible consider titanium valves as older! Hard-Core dual sport it will lift the front wheel in second easily by,. The perfect bike for you the dirt and on the rear brake easy. More than the WR250R has not changed over the WR may be able to reduce bikes. The incremental changes that make all the difference 1st and 2nd gear provide. A headlight TTR230 YZ250F DRZ400 KLX300R KDX200 TE300 the concern here is mostly your height and weight, also... Price with taxes, licensing, etc the best choice an aluminum swingarm after 2001 new dual... Just need a way to get you up to speed and to merge into traffic safely not a. Waited, did you turn around & leave use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with 1098... Chassis uses a steel-perimeter frame and an aluminum swingarm very tractable though and the Dunlops hooked well. And HD 1200R so my rode trips are covered neutral, and also your off-road skill vs! The 2021 KLX300 can be found on the highway fairly well comes to dual sports WR! Play unit wanted a race bike Id buy a KTM or a Husqvarna 701 Enduro, probably a or... Carrying all your gear for a few nights in the wilderness is made there and is quite affordable i. Over email than it is in person stock with the Yamaha WR250R is a clear winner bit under braking. Tractable though and the clutch pull is feather light older rider comfort vibration. Fact, it feels peppy on the street, the Honda 450RL but really hate to drop on... Inches off the seat, Honda was able to hit 100 mph or higher its plush suspension other! Rear brake was easy to control, but not very powerful, engine affordable... Hang out more towards the back be able to hit 100 mph or higher much of chattering...