back to "The Green"

[anomad]

Picked up a leftover 2007 (new) KLX 250 today. 

Put the first 75 miles of what promises to be an excruciating break in period tonight. 4,000 rpm in 6th gear is 38mph according to GPS.  After 30 miles or so I cheated and gently eased up to 4500 rpm's, which is 50 indicated, about 46 by GPS.

I was extremely pleased with my initial ride. Did some dirt, gravel, pavement, and technical (what should be) singletrack trail. Having a "real" suspension is great. Handling was very neutral for me in corners and I won't have to fuss with it much to fit me properly. 
I sat on a KLX450 also which is about the same size. The mechanic that set up my bike said they make "an insane amount of power". The shop owner has one as a race bike. Kinda makes me want to test ride one.

I am going to ride 925 miles tomorrow to finish the break in period.    Just kidding. But I am going to do a long one and take some pictures when I stop to rest and duct-tape a pillow to my arse.

[JV]

Sweet! 

I always look at the 250 bikes just wondering if they would haul my big arse around as well as I'd like.

I know they would be a lot easier on the old back when they needed to be picked up and dusted off.

[anomad]

I rode my friends KLR250 around and had no problem going 65-70 indicated. This little fella is supposed to be the "high performance" version of that engine. So, I think it will have no problem for the type of riding I enjoy.

I am 175lbs, so figure 190-200 for a day ride with full gear and tools etc.. The mechanic said that is a little on the heavy side for the stock suspension set up, but I never bottomed it out today. I would have bottomed out the (stock set up) 650 for sure on the same ride.

Still curious about that 450 and "an insane amount of power". 

[anomad]

300 miles on the odometer now!





Riding all day at 35mph gives one plenty of time to think.





Saved the best for last, a nice short section of unmolested singletrack!



Another 200 miles of boredom. Then, I can "open her up" to 6,000 rpm. That will probably give me an honest 55mph and keep me from being killed on the pavement.

[aquasport]

Nice pix!!!  I just bought the 09 in red, only have about 200 miles on her, but I can't help it, I still burp her up to 5000 here and there.  What the heck, they gotta expect you too!!!!  I love mine, would like to tighten the rear suspension up a bit though.   I am 5'9" and 185.
Scott

[mdrake]

Good to see a few klx folks posting up. I love mine and have beat the crap out of it in about 1,500 miles of mostly trails and gravel roads.  Its a great little bike and I always have tons of fun on it.

[Hondo]

Great pc-



Going to The Best of The Forums Slideshow!

[anomad]

Thanks Hondo! You can get the original off my smugmug page.

I had a good weekend of riding and camping with the little two fiddy. Went up to Utah where I did bird surveys one summer a long time ago and had never been back. Then came back and camped above Ouray and did Black Bear and Imogene this morning.

The KLX won't pull me up the steepest parts of Imogene in first gear. Stalling like that sucks immensely.

Here are some assorted pictures:
In the pond by camp up in Utah


This was "home" one summer in grad school, love the new no ATV sign


Rode some ATV trails that were very challenging:


It was a soggy night above Ouray last night:


Top of Black Bear, with two handguards:


Black Bear is easy, except for this one little part:


Top of Imogene looking towards Ouray:


oopsy. Stalling sucks:


Imogene sucked for me today. My head wasn't "in the game", it was super windy and cold and I was having terrible target fixation. I probably would have had more fun if I had stopped for a coffee and snack in Telluride, but I motored right through.

Coming off Imogene, steep never ending descent with no good line:

[Hurricane]

What wonderful scenery ! I hope someday to get me some of that !Thanks for posting the pix,s.By the way I have a KLR 250 and a KX250 and really love them both ! Light makes right ! Especially when your an olphart shell of of a man like me !

[anomad]

Some more pictures from a couple rides while I was on vacation recently:



I like big trees



I like mountains too


I climbed this one a few times, "back in the day"


Wish I had held the stupid camera straight for this one

[anomad]

I installed heated grips today.  Yay warm hands.

Took it around the 'hood in the snow just for good measure.