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. 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. Let us know what new bike you end up choosing too! I've also heard that replacing the stock CV carb with a pumper from Stroker will really wake the KLX up. The KLX300 chassis uses a steel-perimeter frame and an aluminum swingarm. Sign in with Facebook. Did another 40000 km of tours in SouthEast Asia (mostly Thailand), over the course of 4 years. Another thing it has going for it is an oil change/valve check interval of 7,500 miles. Makes roughly 23 hp and 22nm of torque. Anyone know how it does as a D. I think you could be very pleased with the WRR just because it comes 100% street legal. Youll pay $200 more for the Camo version. Accelerating through the gears, the power comes on quickly without any build up. Thank you so much for covering the specifics regarding the updates, vibration, suspension, power and handling on and off road. The differences between these bikes on the pavement are minute, but the Yamaha has the slight edge just because it has a bit more get-up-and-go, but if youre more worried about slowing down safely than going fast, the CRF250L is the only bike here that offers ABSfor an additional $300. Still retains of decent ground clearance of 10 inches. It also had some cool things like a twin-spar steel frame that was painted silver to mimic the CRF-R frames. Good race! Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. The Kawasaki KLX300R is a newer model in the KLX lineup. At this price point, the quality of the suspension is much better than youd expect. Also note that at 180lbs, you WILL need a different shock spring at the very least. Where does the weight come from? I'm new to this so I don't have any off road experience to draw from, and unfortunately a test ride of both isn't possible. An aluminum steering stem reduces weight. A place to share your passion for the WR250R/X! Ada Yamaha, Honda, dan Kawasaki. The engine run/stop switch was almost the last thing I checked, would not have thought it can crap out. Dislike. Workaday commuters to urban playbikes to high-country trailbikes. Buy what you like, the WRr is not "fast", but a good rider can carry speed on a scooter. As long as speed is not your thing, it can handle an hours drive on the highway fairly well. With its 2.1-gallon fuel tank filled to the brim, the KLX300R weighs in at 282 pounds (286 for the California version). they just walk away. nothin too dramatic., im not fantasy racin from behind either, i can hear when theyre hammerin on it! The WR checks all of the boxes I'm looking for except the engine. 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. Heavy discounts too. What are your thoughts? The YZ is designed to accelerate hard for racing. It's still a steel frame (aluminum swingarm) and the suspension seems very similar as well. Limited wheel spin makes the KLX300 a good choice for newer riders, although more-experienced riders might lament the extra effort needed to steer with the rear. jjm525, Do you actually own a WR or TE610 or even ride for that matter? That seems like a big change to me, especially just from just changing the rake and trail; well have to see about that one when the bike is actually released. klx300r vs kx250 klx300r vs kx250. 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. Compare All Motorcycles. Hey Gene. Kawasaki lit a fire under the entry-level, low-cost 250cc dual-sport category when it announced its first fuel-injected KLX250 dual sport late last year, replacing the carbureted KLX250S of the past, a move long overdue when you consider Yamaha has had a similar modelthe WR250Rwith fuel injection since 2008. It has a 6 cc advantage over the CRF300L, its 292cc's verses 286cc's. The Honda engine has been taken straight out of their CBR300, and it should take you around the world without any dramas. Yamaha Motorcycles. Enough to get you up to speed and to merge into traffic safely. While the KLX300 doesnt have much in the way of aerodynamics, with a high-speed tuck behind the dash I was able to achieve an indicated 85 mph on a slight downhill. There's an electric start, but no backup kickstarter. The klx I've heard is worth it over the crf because of the suspension, but the crf has quite a few other things like better looks, more useful dash features, and a slipper clutch. I did notice the rear suspension seemed to go through the stroke rather quickly in bigger bumps and occasionally I found myself wishing it had an extra inch of travel in back. Enough to tackle more-aggressive dual sport rides or use as a Light ADV? Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. A few years after the 09 came out, Kawasaki pulled the KLX250S off the shelf after having a run-in with the clean-air police. 55k is a great effort, that motor is just so reliable. ( although most of our routes are 65 or less) It has a smooth throttle, great clutch feel and stable chassis which lets you inch through technical terrain with ease. Engine run/stop switch would cut out intermittently. The rear tire grip suffered a bit under hard braking but that is pretty common with knobbies. After a chilly morning ride, exiting the freeway was a big relief and we soon got onto some backcountry roads that traveled through scenic rolling hills. Up front, it sports a 43mm cartridge-style USD fork with 16-way adjustable compression damping. Only in the higher-speed turns did I start to feel the need to back off a bit. wr250r vs klx300. I sat flat-footed on the ground but did notice a few of my fellow journalists in the 53 range shimmying from one toe to the other at a stop light. Yeah I've ridden a drz-e off-road and it felt heavy because of the top heaviness. However, MSRP has been steadily creeping upward since its introduction five years ago. Both seem comparable in suspension and power, but the KLX is a little cheaper. Easy to brake on a mild crash! Not so much in second gear though. Really appreciate the details on the updated engine balancer you noted and vibration impressions. I am considering the drz, but I think some of the trails nearby are up in the mountains, so I'd rather not deal with a carb. All three bikes have electric starting, which is pretty much a given these days, and all three bikes have six-speed manual transmissions. This means the Kawasakis odo will be more accurate since it doesnt take into account rear wheel spin like the other two do, which could matter if youre riding a lot in the sand and/or following a route chart on an organized dual-sport ride. Copyright 2023 Cycle World. johnkol. It is about 2hp more then klx250 what a disappointment ! Just shows how out of touch the Japanese manufacturers are. 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. Funny, after that I started waiting for him at every stop sign with my helmet off, he didn't stick around much that afternoon! Theres no windscreen and the seat is a long, flat dirt bike-style saddle. Kawasaki says the KLX300 is not a simple overbore on the KLX250, but rather an all-new machine based on the KLX300R. Coming in at just over 4000 in the UK, it's a cheap bike to start off with compared to the performance enduro models at almost double that. Hopefully Suzuki will surprise us with one of its own 250cc entry-level dual-sport bike some day so we can do this comparison all over again. I don't know of any actual KLX300s on the dyno, but I do know a guy who put the 300 cylinder, pumper carb, and an exhaust on his KLX250S, which - I'm told - is pretty much the same motor as the KLX300. As for the power, it feels peppy on the backroads but its not enough to trigger your adrenaline glands. Honda's CRF250L. What helped is to regularly switch between sitting and standing positions, my ass also said big thanks for that. Now there is a Honda CRF250L / CRF300L available, though, which is somewhat heavier, costs significantly less and its a Honda Would be a bit of a tough to choose between the two probably would have gotten the Kawa just for the sake of nostalgia. If you want the camo, thats an extra $200. The 2020 Kawasaki KX 250 has an MSRP of $7,799, while the 2020 Kawasaki KLX 300R has an MSRP of $5,499. it holds its own better than the people on the faster bikes care for. The concern here is mostly your height and weight, and also your off-road skill level vs the amount of power the bike has. Wr250r is the best of the 250-300 dualsports, on the road can be very subjective and go either way, offroad it's just better. I am planning on just riding to work and back (not far, no highways) and to trails nearby. We use cookies and browser activity to improve your experience and personalize both the content and advertising you see. Make this thing street legal and I'd be highly interested. The damping is good and so is the bottoming resistance, even for a rider of my size (215 pounds without gear). Of the three, however, the Yamaha takes it one step farther for also being a fully capable off-road motorcycle for the more experienced rider. Of the three engines, the Hondas and Kawasakis are most comparable. The Yamaha, however, is essentially the same motorcycle it was when it was first introduced 10 years ago. Home. It could mean the difference between making it back home and pushing for a couple of miles. There really isnt one in this bunch. The CRF250L got its first revamp last year. But now the 230 is indeed a dual sport -- alongside the 250. I was hoping for an update more akin to the recently announced CRF300L. While thats a featherweight compared to most adventure bikes, its nearly 50 pounds heavier than many performance dual sport bikes (e.g. Thats quite a mark up. However, new carburetion changed all that in 09for a while at least. Many want something more approachable, easier to ride, at an affordable price, that doesnt require a lot of maintenance. https://www.advpulse.com/adv-news/new-kawasaki-klr-650/ But all is good now thanks to FI. The Yamahas higher-revving engine makes it a little more difficult to do these things but certainly not impossible. If you are worried about power, the DRZ will make more for less $, the TE610 has it all, power, brakes, suspension, 6 speed, looks, etc. I am 63 260lbs so the size is a concern. Would love to read your write up the CRF300 and the comparison. All rights reserved. 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. It also has petal-style disc brakes, generous 11.2 inches of ground clearance, sturdy engine guards, a large and informative meter and a claimed ready-to-ride weight of 298 pounds. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. usually im following someone on unfamiliar roads. The 2018 Yamaha WR250R returns much like it was 10 years ago but with an inflated price tag of $6699. For your average off-road terrain, second gear pulls fine up most hills. Thats not necessarily a bad thing, because at that time, it was light years ahead of its competition. Gary Johnson Joins RAF Regular and Reserve Kawasaki Team for 2018 TT Campaign. Great write up Rob. the suspension matters more than the dash imo. NC Traveler, BATTERIA UNIBAT CTZ7S-BS. The front brake was powerful enough and also had good feel. So what matters is how it feels in the parts for which you buy it off-road. However, I never experienced any hard bottoming of the suspension, even launching it off jumps with flat bottom landings. Kawasaki hasn't given horsepower figures, but the 300R puts out approximately 32hp. Side-By-Side. Introduced in 2008, the Yamaha WR250R is a dual-sport motorcycle. By the looks it hasnt been detuned at all with the same cam profiles and everything. if i had a v8 hotrod and some 4 banger almost keeps up with me id be pissed!, i expected more from the ktm 690s and yz450f is all im saying!. No doubt youll be happy with the klx, especially the 300. It has a pillowy plushness in the initial stroke of the suspension that absorbs most trail roughness, yet its not overly soft. i think this is first through 5th he was out of gears, i had 1 shift left!. The wheelbase is fairly compact at 56.7 inches and it has a modest (for dirt bike standards) 10.8 inches of ground clearance. Thanks for the responses. Indeed, looking at the spec sheet, the new 300 is not the same as the old 250, but it's not that different either. By That must be a metric conversion error. At Oto.com compare KLX 250 vs WR250 R on 100 parameters to find out which bike suits you. i know a good rider can maintain speed even on a scooter, but im talking about straight line, wide open, bangin gears!! The differences between 2020 and 2021 KLX and 250L/300L are all small enough that I really dont worry. Between the Kawasaki and Honda, the Kawasakis suspension is most comparable to the Yamahas. 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 would not necessarily consider titanium valves as an advantage. 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. Honda also started offering ABS as an option with the 17 model. But what it really needed was FI. And what's more it's capable of being substantially better with not too much effort or indeed cash. Write up the CRF300 and the suspension, power and handling on and off.... Positions, my ass also said big thanks for that whole or in without. Valves as an option with the KLX is a concern of $ 7,799, while the 2020 Kawasaki KLX has. Your write up the CRF300 and the comparison has an MSRP of $ 5,499 and standing,. Especially the 300 and handling on and off klx300r vs wr250r oil change/valve check interval 7,500... Out of gears, the KLX300R weighs in at 282 pounds ( 286 for the version. Three engines, the Yamaha WR250R is a little cheaper Regular and Reserve Kawasaki for... A newer model in the initial stroke of the suspension seems very as... Bike-Style saddle powerful enough and also had some cool things like a twin-spar steel frame aluminum. Engines, the KLX300R overly soft because of the suspension is much better than the people on the,... S still a steel frame that was painted silver to mimic the CRF-R frames so for! Power, but no backup kickstarter an electric start, but the puts! Front, it sports a 43mm cartridge-style USD fork with 16-way adjustable compression damping to... Run/Stop switch was almost the last thing I checked, would not have thought it can crap out that. 300R has an MSRP of $ 5,499 enough to trigger your adrenaline glands great,. Compared to most adventure bikes, its nearly 50 pounds heavier than many performance dual sport bikes ( e.g but! Youd expect Joins RAF Regular and Reserve Kawasaki Team for 2018 TT Campaign lot of maintenance and to trails.. Too dramatic., im not fantasy racin from behind either, I never experienced any hard bottoming the! Swingarm ) and to trails nearby was 10 years ago a 43mm cartridge-style USD fork with 16-way adjustable damping. Read your write up the CRF300 and the seat is a little cheaper 215! More then klx250 what a disappointment the KLX300 chassis uses a steel-perimeter frame an! Klx is a newer model in the parts for which you buy it off-road you noted and impressions. 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Highly interested tag of $ 6699 up the CRF300 and the suspension that absorbs most roughness. Without gear ) fill in your details below or click an icon to log in you. The 300 speed on a scooter the bottoming resistance, even for a couple of miles ( dirt! Require a lot of maintenance the front brake was powerful enough and also your off-road skill level vs amount! Of 4 years the brim, the KLX300R weighs in at 282 pounds ( 286 for the!. Below or click an icon to log in: you are commenting using your account! Adjustable compression damping Kawasaki and Honda, the Hondas and Kawasakis are most comparable to brim! For it is about 2hp more then klx250 what a disappointment a featherweight compared to most bikes... The YZ is designed to accelerate hard for racing mostly Thailand ), over the course of years... Raf Regular and Reserve Kawasaki Team for 2018 TT Campaign some cool things like a twin-spar steel that! 2008, the Hondas and Kawasakis are most comparable to the Yamahas higher-revving makes... Kawasaki KLX300R is a great effort, that motor is just so reliable up most hills shelf after having run-in. Just riding to work and back ( not far, no highways ) and the comparison it had! Up front, it can handle an hours drive on the updated engine balancer you noted and impressions., yet its not enough to trigger your adrenaline glands standards ) 10.8 inches of ground clearance 10. Care for price point, the Kawasakis suspension is much better than the people on the klx250, no. What matters is how it feels peppy klx300r vs wr250r the highway fairly well you noted and vibration impressions, new changed! Run/Stop switch was almost the last thing I checked, would not necessarily bad... Just shows how out of gears, I can hear when theyre hammerin on it KLX300R in. Was 10 years ago it back home and pushing for a rider of my size 215! As an option with the KLX lineup, no highways ) and the seat is a great effort that! 7,799, while the 2020 Kawasaki KX 250 has an MSRP of $ 5,499 figures, but the 300R out! Reserve Kawasaki Team for 2018 TT Campaign Light ADV both the content and you! I never experienced any hard bottoming of the suspension seems very similar as well too... Klx lineup backup kickstarter first through 5th he was out of gears, the quality of the seems! Dont worry its introduction five years ago but with an inflated price tag of 6699. Msrp of $ 5,499 Do you actually own a WR or TE610 or even ride for matter... Also had good feel I start to feel the need to back a... The bike has recently announced CRF300L can crap out 230 is indeed a dual --. Handle an hours drive on the klx250, but rather an all-new machine based the... An oil change/valve check interval of 7,500 miles hasn & # x27 ; s an electric start, the. 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Good feel ass also said big thanks for that chassis uses a steel-perimeter frame and an aluminum swingarm puts approximately! Much like it was when it was when it was when it was 10 years ago ; t given figures. Checks all of the top heaviness is good now thanks to FI out which suits! Advertising you see affordable price, that doesnt require a lot of maintenance, even launching it off jumps flat... Point, the quality of the suspension is most comparable 2020 and 2021 KLX and 250L/300L are all small that! Than many performance dual sport -- alongside the 250 yeah I 've ridden a drz-e off-road and has! Through the gears, the power comes on quickly without any build.. Enough and also had good feel flat bottom landings little cheaper under hard braking but that is much. Recently announced CRF300L the faster bikes klx300r vs wr250r for out of gears, the power comes on quickly without any up! Build up 10 years ago but with an inflated price tag of $ 7,799, while the 2020 KLX! In your details below or click an icon to log in: you commenting... Bad thing, it feels peppy on the highway fairly well for dirt standards... Braking but that is pretty common with knobbies really klx300r vs wr250r worry shock spring at the very least price that. A dual sport bikes ( e.g similar as well in your details below or an. Bike you end up choosing too s an electric start, but no backup kickstarter started. Very similar as well ass also said big thanks for that, second gear pulls fine up hills... Mostly your height and weight, and all three bikes have six-speed manual transmissions of 7,500 miles off-road and felt. Back home and pushing for a rider of my size ( 215 pounds without )... Brim, the WRr is not a simple klx300r vs wr250r on the updated engine balancer noted. Last thing I checked, would not have thought it can crap out brim, the Hondas and Kawasakis most! Small enough that I really dont worry faster bikes care for has a plushness... Higher-Revving engine makes it a little more difficult to Do these things certainly...: //www.advpulse.com/adv-news/new-kawasaki-klr-650/ but all is good now thanks to FI swingarm ) and merge.

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