KLX250S upgrades

Valkiera · 06-17-2012, 08:14 PM

Since I'm not riding for a few months, I have more than enough time to work on my little bike. So once I can turn a wrench, I can start tinkering on her.

So for a small DS "touring/camping" build, what all do you folks recommend? I'll try and document everything as I do it, in the event someone can use this info at a later date.

Here is our patient

What I have done so far is lower it 1.5" via a link, and added a seat concepts seat.

I've ordered hand guards In Black from info I've found these don't cause issues with most other add-ons.

Thinking about adding:
IMS 3 gal tank
soft luggage
tool tube
GPS and mount (thoughts on this?)
windscreen (That can be removed and stored if the trail requires. Obviously I can hurt myself easily enough, I don't need to impale myself on a windscreen on the trail.)
suspension upgrade, to lower it properly

What else? A way to carry extra fuel? Lights?

BlueLghtning · 06-17-2012, 09:40 PM

Does anyone else besides IMS make a bigger tank then 3gals? That's still not a very big tank for a DS. Personally for me, I'd rather see closer to 5gals.

One way to carry extra fuel is MSR fuel bottles or maybe Rotopax fuel tanks.

For luggage, you either need some side racks to keep soft bags off your exhaust and plastic or you need to invest in something like Giant Loop or the Nomad Rider which is a u-shaped bag that goes over the seat. The Nomad is a knock of of Giant Loop, but will save you about $100. My buddy has one and is happy with it. The Luggage rack Sarah and I both have is the TCI Sequoia Rack which is really nice. The way the side racks have a small shelf to them, you could even attach dry bags to each side.

For your GPS, RAM mounts work best and what ever GPS you want. Dual Sport GPS's take a beating though. On the lower end price range, I would suggest a Garmin 60cx/csx or 76cx/csx. The S just means it has sensors for the compass to actually work while you are standing still. That actually works out nice so you know what way you are pointing when you are stopped, but a CX version would work fine. The 76 is functionally the same, but the buttons are on top of the screen.

If you have a larger budget, the Garmin Montana seems to be the popular DS one these days. Its all touch screen, but can do a lot.

Windscreen is nice for the road, but as Sarah found out, they do become a pretty big hazard if your standing right over it. Most times, its best to forgo the windscreen when DS riding.

If you can set up the suspension for your weight (front & rear) and lower it at the same time, that would be the best setup.

BlueLghtning · 06-17-2012, 09:52 PM

Here's the Rotopax fuel containers - http://justgastanks.com/index.php?cP...77f85c8c53bd85

I was going to say there are 2 other fuel task for the KLX250S, but the Acerbis requires modifications to fit 97+ models and the Clark is only for the 06-08. Wow looks like the IMS is it. :( - http://justgastanks.com/index.php?cPath=4_60_68

IMS is $248 and 3.0 gals - http://justgastanks.com/product_info...roducts_id=260
Clarke is $203 for 06-08, but only 2.7 gals - http://justgastanks.com/product_info...roducts_id=436
Acerbis is $230 and 3.7gals - http://justgastanks.com/product_info...roducts_id=329, but it says it needs modifications to fit 97+ models :(

BlueLghtning · 06-17-2012, 09:59 PM

TCI does make both the Sequoia & Denali Rack for the KLX250S - https://tciproductsusa.com/index.php...th=144_161_164
Sequoia Rack - https://tciproductsusa.com/index.php...roducts_id=601
Denali Rack - https://tciproductsusa.com/index.php...roducts_id=603

I personally wouldn't pay their prices for the soft luggage add on. You find soft luggage much cheaper than that and after seeing how Sarah's bag ripped the first time we used it and the zippers take a beating after getting covered in dirt, I would just do dry bags strapped to the racks. They are waterproof and easily replaceable.

Valkiera · 06-18-2012, 03:06 AM

BL - Thank you for all the info and links.

I'm not too good at fabrication, so bolt on is a plus.

The reason I was looking at a windscreen, is some of the riding to get to the hills, is 50-55 2 lane roads. Hoping to keep some of the wind off me, for the hour plus it will take me to get there. However I see the danger of it also.

Any opinion on the dirt-bagz? Here

I like the Rotopax, looks secure.

ridingAK · 06-18-2012, 09:53 AM

I had a rotopax on my last bike and definitely appreciated the extra security a little extra gas gave me. On the other hand, the mechanism for locking it down was so tight, I had major difficulties in getting the tank off the bike so I could use it. I don't know if that is typical of rotopax. Even when I did the tightening (when Nut tightened it there was NO way I could get it loose), it took one extra turn to lock it down that was a struggle.

BlueLghtning · 06-18-2012, 10:35 AM

Dirt Bagz are good bags also. I have no personal experience with them, but I know they are popular.

Valkiera · 06-30-2012, 03:55 AM

Looking for input on tires. Since I'm 80% paved and the "off road" I do is gravel roads. I was thinking of something less knobby, and a bit smoother on the road. Maybe something like these heidenau k60

Astir · 06-30-2012, 09:26 AM

We have liked the heidenau's. they lasted about 10k for Mark (rear) and he liked them so much is on his second set.

Caribbean · 06-30-2012, 09:30 AM

Yep, you can get an 80/20 on/off tire for the KLX. I have zero experience shopping for moto tires onn the Internet, unfortunately -- I've always picked from my dealer's catalog. They give me their selection of tire mixes (I run a 60/40 tire on my 09 KLX) and prices, and I pick -- but I'm useless, as I don't remember brand names! (Because of that bike's location, my selection is a lot more limited than yours, so I'm usually just excited that ANYTHING is available at a certain price.)