Opinions & help please - 97/98 Kawasaki KLX300s

[RØKSTA]

Hey guys, Looking at a couple Kawasaki KLX300's (also if anyone knows of any good ones for sale, let me know ;) )

They are 97's, anyone know of any problems with ones of that vintage? What to look out for? How to tell the diff between a older 97 and a newer one, as they seem to in that 97/98 time change slightly in looks (headlight) etc depending on their age.

Any other info you can tell me on them would be great. PLEASE!!!!

Also dont tell me anything about any other bikes, Im dead set on a 97/98 KLX300.

Cheers dudes

:rockon:

[RØKSTA]

Anyone, please, feel free ;)

[scott411]

good bikes, the problems reported with teh 97 idler gear and hard starter are like most things very overstated, they are basically the same till 07 when they stopped producing them,

one of the best handling bikes every made, they batted above their power becasue of it, i love riding them, a few cheap easy mods make them go much better as well, don;t worry about getting a muffler for them, a header pipe from custom chambers works great and no more noise,

any questions give me a yell, i have a 07 one done 37 miles from new for sale, but it may be out of your price range,

Scott

[cave weta]

good bikes, the problems reported with teh 97 idler gear and hard starter are like most things very overstated, they are basically the same till 07 when they stopped producing them,

one of the best handling bikes every made, they batted above their power becasue of it, i love riding them, a few cheap easy mods make them go much better as well, don;t worry about getting a muffler for them, a header pipe from custom chambers works great and no more noise,

any questions give me a yell, i have a 07 one done 37 miles from new for sale, but it may be out of your price range,

Scott

I Love em! what Scott said x2- but yes a few kicks to make em go.

[RØKSTA]

Thanks guys. I used to have a XR400 from 98 back in the day, but I found it too heavy for trails. So far ive heard the KLX 300 is WAY better for weight and handling, looks cooler (am an old Kawasaki kid from way back!) and pretty bullet proof really? Am I right?

So no obvious things to look out for, ie smoky or any rattles or anything?

[cave weta]

Thanks guys. I used to have a XR400 from 98 back in the day, but I found it too heavy for trails. So far ive heard the KLX 300 is WAY better for weight and handling, looks cooler (am an old Kawasaki kid from way back!) and pretty bullet proof really? Am I right?

So no obvious things to look out for, ie smoky or any rattles or anything?

As Scott Says.. the kickstart idler gear can let go causing seriuos damage but on thumpertalk you will find a fix for that- from memory it is a thicker shim in the side case end to eliminate endfloat.

( this is where CS363 comes in and tells us the thickness and rockwell hardness number of that shim):bash:

[scott411]

yeah, thim shim needs to be checked, you need to make sure if has no slop, i would get it checked by someone who is used to dealing with them on waht ever year you buy for peace of mind,

[RØKSTA]

Oh ok 'whompa' way over my head that tech talk!

How much would one expect to pay for a 97KLX300?

[RØKSTA]

anyonezzz?

I have $2000 max to spend on a bike

[scott411]

Oh ok 'whompa' way over my head that tech talk!

How much would one expect to pay for a 97KLX300?

a shitta would be about $600-$1000, a tidy one maybe $2500ish,

finding one might be the problem, if one comes up ill post it on here,

[RØKSTA]

Ive found a couple Im looking at at the moment. A decent looking 'newer' 97 (with black seat style) for $1800

Then an older looking one for around the low 2's

Really keen on the 1800. Is that a ok price to pay?

[scott411]

with out seeing it i can not be sure, you need to check the usuals like suspension bearings, head set bearings etc,

i do not think it is over the top tho,

[RØKSTA]

Its just had all bushes & bearing replaced, its down the country abit off a farm, seems ok, hes prepared to take $1800 for it...? Im not after a 'new' bike I know it might have slight problems but does $1800 cash sort of sound about right?

[cave weta]

Its just had all bushes & bearing replaced, its down the country abit off a farm, seems ok, hes prepared to take $1800 for it...? Im not after a 'new' bike I know it might have slight problems but does $1800 cash sort of sound about right?

How about my one for $1800- its done the Red Bull City Scramble!- as walked past by Chris Birch..

150703

[RØKSTA]

How about my one for $1800- its done the Red Bull City Scramble!- as walked past by Chris Birch..

150703

Are you serious about selling yours or ???

Let me know...Im am a keen person with cash wanting to get a KLX300 ASAP!!!!

[cave weta]

Are you serious about selling yours or ???

Let me know...Im am a keen person with cash wanting to get a KLX300 ASAP!!!!

Come and ride it- I paid $2200 on TM about a year ago- its getting a bit baggy but goes well- dont know what year it is.

[camchain]

I bought a 2 year old KLX300 to get back onto dirt riding after 20yrs off bikes. Had it for a year and it was an excellent choice, I had a blast on it. A ten year old dirt bike is getting pretty long in the tooth though, so even though you're obviously keen, don't be in too much of a rush to buy. Take some time to find a decent one. If buying long distance, get seller to send some decent close up photos.

If the kick start idler gear goes, they can do a lot of damage - or no damage, depending on your luck. All bikes have their weak points so don't let this put you off the excellent KLX. Not a huge deal to pull the cover to check and shim the gear, although I never got around to it! Stroker USA used to make a wider/tougher gear but they folded the company. (Stroker also used to make a modified shift star but the stock one can be fairly easily modifed for much improved gear shifting). Never had any trouble with my idler gear, but I have seen one let go on a brand new bike.

When you get yours, the idea is to try and avoid a big heave on the kicker when piston is right on compression (at top dead centre), this puts extra load on the idler gear. Stroke the kicker a good half kick or more past the 'hardest point' & this sets the auto decompressor (lifts an exhaust valve). OK, it's difficult, or rather impossible to do this when you're angry, sweating & stuck in bog but just be aware of it. That's just my take on it, so keep an open mind for other views on the subject.

Also as already mentioned, check steering head bearings. The KLX steering stem has a slot cut through it for a steering lock (for road legal versions). Water can run down via the slot & onto the bottom bearing & bugger it fairly quickly. A bike with shot bearing is no reason to worry but replacing bearing is a bit of a pita (I filled slot with silastic when I did my bearing).
To check, rock the bike back onto side stand so front wheel is off the gound, rock the handle bar side to side, and note any 'notchy' feeling. Get someone to grab fork legs and feel for movement. Two heads and pairs of eyes when looking at a used bike is a good idea anyway. I always forget to look at one thing or another.

A bike that is suddenly very hard to start may have knackered inlet valves. If your seller has just shimmed them, they are already gone (through the hardening) and will need replacing shortly. Not a big drama to replace valves if you're handy on the spanners.

[RØKSTA]

Come and ride it- I paid $2200 on TM about a year ago- its getting a bit baggy but goes well- dont know what year it is.

PM'd you bout yer bike mate

[RØKSTA]

Come and ride it- I paid $2200 on TM about a year ago- its getting a bit baggy but goes well- dont know what year it is.

Are you getting my messages dude? Email r0ksta@xtra.co.nz or 021 039 7939

:rockon:

[RØKSTA]

Still on the prowl for a KLX guys if anyone has one... Cave Weta, still waiting to hear back from you man! Give me a buzz!

[cave weta]

Still on the prowl for a KLX guys if anyone has one... Cave Weta, still waiting to hear back from you man! Give me a buzz!

Ive just got in from work- and yes My phone has died!
I will go out to the shed and shoot these bikes- back soon with photos.

[cave weta]

Here ya go the rider I will be out on tomorrow- the dead one - I had to climb over other dead things to get to it- Its at the back of a shed crammed with bikes.
150997

150998

150999

[RØKSTA]

Hey Stu, Cheers for pics. So are they both KLX300's???

No probs with the good one? Could I come down for a ride?
Does it have a headlight & does it still work? Does it have a spedo?


Really keen mate. Let us know. Looks good.

// Rob

[krad_nz]

Just found this in my travels.
Someone might find it useful. KLX250 with KLX300 supplemental workshop manual.

Guessing that the 250 & 300 are pretty similar. pdf format. ~ 15megs 299 pages.

http://www.mediafire.com/?b200n2cdtcq

[RØKSTA]

Guys, whats the nack to starting these bikes?

[RØKSTA]

Uh Hello???????

[Ride it till the red]

Depends entirely on the bike as to how you start it mate. Friend of mine has a KLX250 and it seems to like one or two big stamps on the kick start with no throttle and full choke. Then change it to half choke and it normally kicks first time no throttle. And then you can't touch it till it's warmed up a little when you can rev her a tad and take the choke off when sufficiently warm.

Might help but who knows, ya got one thats playing up?

[RØKSTA]

Yea got no half choke, only full or nothing

[secondfield]

Shouldnt make any difference ... have you seen the bike running before? Sometimes it takes a while if your new to bikes to get a feel for the starting effort. Not much help but thats the way it is ... You got any mates nearby that have bikes?. Check the spark maybe and clear out the float bowl of the carby if its beens sitting a while ... fresh gas? you dont have the killswitch engaged?

[krad_nz]

These bikes are sometimes really difficult to start.

Gently turn the engine over until you feel a point of high resistance (top dead centre) now give it a boot. Repeat until started.

If all else fails roll starting can help. My brother has a KLX300 that won't start when you give it a boot full. I was trying to start it for him oneday and performed the above procedure. However, as I was gently turning it over to find TDC it started up. Weird.

I think he needs to shim up something which gets loose in these bikes. Lots of info on the net about it.

[RØKSTA]

Cool guys thanks for the info. Yea I thought I had the knack down, its a new purchase and what I did the first few times was full choke, rake up the idle needle, few good full compression kicks and shes cackling away, warm it up, put in the choke and re trim the idle, but today it was being a complete bitch and I threw it in, really want to try get the knack down to starting it before I take out on a ride or to the park and look like a complete twat not being able to start it!!!!

Ill keep trying, alltho I might take it to spectrum for a quick service and see if they can suggest anything thats easier or can help make it start better.

Def when money allows getting an electric start, fck this kicking business!

[RØKSTA]

How would one know about the shim problem????

[scott411]

take it to a kawasaki dealer that knows, in auckland MR Motorcycles in Pukekohe, or Spectrum on Barry's point road, they will check it for you

[RØKSTA]

Cool, coz I kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and....

...It still only manages a cough, I got so pissed I threw it on the ground, pathetic I know but I wasted atleast 30 mins giving it my all, fucking annoying I tell you.

[RØKSTA]

Does anyone know if spectrum do a pick up/delivery service for getting bikes serviced through them?????

[cave weta]

Cool, coz I kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and....

...It still only manages a cough, I got so pissed I threw it on the ground, pathetic I know but I wasted atleast 30 mins giving it my all, fucking annoying I tell you.

Fuck!- mine must be a good one then!
sometimes it will start as Im just rocking it over, but always it starts 2or 3 kicks.

Itll be all that kicking that wears out the idler gear (no shit sherlock!)

You should have bought mine haha.

Im still selling both for $1800 if anyone is keen

[RØKSTA]

Fuck!- mine must be a good one then!
sometimes it will start as Im just rocking it over, but always it starts 2or 3 kicks.

Itll be all that kicking that wears out the idler gear (no shit sherlock!)

You should have bought mine haha.

Im still selling both for $1800 if anyone is keen

This one is good when It stars, it had everything I wanted on it all ready to go, shes fine when she starts up but just a prick to do so plus the price was REALLY goooood!


Anyone know if Spectrum do pick ups?

[cave weta]

with out seeing it i can not be sure, you need to check the usuals like suspension bearings, head set bearings etc,

i do not think it is over the top tho,

Thanks for the plug! lol:first:

[RØKSTA]

Thanks for the plug! lol:first:



LOL nice.....

[L Rider]

Anyone know if Spectrum do pick ups?

Don't think they do.

[RØKSTA]

Don't think they do.

Is there anyone on the shore or north that does pick up or on site services on dirt bikes??????

[RØKSTA]

Is there anyone on the shore or north that does pick up or on site services on dirt bikes??????


Anyonee know????

[krad_nz]

Not heard of anything like that.

[RØKSTA]

Cool, coz I kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked and....

...It still only manages a cough, I got so pissed I threw it on the ground, pathetic I know but I wasted atleast 30 mins giving it my all, fucking annoying I tell you.


Embarrasing i know but i only kicked like shit because the bikes fuel switch was off..... Laugh it up but im sure most of you have been caught out by it!!!!