CRF230 to KLX300? Good idea?

[DaveHonda]

Gidday
Long term lurker, long time rider pushing 50. I'm into just mucking around trail riding and have a 07 CRF230, no mods. I've been eyeing up a new KLX300 (only $6995) and was wondering what the general consensus is for using this as a fun bike. I'm not into competition but do give it heaps from time to time as the mist decends.
I see that they've stopped selling these things around the world now (are we in runout mode here?) and the replacement 450 kawa is close to $11 grand which is too rich for me. (and probably too much of a handfull)
I'm not really interested in getting a 2nd hand bike with potential problems (I like to know its gonna get me there and back) but i'm always open to ideas.
KLX looks a reasonable step up in power and suspension from the 230 and about the same weight. No electric leg tho (bummer).

Do these things still (in 2008) have the issues with the compression release, and gearbox jumping that plagued the old ones. What have they done to the bike since its launch in the dark ages?
Sigh.:blink::blink:

[B0000M]

have you considered a 2nd hand but near new CRF250X ? they offer significantly more power than the 230, especially with the intake opened up, and a R exaust

[imw-hornet]

Gidday
Long term lurker, long time rider pushing 50. I'm into just mucking around trail riding and have a 07 CRF230, no mods. I've been eyeing up a new KLX300 (only $6995) and was wondering what the general consensus is for using this as a fun bike. I'm not into competition but do give it heaps from time to time as the mist decends.
I see that they've stopped selling these things around the world now (are we in runout mode here?) and the replacement 450 kawa is close to $11 grand which is too rich for me. (and probably too much of a handfull)
I'm not really interested in getting a 2nd hand bike with potential problems (I like to know its gonna get me there and back) but i'm always open to ideas.
KLX looks a reasonable step up in power and suspension from the 230 and about the same weight. No electric leg tho (bummer).

Do these things still (in 2008) have the issues with the compression release, and gearbox jumping that plagued the old ones. What have they done to the bike since its launch in the dark ages?
Sigh.:blink::blink:

Hay DaveHonda

All that i can say , is what a bike , you cant go wrong , i have had mine for a year , and in the group that i ride with there are 4 KLX 300's and one 450 , years ranging from 05 to 08.
About the 2nd hand ones , you can get it looked over , 3 of us got ours 2nd hand , and are great :banana: , about them being runout , unsure of that , know that they have just started selling the KLX 250 which i think is a detuned 300.
In connection with gearbox jumping ?????:blank: r u talking about jumping into nutural ,,, if so there is a little mod from thumper talk that fixes this :clap: , there are also a few "free" mods taht we have done that helps the klx, about the magic button ,,,, oh how nice that would be on the 300 :msn-wink:

[Pierce]

have you considered a 2nd hand but near new CRF250X ? they offer significantly more power than the 230, especially with the intake opened up, and a R exaust

Yeah I'd have to agree with Boooom, the 250X is the stepped down version of the 250R but you can get rid of the restrictions and they perform bloody nice while still having ye' ol' electric start and head/tail lights if you keep em on. Also a heap more suspension adjustments then the old 230F:Punk:

Keep it Red mate!:wari: I know I did:wari: I was thinking of going to a brand new RM250 but kept lookin and found a like new CR250 and I'm stoked I still ride honda!:love:

[scott411]

we have had several people go from 230's to KLX300's, it is a very good step, KLX's do not have the service schedules needed of CRF250X's and WR250F's, they are light and reliable, i think it would be a great bike to make a next step onto, they have a bit more power than your 230, and much better suspension, and at $6995 brand new with a 12 month warranty they are priced alot better than anything else with simalar specs.

as for the problems you mention,
the Compression release was sorted in the late 90's, and they have been a lot easier to start ever since
and the jumping out of gear is a very simple fix by cleaning up the shift star that can have casting marks, and is sorted quickly by a dealer, we have not had one needing fixing in a few years (and we are the biggest kawasaki dealer in the country),
the other problem that is reported is that the kick start idler gears can fail, this happens on well used models and can be easily checked, the bush in the gear wears out and it can turn sideways, causing horrendus damage, this only happen on older models that have big hours on them, and if you keep the pay in that bush in check it never happens, we check the sideways play in that in all older KLX's we service, 250's and 300's, i have not seen any do it for a long time, last one i saw was about 02, and it was a 98 model bike.

unfortunatly they have stopped making the KLX300, there are still a few around in dealers and at the distrubtors,

the KLX250 was the original bike (94 release), the 300 followed after (97), they are same base engine and alot of the parts swap over. there were electric start 250's made from 01,
and the New KLX250S uses the same basic motor and frame,

[soundbeltfarm]

had a klx and loved it.
mine was an 07 and it only sometimes hit neutral but i think that was mostly just me not being positive enough in the change.
the kick start is fine and i see no need for electric start , as i always found it easy to start after crashes or when hot.
full open throttle and just kick her over and fired into life every time.
i done some mods to the bike, put a bigger header on it as it is just the one off the 250 model, put the dyno jet kit in it as well.
i did notice a difference after doing it and i reckon it is a worth while mod .
i got the old girl resprung to suit my weight and that made a big difference.
changed the handle bars as they are soft as butter.
changed the gearing abit so i had better pick up from bottom.
i reckon this bike is really underated and it needs little maintenence.
it is an awesome trail bike.
and is a good buy.
i own a crf 230 now , but it is a farm bike and it pales in comparison to the klx as far as trail riding is concerned and the 300 feels a bigger bike.
go to www.planetklx.com and the klx forums on thumpertalk for any info on the klx.

[ali-s]

owned a klx for a long time myself and agree with whats said above - good step from the 230, and the price can't be beaten for a good solid bike with quality components ( just change the bars and fit some zeta handguards rather than the crossbrace originals and big green ears!) the kickstart issue will soon dissapear when you realise you have no battery to worry about and maintenance at home is a breeze (oil, filters etc) - on the last danseys pass trail ride had to help a couple of geezers with those 230's that were waterlogged and couldn't use leccy start - didn't realise they have no kickstart!!! know what i'd rather have - good idea? sure thing.
cheers
AL

[laserracer]

Just sold my sons 05 klx300 what a great bike it had all the mods and was very reliable was like riding a comfortable couch after my yz426, it would crawl up anything,
only sold it because..well you know these young guys,... its not fast enough i need more speed,.. so he brought a yz250 since then i havent heard him say i need more speed or its not fast enough ..probably because hes to busy holding on :laugh:

[DaveHonda]

Guys,
Thanks for all this. These oipinions are just great and I really appreciate the comments.
Theres a green bike sitting in my garage right now. KLX300 is a step up thats for sure.
Rob at Superior in ChCH did the business (good bunch of dudes). Now, having just bought a KLX140 for the wife a month or so back (which prompted the thoughts about ditching the CRF - the KLX140 has a rather nice suspension package for such an entry level bike!) I'm gonna have to start thinking about a replacment for my kid's CRF80 in the new year... Sigh.
AND - I'm gonna have to change my sig... I'm running out of Honda's.
If I was a few years younger, I'd have probably gone with a 250x.. but its not my riding style now. Bugger.
You guys rock. Catch ya on the tracks around chch...

[CRM]

I was just looking around the shops yesterday at KLX250s and 300s. I like the sizing - fairly light and not super-tall. What I would really like is a 300 that's road legal. I see lots of 250s but can you get road legal 300s? Is the difference in power and performance that noticable between the 250s and 300s? Thanks

[scott411]

the 300 was made road legal for a bit but they will be hard to find, they never sold that well due to learner licence laws,

you can change the 250 to a 300 easy, the cylinder heads are the same, you need to fit the barryl, and from memory slightly bore the cases,
the 300's are actaully 292cc, and the difference is noticeable, if you get a road legal model, the KLX300 offroad carbs are very good option, they fit stragiht on and get rid of a lot of the emission bullshit the road legal models come with

[camchain]

KLX KLUX KLAN member

You won't regret buying the KLX DaveHonda-Saki. I thought about getting something a bit stronger flavoured but the KLX turned out to be a great choice for me as a vet getting back into it. I was really happy with it. They turn on a dime and handle pretty well especially in the tight stuff (Just watch it if you start hitting the whoops a bit too hard. A stiffer fork spring would be a good early suspension mod). KLX was very easy to live with. Even ended up doing a bit of racing on it.

Had to do the inlet valves after 150 hrs and did rings as well even though end gaps well within spec. Piston was near mint. Not a modern high revver with a lot of horsepower but a still a great little engine.

I did most of the standard mods including the shift star one. I was a bit hesitant about grinding the extra lobes off but it really worked a treat. Idler wheel (on the end of actuator arm) rolls around the star lobes a lot easier. Mod is a 2 part deal. You also have to add tension to actuator arm spring by slipping a drilled dowell on the end of it. Bike never again jumped out of gear and shifting was much more postive.


A really important mod is to fill up the steering lock slot in the steering stem. Water runs straight onto the bottom bearing and destroys it quick smart. Do this one ASAP.

Check kick start idler gear when checking the clutch. Mine had a bit of sideways play but didn't seem too bad so I didn't dig any deeper, but still always worried about it. After everything I read on the subject I had the feeling the gears weren't tempered enough after hardening and are too brittle (they could have been a fair bit wider as well).

It might be possible to make a couple of shim washers either side of the gear to stop some slop for some extra peace of mind. Avoid kicking away at it (kickata-kicakata 2 stroke style) without properly (gently) engaging the pawl. Stroking the kick through a couple of TDCs actuates the ACR (ACR sits on end of ex cam and lifts an exhaust valve) and this helps decrease load on the idler gear.


Link to a thread with some pics of tweaks:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=75535

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Hi Laserracer, penny just dropped on who you were. That was my KLX your young fella bought. When I saw it for sale again I thought maybe he fell off and lost the enthusiasm. Glad this isn't the case. That YZ will keep him busy!

[Paulus]

I was just looking around the shops yesterday at KLX250s and 300s. I like the sizing - fairly light and not super-tall. What I would really like is a 300 that's road legal. I see lots of 250s but can you get road legal 300s? Is the difference in power and performance that noticable between the 250s and 300s? Thanks

You're in luck - there is a road legal KLX300 on trademe at the moment:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=169974524

Not mine but I noticed it whilst looking for something else.

[CRM]

You're in luck - there is a road legal KLX300 on trademe at the moment:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=169974524

Not mine but I noticed it whilst looking for something else.

Yeah I'm watching that one - but really would have to sell my Pampera first and it's too far away to have a look at that one in the time - maybe it won't sell for a while...

Anybody interested in a 2006 road legal Gas Gas Pampera 250? It's great fun to ride like trials bike (engine is out of 250 GasGas trials machine) but you can commute or do trails on them (I've seen them used in enduros too) Will outclimb anything so is great learner bike too - masses of torque.

[WeeHaggis]

Hey Dave, i just done somthin similar, got rid of my 230, got me a KDX 200. The 230 was good learner, but kdx has me hooked, whoops aint a problem any more, and really love the ergos on the KDX, front end could do with stiffewning up but thats goin to have to wait, New chain sprocket first!!!!

Good luck with the Klx, cheers.

[DaveHonda]

Well guys, a quick update after a weekend of running in.
First impressions, the KLX's suspension is a light year better than the CRF230's, it simply blots bumps that the CRF didnt. I got off after riding 40kms feeling fine rather than that "been thru a wringer" feeling. Its a nice bike. Got a bit of poke as well.
And the sound is rather nice.. deep and you know your'e riding a reasonable sized single.

All things considered, its a great step up from the 230, about the same weight but significantly more power and not highly strung.

And the electric leg is a bit of a missing article, stalled it once coming down the side of a small rise, and couldnt bump start it (slimy under-tyre) so had to kick start.. the old CRF's electric leg is a great thing to have in the bottom of a swamp!
Only thing I noticed was the motor "knocked" (not pinking) at lower revs unless its spinning freely. The sound goes away once the revs rise a little. Given its brand new and I'vbe not been luggung it around I'm assuming they all make that sound? Any comments?

I've noticed on www.planetklx.org that a fix for the air-breather on the carb is to include a "t" into the 2 carb breather lines.. has anyone encountered it sucking water?

Overall, I'm chuffed! :cool:

[DaveHonda]

Hi camchain..
thanks forr your great hints....
Re the filling in of the slot on the steering head.. There's no outside means of getting to that is there? I mean, you've got to draw the yoke from the bike to get in there. I had a good hard look at the headstock on mine and there's no slot from the outside for the water to get in, Am I wrong here? Does the water get down the centre?
Dave

[camchain]

Hi Dave Honda-saki san. You are exactly where I was when I was first told about this by a KLX owner who'd just done his bearings (and was cursing about it). I had a good look around mine and thought - water can't get in there. Didn't think anything more about until steering felt notchy (when front wheel lifted). (Factoid: This notching where rollers ding bearing face is called brinneling)

The water gets in via the hole in the top nut on steering stem. See - eet duz get een. I had my tank breather poked into it but water still gets in especially when washing the bike. Only takes a little bit of drool running down inside stem, through slot and onto bearing to do the damage. You could block of hole in nut, but head bearings need a grease sometime and might as well block the slot while you're in there.

Knock Knock. Who's there? Seem to recall mine would pink a bit down low. Are you sure Pink/knock sounds different?? Keep the revs up. It's bad for your piston. I believe that noise is piston skirt hitting cylinder wall (I may stand to be corrected here)
Probably just not used to this bike and listening too hard. Using high Octane juice?

They can be a real piglet to start if tipped over or flamed out with a lungful of fuel. Open throttle full and hold then kick usually works but they can be stubborn.

That breather mod is to reduce crank case pressure and improve performance. Piston pressurises crankcase on down stroke = resistance. Never did that mod. Never had any sucky-water probs either.

Another little twist I added was to trim a fair bit off the sharp edges inside the airbox at opening because air filter too tight. Filter slides in/out a lot easier. Filling up and fairing off the parts where screws/nuts stick out into airbox makes it easier to clean as well.

Another one I really liked was drop a tooth on countershaft sprocket (or 2-3 on the back). A bit more pep and effectively makes gear ratios a bit closer together. (And no hitting neutral probs as you mostly don't use 1st much anymore) First becomes a trials crawler and higher gears suddenly become more usable for most riding. Flat out at 100kph though! Not usually an issue. Smaller front sprocket harder on chain though due to more wear from tighter turning.

Enjoy the venerable KLX. Fun to help if I can. (Not claiming to be an expert though, so always have a pinch of salt ready)

BTW change that oil immediately, I reckon this should be done after first run. Tiny bits of swarf from manufacturing on the loose inside your engine.

[humai]

Only thing I noticed was the motor "knocked" (not pinking) at lower revs unless its spinning freely. The sound goes away once the revs rise a little. Given its brand new and I'vbe not been luggung it around I'm assuming they all make that sound? Any comments?


DaveHonda, if that noise is a sort of "clack clack" under light load at low rpm (sounds a bit like piston slap), it's perfectly normal for a KLX 300; they all do it to a greater or lesser degree.

Congrats on getting the KLX300 - it's a fantastic trailbike that is underrated by many people. It's in a whole-nother league to the CRF230.

[DaveHonda]

Humai, you got that noise down pat.. sounds almost like piston slap and only under light load, as soon as revs rise a bit, gone completely. Does not sound terminal at all.. Cheers. The CRF never did it, and all the other trailies I've owned over the centuries (never a kawa) never made it...

And camchain... ahh.. thanks for that! Me see where de h2o - she does get in! :eek5: Best I sort that hole.. nasty. Maybe needs a hole at the bottom of the triple clamp?

And I'm very happy with the KLX, I'm gonna have a lot of fun on it!
Now, need to get some body armour, I'm watching Torpedo7.. when's that MX stuff going up?
Engine oil and filter change due soon!

[imw-hornet]

Humai, you got that noise down pat.. sounds almost like piston slap and only under light load, as soon as revs rise a bit, gone completely. Does not sound terminal at all.. Cheers. The CRF never did it, and all the other trailies I've owned over the centuries (never a kawa) never made it...

And camchain... ahh.. thanks for that! Me see where de h2o - she does get in! :eek5: Best I sort that hole.. nasty. Maybe needs a hole at the bottom of the triple clamp?

And I'm very happy with the KLX, I'm gonna have a lot of fun on it!
Now, need to get some body armour, I'm watching Torpedo7.. when's that MX stuff going up?
Engine oil and filter change due soon!


Well done on getting the KLX ,,, they are great bikes ,:woohoo:,,, about the slight piston slap noise ,,,,, yep happend to mine but went away after about the 3rd oil change :yes:, talking of ,,, dont go cheap on the oil , they work hard and for wanting to save a few $$$ you dont want to get stuck and have to push her home.

Enjoy :rockon:

[DaveHonda]

Yeah, oil is what its all about in small engines like these, I'm assuming the cams run staight in the head as well? I'll rip in and get a couple or 3 filters and change the oil soon. Only the good stuff too! Had another run in the weekend, its getting more impressive the more I ride it, that suspension is a major improvement thats for real.
Thanks for all the feedback guys..

[camchain]

Hi again Dave YamKawaHonSaki san. Yeah the KLX cams seem to run straight onto the ali. (well I couldn't see any white/babbit metal there anyway). Got a surprise how little meat there was when pulled the cams out first time. The head bolts are directly under the cams in several places so big holes right in the middle of bearing surfaces. Amazing they hold together so well.

Something I liked to do when changing oil filters is fill the the thing up with oil before putting the cover back on. No risk of dry top ends waiting for oil to fill up filter and space it sits in. Bike has to be on it's side to seat the spring behind the filter anyway, so easy to do. Probably fine not to do this but it can't hurt.

[DaveHonda]

[QUOTE=camchain;1703785]Hi again Dave YamKawaHonSaki san. QUOTE]

Hey Camchain. I love that YamKawaHonSaki san bit, might apply to get my name changed! LOL:laugh:

[DaveHonda]

Hi again Dave YamKawaHonSaki san.

I also need to take more time cutting and pasting my bloody replies! Sigh.:stupid: