Kitting out the KLX

[3L4NS1R]

Getting my bike sorted for some touring later on the year, so at the moment I'm trying get the pannier bags working on a bike that seems designed to reject them...

Here's what I have so far...

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/samholliss/touringklx.jpg

Tank bag works suprisingly well considering how little metal is exposed for the magnets... and its quick and easy to move to the side to fill up the tank.
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/samholliss/tankbag.jpg


The hairy bit... bit close for my liking, but after 3 days of riding, still no melt!

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/samholliss/Exhaust.jpg

Anyone else tried this on a similar bike? Any help welcome!

[clint640]

Looks good mate. I made some rails that follow the line of the bottom of the rear side panels to hold the bags on the KTM which has worked well for a while now. Watch the bag-muffler thing though - you might find they bulge in a bit when really loaded & make contact. I put some scuff guard on the plastic to stop it getting marked by the panniers too.

Cheers
Clint

[3L4NS1R]

Looks good mate. I made some rails that follow the line of the bottom of the rear side panels to hold the bags on the KTM
Clint

Don't suppose you have photos? might get my welding brother to make me something.

[mazz1972]

Tank bag works suprisingly well considering how little metal is exposed for the magnets... and its quick and easy to move to the side to fill up the tank.

Interesting looking tank bag - may fit on hubby's XT which has metal tank with plastic shroud.

What model is the tank bag?

Cheers
M

[3L4NS1R]

good question... will check the tags that I carefully filed in my elaborate floor based filing system tonight.

[thommo77]

good question... will check the tags that I carefully filed in my elaborate floor based filing system tonight.

Looks good, mate. Going by the photo, isn't the tank bag RJays brand?
Looking at your profile, I see you've got your bike as a 2008 model. They sold me mine as a 2009 model - I didn't think there was a 2008 model?

[3L4NS1R]

Looks good, mate. Going by the photo, isn't the tank bag RJays brand?
Looking at your profile, I see you've got your bike as a 2008 model. They sold me mine as a 2009 model - I didn't think there was a 2008 model?

Hmmmm.... research this I shall. I assumed because it said 2008 on the rego that it was a 2008. would be stoked if it was a 2009

[zeRax]

there was an 08~

[Karitane pete]

so what do you think of the KLX250s, will be looking at one next year when I have some cash.

[clint640]

Don't suppose you have photos? might get my welding brother to make me something.

Have a look here, (scroll down a few posts)

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1225702

Cheers
Clint

[3L4NS1R]

so what do you think of the KLX250s, will be looking at one next year when I have some cash.

Awesome bike. Handles better than any other dual purpose I've ridden on the road, slightly heavy on the dirt/sand, but not too bad (there are far worse ones). Comes with decent stock tires as well. Only down side is it lacks a bit on the motorway, but changing out the front sprocket to at 15 tooth helps that.

This is all coming from 2 months of riding it, might change my opinion of it once it has a few more k's.

[thommo77]

Endorse 3L4NS1R's comments. Well placed price-wise too when compared against others in it's class.

[3L4NS1R]

Interesting looking tank bag - may fit on
What model is the tank bag?


The floor mounted filing system failed somewhat. Could only find the tags for the pannier bags, but Im sure they are the same range - RJay Supersport.

Hope that helps?

[Ruralman]

The floor mounted filing system failed somewhat. Could only find the tags for the pannier bags, but Im sure they are the same range - RJay Supersport.

Hope that helps?

Get a bit of Kao-wool - looks like batts (but white) - totally non-flammable non-meltable insulation and I used to put a lump of it between my throw over bags and the Tigers pipe. It stayed there well when the bags were full - unfortunately it didn't stay there when the bags were empty on the way to get the pillion - then the bag got cooked after it was filled up - doh
Got a set of hard panniers now which has solved the problem
The Kao wool is cheap and if you put a decent length of it under the pipe side bag it won't leave if you've got a bit of weight in the bag or you help hold it there with a bungie.

[.chris]

How do you find the seat on your KLX?
Mine seems pretty soft, give it half an hour on the road and feels like I have sunk too far into it. Would rather it was a bit firmer.
That would need to be sorted before I tried any touring like you are embarking on.

Good on you with the mods to get the luggage on.

[Paladin]

Hmmmm.... research this I shall. I assumed because it said 2008 on the rego that it was a 2008. would be stoked if it was a 2009

It's the 2009 model, but they started selling it in February 2008 approx.

While you're kitting it out, you might want to consider some Barkbusters - with lime green guards of course!!! I was too lazy to drill out the plugs in the ends of the stock bars so also put on a set of medium Zeta Enduro Comp bars that the Barkbusters fit into perfectly! Trail ride mud optional! :2thumbsup



How do you find the seat on your KLX?
Mine seems pretty soft, give it half an hour on the road and feels like I have sunk too far into it. Would rather it was a bit firmer.
That would need to be sorted before I tried any touring like you are embarking on.

Good on you with the mods to get the luggage on.

Personally I find the seat too hard, just got me a black sheepskin today - I reckon it's a must if considering 250-300kms in a day and even more of a must if going touring when you'll be on the bike so much day in day out!

Cheers,
Dave

[3L4NS1R]

It's the 2009 model, but they started selling it in February 2008 approx.

While you're kitting it out, you might want to consider some Barkbusters - with lime green guards of course!!!


Personally I find the seat too hard



Yeap, some barkbusters coming next payday! Took it for a bit of a longer blat this weekend (see Cape Reinga and Back thread for details). Think I'm going to change back to the 14t sprocket, just loses too much power, have to change down for any rise in the road etc. and I end up spending most of the time in 5th...

Anyone done some mods to the engines? On a few other forums it seems the carbs and pipes are the first to change, anyone done those yet?

And after 1500kms in 3 days, +1 for a too harder seat. Mite go find me a sheep, and where's my knife? The alternative is new foam and covering, and thats a bit too fiddly/expensive for me atm.

[MXNUT]

Anyone done some mods to the engines? On a few other forums it seems the carbs and pipes are the first to change, anyone done those yet?

I had a 98 KLX250 which was the off road model and i fitted the larger diameter header pipe with the standard muffler. I also removed the rubber snorkel from the top of the air box. Made a reasonable difference to the power and i didnt have to rejet the carb.

Header pipe was quite reasonable too, around $120.00 from memory .:done:

[Rosie]

The alternative is new foam and covering, and thats a bit too fiddly/expensive for me atm.

Electric breadknife and a staple gun :blip:
I shaved some of the foam off the sherpa's seat, contact adhered on a layer of closed cell foam (cheap bed roll from the warehouse), and a layer of soft foam (offcut from an upholsterer I think, Para rubber would have something similar though), and shaped it some more. Bought some vinyl from spotlight ($18 a metre - which gives you enough to make two covers), leave it out in the sun to soften the vinyl and staple it to the seat pan (I needed an extra pair of hands for this bit, but did the rest myself).

[3L4NS1R]

I had a 98 KLX250 which was the off road model and i fitted the larger diameter header pipe with the standard muffler. I also removed the rubber snorkel from the top of the air box. Made a reasonable difference to the power and i didnt have to rejet the carb.


I heard that makes the bike run lean? leading to possible overheating issues?

[Paladin]

And after 1500kms in 3 days, +1 for a too harder seat. Mite go find me a sheep, and where's my knife? The alternative is new foam and covering, and thats a bit too fiddly/expensive for me atm.

1500kms in 3 days!!!!!!! Hardcore!!!! :clap:

My arse was killing me after 550 ish in 2 days this past weekend! Yeah if you're doing that kinda km's get the sheep sharpish I reckon - can't wait to try mine out on a long run hopefully this weekend!

Dave

[3L4NS1R]

It was only meant to be 1000kms, but my mate had a tumble on the gravel near cape reinga and broke his leg, so out comes the speed relays finding help, retrieving bikes, and finding accom at 1am in northland etc.

needless to say im in the cage for the next coupla days for getting around while my bike and me recover...

gives me a chance to find some sheep that dont need thier skin as well.

[thommo77]

I heard that makes the bike run lean? leading to possible overheating issues?

I believe it's only a real issue at altitude?

[3L4NS1R]

I believe it's only a real issue at altitude?

hmmm... might be right there... definatly makes it sound more thumpery by opening up the airbox...

[MXNUT]

I heard that makes the bike run lean? leading to possible overheating issues?

I ran the bike like this for 4 years and revved it to the moon :argh: on trail rides keeping up with mates on WR400 s and never had any engine issues at all.

I never even checked the valve clearances ( ran synthetic engine oil ).

[NordieBoy]

I believe it's only a real issue at altitude?

Richer at altitude.

[NordieBoy]

hmmm... might be right there... definatly makes it sound more thumpery by opening up the airbox...

If you open the airbox you are making it leaner.
May just be fractionally unless you put a more open pipe on but then you'd def need to re-jet.

[3L4NS1R]

May just be fractionally unless you put a more open pipe on but then you'd def need to re-jet.

Yeah, thats what I feared. Does it actually increase performance at all by making it leaner?

Ah well, next time I have some spare cash floating around, the order for a dynojet is going in..

[NordieBoy]

Yeah, thats what I feared. Does it actually increase performance at all by making it leaner?

Ah well, next time I have some spare cash floating around, the order for a dynojet is going in..

Best performance is when it's jetted properly.

[Paladin]

OK, call me a wuss but ya know what would be really nice when stuck out in the middle of freekin nowhere with a puncture? A centre stand!! :blink: