KLX300 question...

**humai** · 21st June 2009, 22:44

Diesel MR2,

I haven't owned a KLX300 but I've ridden 3 different examples and have had riding buddies who have owned them on and off for several years. The following opinions on the KLX are based on this experience.

Weight: Ready to ride with no gas, they weigh about 112 KG on the scale. They are about the same weight as a steel frame WR250F about 5KG more than a KDX200. They are lighter than every mainstream 450 four stroke enduro bike( in stock trim) on the planet.

Power: They smoke XR250s of any persuasion and are more powerful than the SOHC KTM 250 EXCs. They are much more powerful than a stock KDX200 but a little less powerful than a KDX with an aftermarket pipe/muffler. Unusually for a dirt bike, they have CV carbs, which slightly slows throttle response. A significant upside is that they carburate cleanly and can take an instant full throttle application cleanly without gagging at ridiculously low revs.

Reliability: They are pretty much completely bullet-proof apart from one easy to fix issue: the kickstart idler. Google "KLX idler". It can be fixed with proper shimming. KLX300s should last hundreds of hours between rebuilds if regularly serviced and the aircleaner is looked after.

Starting: They start fine when hot... as long as they were shut down properly prior. If they flame-out, spit back, stall on an aborted hill climb or a crash, or otherwise shut down in a non orderly fashion, they can be difficult to relight when hot. The guaranteed fix is to fit a hot start mechanism like most modern 4 strokes are supplied with, where fresh air from the airbox is piped in to the inlet manifold ahead of the carb through a user-operated valve.

Summary: If you are looking for a tame, friendly, durable trailbike that has a lower than normal seat height, predictable linear power, steers well, is not too heavy, is plush and a very capable handler in normal trail riding conditions at moderate speeds, the KLX300 is a fantastic and highly underrated choice.

**krad_nz** · 21st June 2009, 23:24

I've had a ride on two KLX300s. One a mates, the other my brothers.

I must admit that the KLX feels far heavier than a KDX and ALOT less powerful. However, that could just be due to the way a 2t delivers power vs a 4t. My bike has a pro circuit pipe and thats about it performance wise.
Power comes on very smooth by comparison to the KDX. Typical for a 4t though I guess.

I would have to ride my brothers one for a bit longer before I could make a full comparison though.

Brother only recently got his KLX300. I think its a 2003 model. He loves it and its his first motorbike full stop. They have better suspension than a stock KDX and would make an excellent bike for a less experience rider. If you ever want to do some racing I suspect it would come up short, but it was never designed with that in mind.

**tommorth** · 21st June 2009, 23:31

Originally Posted by krad_nz

If you ever want to do some racing I suspect it would come up short, but it was never designed with that in mind.

This is something so many people miss. The intended purpose of the bike.

**IIIRII** · 22nd June 2009, 12:58

What Noobi said
I got one brand spankers and took it for a ride at thunder, stopped to assist noobi, would NOT restart at all ......
The only way it would go was by bump starting it.
There was about 4 different people attempting to start this bike, so it wasnt just noob and me.
took it back to the shop told them to sort it out.
Got it back "supposidly" fixed , took it for a ride, WOULD NOT RESTART HOT.
Even just turning it off using the kill switch, it would not start hot.
The ONLY way would be an agressive bump.
Went back to shop, the converstaion was a bit like "Sort this &^@$!*($&!( thing out "
Got it back again , supposidly fixed + some instructions on how to hot start it which was something like,
Make sure the the bike it pointing towards meca, slowly push the kickstart down untill the piston is at 16.25 degrees past tdc, poke tongue out slightly, give it 1/7th of a turn on the throttle and kick it hard .

Yeah right ....
Took it for a ride, WOULD NOT HOT START ....
Put it on Trademe . sold it ....
Bought a 350 kitted 250excf c/w electric start, never looked back.

I would rather not go into where it came from or the discussion about buying it etc:.
Its a pretty safe bet I will never buy another bike from that shop.

**cowpoos** · 22nd June 2009, 17:49

Originally Posted by IIIRII

What Noobi said
I got one brand spankers and took it for a ride at thunder, stopped to assist noobi, would NOT restart at all ......
The only way it would go was by bump starting it.
There was about 4 different people attempting to start this bike, so it wasnt just noob and me.
took it back to the shop told them to sort it out.
Got it back "supposidly" fixed , took it for a ride, WOULD NOT RESTART HOT.
Even just turning it off using the kill switch, it would not start hot.
The ONLY way would be an agressive bump.
Went back to shop, the converstaion was a bit like "Sort this &^@$!*($&!( thing out "
Got it back again , supposidly fixed + some instructions on how to hot start it which was something like,
Make sure the the bike it pointing towards meca, slowly push the kickstart down untill the piston is at 16.25 degrees past tdc, poke tongue out slightly, give it 1/7th of a turn on the throttle and kick it hard .

.

what the hell did you do to it?? I've had three of them...start first kick every time hot...no more than third kick on a frosty morning cold!!

**noobi** · 22nd June 2009, 18:52

is has suddenly dawned on me that maybe it wouldnt start properly is because it wasnt run in yet? could this have made a difference?

**laserracer** · 22nd June 2009, 19:06

my son started riding 18 month ago he had never riden before he started on a 2004 klx300 they are a great bike to learn on and do everything right , as well as being able to climb like a mountain goat he then progressed on to a yz 250 2t and now just brought a yz 450 .. so it was the ideal bike to start on

**barty5** · 22nd June 2009, 19:15

Originally Posted by noobi

is has suddenly dawned on me that maybe it wouldnt start properly is because it wasnt run in yet? could this have made a difference?

very unlikely

**diesel_mr2** · 22nd June 2009, 19:31

Well, I've been and had a look at a Klx300, took it for a test ride and it seemed pretty mint and I'll hopefully pick it on wednesday

**Motoxparts** · 26th June 2009, 10:29

If the klx300 needs more power and you not want to change checkout our Two Brothers M7 exhaust fit on go big power gains and sound alot better

www.motoxparts.co.nz

**DaveHonda** · 3rd July 2009, 16:39

I've got a KLX300, bought it new late last year. These things are great trailbikes, climb hills that stop a lot of other bikes in their tracks. If you know what you are doing, its a good simple trailbike that will give you a lot of fun. Its no racer, but thats not what I wanted anyway. They can sometimes be a little cranky when hot, but if you know how to start 4 strokes, at most 5 kicks will see them going even after parking upside down. I love it. Get it. You wont regret it.

**cowpoos** · 3rd July 2009, 16:49

Originally Posted by DaveHonda

I've got a KLX300, bought it new late last year. These things are great trailbikes, climb hills that stop a lot of other bikes in their tracks. If you know what you are doing, its a good simple trailbike that will give you a lot of fun. Its no racer, but thats not what I wanted anyway. They can sometimes be a little cranky when hot, but if you know how to start 4 strokes, at most 5 kicks will see them going even after parking upside down. I love it. Get it. You wont regret it.

Hot start....get compresion to the top of the kick...full throttle...kick...95% of the time first pop start on all three klx300's I've had.

**diesel_mr2** · 3rd July 2009, 18:42

Bought it a bit over a week ago, very pleased with it, haven't had any probs hot starting it yet. (then again 20 mins at a time may not be as hot as it gets?)
I must say the thing has stacks of bottom end torque for climbing hills, just seems to pull and pull!

Bought a cycle works exhaust the other day should arrive on monday