CRF230 to KLX300? Good idea?

**DaveHonda** · 18th August 2008, 19:56

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!

**DaveHonda** · 18th August 2008, 20:09

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** · 19th August 2008, 14:50

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** · 19th August 2008, 16:29

Originally Posted by DaveHonda

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** · 19th August 2008, 17:43

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!

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** · 25th August 2008, 08:41

Originally Posted by 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!

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 ,

,,, about the slight piston slap noise ,,,,, yep happend to mine but went away after about the 3rd oil change

, 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

**DaveHonda** · 25th August 2008, 09:20

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** · 26th August 2008, 10:03

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** · 27th August 2008, 20:29

[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