Nimble Explorer Does Double Duty as an
Efficient Commuter
When adventure takes riders off the beaten path,
the KLX250S is the right tool for the job. Built for both on-and off-road use,
the light and nimble KLX250S is an ideal ride for dual-sporting fun. Its
efficient single-cylinder engine is perfect for maneuvering through urban
traffic or exploring the trails. No matter where the journey leads, it’s
enhanced by the KLX’s long-travel suspension, impressive maneuverability and
reliable liquid-cooled engine.
An easy-to-use push-to-start button starts up the
KLX’s 249cc engine. That engine is mounted in a light, high-tensile steel
perimeter frame, yielding a low center of gravity that translates into better
maneuvering on tight trails. The 34mm semi-flat slide Keihin CVK carburetor
provides great throttle response and broad, smooth power – not to mention
fantastic fuel economy. The KLX250S meets California air pollution regulations,
making it an ideal urban commuter in all 50 states.
A highly refined six-speed transmission contains
the right gear for everything from off-road crawling to highway cruising, with
an advanced shift cam for positive shift feel and firm engagement. The rigors of
off-road motorcycling dictate additional protection for the exposed underside of
the machine, so the KLX250S comes standard with an aluminum engine guard to
protect its crankcase during off-road adventures. Negotiating tight terrain also
highlights another off-road reality – heat. Dual lightweight, high-capacity
Denso radiators and an electric fan provide ample cooling.
The KLX250S’s straight-line stability is enhanced
by a rigid square-section main frame, yet its short wheelbase gives it
outstanding turning aptitude. Complementing the chassis is a lightweight
aluminum swingarm employing a highly rigid D-shaped cross section. KX™
racing-type chain adjusters allow for precise chain adjustments.
The KLX250S’s custom spring and damping settings,
with slightly less wheel travel than a dedicated off-road machine, give a more
planted feel in corners and make it easier for riders to reach the ground. The
43mm inverted cartridge-style front fork features 16-way adjustable compression
damping and 10.0-inches of travel. The Uni-Trak® linkage-type rear suspension
has 16-way adjustable compression and rebound damping, providing 9.1-inches of
wheel travel. Strong, 4mm-thick spokes in the 21-inch front and 18-inch rear
wheels provide excellent rigidity for enhanced off-road durability. The KLX250S
also stops hard, thanks to twin-piston calipers squeezing a 250mm semi-floating
petal-shaped disc up front and a 240mm petal-shaped disc at the rear.
Aggressively styled bodywork finishes off this
powerful and rugged package, and a custom seat filled with firm urethane and a
carefully chosen handlebar pull it all together for long, comfortable days on
the road and off it.
Riders seeking enduro handling and modern engine
performance in a dual-purpose motorcycle designed for effortless street riding
will find it at their local Kawasaki dealership. The KLX250S offers serious
capabilities in a fun, easy-to-ride package, regardless of where the adventure
takes it.
The Best of Both Worlds
The latest and greatest KLX250S features
unbelievable off road performance and real KLX heritage making it an awesome on
or off road machine. Whether you’re tearing it up on the weekends with your
mates or hauling to work and back through the week, enjoy the best of both
worlds with the all new KLX250S.
Kawasaki KLX250S Features and Benefits
• On and off-road capability means maximum
versatility
• 249cc engine is liquid cooled for long engine life
• Adjustable 43mm fork offers excellent rigidity and consistent damping
• Adjustable Uni-Trak® rear suspension helps ensure a smooth ride and great
handling
• Fully digital instrumentation has easy-to-read speedometer and tachometer
• Starting is easy with push-button electric start
• Six-speed transmission provides the right gear for any situation
• Brakes feature petal-style discs for superior stopping power
Single-cylinder 249cc DOHC Engine
• Compact engine design is lightweight and high
revving, with a broad torque curve
• Good mass centralization for superior handling
• Flat-top piston and pentroof combustion chamber deliver an 11:1 compression
ratio
• Lightweight piston, piston pin and connecting rod enable higher revs for
maximum power
• Aluminum cylinder features electrofusion coating, which allows a tight
clearance between piston and cylinder for greater horsepower and increased
engine life thanks to superior heat transfer and lubrication retention
properties
• A gear-driven engine balancer provides smooth power delivery from idle to
redline
• Provides maximum valve area for optimum flow, to boost low-end torque while
providing improved high-rpm breathing efficiency for more power
• 34mm semi-flat slide Keihin CVK carburetor delivers the optimum amount of fuel
at all rpm, resulting in improved throttle response, greater power and excellent
fuel economy
• Meets strict CARB regulations, so it’s available in all 50 states
Liquid Cooling
• Dual high-capacity, vertical-flow Denso
radiators provide reliable and efficient engine cooling
• Radiators feature tightly packed cores and a fin design for excellent heat
dispersion
• More consistent engine temperatures allow tighter engine clearances for
quieter running and sustained power, while promoting longer engine life
• Cooling fan is powered by a shallow-footprint electric motor
Electric Starting
• Quick and easy push-button starting
• Kawasaki Automatic Compression Release (KACR) automatically lifts one of the
exhaust valves at cranking rpm, for reduced starting effort
Exhaust System
• Secondary air system helps provide clean
emissions
• USFS-approved spark arrestor lets the KLX™250S access designated off-road
public riding areas
Six-speed Transmission
• Allows engine’s full potential to be used
• Provides excellent acceleration as well as relaxed highway cruising
Inverted Front Forks
• 43mm inverted cartridge fork offers excellent
rigidity and consistent damping performance; 10.0-inch wheel travel means
straight-line stability, great handling and a low seat height
• 16-way compression damping adjustment allows tuning for differences in rider
weight and terrain
Uni-Trak® Rear Suspension
• 9.1-inches of rear wheel travel for
straight-line stability, great handling and a low seat height
• Progressive linkage rate provides a smooth ride and excellent bottoming
resistance
• The gas-charged remote-reservoir shock features 16-way adjustable compression
and rebound damping
Diamond Frame
• Lightweight, high-tensile steel for amazing
rigidity
• No downtubes, for lower engine placement and lower center of gravity as well
as ample ground clearance
• Lightweight, aluminum D-section swingarm is highly rigid and reduces unsprung
weight
• KX™ racing-type chain adjusters allow precise adjustment to minimize
drivetrain power losses
Petal-Shaped Disc Brakes
• Front and rear disc brakes offer impressive
stopping performance
• Twin-piston caliper grips a 250mm petal-shaped disc up front
• 240mm rear petal-shaped disc for great power, feel and feedback
Wheels and Tires
• Fat, 4mm spokes for greater off-road durability
• Tires with small tread blocks for longer tire life and increased grip on
asphalt
Enhanced Ergonomics
• KLX-spec handlebar for a more relaxed position
and effortless control
• Footpegs are positioned close to the bike’s centerline
• KLX-spec seat shape and foam make it easier to change seating position
Narrow Fuel Tank
• Narrow tank design gives riders maximum comfort
and control without sacrificing capacity
Digital Instrumentation
• All-digital instrument console gives
at-a-glance information, including a digital bar graph tachometer, digital
speedometer, clock, and dual trip meters
Bodywork
• Aggressive headlight and front fender design
• Two-piece radiator shrouds styled like the KX motocrossers
• Rear fender is a two-piece unit featuring a sharp taillight design that offers
great visibility and further contributes to the KLX’s aggressive styling
Review
Far from the urban jungle that is Los Angeles lays a
land of extremes. A land worthy of exploring by any means - hike, bike, or ride
- regardless your skill level or personal passion. California's Death Valley is
this land and our playground for the introduction of Kawasaki's first 2009
model, the KLX250S. Throwing extremes from every direction our way - heat and
dust, rocky trails to barren desert playas - the nimble, quick and affordable
KLX soaks up the hits with a smile while leaving your wallet smiling in the
process.
I’ll trade in the skyscraper walls of Alvarado Street in downtown L.A. for the
sandstone canyon walls of Titus Canyon any day. The Buff Monster tags are famous
all over Los Angeles but they haven’t got the staying power of the petroglyphs
found in the slot canyon carving through the Grapevine Mountain range just west
of the ghost town Leadfield, CA.
The rocky trails of Death Valley's Echo Canyon can be unforgiving if not ridden
with respect. I speak from experience.
The rocky trails of Death Valley's Echo Canyon can be unforgiving if not ridden
with respect. I speak from experience.
The 2009 Kawasaki KLX250S is a capable machine both above and below sea level.
The 2009 Kawasaki KLX250S is a capable machine both above and below sea level.
Twenty-two hard miles from Beatty Nevada, the road to Leadfield was once a main
thoroughfare from the east into Death Valley. A testament to durability of both
humankind and the KLX, the heat and dusty conditions make you wonder why the
hell anyone would build a city here. But there was ‘Gold in them thar hills!’
–actually lead ore and silver – and so the mining town operated primarily from
1925 to 1927 with great debate of its legitimacy. Despite shady promoters and
stock fraud, an inflow of hundreds, if not thousands, of men and an outflow of
millions of tons of ore and silver built a town large enough to support its own
newspaper, post office and the Western Lead Mines Company. Western was one of
the largest operations in town and brought in a 180-horsepower Fairbanks-Morse
diesel engine in March of 1926 to operate their drills.
With karma like that working against you, and nearly a two-day walk to the
nearest gas station – you can forget about a hospital – we were glad to have
such a reliable and fuel-efficient machine like the KLX beneath our asses. It
didn’t hurt to have the slightly larger 2.0-gallon gas tank as well as a support
vehicle filled with Subway sandwiches and Gatorade for us thirsty journos
either! The longest lasting accomplishment of the era is the Titus Canyon road,
costing an estimated $60,000 and still standing as one of the most spectacular
routes into Death Valley.
Nimble, go-anywhere
From gritty urban settings to eroded earthen passages, the ’09 KLX passes the
test for commuters as well as weekend dirt warriors. For the iron-butted readers
out there with an affection for dirt riding, you can now make that trek without
the need for a trailer thanks to the street-legal adaptations.
Combine the racy good looks of Kawi’s KX lineage with the street-legal
appointments of the updated Kawasaki parts catalog, and the 249cc liquid-cooled,
four-stroke Single has more than enough power to dig any desert explorer from
below the sea level to a mile above in a jiffy. The KLR650’s little brother has
quick throttle response and feather-light steering to help avoid obstacles in
your path (helping to keep the desert tortoise population thriving). The whole
package makes for a motorcycle capable of almost anything.
Kawasaki hesitates to call this KLX an all-new model, but the revisions made
between this and the previous 2007/08 model are numerous. The updated dualie
gets revised suspension, steering geometry, and styling as well as improved
ergonomics. The cooling system, swingarm, transmission and brakes are improved.
Better use of power is courtesy of a revamped exhaust, and changes to the tranny
including a reshaped shift cam and tighter ratios between 5th and 6th gear. The
goal of all the updates was to directly target the trail-riding buyer of the
previous model.
Cooling upgrades are done with high-capacity Denso radiators found on the
KX250F/450F, lending excellent heat dispersion and weight savings to the overall
package.
Reduced suspension travel was never noticed, even when the Fonz jumped the land
shark.
Reduced suspension travel was never noticed, even when the Fonz jumped the land
shark.
Ergonomics are updated with a more 'woods-bike' like handlebar with a flatter
curve profile and a stock position that is higher and closer to the rider.
Another inch of rise would be ideal for riding in a standing position, but to
update the bars yourself, you'll have to add that inch with a taller profile bar
because the risers are cast directly to the triple tree.
The semi-double cradle steel-frame’s geometry is sharpened via a 1.0-degree
reduction in the steering rake to 26.5 degrees. A new aluminum D-section type
swingarm beefs up the rear end, complemented by a set of KX-style chain
adjusters; last year they were of the snail type. The wheelbase is snugged a
couple of ticks to 56.3 inches.
"Nimble, go-anywhere," says Kawi. From urban canyon walls to the eroded earthen
passages, the ’09 KLX passes the test for commuters as well as recreationalists.
"Nimble, go-anywhere," says Kawi. From urban canyon walls to the eroded earthen
passages, the ’09 KLX passes the test for commuters as well as recreationalists.
I'll do the extra mile for just one more inch.
I'll do the extra mile for just one more inch.
The 2009 KLX250S lets the good times roll both on and off road.
The 2009 KLX250S lets the good times roll both on and off road.
'...the KLX offers serious off-road capabilities from a lightweight street-legal
mount'
Modifications to the 43mm inverted fork include revised internals and settings,
16-step adjustable compression damping and KX-style slider guards. Its travel
has been cut down approximately 1 inch to 10.0 inches. The reduction in travel
is to enhance on-road stability, and the Uni-Trak rear suspension (with a new
linkage and adjustable preload and 16-way compression and rebound damping
control) is slimmed down nearly 2 inches to 9.1 inches for the same purpose.
Nonetheless, the 35.0-inch seat height of the new KLX is surprisingly a skosh
taller than the old model, but I had no trouble flat-footing it with my 34-inch
inseam.
The reduction in suspension travel affects the bike’s ground clearance, going
down from 11.6 inches to a still generous 11.2 inches. Aluminum bash plates are
fitted under the engine to protect against crankcase damage when the trails get
really gnarly.
With these changes, the KLX offers serious off-road capabilities from a
lightweight street-legal mount. The mushy feeling from the old bike’s front end
on the road has been reduced significantly. But, at the same time, the bike’s
reduced suspension travel hasn’t hindered its ability to handle rough off-road
terrain. It’s capable of taking ledge drops of 4 feet without the dreaded clunk
of a bottomed-out suspension.
Sprung from each end of the ride are a pair of wheels with thicker spokes (now
4mm as found on the KLR650) for greater off-road durability, each wrapped in
Dunlop 605 tires with smaller tread blocks that are designed for longer street
life, a smoother ride and better on-road handling. Not once did I feel the hunt
of a knobby tire on the highway when racing at highway speeds towards lunch in
Beatty, NV, nor any wheel flex on the trail.
When left alone to break the wind (So you farted whilst alone? ¬Ed. Like falling
trees in the forest, I didn¹t hear a thing. - Fz), I caught this little
quarter-liter motor exceeding our top-speed estimations when we saw 85 mph on
the digital read-out - and as much as 91 mph while drafting another KLX. The
all-new all-digital instrument console includes a bar-graph tachometer,
speedometer, clock, odometer and dual trip meters, but is a bit hard to read
when dust-covered in comparison to the previous model's analog design.
With highway miles clicking away at a steady pace, our desert oasis came upon us
quickly and the front and rear pedal disc rotors (also found on the KX and
Kawasaki street bikes) made quick work of bringing this dualie to a halt in
Beatty for lunch. This year's larger 240mm rear disc and KX-style rear caliper
with new pad materials and a revised lever ratio added to the overall beauty and
function of this exploration machine. There’s a 250mm semi-floating petal disc
up front doing its part for the cause.
Wrapping up the walkthrough is a USFS-approved spark arrestor and a new
evaporative emissions system that allows the KLX to meet the strict California
Air Resource Board regulations, making it now eligible for sale in all 50
states; the previous model wasn’t offered in Cali.
Geared towards the new street and/or trail rider, RV crowd or commuting rider is
electric push-button starting. Making it even easier for granny to ride away is
the Kawasaki Automatic Compression Release (KACR) which automatically lifts one
of the exhaust valves when the magic button is pressed to reduce the starting
effort. This saves wear and tear of your thumb for the après-ride wrestling
matches for the biggest steak on the grill back at camp, as well as your
battery’s amperage. For the purists, the crankcase is still stamped for the
addition of a kick-starter as was the previous model.
With a relatively short history in the U.S. market for the 250S, this second
edition comes away with a host of refinements over the last model – new styling,
larger rear wave rotor, a gear-driven engine balancer for less vibration,
stiffer frame and spokes, a firmer saddle and a new emissions system. All told
the KLX250S gained just under 16 pounds (18 lbs. CA model) while the $4899 MSRP
increased by only $100. It comes in two colors, Lime Green and Sunbeam Red.
With the recent introductions of the Honda CRF230L, Yamaha WR250R and this
updated KLX, the quarter-liter dual-sport category is taking off. The Honda is
the cheapest at $4499, but it is powered by an older-tech air-cooled motor. The
Yamaha boasts an expensive aluminum frame and a technologically advanced
liquid-cooled engine, but that stuff comes at a price premium of $5899.
Highs: Sighs:
* Lofty level of versatility per dollar
* Fifty-state street legal
* Gas sipping engine gets nearly 50 miles to a gallon
* The new lower-profile handlebar is too low for tall riders when standing up
* Digital dash is hard to read when dirty
* Slightly heavier than the previous model
NOTE: Some of the photos on
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