2009 Kawasaki KLX250S Motorcycle reviews

It all depends on what you want out of a bike. I live in the country, gravel roads (which sometimes means mud, ice, snow). When I do get to a paved road it's a highway. I have access to a lot of back country roads, paved and unpaved, straight and twisties, good conditions and terrible. I'm 58 and I haven't had this much fun on a bike, ever. I've dropped it so many times I can't count, crossing streams, getting hung up on logs, negotiating rocks, crossing low water bridges covered with slick moss, parking on a hillside and watching the kickstand sink in the mud, so I need something I can pick up. I can pick this up. And, it seems to be bullet proof, but if something does break (carry pliers to pull the shifter away from the engine after you drop it). It isn't going to cost an arm and leg to fix. As for comfort, it's upright, which is great. The seat is narrow, which is great for standing up, and I stand up a lot. It is fairly hard, though not bad. I bought a Corbin, which I didn't like. It passed on vibration, and it was too wide to comfortably stand. This isn't a highway bike. It will do it, but it's tiring. Having said that, that sixth gear is fantastic when you do get up to speed. And this bike is no slouch. I have made no mods except hand guards, which I recommend. Lots of folks want to do the slip-on exhaust and carb kit, which I may do, but if you're going three miles an hour on a steep, rocky hill, or 50 on gravel, you don't really need more power. The gearing is about right. Brakes and suspension work for me. I fill the tank at about 100 miles, and haven't run out yet, not even close. It sips fuel, generally. It's almost embarrassing to pull up the pump and put in a gallon or two of fuel, which is usually the case. I've used the reserve once, after spending most of the day going up and down trails, then hitting the highway to get home. It's a great weekend bike, commuter bike, on/off road bike. The only kind of riding I wouldn't want to do is long haul on a highway. It's light and simply isn't designed for it. But I would take it across the country on back roads. Show less

Just did the Black Dog Dualsport ride, Mt. Hood Oregon on my 2009 KLX250S, 270 miles over two days. The bike did great in every way, pavement to dirt. I'm very happy with my choice. The seat is a little hard after 150 miles. Show less

A dual sport will always sacrifice in some ways, both on and off road, and before buying one you MUST accept this. It is not the street or the dirt king. However this bike does both amazingly well. I am awestruck. I ride 4 miles to work everyday on it, and I play in the dirt every day on it. The longest street treck has been 150 miles in one sitting & one fuel stop. (my kiester was sore) Yes it has a firm seat and small fuel tank, and is quite choked up from the factory, but these are things you will get acustomed to, and they do not limit the bikes ability too much. I have had this bike airborn many times & have never bottomed out the suspension. The highlight of the bikes life with me was in box canyon in Florence Az. The klx went everywhere the straight dirtbikes did, and I mean everywhere. From pearock riverbeds to bowling ball sized rock riverbeds, stairsteps & steep hills, anywhere. Its lack of power and higher gearing became evident here, but I still got through everything just fine, you learn to alter your aproach to these obstacles. (I got to the old goldmine through the river bed) If you want a bike to dirt and street on, this is the one. I have had not one issue, the bike is amazing. I would recommend it to ANYONE! Show less

I'm getting on in years but didn't want to entirely give up dirt bikes. This is more of a trail bike instead of a serious performance machine but that's ok because that's what Kawasaki set out to do. Surprisingly fun on the twisty paved mountain roads we take on the way to the trails. Great gas mileage (I average around 70 mpg)even when flogging the heck out it. Overall very pleased with this purchase. Show less