Kawasaki KLX 650 opinions..!

Recently I have been using my brother's Suzuki DRZ400 for trail
riding....but can't afford to buy one for myself...so I'm looking at cheaper
alternatives...

I really like the power of this 400...as compared to my old XR250...so think
i would be looking at at least a 400 .. or as I mentioned in the header ..
even a KLX 650...since they seem to be fairly cheap...

Only concern is...how different is an older klx650 going to be compared to
the nice new DRZ400..? Would I be better of with less power..but also less
weight of a good 250...or should i go for the big grunt of the 650..?

I do mainly casual riding with a few mates...stricktly off road...state
forests etc... a few big hill...and just fund on the twisty forest / fire
trails..


Finally...do those older ( 94 - onwards ) KLX's have electric start...? ( i
love this on the DRZ400 )..


cheers,

Brian Canham

In article <bmlCd.102415$K7.26172@news-server.bigpond.net.au>,
"Hi-Soft" <bjcanham-nospam-.RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote:

 > Only concern is...how different is an older klx650 going to be compared to
 > the nice new DRZ400..? Would I be better of with less power..but also less
 > weight of a good 250...or should i go for the big grunt of the 650..?

I have a KLX650R (unridden since my KTM 450EXC arrived) and have briefly
ridden a DRZ400E. I would say the HP is very close between the KLX and
DRZ. Difference is the KLX doesn't spin very fast.

 > I do mainly casual riding with a few mates...stricktly off road...state
 > forests etc... a few big hill...and just fund on the twisty forest / fire
 > trails..

In other words you ride 2-track ATV trails and dirt roads? If the
physical size (and weight) of the KLX doesn't put you off, then by all
means, its good for that application.

If you ride single-track, the tight stuff where really good riders push
to average 24 MPH, then the KLX is the wrong bike. Even the DRZ may be
too heavy. Then again on the KTM I can't keep up with a friend on his
DRZ when the trees are only 34" apart. In those conditions HP may hurt
more than it helps.

 > Finally...do those older ( 94 - onwards ) KLX's have electric start...? ( i
 > love this on the DRZ400 )..

As with the DRZ the KLX650 has two major flavors, the so-called "C"
models which were dual sport, and the "R" models which were off-road
only. In Kawasaki-speak the R's were KLX650R-A1 thru -A3 (1993 thru
1995) and KLX650R-D1 (1996, what I have). All C's were KLX650-C1 thru
-C5 (1993 thru 1997). Some or all of the C's had e-start, I don't really
know. The R's were lighter and had more HP.

IIRC the DRZ "E" model is off-road only with e-start. Recent
non-California models have a Keihin FCR carburetor which is the single
best hop-up a DRZ can have.

What I really liked about my KLX was that it was physically large. Where
a DRZ or KTM 450 would be considered "average adult size" and KDX200 to
be one step smaller in ergonomics the KLX650 is one step larger than
"normal adult." A tall seat and 1-1/2" rise in handlebars brought my KTM
close.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->