[xcel]

Hi Jose:

Almost every bike’s break-in req's are like that. You do not break-them in on the Interstate if you plan to follow the schedule from the manual. There are those that break them in a lot harder and as far as longevity is concerned, I cannot say they are not right but every bike break-in procedure including Sport Bikes and the 650 on up Dual-sports are going to have you mostly under the limits until that first 600 to 1,000 miles are complete. Once the break-in period is over however, a > 80 mph top end at few hundred feet above sea level is faster than any public highway in the country allows. For higher elevation, I suspect you will have to rejet and of course enjoy the resultant power loss due to said elevation.

Another fact that has come to my attention is cold weather starting of the KLX. They do not like it. Riding around LA when its 65 to 85 degrees, there were very few starting problems as noted in the Review. Reading of others experiences when it gets cold (in the 50 degree F range and below), the KLX and its carbureted 249 cc engine is a real beast to wake up at times.

Although we will not see a truly updated 11 KLX250S or SF this fall, in two years, I suspect the KLX S/SF will include FI for better starts, lower emissions; better FE and the ability to self adjust for altitude unlike the carbureted unit today. I also suspect we will see the new longer legged KLX forks with compression and rebound damping in one leg and the springs in the other. Probably some new body work and a slightly larger fuel tank as well?

Finally, you are riding a 250 with all of 20 HP in its stock form on tap. It is not going to match a 450X or a 650 anything else from light to light. What it will do however is keep you up with traffic and do so while providing some really amazing FE.

Good Luck

Wayne