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Kawasaki KLR250 motorcycle review - Side view

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Kawasaki KLR250 (1984-2001)

Detail	Value
Engine size	249cc
Power	26bhp
Top speed	86mph
Insurance group	7

	MCN ratings	Owners' ratings
Overall
Engine
Ride & Handling
Equipment
Quality & Reliability
Value

MCN overall verdict

Look up ‘easy going’ in any encyclopedia and you’ll see a cheesy picture of Kawasaki’s KLR250 beaming back at you. Kawasaki's KLR250 is a fun, economical, long-lasting and undemanding dual purpose machine. Most will undoubtedly have led hard lives as introductory green laners or farm bikes, but a little TLC and an easy throttle hand will keep a Kawasaki KLR250 oing for at least as long as people can read.

MCN rating
Owners' rating

The Kawasaki KLR250's liquid-cooled 4v SOHC motor is easy to kick over hot or cold. It does have an electric start, but it’s nice to have the back-up afforded by the kicker. Once fired up its quite smooth and the power’s just a smooth run up to the red line. It’s not as spunky as Honda’s CRM250 stroker, which claims another 10bhp, but it’s reliable enough for 50,000 miles without any major dramas. Avoid pillions.

MCN rating
Owners' rating

Since the last Kawasaki KLR250 came into the UK in 2001 it’s hard to make universal claims for handling – as many will be very tired. But with new fork springs and oil, a refreshed shock and greased linkages the Kawasaki KLR250 handles light trails just fine. The Kawasaki KLR250 was never intended as an enduro machine and its limitations are obvious off (and on) road. The brakes weren’t brilliant to start with, by now they’ll need a complete overhaul.

MCN rating
Owners' rating

On top of the kicker and e-start Kawasaki threw in a tacho for the KLR250, so you can watch the revs spin like billy-o. There are a few aftermarket exhausts made – Staintune and Big Gun to name two.

MCN rating
Owners' rating

By-and-large the Kawasaki KLR250 is well made and intrinsically robust. Avoid anything that puffs blue smoke on start-up, anything that rattles and anyone who can’t tell you how to find the screw-adjusted valves (easy-peasy).

MCN rating
Owners' rating

Kawasaki KLR250's will have had hard lives. But they are hardy wee beasties and should give plenty of riding pleasure. No Kawasaki KLR250 is worth more than a grand, though, even in the best of nick and even the oldest CRM MK 1 is a much better, more versatile buy. Find a Kawasaki KLR250 for sale.

Insurance group: 7

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1984: Kawasaki KLR250 introduced and ran virtually unchanged except for cosmetics for 17 years.
2001: Kawasaki KLR250 discontinued in the UK.

None.

Specifications

Top speed	86mph
1/4-mile acceleration	20.4 secs
Power	26bhp
Torque	18ftlb
Weight	117kg
Seat height	855mm
Fuel capacity	11 litres
Average fuel consumption	65mpg
Tank range	150 miles
Insurance group	7

Engine size	249cc
Engine specification	4v single, 6 gears
Frame	Tubular steel cradle
Front suspension adjustment	None
Rear suspension adjustment	Preload
Front brakes	212mm disc
Rear brake	Drum
Front tyre size	3.00 x 21
Rear tyre size	4.60 x 17

Owners' Overall Rating (1 review)

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KLR250

spondonste

Average rating

Show Details

Overall
Ride and Handling
Equipment
Quality and Reliabilty
Value
Engine

Had one of these years ago. Because its a single there's a reasonable amount of power at low revs but there isn't much point in revving it out. Somebikes have had problems with cams pitting due to restricted oil flow to the head. If used at high revs for sustained periods of times it can burn oil and the end can is prone to rusting. It wheelies and stoppies fairly well and the bikes light so it can be thrown about easily. On the road the bikes ok but the lack of power makes overtaking at anything other than lower speeds a long winded effort. Handling is fairly good but the 21" front wheel limits decent road bias tyre choice. Its got adequate power for green laning and this is probably its niche. For those not wanting to bomb around it's a good choice and fuel economy is very imrpessive.

05 February 2012

Overall
Ride and Handling
Equipment
Quality and Reliabilty
Value
Engine

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User's Badge

angusfarquhar says

Well spotted

Looks there was an error while copying from word to the site. It's corrected now.

19 May 2008 17:39

dunlop2says

Can't Believe The Engine Review

I believe the Engine review on this KLR250 to be totaly exagerated in fact I believe that it isn't referring to the same engine at all.... Now Now Lads A Lot More Attention To Detail Is Required. Best Regards...

21 June 2007 17:50