WR290R VS KLX350S Comparison

Newbie here looking to buy my first bike this year.

Has anyone done a comparison of the wr250r and the klx250s with their big bore kits installed?

I'm most likely getting a WRR, it puts a bigger smile on my face when I see one on the road, but the price tag does not.
I'll be mostly off-roading, lots of forest riding here in WA then random trips to Oregon Dunes and Moab Utah - with a trailer.
Then some random 20-30 min rides on the road and 15 min commute to work when the weather is nice.

I appreciate any input, thanks!

My buddy has a KLR250s and it is a hell of a good bike, I can't tell much of a difference between that and my stock WR as far as power, weight, handling, etc. With a pipe and carb mods it's almost the same as a stock WR. It does not require much additional maintenance either. I would buy one if money was tight and I wanted a good bike. The WR is a better looking bike though, and I feel it has a better overall reliability factor. If you have enough cash to put a big bore kit on a KLX it may be better spent on a WR in my opinion.

mate just get the wr250r you wont regret it =) (specially if your mostly offroading)

Why are you automatically thinking big-bored versions of these bikes?

From what I've read, the big bore KLX is about equal to a piped open airbox WR250 in terms of pure hp but has a lot more low end grunt.

All I know is when they were side by each, at the bike show...the hole in the KLX tailpipe was puny compared to the R2...don't think I could fit my pinky in there.
KLX didn't really look bad at all... 'cept when next to the R2.

Thanks for the feedback everyone! good info.

@motokid, I know stock the wr250r will be plenty of power for my off-road needs but I would also eventually like to be able to slap on some supermoto wheels/tires and cruise comfortably at 70-75mph without feeling like I'm maxing out the throttle.

I have seen some mixed responses on other forums about how these bikes handle at higher speeds?

GunMetal87 wrote:

Thanks for the feedback everyone! good info.

@motokid, I know stock the wr250r will be plenty of power for my off-road needs but I would also eventually like to be able to slap on some supermoto wheels/tires and cruise comfortably at 70-75mph without feeling like I'm maxing out the throttle.

I have seen some mixed responses on other forums about how these bikes handle at higher speeds?

Slightly modded wr250x will easily go 75mph for many hours.

A big-bore might actually be harder on bike than a modded stock engine.

It's kinda hard to imagine any small bike handling higher road speeds...but my bike is more than willing to go wherever I choose. And its a dirt bike...heh.
It has gotta be one of The best dual sports, easily.

I had a KLX with 331 big bore. I now have a WR250X. Power/torque is different. The KLX with big bore pulled better lower down and had that little more grunt for highway riding. The WR250X is stock. Stock its much better than the stock KLX. You need to rev the motor more with the WR stock but it probably has more power stock the big bore KLX but less torque.

A little more torque with the WR would be nice but not sure a big bore kit is worth the money (probably better off changing sprockets than the expense of big bore).

After big boring the KLX, it was much better, but expensive and the fuel consumption was much higher. Not sure it was worth it in the end, hence I have held off big boring the WR.

I had a red 08 KLX250s. I modded the heck out of it short of the big bore. Handled highway with easy and was very comfortable but sold it because of the stalling issue.....drove me crazy. The WR250 is everything the KLX was plus the ease of fuel injected. Hands down WR is the way to go. 90 percent of my riding is highway commute at 70mph no problem. The rest of the time it's a little dirty....again no problem. Good luck with your choice.

Hello, owned a stock 06 KLX250 and a modded 09 KLX250,plus a 08 WR250x stock, and now a 08 WR290R with most the basic mods and a Dynojet PC V. I have 12 43 in it but heading to 13 49. I really enjoy the bike and it's power, just enough power for me. Probbably a rear shock revalve next season.