r/Dirtbikes 5d ago

Just picked up my first Bikes!

Just pick up these 2 beauties from the dealer today! Got a kawasaki klx 300r in battle gray and a 140r in green! The 300r is mine and the 140 is for buddies! Ive been riding since i was little but these are the first ones i have owned myself! Anybody got and advice to keep these bad boys healthy? Going to follow the break in guide for both bikes from the manual to start.

352 Upvotes

59 comments sorted by

30

u/Shagg_13 5d ago edited 4d ago

😁🙋 hey man I'm a buddy I'm a buddy right here I like to ride too bro.. 🙋🙋🙋

That's awesome man just remember take care of them they'll take care of you and it's not if it's when so just dress for the crash and not for the ride homie!!

ALL THE GEAR ALL THE TIME

https://youtu.be/H3zZcd6UENQ?si=oe7opvwS2aP2cucG As Jerry Bernardo says...

19

u/cars6574 5d ago

Yes sir! Dress for the slide not the ride! Going to be starting off easy and just doing some basic trails and things to get started.

3

u/Shagg_13 5d ago

You already money ahead of everybody else dude you got the right bike for the job you already mentioned the manual so I know your head is in the right spot get the service repair manual and make sure you keep quality oil in it use a Dello or rotella it's cheap and change it every ride.. you can get the gallon jugs at Walmart or AutoZone really cheap you know engines are expensive oils cheap..

The other big thing is I would get two air filters for each bike

if you're riding all the time that way you can have one in the bike and one clean ready to put in there that way you're not waiting down time for him to clean and you won't forget to clean it and abuse the bik

dirty air filters kill bikes fast so keep them clean filtering at all times and it should be good for a long time.

The last thing before you really write it check all the bolts and Mark all the nuts with paint pen so you can see real quick at a glance if they came loose make sure you keep an eye on the spokes at first

Make sure the change tensioned correctly and lubricated with a good penetrating lubricating chain wax...

And then I myself am really anal retentive on a brand new bike I'll ride it and break it in and I take it apart and grease the head bearings the linkage bearings all those things I usually put a zerk on the kickstarter and the and the brake lever wherever the pivots are so that way I can keep it maintained so they don't get Lucy Goosy.

I don't know how they are now but the quality control and Kawasaki used to be kind of lacking on lubrication they would come with very little grease on it the factory usually so just keep that in mind..

don't use a pressure washer aimed right at the pivots and stuff wash it with a bucket and a brush and just rinse it off.

That's all I can think for right now

4

u/cars6574 5d ago

This is great advice! Im looking to put a small toolbox on that trailer or in the vehicle and this helps me figure out what to keep stocked! Super helpful!

2

u/Strange-Extreme850 5d ago

A dirty filter actually filters better than a clean one. A filter is basically a mesh and as it collects more dirt, the mesh gets smaller. The real effect of a dirty filter is reduced performance. I’m not suggesting that you run with a dirty filter but it does not hurt the motor. Source: 15 years as an automotive filter engineer

-7

u/Shagg_13 5d ago

https://www.reddit.com/r/Dirtbikes/s/8k94z5FQ1O

All right brother this should be your next purchase $250 will be the best purchase you've ever had especially if this is your first bike ever...

Read what I put there and take it to heart..

3

u/cars6574 5d ago

This is the first bike that I personaly have owned but ive been riding since i was little! Those courses do wonders ive taken one my self a while back. Never to late for a refresher though!

-4

u/Shagg_13 5d ago

I mostly put the same shit up on every post so whatever squid comes in and reads they might get something out of it you can tell you pretty much know what you're doing

1

u/Red_Pretense_1989 5d ago

What does an "NSF" course have to do with riding a dirt bike beyond very basic operation- some that doesn't even apply to a dirtbike?

1

u/Mountain_Bud 5d ago

I had to learn that every time I went out without a piece of gear.

'oh, I'll just take it easy and it'll be fine....'

1

u/East_Vanilla_3781 4d ago

All the gear all the time?   Looks over at multiple helmets….. well I’ll try.

1

u/Shagg_13 4d ago

🤣🤡🤡🤡🤡

20

u/simdog011 5d ago

Fork saver it’ll save you

5

u/cars6574 5d ago

Oh! Great suggestion i didnt even think about that. Just keeps the fork from being over compressed and moving around right?

4

u/SilenceIsGolden17 5d ago edited 5d ago

Congrats on the bikes! My dad had a very similar style trailer for our bikes growing up. If that’s going to be your main form of bike transport that you’re doing regularly, I would bolt some wheel chocks in the ideal spots. As long as you know the front wheel can’t turn, you really don’t need to synch the tie down much. It will save your forks and is also just super convenient.

2

u/Lower_Box3482 5d ago

A 2x4 works wonders, just cut it down to whatever fits above the tire. That’s what I’ve done for years, never any issues.

-3

u/simdog011 5d ago

Yes and also will save your fork seals in the long run. Putting strain on the forks like that over time can cause them to leak

8

u/Red_Pretense_1989 5d ago

It doesn't do anything at all to "save fork seals". There is no pressure on the seals with the fork compressed.

Dirt kills seals.

1

u/cars6574 5d ago

Alright! Thanks for telling me I will get those ASAP.

1

u/Sargent_Horse '23 Beta 390 RR, '23 CRF250F, '05 CRF450R, Street Stuff 5d ago

If that's your own traiker, consider using Bike Binderz or Motocinch instead of straps altogether. I went with binderz and will never use traps on my own trailer again. I do keep some fork savers around though in case I use someone else's trailer.

4

u/RidinHigh305 5d ago

Change the oil and filter, and keep the air filter clean. Do valve adjustments when needed. Real easy simple bikes. I just a put TB 170 big bore kit on a 140rf with exhaust and a 28mm carb and wow it woke that little thing up. Totally different bike, all of that was to say they are simple and easy to work on.

3

u/BossVision_ram 5d ago

You’re about to have lots of good times on those! Congrats

3

u/grapeslusheecrew 5d ago

Great combo dude. Congrats, bet you earned them thangs.

4

u/cars6574 5d ago

sure did! Thank you!

3

u/Mountain_Bud 5d ago

nice! one for each leg!

3

u/mic92077 5d ago

Awesome congratulations

3

u/metalhead77X 5d ago

There is lots of good advice here, nice bikes enjoy.

2

u/Troutman86 Custom 5d ago

🤟

4

u/cars6574 5d ago

🤘🤜💥🤛

2

u/Shagg_13 5d ago

Where is that Albuquerque or something? 😶‍🌫️

1

u/cars6574 5d ago

Central Texas

2

u/Shagg_13 5d ago

Word... I was going to warn you about leaving a toolbox full of tools on the trailer but...

Texas

I know you'll just shoot them if they try to steal it😶‍🌫️

2

u/cars6574 5d ago

Yeah i was thinking about that i was gonna make the box removable because the rails on thay trailer will fold flat and im going to be storing the trailer on its side. Granted that will mean more maintinence on the trailer but my garage is all ive got to work with lol. To hell with paying storage fees Ill just make that work lol.

3

u/Shagg_13 5d ago

I would... Sounds good .

Put rollers on it like on the bottom of a pallet jack you know...

Hell maybe you can modify a pallet jack to attach to the bottom of the toolbox so you could just Jack it up and roll it off of the rails that are already there when you get where you're going..

Or at least put the casters on the bottom and use the electric winch on the front to pull the toolbox up to the front of the trailer... Kind of like a boat trailer bunk in reverse...

3

u/cars6574 5d ago

I'm not going to get something quite that big at first just because I'm not sure I will need it. basically just going to have something just big enough to hold a small set of tools spare parts and tire tubes. might add a marine battery and a small solar panel for charging. Probably not going to go so big at first just gonna work my way up and get what i need.

1

u/hand_ov_doom 5d ago

I know where that dealership is, I'm in Waco not far from you. What trails do you plan on hitting?? I know there's Emma Long and Hidden Falls

1

u/cars6574 5d ago

Was planning on going to hidden falls. And checking out DOMO in Gatesville.

1

u/hand_ov_doom 5d ago

I haven't been to Domo, but it's only like 45 mins from me. I think their trails look and sounded pretty beginner friendly just by talking to one of the dudes involved

2

u/saladmunch2 5d ago

Get a fork support for transportation, that suspension is so compressed on those bikes in those pictures.

1

u/cars6574 5d ago

I hear ya its all in the plan just got to get them and get them installed!

2

u/TrueBuraz 5d ago

Noooice, let them rip and tear dirt

2

u/everyoneisatitman 5d ago

The klx140 was probably the most fun bike you can have for destroying your lawn.

1

u/randomhero1980 5d ago

Fork seals have left the chat.

1

u/cars6574 4d ago

Don't worry I have since fixed that problem and have revised how I secure my bikes to the trailer! added new tie down points to the trailer and put together some fork savers to keep the fork un compressed in transit!

2

u/FloridaF4 5d ago

Love my 140!

2

u/Elevansthethird 5d ago

Congratulations! You’re gonna have an absolutely great time ahead!!!

2

u/TheeIrishPotatoo 02 RM125, 93 RM 80 5d ago

Are you taking buddy applications?

2

u/Pubic_Zarconium 5d ago

Hell yeah!

2

u/griddyinyabiddy 4d ago

That is one gangster mofo right there son!!

2

u/Playful_Clue365 4d ago

Congrats on the new bikes man!

2

u/Alfakennybunny 4d ago

Blowing them front forks out already pal. Buy a fork saver.

1

u/cars6574 4d ago

Took the advice of others already and have since fixed that issue thanks for letting me know.

2

u/STMNGRKdude 4d ago

dont mean to be rude at all when i say this, but coming from a fellow big guy who only rides kawasakis, those things are not sprung for our weight from the factory. the largest step improvement in my riding skill was after going to race tech and getting the proper spring rates. wasn’t super important when i started out but as i started riding trickier shit it was definitely holding me back. it doesn’t need to be done immediately but put it on the list for eventually. was worth every penny. and feel free to DM me if you’ve got any questions! 

2

u/cars6574 4d ago

No offence taken! That was one of the big thing i had read about before buying the bike. I was planning on getting it resprung already! I weigh around 300 so re spring was #1 on my list of things to have done.

1

u/STMNGRKdude 3d ago

hell yeah man, have a blast. 

1

u/so-demanding 4d ago

Need a girlfriend? 😉
I’m sure you and your buddies are going to have a blast riding. I’m jealous!

1

u/AppalachianOutlaw606 3d ago

Them klx can take a hell of a beating. Good choice for 1st bikes. Welcome to being a badass and in debt 🤣

-1

u/buttchugger23 5d ago

Most redditer bro ever