The Torture Test – 2009 Kawasaki KLX140L Big Bore Project Bike – Dirt Rider Magazine

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Engines Onlywww.xr100.com 408-776-9100
160 Big Bore Kit Stage Two: Fits 2008/2009 motors
A complete matched and dyno proven motor kit, includes everything in our stage one kit plus our high performance cam (exchange) and valve spring kit, works great with our intake kit and Outlaw exhaust. Increase your KLX140 to 160cc with an ENGINES ONLY Big bore kit. Runs on pump gas, 91 octane / Big bore piston with 11.5:1 compression ratio / Bore only, no case machining required. cam core $125.00. Part Number 14162, MSRP $539.95KLX140 Mikuni 28mm Flat Slide Intake Kit: Includes Carb. /cable to fit stock throttle /custom EO intake manifold / completely prejetted. P/N 14028 FSK, MSRP $299.95Engines Only Graphics Kit- Shrouds left and right side, fender arches left and right P/N 14016 GRA, MSRP $79.95FMF
www.fmfracing.com 310-631-4363
Powercore 4- Complete Exhaust System with Spark Arrestor- MSRP $179.99
We developed the PowerCore4 to increase the horsepower and torque throughout the entire power curve and give you a noticeable power increase that is very usable and beneficial, no matter what your riding style or ability is.* Space Age internal packing for maximum packing life.
* Hi-Flo modular end cap.
* Internal shape of core uses Hi-Flo technology.
* Enhanced sonic evacuation provides for higher flow and increased power.Olympic Powder Coatings
www.olympicpowdercoating.com 714-979-2233
Sparkle Silver Clear, check for pricingPro Circuit
www.procircuit.com 951-738-8050
Top clamp- SKU: KC98080. MSRP $149.95
Bar mount- SKU: BM023. MSRP $79.95Renthal:
www.renthal.com 661-257-2986
51T rear sprocket: 64.95
Kevlar tapered dual compound grips (G166): $19.95RK/Excel:
www.rkexcelamerica.com 76-732-3161
Excel 19″ Front Rim (Black): P/N GBK400, MSRP $163.99
Excel 16″ Rear Rim (Black), P/N DDK400, MSRP $149.60
RK Chain- GB420MXC, call for priceKawasaki:
KX100 Forks: P/N’s 44070-1849-828 & 44070-1631-828. MSRP $541.20 ea
KX100 Lower fork Clamp: P/N 44037-0032-21, MSRP $188.27
KX100 Brake Assembly:
Front master cylinder P/N 43015-1674, MSRP $163.22
Hose-brake front P/N 43095-1091, MSRP $57.49
Bolt, Oil, P/N 92153-0627, MSRP $3.18 Each, 2 needed
Washer, seal P/N 49091-0001, MSRP $1.23 Each, 2 needed
Master Cylinder, P/N 43080-0008, MSRP $107.77
KX100 Spokes, 41029-1288 & 41029-1289, SRP $2.45 Each, 28 needed
Nipples, P/N 41032-1077, MSRP $2.48 Each, 28 needed
Hub, P/N 41034-1310, MSRP $136.02
Disc, P/N 41080-0111, MSRP $136.73
Disc bolts, P/N 92151-1799, MSRP $2.65 Each, 6 needed
Axle, P/N 41068-1333, MSRP $19.00
Axle Nut. P/N 92015-1433, MSRP $5.62
Axle collar, P/N 92143-1936, MSRP $10.84

You’d think that with limited suspension travel and a tiny chassis, this KLX wouldn’t be too down to jump. Dave Donatoni proves otherwise.

Dirt Rider Post Torture Evaluation: The best all-around bike because:
This little machine was in no way the best all-around bike at the Torture Test. However, it just may have been the most fun!Not the best all-around bike because:
This Kawasaki is little, under-suspended and slow…yet still fairly loveable.Dirt Rider Says:We’re not too sure where this bike came from. Yes, it obviously came from Kawasaki, but as to how the little machine ended up in our Torture Test we’re not really sure. You see, each of the bikes in our test goes through a rigorous selection process and has to be approved, double-checked and super verified with the powers that be at Dirt Rider. Not so with the KLX160. This bike just kind of showed up at our Test, and since it was there we went ahead and ran it through the paces. It turns out that the bike didn’t fare half bad, although we’re not sure if Kawasaki meant for this bike to vie for the “Ultimate Do-All” title or if it was simply a pit bike that accidentally slipped into our test. Either way, we gave the little machine a good testing-after all, that’s what we do-and came up with a strong conclusion on the little beast.So, what’s the verdict on Kawasaki’s KLX140L Big Bore Project Bike? Fun, that’s what! Seeing as Ryan Orr, Alexander Smith, Jerry Bernardo, Steve Hengeveld and I were testing this bike alongside three 450cc machines and a 250F, it was hard for us to take the little Kawasaki seriously. As a result, any trail time earned on the KLX as part of our necessary rotation was essentially “recess time” from testing. In the process, we found that the motor is much stronger than stock, although it retains the same basic characteristic of a smooth spread and strong roll-on. The meat in the mid was plenty useable, and the low-end hit was surprisingly proficient at getting even our heaviest testers moving out of slow corners and up steep sections of trail. The bike would sign off fairly quickly when you revved the guts out of it, but hey…. it’s only a mini, right?Due to the larger KX100 suspension and wheels, this machine rode more like an 85cc two-stroke than a middleweight thumper. Of course, the suspension wasn’t enough to handle the high-speed rigors of our fastest test riders, but nevertheless it provided a smooth enough ride on the trail. However, the telltale sound of the front wheel making contact with something (either the front fender or the pipe/ frame, we couldn’t really figure it out) when the bike was bottomed became a joke among all of our test riders; this loud noise was something of an audible warning that you were pushing the KLX past its safe limits. Due to the low seat height (and center of gravity), the Kawasaki 160 cornered well and could actually turn fairly competitively with some of the big bikes, although the wide little motor and footpegs would stick in the deepest of ruts on the course. Still, this bike provided a smile per minute when you rode it.From the handguards to the suspension, the off-road style of this miniature bike is pretty cool. Sure, this wouldn’t be the ideal machine for a serious trail rider to build, but it certainly has its place as a girlfriend bike, play bike or trail maintenance machine. Obviously, this Kawasaki project bike didn’t have a snowman’s chance in the desert of winning the Torture Test-it technically wasn’t even supposed to have been there-but in the end, that may be why we liked it so much. -Chris DenisonFour words: Super small, really fun! -Steve Hengeveld/ 5’7″/ 155 lb. / ProI weigh 195, which means that this bike has less ccs than I do pounds. It’d be cool to piddle around if you were working the fence lines on a farm, and I think it would be a great bike to teach someone to ride on. It was also fun to use to get from A to B. But still, it’s a little bike. I have to say, though, that if I were a Smurf I’d rock it! -Jerry Bernardo/ 5’8″/ 195 lbs./ ExpertI had a blast on this thing! It has good mid-range power right where you ride it. The seat height was low and it settled well, didn’t push, and was easy to control. The brakes were still pretty weak, though. -Alexander Smith/ 6’1″/ 155/ ExpertAs a connoisseur of 100-150cc mini-bikes I can really see where a bike like the KLX160 fits into the mix of putting fat old guys on minis or for an aspiring kid to look at this bike as a target, or a dream machine of sorts. And for the most part the KLX does that job OK. I run with a bunch of clowns who all have CRF100s and TT-R125s that we have set up similarly to this bike, just a lot less bling on the outside and a little less go on the inside. And they all accomplish the same thing. Minis, even for adults, are just plain fun. The problem is that for each step you make the bike better, and on bikes like this usually every step makes a big difference, like on this KLX, it makes it almost impossible to take a step backwards in performance. You can’t ever ride them stock again. Mainly they are addictive. So for something that grew out of a KLX140, this bike was just that, addictively fun. -Jimmy Lewis