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| {{Motorcycle | | {{Motorcycle |
| |name = Kawasaki KLX250 D-Tracker | | |name = [[Kawasaki]] KLX250 D-Tracker |
| |photo=Kawasaki-KLX250D-Tracker-97.jpg | | |photo=Kawasaki-KLX250D-Tracker-97.jpg |
| |aka = | | |aka = |
| |manufacturer = Kawasaki | | |manufacturer = Kawasaki |
| |parent_company = | | |parent_company = |
| |production = 1997 - 2008 | | |production = 1997 - 02 |
| |model_year = | | |model_year = |
| |predecessor = | | |predecessor = |
| |successor = | | |successor = |
| |class = Dual purpose | | |class =[[Dual-purpose]] |
| |engine = Four stroke, single cylinder, DOHC, 4 valve | | |engine = Four stroke, single cylinder, DOHC, 4 valve |
| |bore_stroke = | | |bore_stroke = |
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| |fuel_capacity = 10 Liters / 2.6 US gal | | |fuel_capacity = 10 Liters / 2.6 US gal |
| |oil_capacity = | | |oil_capacity = |
| |recommended_oil=K-tech 10W-40
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| |fuel_consumption = | | |fuel_consumption = |
| |turning_radius = | | |turning_radius = |
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| It came with a 110/70- 17 front [[tire]] and a 130/70- 17 rear tire. Stopping was achieved via Single 250mm disc 2 piston caliper in the front and a Single 230mm disc 1 piston caliper in the rear. The front suspension was a 43 USD cartridge fork with 16-way adjustable compression damping while the rear was equipped with a Bottom-Link UNI-TRAK with gas-charged shock, adjustable preload, 16-way rebound and compression damping. The KLX250 D-Tracker was fitted with a 10 Liters / 2.6 US gal fuel tank. The bike weighed just 116 kg / 255.7 lbs. The wheelbase was 1480 mm / 56.3 in. long. | | It came with a 110/70- 17 front [[tire]] and a 130/70- 17 rear tire. Stopping was achieved via Single 250mm disc 2 piston caliper in the front and a Single 230mm disc 1 piston caliper in the rear. The front suspension was a 43 USD cartridge fork with 16-way adjustable compression damping while the rear was equipped with a Bottom-Link UNI-TRAK with gas-charged shock, adjustable preload, 16-way rebound and compression damping. The KLX250 D-Tracker was fitted with a 10 Liters / 2.6 US gal fuel tank. The bike weighed just 116 kg / 255.7 lbs. The wheelbase was 1480 mm / 56.3 in. long. |
| == Photos == | | == Photos == |
| <gallery mode='packed-hover'>
| | [[File:Kawasaki-KLX250D-Tracker-97.jpg|600px|Kawasaki KLX250 D-Tracker]] |
| File:Kawasaki-KLX250D-Tracker-97.jpg|600px|Kawasaki KLX250 D-Tracker | | |
| File:Kawasaki-KLX250D-Tracker-04--5.jpg|600px|Kawasaki KLX 250D-Tracker
| | == Overview == |
| File:Kawasaki-KLX250D-Tracker-04--6.jpg|600px|Kawasaki KLX 250D-Tracker
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| </gallery>
| | Kawasaki KLX 250 D-Tracker |
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| == Review ==
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| It used to be the motorcycling crowd could be divided cleanly
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| between superbikers and off-roaders.
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| The superbikers hang around at Hard Rock Café and go riding to Genting on the
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| weekends.
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| The off-roaders on the other hand spend most of their time jumping in the
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| jungle and are rarely seen.
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| But now, a strange hybdrid of the two is forming on the fringes of the local
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| biking scene.
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| Supermotos, or also known as supermotards are fast gaining popularity.
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| For those who don't know much about bikes, a supermotard is basically a
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| scrambler with superbike tires.
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| You would think that a tall scrambler would be horrible to
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| ride around twisty roads.
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| But as I rode the Kawasaki D-Tracker around some sharp bends in the
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| neighbourhood - this myth was quickly proven to be untrue.
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| The D-Tracker is basically a Kawasaki KLX-250 'scrambler' with 17-inch street
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| It is powered by a single-cylinder 250cc thumper that lacks
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| any sense of urgency - and can power the 119 kg bike to a mere 145 kph.
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| However, despite the lack of straight line speed - this bike can be quite a
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| load of fun in the twisties.
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| You will also learn a totally different away of doing essentially the same
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| thing - that is going around corners quickly.
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| To do this, sportsbikers lower their center of gravity by dropping their body
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| toward the inside of a turn and putting their knees down.
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| Supermoto riders on the other hand adopt a totally different approach.
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| Unknown to many, the fastest way around a turn is actually by sliding through
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| it.
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| The supermoto rider sit high up on his bike and uses a skillful combination of
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| brakes and clutch to 'slide' the rear tire and change the direction of the bike.
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| It is a neat trick - this. Think of it as drifting - but on just two wheels.
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| It is this sliding that makes the supermoto rider adopt his typical 'foot-out'
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| pose. This position is necessary to prevent the bike from sliding too much and
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| dumping the rider on the tarmac. It's just not to look cool in photos.
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| This may all sound very exciting, but I'm not sure if the
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| D-tracker can really be called a supermotard.
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| It is a bit small and underpowered, most supermoto bikes are actually 450cc and
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| above, and some people I talked to even doubted the D-Tracker is actually
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| capable of being "backed in" - as it is called.
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| In Malaysia, there are already a few manufacturers who that already bringing in
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| these 'real' supermotard machines.
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| But what is exciting about the D-Tracker is that it costs about RM23,000,
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| making it about half the price of it's nearest competitor.
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| It is still not cheap - but we will probably be seeing a lot of these bikes on
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| the road, as many beginners buying their first bike may find it within their
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| budget range.
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| While it's supermotard credibilty has yet to be determined, what is suprising
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| about the bike though is how well it is adapted to the city.
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| Oddly enough, despite it's jungle underpinnings - the bike turned out to be
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| quite the urban warrior.
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| I rode the bike for 500kms, most of it commuting between Kuala Lumpur, Bangsar
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| and Petaling Jaya.
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| The more I rode it, the more I became convinced this is exactly the sort of
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| bike you need in an environment such as this.
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| For starters, the bike sits way above traffic, with the
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| handlebars clearing all but the tallest MPVs and SUVs.
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| The high seating position means you can see for hundreds of metres in front,
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| even above the car in front of you - which is great since most car drivers in KL
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| have a habit of jumping on the brakes.
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| You sit upright, with your weight off your wrists - which is good for long
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| rides.
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| The bike is also narrow compared to most other types of bikes, making filtering
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| through heavy traffic a breeze.
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| In fact, after a few days I realised even the Kapcais were having a tough time
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| catching up with the tall motard in traffic.
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| Another thing that many riders might be interested in is that the D-tracker has
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| loads of suspension travel in it's front forks.
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| At 28.4 cm - it's so long that it makes the bike look like it's standing on
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| stilts.
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| This means you can glide over all but the biggest potholes without even feeling
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| them.
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| I hardly slowed down when I passed the entrance to my housing estate - which is
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| incredible since with so much construction going on, it resembles a Martian
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| landscape more than a road.
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| There are a few downsides to the bike though - the miniscule
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| petrol tank can only hold 7.5 Litresof fuel - giving you a range of just over
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| 100kms.
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| Because of it's height - the bike is also unstable at very high speeds.
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| But in all other respects, it's a practical enough bike. In fact, if the
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| price were around RM15,000, I think I would buy one right now - just to
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| commute.
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| Think of it as sort of a giant Kapcai. The only difference is you can pretend
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| to be a supermotard rider and wear really cool helmets and riding gear.
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| The D-Tracker comes in an assortment of three colors: black and candy blue,
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| black and orange as well as Kawasaki green.
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| For more information, call Sunrock Kawasaki at 03-55665688.
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| Source by: Shah
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| Marley.
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| == Specifications ==
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