Stroker's KLX 300 Stage 1 Mods

Stroker won't just try to sell you parts. The company has a great deal of experience setting up bikes for a variety of riders and situations. When you call you'll most likely reach Larry himself. Tell him you're a great fan, what kind of rider you are and what you are trying to accomplish, and he'll provide a common sense solution.

We complained to Roeseler about the KLX's lack of throttle response. He told us we would need a new carburetor, throttle and exhaust pipe. Roeseler states the problem is that Kawasaki fitted a CV carb on the KLX. Constant velocity carburetors are common in street bike applications where they produce smooth acceleration and reduce engine bog. CV's prevent an engine from being fed more fuel than it can handle.

Stroker sent us a pipe, carb, and throttle. Here's what we did. Remove the stock air filter and replace it with a KX 500 part. It's larger and will flow more air. Stroker recommends against using the airbox lid, but since we've been doing a bit of wet weather riding, we choose instead to modify the lid to allow more air flow. We simply made rectangular cuts in the box lid and used heat glue to fasten nylon mesh where plastic had been.

The push-pull, full-turn throttle fitted as stock on the KLX is a carpal tunnel sufferer's nightmare. Stroker sent us a Motion Pro "CR Pro" throttle complete with a custom cable made for the KLX. Once in, just a quarter turn and the KLX will deliver full power. This modification is a must even if you choose not to buy a pipe or carburetor. It takes some getting used to, but is well worth learning.

Next, remove the stock exhaust header pipe and compare it to the Stroker unit. It's okay to "ooh" then "aah." The Stroker pipe is much larger and reeks of horsepower. Remove the gas tank and radiator shrouds and you are ready to replace the carb. Roeseler provided us with a Mikuni TM33-8012 flat slide unit with the following base settings:

In order for the gas tank to clear the top of the carb it must be raised. We glued a 1/4-inch piece of rubber to the existing rubber mount using Goop liquid adhesive. Seat installation or fit is not compromised in any way.

The combined changes we've made have transformed our bike into a more rideable machine at minimal cost and effort. Our KLX accelerates much harder at all speeds, no longer lags off idle and requires far less work to ride. Initially, the jetting specs above were too rich for riding in the Northeast U.S., but dropping the needle one position cleaned up responsiveness and stopped the occasional backfiring we experienced in chop-throttle situations.

Stroker's carb kit, which includes the throttle and cable, retails for $325. The exhaust header is $140. The cost, installation time and effort are well worth the trouble.

You can grab these goodies through Stroker Inc.
11114 "G" Avenue #2
Hesperia, CA 92345
(760)-948-2871