A Baja-inspired Homage to Japanese Dirt Bikes…
In 2006, Kawasaki introduced the KLX250S as their new quarter-liter dual-sport, featuring a DOHC four-valve single-cylinder engine, inverted forks, and a wet weight of under 300 pounds. While the steel-frame KLX certainly wasn’t the lightest 250cc dual-sporter on the market, it featured liquid-cooling, electric start, gear-driven counterbalancer, and around 11 inches of suspension travel.
All in all, that made a solid, well-balanced package for street and trail:
“As far as dual-sport motorcycles go, even when manufacturers shoot for the middle, most of the time the bikes skew either more towards the dirt or the street, but with the KLX250S, Kawasaki did a great job of really nailing both. Overall, this is a real trail bike that can take real dirt bike abuse and still stop by the store on the way home for some milk.” –Dirt Rider
We’ve seen the KLX series used as the basis for a variety of custom builds, especially in Indonesia, where the bike serves as a popular adventure rig for the island nation’s combination of remote beaches and lush jungle trails.
This 2016 KLX250S comes from our new friend Jim Leroy (@jimtonix), who left his French homeland at the age of 18 for a life of adventure in the Southern Hemisphere. First came Australia, and later he landed in his current home of Indonesia — one of the world’s two-wheeled hotbeds. For someone who loves riding and racing off-road, it’s heaven.
“I’m obsessed and passionate about motorcycles, especially off-roaders… The bike scene here is huge and impressive; they create the craziest customs with the lowest budgets and I’m inspired by them.”
As a 90s kid, Jim grew up in the era of some of the most iconic Japanese motocross bikes ever built, and so he conceived of his KLX build as an homage to Japan.
“I will forever be a Japanese bike rider… It was almost a duty to me to show some respect and create this two-wheeled homage.”
The engine is running a slightly hotter cam, piggyback ECU, and a full competition exhaust for a bit more kick. Jim swapped out the stock wheels for a set of heavy-duty D.I.D. Dirtstars, and the controls, pegs, and the livery are all custom. We love the subtle red sun graphics — a tribute, of course, to the Land of the Rising Sun.
The most striking custom element of the build has to be the aluminum dual headlight cage, housing a pair of Baja-style LED headlights — Jim’s favorite part of the build. As you can see from the photos, he’s had plenty of adventures on “Kellyx,” and one of the biggest is yet to come:
“She’s smooth and cruisy and I can still wheelie her for km’s even in 3rd gear. She’s even done enduro and competitions, and in just a few months she’s gonna go all around Indonesia.”
Thanks to Jim for sharing his bike and story. You can follow his adventures at @jimtonix. Below, you’ll find our full interview and more shots of Jim and his KLX in action.
Kawasaki KLX250 Custom: Builder Interview
• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.
My name is Jim Leroy, 31 years old from the north west of France. I’ve been dreaming of motorcycles since I was a kid but never got one as a boy. I finally got my first one at 17 with the help of my father; it was a Yamaha TTR125. I loved her but only had her for a year and half before I had to sell it to build up saving to go to Australia.
Left for Australia at 18 and half and I’ve been on the road since. The only things I do these days are bike trips and surf trips, and occasionally I work…
• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?
This is a Kawasaki KLX250S from 2016.
• Why was this bike built?
I made it for myself only. I’m obsessed and passionate about motorcycles, especially off-roaders. I’m living in Indonesia at the moment and the bike scene here is huge and impressive; they create the craziest customs with the lowest budgets and I’m inspired by them.
I became an off-road racer over the years; it’s mostly for fun but still I had to create the best looking beast with my budget here in Indonesia.
• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?
The concept was a pure homage to JAPAN. I will forever be a Japanese bike rider; I grew up in the 90s with the best manga and off road beasts, and it was almost a duty to me to show some respect and create this two-wheeled homage.
• What custom work was done to the bike?
The engine is mostly stock; I only changed the camshaft and connecting rod. I swapped the exhaust system for a full competition series and installed a piggyback ECU. Rims are D.I.D Dirtstar, ZETA clutch and brake lever, and custom foots pegs. Of course the front light cage is custom, made of aluminium.
• Does the bike have a nickname?
Yes, her name is “Kellyx.”
• Any idea of horsepower, weight, and/or performance numbers?
She has roughly 27-28 hp from the original 24, and she’s probably around 132-4kg compared to the original 140kg.
• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?
Man she’s fat, heavy, and she’s truly missing some horses, but I love her anyway — she’s smooth and cruisy and I can still wheelie her for km’s even in 3rd gear.
She’s even done enduro and competitions, and in just a few months she’s gonna go all around Indonesia.
• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?
The front headlight is definitely my favourite point to this bike ’cause so unique with that Baja inspiration, but I just love the whole custom in general with that Japanese homage.
• Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
Of course, I’ve followed you guys at BikeBound for years, love all your articles, and find a lot of inspiration from them, so it’s mind-blowing to me that you are going to present one of my bikes. Another kid’s dream here.
Follow the Builder: @jimtonix
