Kawasaki KLX300 ADV Lite Build: QUALITY Foot Pegs!
- Randy Reek, The Great Out There
- Nov 12
- 3 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
A cheap, fast, and easy upgrade to the stock KLX300 that adds comfort and security.
I have owned dozens of "adventure" motorcycles. Without exception, the most expensive Japanese and European brands required that I add hundreds of dollars in accessories and upgraded parts.
I understand that the the MAJORITY of "ADV" and dual sport motorcycle buyers will never push the limits of their machines, and never rack up long-distance mileage. Most riders will not rack up thousands of miles, riding for hours at a time.
MOST buyers of these motorcycles enjoy short outings. Most ride around town, the farm or the campground. Few will ever take multi-day ADVENTURES, especially on demanding offroad routes.
This means that anywhere the brands can save a buck, they WILL! One of the most irritating examples is foot pegs. Such is the case with the Kawasaki KLX300 that is the base for this "ADV Lite" build series.
Over the years, I have owned FOUR CSC and TWO American Lifan motorcycles built in China, plus TWO Royal Enfield Motorcycles built in India. ALL were delivered with excellent foot pegs suited for their intended usage.
Here is the irony: MANY components on the current Japanese brands are outsourced to subcontractors in China, Thailand, the Philippines, etc. By the time that Honda/Suzuki/Kawasaki/Yamaha R&D engineers these cheap, stamped, painted steel foot pegs, contracts the production, BUYS the product, ships it to a warehouse, and SELLS the parts to their manufacturing divisions, they could purchase the SUPERIOR CNC milled aluminum foot pegs for LESS!
I dare you! Price a set of replacement foot pegs from your local dealer. I GUARANTEE that it will cost at least DOUBLE the $35.99 I paid for the lighter, stronger, wider, anodized, rust-free foot pegs I purchased from Amazon!
The Good News is that this UPGRADE takes only a few minutes. You pull the cotter pin on the old pegs, replace with the new pegs, insert the longer pin, and install a new cotter pin. On the ADV Lite KLX300 I reused the stock springs although new springs were included. (The installation requires that you jiggle the spring into position, and might require some prying with a pliers or screwdriver.)
ADDED benefit: the new, black anodized foot pegs compliment the goal of this ADV Lite build series that will include all black accessories to offset the in-your-face neon green of the stock KLX300!
These replacement foot pegs include added spikes - which I removed for "adventure" motorcycling. If your dual sport riding also includes aggressive trails, especially jumps and mud, these sharp teeth can easily be reinstalled with a 5mm socket. In addition, the pegs were tilted slightly downhill - meaning the pegs weren't level and also pivoted slightly forward of 90-degrees from the cycle. This was corrected in two minutes by adding a tiny pad of scrap rubber (or you could use a scrap of inner tube) to the bump stop on the mount. The pedals are now level and have an added cushion!
What else have you added as inexpensive UPGRADES to your ADV bike? Please comment below, and Subscribe to receive notice of new update on the KLX300 ADV Lite build series!
