Of all the motorcycles one might choose for hardcore world travel the Kawasaki KLR650 is seeming to me the most practical choice. People say it’s the Swiss Army Knife of motorcycles. You can ride on road, off road, and way way off road. It can be lowered and modified in many different ways. Its got a reliable Japanese engine and plastic coverings that don’t cost thousands to replace if you scratch it…that is, if you even care to replace it. It’s not the kind of bike that you’re going to polish every weekend and ride slowly downtown.
After riding in Colorado with Chris & Spice after their world tour, and talking with them about their experiences I started thinking that I might choose the KLR myself if it ever came to multi-continent travel. Chris is a very experienced and risk-taking rider, always through the river first or down the mountain face on the goat trail. Spice was a newbie rider when they began their journey, more cautious, and she is much shorter in stature. Their riding experience and styles couldn’t be more different, and they are both in love with their KLRs. Check out their web pages. Here’s an excerpt on choice of bike, by Chris.
I bought a big GS just like the dream said but quickly realized it may not be the most practical thing in the world. The weight, cost and sophistication may overwhelm my feeble abilities. Next we started to check out the F650 Dakar. We both rode a few but no matter what we weren’t sold on the BMW. Around this time I flipped through a few old issues of Motorcycle Consumer News and came on a series written by the renowned world tourer Greg Frazier. He bought and built an adventure touring dual-sport bike, a Kawisaki KLR 650 ready to go for less than ten grand. Eventually we found two young KLRs with not very many miles on them in Alabama. Mine was an ’02 model with zero modifications and we found an ’01 model for Spice with a few little mods here and there. Read more.
So I’ve been talking with my motorcycling friends riding down to Baja sometime this fall. I’m a bit reticent about taking the Enfield–don’t know why, Indian roads weren’t exactly the smoothest–so maybe will go with the KLR because of the washboard roads and potholes, gravel, beaches. Why not, at about $5K new, and used you can find them for a couple grand. Here’s a nice article reviewing the 2002 Kawasaki KLR650, one of the best I’ve seen. From that article:
The KLR is certainly a bit of an odd-ball. Most other single cylinder 4-stroke dual sport machines that survived into the 21st century are more focused on dirt use. In the early 90’s the KLR was used, by many, as a serious dual sport mount. Today, as the anti for off-road capabilities has risen, the KLR finds itself as more of a do-it-all adventure bike – and arguably the most capable adventure bike around. Don’t get us wrong, we love what the OEMs are pushing as adventure/go-anywhere bikes. Problem is, most of them won’t easily go everywhere you wish once you get them off-road. The KLR, on the other hand, will go pretty much anywhere, and it will do so while providing a very comfortable ride – both on and off the pavement. Read more.
If you’ve been following this blog, you know that the KLR650 is a favorite travel bike, along with the surprise (to me) cult favorite, the Suzuki VStrom, which is for people who don’t plan on going off-road much, so I hear, though Suzuki calls at least one model a "Sport Enduro." Here’s the wikipedia entry on the VStrom.
The conversation continues…
Anyone seen or know of anyone who has put a side car on a KLR650. Can it even be done? I’m sure it wouldn’t be good for gas miliage but it would be good if the wife doesn’t want to ride on back. (and you can carry more crap in it.)
-if anyone knows someone who makes one let me know mfitzy111@hotmail.com
For more information on the KLR, I recommend checking out http://www.klr650.net .
I have a KLR 650 with a Velorex sidecar mounted. I’t a great camping rig.
I have a 2004 KLR 650 – an incredible bike and the first street bike i ever owned. I just finshed a 5000 km road trip which included 1000 km of dirt. Everythign went well, except 2 days upon my return I lost the spark —- the dealer is saying its the stator. Everyone so far is very surprised – huge cost here $550 for the part alone. Has anyone else these issues?
I AM TWO DAYS AWAY OF TAKING DELIVERY OF MY 2006 KLR650.I SHOULD HAVE IT BY LATEST FRIDAY 15/09/2006 I AM REALY VERY EXCITED AND IT WILL BE MY FIRST BIKE IN MORE THAN 20 YEARS. DOES ANY BODY WHY KAWASAKI HAS DECIDED TO STOP MAKING THE KLR650 IN THE ORIGANAL LIME GREEN? THE ONLY COLOUR I COULD GET MY HANDS ON WAS RED WHICH IS NOT UGLY BUT WOULD PREFERE GREEN.
HAPPY BIKING YOU ALL
REGARDS
RIAAN
My KRL 650 started shutting off this summer on a 100 mile+ ride we took, The dealer never found any problems with the bike & coulden’t get it to shut off for him? It would turn it-self off every 2-3 miles, the fan would not be on,but all other electrical would work,even the starter, ew’d wate 15 min. & it would start up & run like it was new. Any one know what went wrong? Thanks. Rick
Riaan,
You can get a KLR650 in Kawasaki Green, at least you can in Seattle. I just bought a black/grey one. They had that, red, & green.
Russ
WHY DID THEY STOP MAKING THE KLR650 IN GREEN AND NOW ONLY MAKE IT IN RED? ANSWER: THEY RAN OUT OF GREEN PAINT….DUH!
WHEN THE KLR 1RST CAME OUT I GLANCED AT IT IN THE SHOWROOM AND THOUGHT “WHAT A PIG” AND BOUGHT A LEFT OVER GS 1100. I THOUGHT ALL THE 4 STROKES WERE TOO HEAVY FOR DIRT USE, BUT AS I APROACHED 40 AND NEEDED A BIKE,I TOOK ANOTHER LOOK. I WAS NOT LOOKING TO SHOW OFF ANYMORE,ON OR OFF ROAD. I JUST WANTED A GOOD ALL AROUND BIKE. I BOUGHT A NEW ONE AND LOVE!! NO PROBLEMS OTHER THAN A BLOWN FUSE.I PUT ON A LITTLE TALLER WINDSCREEN,BAGS AND D.O.T KNOBS,WHICH ARE VERY GOOD NOWADAYS,ON AND OFF ROAD.
I have had my 2001 KLR now for two years, I bought it on a lark not knowing anything about adventure touring or motorcycles for that matter. I found I really enjoyed riding, the further away from pavement the better. Last summer I packed the bike up with soft bags and headed off on 2400 mile ride up to the remote hinterlands of Hudson bay, north of Thompson. It was durring this trip that I really became impressed with the KLR’s ruged reliability. This winter I was very close to buying either a new KTM 950 or the Dakar 650, problem is I coundnt seem to justfy the expence, the KLR is simply a better value.
I’ve been considering buying a KLR or a V-Strom 650. I checked with dealers in San Antonio and Corpus Christi. I may have also checked Austin — I forget. Guess what? None of them carries the V-Strom 650 in stock! How do they expect to sell even one if they don’t have one on the floor?
Checked Craig’s list and had the same result.
The 2008 KLR seems to have a few changes that might make it a better street bike than the previous versions — presumably at the expense of making it a worse dirt bike. Are the changes really significant or are they too minor to make an appreciable difference? I’d prefer changes that make it a better street bike — hence my wanting to check out the V-Strom — but that’s purely a personal preference.
I have a december 2005 reg bike probably what they call a 2006 model but there’s no difference anyway. On the road to get mileage I sit at just over 5000rpm 125kph. On the dirt, gravel and packed sand i can cruise at 90kph without trauma (often more)
Fully loaded with soft panniers, Top bag, tank bag, and small tent and mattress behind me. Sitting down on a 65k stretch of West australian dirt No problem. Hate having to do black top to get to good off road areas. Don’t tackle extremes unless forced to. Fitted bigger headlight globe Halogen H4 type 80H 60L still some charging capacity left, Big difference.
Nagging thought always on my mind what about the doo-hicky unit, Will investigate soon for peace of mind, With a fork brace this is one exceptional stable back road tourer
In commenting on whether the 08 KLR changes are noteworthy…I must say they are very much so. If you read the road tests that have been done and there are easily six or more available with a simple google request the scribes are quite supportive of the changes. I have been riding my new 08 for two weeks now and am quite impressed. I have listed some of the things I really like so far on the Wee Strom vs. KLR forum. I guess doing the research is a part of the fun.
I HAVE 2005 MODEL, NO PROBLEMS, ALSO HAVE FLHTC, SO THIS IS MY ALL AROUND BIKE. AM WORRIED ABOUT THIS DOHICKEY THING THOUGH. NO IMTERMITTEN DYING. PUT ON OIL PRESSURE LIGHT, SCARES ME WITHOUT SOMETHING TO WARN YOU THE OIL PUMP IS DEAD OR OR LINE PUNCUTRED, YOU WON’T BE LOOKING IF YOU ARE RUNNING FIRE TRAILS HARD.
Hi all you KLR freaks justa another KLR freak talking to you. I am on my 3rd KLR now. My first one was A KLR600 that I bought in 1983, it was a 1984 model. I have always owned Yamaha’s before. I rode into the Kawasaki dealer with a friend [he rode on the back over 200 miles] with my XT500 modified to the hilt for long trips. We was to pick up his new KLR600, I rode his bike more than he did that first month as it was bigger than he was used to. I was enthralled with the bike. The next month I was on his bike but he was on the back again, lol. I bought my first new Kaw. I rode that bike every day rain, snow, hail, it did not matter, I loved that bike. I even rode it instead of my Harleys, even on road trips the club I used to belonged to. [It was a hard core 1%er club]. The 4th largest in the USA. The members would also ride it when they could get their hands on it. Every body loved riding it. Soon a lot of the members bought them and we always went for long trips every ware we could. Some of us were asked to leave because of them danged rice dirt riders. I never looked back. That bike died in the painted desert in Arizona in 1991 with over 236,000 miles on it. I still have all the note books of the mileage and repair notes on that bike. I bought a new one in 1991 the next day after death. I then put a little over 600,000 miles with paper works on that one too. That bike has been everywhere. I was in the US army so I got to take my bike with me, and it saw almost the whole world. God I miss those days. Now I have a used 2001 Green and silver KLR650. I bought it 5 months ago and I have put 8500 miles on it. I know it’s not a lot but here in North Dakota the winds always are blowing about 20 to 40 miles an hour and it is hard to ride with out being blown off the road. And now I have to sell my baby to pay off my house or lose it. And after I sell house I will buy another KLR. I am sitting here with broken ribs and can not work so I can not pay my bills. So I will sell house and move back home to Texas where I have a house and a job waiting. If anyone out there is interested, I want $3000.00 or best offer and you can call 701.842.4761 anytime. You can ride it home. I can pick you up at the bus stop or train stop or airport.
Hello.
I’ve had my 2001 KLR for almost 3 years now, greatest bike ever. Not really fast but the most reliable by far. I live in Ecuador and the bike behaves great in our precarious roads and off road, I even rode it to Peru doing some touring and really had fun with it.
I’m thinking on getting the 2008 model, but,is it really worth it??? Is it as good as 20 and more years proven Tonka bike??
Hi, I’m planning to take my KLR 650 to Santiago and then ride south to Ushuia at the southern tip of south America. (We sailed around Cape horn three years ago).
I thought about riding the bike to San Diego and then taking a merchant boat – along with my bike – to a Chilean port and ride down to Santiago whereI plan to met up with frinds.
I would like to correspond with anyone who has done the Santiago to Ushuai trip. Information on taking my bike on a steamer to Chile would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Roy
Hello KLR riders! I purchased my KLR 08 model in April, 07. Had a bit of delay, but in November, 07, I headed out toward Vermont from Florida, turned about in PA and returned home About 3000 miles. The KLR performed brilliantly. About 55 mpg. No interstates! Nothing to see. All old or gray roads. Many dirt roads. I put up and over fire trails, fully loaded, through streams, and the only time she quit was after my thumb hit the kill switch on a giant leap. The rest of the story. After approximately an hour and a half, all the gear off, side panels off, seat off, and under the eye of some bikers who stopped to lend a hand, an old harley rider pointed quietly to the offed kill switch. “should I tell them or do you want to?” I,ll tell them I sheepishly replied! He turned and shouted, “Mr. Metric man hit the kill switch.” Big fat grins and guffaws. Oh well! Great guys and an awesome bike. She,ll cruise 85 mph without a wiggle, or cautiously lug down on debris riddled paths and rocks. This is not a bike for whimps or complainers. If you find fault, you just can.t ride well enough yet. Go KLR folks. The bike of the future! Ok, so I am in love. Tough! jojo
Has anyone had any mishaps with the starter on the bikes. Im just wondering witnout a kickstart, does the starter ever cause problems to the bike. How about if it gets wet during river crossings?
Thanks,
Hi, a friend has a 2002 Kawasaki KLR 650 and the local county has claimed that it was involved in a theft, they put a GPS unit on it and he found it and took it off, they have about 4″ of GPS printouts, and when going through them we discovered they have this bike going 130.5, and 154.7mph, and the Judge has refused to listen to this, the printouts are obviously fabricated. How can we prove this bike does not go that fast? Any ideas?
i am 5’8″ and 180lbs can a klr be rigged for such a person? how much can it be lowered(seat height)i know that if you can climb aboard you can ride but i worry about falling on unstable terrain when i stop and getting started from a stop on slick or loose footing- i can see myself cutting doughnuts out of control
Ridden the 96 KLR for a good bit but found the 08 to be much better in all areas, except the suspen. travel. You lost about an inch w/ the new 08s. I can live w/ that.
W/ over 10,000 miles on this 08, I have found it much easier to ride up to a 1000 miles at one setting. Even the hard old mining trails of NM & CO were better handled than the 96. I have found a little change has made a very fine bike into a near perfect as can be [for what is on the market] bought for about $5,000 USD. If you have any issues at all bout your KLR, log onto KLRworld.com for the most helpful bunch of KLR owners that anyone will ever find.
YES, I very much enjoy this big old designed thumper. It is a bit like me.
Not the best at any one task but it will surly “geter done”.
Ridden the 96 KLR for a good bit but found the 08 to be much better in all areas, except the suspen. travel. You lost about an inch w/ the new 08s. I can live w/ that.
W/ over 10,000 miles on this 08, I have found it much easier to ride up to a 1000 miles at one setting. Even the hard old mining trails of NM & CO were better handled than the 96. I have found a little change has made a very fine bike into a near perfect as can be [for what is on the market] bought for about $5,000 USD. If you have any issues at all bout your KLR, log onto KLRworld.com for the most helpful bunch of KLR owners that anyone will ever find.
YES, I very much enjoy this big old designed thumper. It is a bit like me.
Not the best at any one task but it will surly “geter done”.
i gotta know why , when i put my bike into first gear it dies. restart and it dies just as though i had the kick stand out. this happened right at the dealers and he had no answer. i then played with the kick stand, but it still took 10 tries to start and i was off. then i was at a red light and i forgot the fuel was off and i fumbled because i was holding the clutch in. it restated just fine. then it screwed up again and straight home i came.
For those of you with the dying bike problem — the usual culprit is the switch at the kickstand, which is either out of adjustment or gets clogged with mud and quits switching. The end result is that the bike thinks the kickstand is down and dies when you let out the clutch. Solution: Bypass the kickstand switch. Google it. It works now!