Beetroot
4th April 2013, 20:51
I recently started a thread about getting info on a BMW 650 Dakar I was looking at buying,
got some great help but ended up buying a KLR 650 instead.
So thought I would share my thoughts.
I've done two rides on it now, One through the Lees Valley Rd/Waikuku? Pass, and then a over night trip to Lake Sumner.
I just sold a DR650 and thought I knew what I needed from an adventure bike, but I have had to have a re-think now.
Thoughts on the bike:
Compared to my DR its completely solves every issue I had with the DR, but is it just what I wanted?
Well yes and no.
It has a huge tank that at I have done 350kms on without hitting reserve (could only get 180kms from DR), it has a windscreen and a kind of fairing that certainly helps in the wind (used to be tiring on my arms holding myself up in a head wind), and the seat is more comfortable.
So really it should be perfect, just what I wanted.
But I didn't realise how much I'd miss the offroad ability.
The KLR suspension just can't cope with bumps like the DR did, it is a fair bit heavier mind you, and wasn't really designed to be ridden as fast offroad as I was trying to do, but with the DR I could throw it round like and Enduro bike and it would change lines quickly and effortlessly and handled like an offroad bike.
I found myself having a few also bails as the bike just wouldn't change lines like I wanted it too, and the suspension especially on corrugated corners wasn't coping to well, and a few bigger bumps like in the Fords on the Waikuku Pass I bottomed out the suspension.
I do like how it is more comfortable on the road though, and sits better on the road, so I'm kind of in two minds about the bike.
Kind of new thoughts:
I know that all adventure bikes are a trade off, and I thought I wanted something that was 50/50, and I believe the KLR is that, but I'm just not in love with the bike.
I now think, something 30/70 one way or the other will be better. My DR was not that great on the road, but was excellent offroad considering what it was, and I imagine a DL650 type bike would be excellent on the road but would only cope with gravel roads, or taking it really slow in the rough stuff.
Whereas the KLR is OK at both road and offroad, but it doesn't shine in either.
Which is ok, but it just doesn't quite do it for me.
Conclusion:
My girl friend thinks that everything needs a name, so shes named her car (well really 4x4 as its a Landrover Defender and she named it, sorry hime "Percy"), and she made me name my car/4x4 thing, so I've also had to name the KLR.
So I came up with Keith, it (no sorry he) isn't the prettiest bike every, isn't the best bike ever, doesn't shine as being the best bike ever built, but it does get the job done.
I don't really know if this review is going to be of any use, and it may just be me rambling and not make any sense to you lot, but its what I've my thoughts are at the moment.
I can do a bit of a blurb about the two rides I've done and put a few pics if any ones interested too.
Cheers Sam
got some great help but ended up buying a KLR 650 instead.
So thought I would share my thoughts.
I've done two rides on it now, One through the Lees Valley Rd/Waikuku? Pass, and then a over night trip to Lake Sumner.
I just sold a DR650 and thought I knew what I needed from an adventure bike, but I have had to have a re-think now.
Thoughts on the bike:
Compared to my DR its completely solves every issue I had with the DR, but is it just what I wanted?
Well yes and no.
It has a huge tank that at I have done 350kms on without hitting reserve (could only get 180kms from DR), it has a windscreen and a kind of fairing that certainly helps in the wind (used to be tiring on my arms holding myself up in a head wind), and the seat is more comfortable.
So really it should be perfect, just what I wanted.
But I didn't realise how much I'd miss the offroad ability.
The KLR suspension just can't cope with bumps like the DR did, it is a fair bit heavier mind you, and wasn't really designed to be ridden as fast offroad as I was trying to do, but with the DR I could throw it round like and Enduro bike and it would change lines quickly and effortlessly and handled like an offroad bike.
I found myself having a few also bails as the bike just wouldn't change lines like I wanted it too, and the suspension especially on corrugated corners wasn't coping to well, and a few bigger bumps like in the Fords on the Waikuku Pass I bottomed out the suspension.
I do like how it is more comfortable on the road though, and sits better on the road, so I'm kind of in two minds about the bike.
Kind of new thoughts:
I know that all adventure bikes are a trade off, and I thought I wanted something that was 50/50, and I believe the KLR is that, but I'm just not in love with the bike.
I now think, something 30/70 one way or the other will be better. My DR was not that great on the road, but was excellent offroad considering what it was, and I imagine a DL650 type bike would be excellent on the road but would only cope with gravel roads, or taking it really slow in the rough stuff.
Whereas the KLR is OK at both road and offroad, but it doesn't shine in either.
Which is ok, but it just doesn't quite do it for me.
Conclusion:
My girl friend thinks that everything needs a name, so shes named her car (well really 4x4 as its a Landrover Defender and she named it, sorry hime "Percy"), and she made me name my car/4x4 thing, so I've also had to name the KLR.
So I came up with Keith, it (no sorry he) isn't the prettiest bike every, isn't the best bike ever, doesn't shine as being the best bike ever built, but it does get the job done.
I don't really know if this review is going to be of any use, and it may just be me rambling and not make any sense to you lot, but its what I've my thoughts are at the moment.
I can do a bit of a blurb about the two rides I've done and put a few pics if any ones interested too.
Cheers Sam