KLR650 reviews please

[murhf3]

Can anyone tell me what these are like, to ride 75% road, 25% off on shingle roads Thinkin of buying one as I like the big singles.

[Waxxa]

I had a '92 model and went everywhere with it, tracks, beach, fields, gravel roads etc. A good set of Cross-tyres and you can't go wrong.
They are not a fast bike but will do 120k on motorway comfortably and i had a fuel range of 420k+.
I had absolutely no problems with the bike for 14 years and then the niggles crept in.
I would have bought the later model but they have increased the height and I can't touch the ground (i'm a short arse).
I enjoyed my KLR :2thumbsup

[warewolf]

Search, there's been lots of discussion here, eg Tiresome DR vs KLR comparisons (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=92423). Also search advrider.com (use google).

[Woodman]

Can anyone tell me what these are like, to ride 75% road, 25% off on shingle roads Thinkin of buying one as I like the big singles.

I got an 05 and its great.
If you really are just riding tar and gravel then nothing will break unless you fall off.
If you go further off road you will need a good bashplate, replace the rear brake bracket before the standard one breaks, also the gear lever, learn how to align your front end, and firm the front up as well.

They not real powerful but have a very even power band, but handle on gravel way better with a lot of revs on. To be honest the only time weight is an issue is when picking it up or dragging it out of ditches etc.

Just enjoy it, and do not take too much notice of all the internet sights as there are so many of them out there that of course there are a lot of problems listed. i am just glad i got the KLR b4 i got a computer.

my $.002

Probarbly the most versatile bike there is straight off the shop floor.

[murhf3]

I.ve taken nearly all enduro singles [except the KTMs] for test rides and value for money the klr seems the best, the xt an dr,s dn.t have as much off road protection. The new KLR I took for a ride seems to have plenty of grunt.
Thanks for the threads plp:clap:

[pete376403]

Hell of a lot of fun. they don't do any one thing exceptionally well, but they do most things pretty well. Road handling, especially on the '08 and later, is a lot better than you would expect. Off road - well they are quite heavy (190kgs with a full tank) so you're not going to chuck it round like a KDX 200 but check out the pics in the Southern Coast adventure ride thread - a couple of KLRs went everywhere that much more specialised dirt bikes did.

Doubt if there is much more bang for the buck ($9890 new) at the mo'.

[NordieBoy]

I.ve taken nearly all enduro singles [except the KTMs] for test rides and value for money the klr seems the best, the xt an dr,s dn.t have as much off road protection. The new KLR I took for a ride seems to have plenty of grunt.
Thanks for the threads plp:clap:

The DR dosn't really have anything vulnerable to protect.
Bash plate and hand guards and you're there.

The more off road you're looking at the more to the DR I'd lean.
The more road, the more toward the new KLR.

I'd get a 2nd hand DR650 with less than 30000km for around $4000 and go from there.

[Padmei]

What year are you looking at? Some early 08s are oil burners. I like mine a lot.

[pete376403]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Dual-purpose/auction-204661032.htm

Only mildly thrashed on Sundays by an old lady rider...

[marks]

.... by an old lady rider...


There will be a day of reckoning

[awayatc]

by all accounts a very capable bike....some parts of the world are all pro KLR, some lean more towards DR....

But don't you think the KLR is UGLY..?

[Woodman]

by all accounts a very capable bike....some parts of the world are all pro KLR, some lean more towards DR....

But don't you think the KLR is UGLY..?

From some angles they are less than pretty yes.

You just gotta park them well.

[pete376403]

From the riders viewpoint they look good. What spectators think doesn't really matter, but if you are worried about what they might think, get a Harley and parade up and down Ponsonby.

[Woodman]

From the riders viewpoint they look good. What spectators think doesn't really matter, but if you are worried about what they might think, get a Harley and parade up and down Ponsonby.

yes, maybe you could get some tassles for the handlebars, and a KLR branded jacket, tee shirt ,pants , boots, and sunglasses ensemble and splash on some klr aftershave, and strap a wee leather bag stuffed with tissue in front of the headlight.
Then adopt a badass atitude:headbang: and forget how to wave, then it won't matter how ugly your bike is.

[NordieBoy]

From some angles they are less than pretty yes.

You just gotta park them well.

So not like this then :D
http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/Trips/20090206%20Havlocking%20around/slides/20090206-133458-000032.jpg

[Woodman]

So not like this then :D
http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/Trips/20090206%20Havlocking%20around/slides/20090206-133458-000032.jpg

hhmmm, Knowing where that is and remembering what happened just afterwards, I now wish I had left it parked.

[murhf3]

Well got the klr650-09, brillant bike. Handles the road well and off road even better. Its the type of bike that takes me back to the old days, a simple, grunty, super fun bike. $9000 brand new. Of all the bikes I.ve personally had, this is 1 of the most enjoyable. I put a two brothers muffler on it, nw she sounds like a old TT500.Who cares about looks when ya smiling from ear to ear.

[marks]

Well got the klr650-09, brillant bike. Handles the road well and off road even better. Its the type of bike that takes me back to the old days, a simple, grunty, super fun bike. $9000 brand new. Of all the bikes I.ve personally had, this is 1 of the most enjoyable. I put a two brothers muffler on it, nw she sounds like a old TT500.Who cares about looks when ya smiling from ear to ear.

where are the photos?

[Woodman]

Well got the klr650-09, brillant bike. Handles the road well and off road even better. Its the type of bike that takes me back to the old days, a simple, grunty, super fun bike. $9000 brand new. Of all the bikes I.ve personally had, this is 1 of the most enjoyable. I put a two brothers muffler on it, nw she sounds like a old TT500.Who cares about looks when ya smiling from ear to ear.

Good onya (ten character}

[pete376403]

what did we tell ya?

Let the farkeling begin! (Ah, Two Bros muffler - it already has.)

If the pic on your profile page is it - then you got a proper green one!

[marks]

If the pic on your profile page is it - then you got a proper green one!

thats an old style 08 - not the new sexy 09 model

black is the new green :bleh:

[Padmei]

Murph get some sw motech crash bars before you do too much offroad. they are very good but heavy. Also get rid of the rubber footpegs & weld some metal ones on or buy some others. Also Ventura headlite cover (approx $60) as the headlites are very expensive. Also some good tyres


Welcome to the tribe.The blood-letting ritual will begin at midnight.


Also if I'm down in chch can I please sit on your meanstreak & make brmbrm noises? They are very cool.

[marks]

Murph et some sw motech crash bars before you do too much offroad. they a are very good but heavy. Also get rid of the rubber footpegs & weld some metal ones on or buy some others. Also Ventura headlite cover (approx $60) as the headlites are very expensive. Also some good tyres


Welcome to the tribe.The blood-letting ritual will begin at midnight.

and whatever you do - don't leave your new headlight cover on the desk and then put your feet up on the desk .....craack :mad:

seriously the crash bars are really worth while having (just ask Pete :dodge:)

[Tony W]

Murhf3

Don't get a KLR; don't get a DR either.....get a DECENT bike !

Then you can RIDE it..... and not spend countless hours on these forums arguing how your crap KLR is better than his crap DR !!!:zzzz::zzzz:

...just watch what happens next...:2thumbsup

[Padmei]

Oh FFS everybody knows the KLR is so much more superiorer than the crap DRs Goes without saying...:Pokey:

[Tony W]

DR - 0, KLR - 1. :Punk:

[pete376403]

seriously the crash bars are really worth while having (just ask Pete :dodge:)

List price of one lower side cover - $250, decals and extra $180. You CAN make a reasonable facsimile using duct tape but it doesn't look quite the same

[Padmei]

List price of one lower side cover - $250, decals and extra $180. You CAN make a reasonable facsimile using duct tape but it doesn't look quite the same

Gosh the things you can make with duct tape nowadays... :whistle:

[NordieBoy]

Gosh the things you can make with duct tape nowadays... :whistle:

And to think I was going to buy a fax :shifty:

[murhf3]

Yep got the mean kawa green, obviously these must be good bikes with all the nastys condemming them. There the sort of bike,I reckon most plp would under estimate, ya gotta ride 1, there just dam bloody fun. The pics were taken at the shop. As soon as I can work out my p.c and attach pics correctly the new cool lookin muffler will be there, lol got them to paint it green for me. Thanks plp will get all the little extra s for protection, from the harley riders who throw things at me when I wave. Gotta get outa that habbit.