A New Toy (KLR650)

[10bikekid]

There she is before it gets to scratched


A wise man once asked me (about an hour ago) Why a KLR

After much consideration (about a second)

Reply

Short answer, I wanted a Brand new DRBIG and Suzuki don't make one

Check list

Good fuel range, 22L over 400km
Shelter from the wind, Good fairing (have modified to make even better with raising kit)
Reasonably light weight (175-185kg) reasonable after KTM at 220kg (DR big 5kg heavier)
New and cost effective
Good power deliver and smooth (only found that out after riding a friends)
Reliable

My impressions so far, I've owned a couple of bikes in my time and this one is a gooden

Any other KLR or freinds of KLR guys out there

[george formby]

Hmmm, the Batman edition.
I'm looking forward to your postings. Never thought I would own a big single again but as usual, life is a variable curve. I'm intrigued.
Keen to know how well suspended yer new toy is.
Have fun.
Oh, you must have a huge shed.

Wanted a new DR Big, mud guard fetish?

An ex colleague rode one though Africa, amazin stories. Sounded like a bullet proof (literally) bike, too.

[10bikekid]

Hmmm, the Batman edition.
I'm looking forward to your postings. Never thought I would own a big single again but as usual, life is a variable curve. I'm intrigued.
Keen to know how well suspended yer new toy is.
Have fun.
Oh, you must have a huge shed.

George its been a long day now so will consider a reply while counting sheep, did get to pick up some parts for the computer on her today and I might say not to bad a round town sled, and well behaved as only did one small wheelie from the lights

[Waipukbiker]

Certainly a nice looking beast. Kawasaki have just given them a make over with the Suspension and seat etc so pretty good value for money now. Be interested in seing how you feel about the seat and the suspension.

[dino3310]

so have you still got the BIG

[pete376403]

I really like my '08. It has some shortcomings, but all in all its pretty easy to live with. The plastic is both fragile and expensive, and no aftermarket alternatives.
You'll probably hear all sorts of dire stories about the doohickey, the factory one is ok but the spring is too long. The preferred replacement is made by Eagle Mike.
'08s were oil burners (insufficient ring tension) but that was resolved by the 2011 model. They can be bored out to 705 but the cylinder head then becomes the bottleneck.
Suzuki GSXR muffler works well and weighs less than half that of the standard muffler.

Welcome to the club.

[Woodman]

The farkle list for KLRs is veeeerryyyy loooong. Be careful out there.

[10bikekid]

so have you still got the BIG

Selling is Evil , MR BIG is awaiting new steering head bearings and some other bits from Japan at the moment

[10bikekid]

Hmmm, the Batman edition.
I'm looking forward to your postings. Never thought I would own a big single again but as usual, life is a variable curve. I'm intrigued.
Keen to know how well suspended yer new toy is.
Have fun.
Oh, you must have a huge shed.

Wanted a new DR Big, mud guard fetish?

An ex colleague rode one though Africa, amazin stories. Sounded like a bullet proof (literally) bike, too.

Certainly a nice looking beast. Kawasaki have just given them a make over with the Suspension and seat etc so pretty good value for money now. Be interested in seing how you feel about the seat and the suspension.

Shed is like the Tardis (Actually 2x Tardis's)

Suspension, and seat, bit of a revelation really, they Stiffened the front by about 40% and the rear by 60% (so they say) and having ridden a 2011 as well, boy can you tell the difference,

The New Edition (2014.5) is really something else, dare I say KTM ish in feel, (without the butt destroying seat)
I actually had to back the rear off from stock as for my 85kg's it was a tad stiff (am at full soft at the moment), The Fork dive is minimal for this type of bike and it means you can use just the front brake if your lazy on the road without doing a nose dive into the pavement.

Have tried it offroad at moderate speed and its about right for me, taking in all the hits but not bouncing you all around or chattering to much either on the small stuff, sounds to good to be true, maybe but as I said am well impressed

Seat is from a different planet than say a DR or a KTM, but I think I already implied that, you might even call it comfy, all we need is a TV set now

PS, think the DRBig mudguard maybe better though

Will go find some dirtier pictures to post (and yes i did clean it as top picture were taken after this one

[10bikekid]

I really like my '08. It has some shortcomings, but all in all its pretty easy to live with. The plastic is both fragile and expensive, and no aftermarket alternatives.
You'll probably hear all sorts of dire stories about the doohickey, the factory one is ok but the spring is too long. The preferred replacement is made by Eagle Mike.
'08s were oil burners (insufficient ring tension) but that was resolved by the 2011 model. They can be bored out to 705 but the cylinder head then becomes the bottleneck.
Suzuki GSXR muffler works well and weighs less than half that of the standard muffler.

Welcome to the club.

The farkle list for KLRs is veeeerryyyy loooong. Be careful out there.

Thanks Pete, and yes I have been looking at big bore kits etc (just looking but did find this in the mail) and will look at pipes and a light battery for Christmas, plus some 605 Dunlops and some _ _ _ _ _ _ _, yep you'd be right woodman its as bad as owning a Harley

[pete376403]

It will be worth pulling the rear suspension linkage / rocker and swingarm out and putting some good waterproof grease in the bearings. The factory put a very light smear of grease on these parts. Water gets in and eventually the swingarm pivot bolt and the rocker pivot bolt get corroded to the extent they have to be beaten out with a big hammer. I did the ones in my bike at about 5000km and they were already showing signs of corrosion.

[dino3310]

Selling is Evil , MR BIG is awaiting new steering head bearings and some other bits from Japan at the moment

i could have scored you a set within 5 working days , mind you its not like your waiting for a bike to ride

i suppose if i had seated them properly in the first place they still might have been all good

nice donkey them KLRs , im not into the gozo style but am fond of the older shape like woodmans or even the old 600 like shanes

[10bikekid]

It will be worth pulling the rear suspension linkage / rocker and swingarm out and putting some good waterproof grease in the bearings. The factory put a very light smear of grease on these parts. Water gets in and eventually the swingarm pivot bolt and the rocker pivot bolt get corroded to the extent they have to be beaten out with a big hammer. I did the ones in my bike at about 5000km and they were already showing signs of corrosion.

Ta, will bare that in mind

One thing I've not mentioned is the motor, sure its no KTM950 but in some ways that a relief as am starting to get to old for that kind of carry on now, goes well I"d say and would sit on 130kph all day if you wanted and you could even loose your license on it on the open road, so fast enough

We saw 140kph the other day on the beach and that's enough really

Am experimenting with screen heights at the moment, using the happy trail lifter (in that boX) plus and old Aprilia screen (have dropped it about 25mm after this shot)

[dino3310]

aint there a thingyma jig mod on the balance chain to do on these, been a long while since ive watched the ADV KLR thread so ive forgotten the names of such mods

[10bikekid]

i could have scored you a set within 5 working days , mind you its not like your waiting for a bike to ride

i suppose if i had seated them properly in the first place they still might have been all good

nice donkey them KLRs , im not into the gozo style but am fond of the older shape like woodmans or even the old 600 like shanes

Its alright Dino, I'm not blaming you or Mark, it was the bloke who had it after you guys and before me

Am thinking of fitting a low KTM type guard and fork brace to hold it, so after that you can look at it and smile, I'm ok with it and more think of it as the angry bird look