DR650 vs KLR650?

[puddy]

Hi, Don't know shit about either of these bikes, but am wondering which bike is better............am interested in getting one of the two. Better on road, off road ...gravel, sand, mud/dirt,etc. Only ever owned sport bikes. Be gentle with me you Adventure Types ..it's my first time! (They say you always remember your first time...)

[sels1]

They are not too different, both will serve you well for adventure riding. A lot comes down to personal choice....and what comes along first at the right price!
Test ride some and see what you feel most comfortable on.

[twotyred]

[Quasievil]

KLR is the winner, I studied them both and take in the 420km range, the awesome wind rain protection and you cant go wrong.
Done 16,000 kms on mine now, no regrets no problems.

[RedKLR650]

Hi, Don't know shit about either of these bikes, but am wondering which bike is better............am interested in getting one of the two. Better on road, off road ...gravel, sand, mud/dirt,etc. Only ever owned sport bikes. Be gentle with me you Adventure Types ..it's my first time! (They say you always remember your first time...)

Bit of a FORD / HOLDEN thing really - each has it's good and bad points......

I'm a fan of the KLR myself, but ask cooneyr and he'll tell you that DR's rule

Cheers, Stu

[NordieBoy]

The KLR is a heavier, water cooled, bigger tanked, more expensive, more roadie.
The DR is a lighter, air/oil cooled, smaller tanked, cheaper, more dirty.

Either will do basically anything you throw at them and anything you throw them at.

They both have huge aftermarket parts availability.

[clint640]

The KLR is a heavier, water cooled, bigger tanked, more expensive, more roadie.
The DR is a lighter, air/oil cooled, smaller tanked, cheaper, more dirty.
.

Good summary. Another difference is size, the DR is smaller, & can be lowered easily for those that are short of leg. The KLR is taller & will fit big buggers better.

Cheers
Clint

[cooneyr]

Bit of a FORD / HOLDEN thing really - each has it's good and bad points......

I'm a fan of the KLR myself, but ask cooneyr and he'll tell you that DR's rule

Cheers, Stu

Keep up with the game Stu - I've got a heavy fat twin now that'll throw plenty of stones at ya

Re the KLR vs DR - what Nordie said Dirty DR or Roadie KLR but both will work in either situation reasonably well.

Cheers R

[Crisis management]

What everyone else has said really....DR's are shit loads better than KLRs


Did I get that right?

Puddy, if your starting out in gravel riding your more than welcome to give me a call to talk about what "adventure riding" is or to take my DR for a ride.

PM me if interested.

Iain

[RedKLR650]

What everyone else has said really....DR's are shit loads better than KLRs
Did I get that right?
Iain

Except for the fact that the KLR comes standard with all the bits you'll need to buy later for the DR like a big tank etc

DR for the sprints

KLR for the marathons :-)

Cheers, Stu

[warewolf]

The KLR has more 'touring' options fitted standard.

The DR is a 'blank canvas'. No unwanted extras standard, customise till your heart's content.

[Gizzit]

Don't listen to those "heavily biased" guys about which is the better, .... the KLR or the DR. Just take my totally unbiased advice .... and get the DR

[TLDV8]

The KLR has more 'touring' options fitted standard.

The DR is a 'blank canvas'. No unwanted extras standard, customise till your heart's content.

Sounds good to me,i chose the DR.
The small tank didn't worry me as that was easily changed for 600km range.
I think it depends what the prime use of the bike will be.
The DR will happily cruise at 120/130 kmh and the lighter weight is handy when the road surface is unpredictable.
A ride on both might be the plan.
I had looked at the DR650,KTM 640 and BMW 650 at first.

[cooneyr]

Except for the fact that the KLR comes standard with all the bits you'll need to buy later for the DR like a big tank etc

DR for the sprints

KLR for the marathons :-)

Cheers, Stu

.....The small tank didn't worry me as that was easily changed for 600km range.....

KLR has a bigger tank and a fairing but crappier suspension and brakes and is a couple of $k more. For the price of KLR you can get a DR, a 300 or 600km tank, a new seat and a screen (if you want one) and have better suspension and brakes.

The DR is a blank canvas but it is bloody cheep in comparison and all of the "issues" (fuel range etc) are very easy and cheaply addressed.

Cheers R

[Kaituna]

I love my DR650. Air cooled, easily fixed with #8 wire, nice hard seat to make you really man up. After adding about $800.00 worth of stuff like a bigger tank, 14t sprocket, Bark busters, D606 tyres, The thing totally rocks. Check out ADV Rider .com and do a search, DR's will dominate KLR's. But then again, as my old boss Bruce Scobie always told me,.."remember boy.... there is an ass for every seat".