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Thread: DR650 vs KLR650?

  1. #1
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    3rd November 2006 - 20:28
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    DR650 vs KLR650?

    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...)

  2. #2
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    17th February 2004 - 13:09
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    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.
    Experience......something you get just after you needed it

  3. #3
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    20th December 2007 - 14:35
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    "In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way."
    Franklin D. Roosevelt

  4. #4
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    13th May 2003 - 12:00
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    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.
    Ive run out of fucks to give

  5. #5
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    7th January 2007 - 18:47
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    Thumbs up DR v KLR

    Quote Originally Posted by puddy View Post
    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
    My KLR thinks it's a Hyundai - running happily at the red-line hour after hour.....

  6. #6
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    2nd March 2004 - 13:00
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    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.

  7. #7
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    8th July 2004 - 14:56
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    Quote Originally Posted by NordieBoy View Post
    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

  8. #8
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    26th September 2005 - 21:14
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    Quote Originally Posted by RedKLR650 View Post
    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
    "The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools." - Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)

  9. #9
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    15th February 2006 - 15:25
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    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

  10. #10
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    7th January 2007 - 18:47
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    Thumbs up 23 litre tank......

    Quote Originally Posted by Crisis management View Post
    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
    My KLR thinks it's a Hyundai - running happily at the red-line hour after hour.....

  11. #11
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    15th August 2004 - 17:52
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    The KLR has more 'touring' options fitted standard.

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

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve McQueen
    All racers I know aren't in it for the money. They race because it's something inside of them... They're not courting death. They're courting being alive.

  12. #12
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    20th May 2007 - 01:04
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    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

  13. #13
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    3rd October 2004 - 15:45
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    Quote Originally Posted by warewolf View Post
    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.










  14. #14
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    26th September 2005 - 21:14
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    Quote Originally Posted by RedKLR650 View Post
    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
    Quote Originally Posted by TLDV8 View Post
    .....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
    "The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools." - Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)

  15. #15
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    28th March 2007 - 19:33
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    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".

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