87 KLR650? Opinions?

**hospitalfood** · 13th November 2008, 19:18

hi all. thinking of getting an 87 KLR 650.
anybody got anything to say about them ?
thanks.

**buggsubique** · 13th November 2008, 19:36

yeah, when a guy I was riding with got his stuck in the sand it was a ball tearer to pull out. He turned around and went home while we cracked on on the dirt bikes for another 20 odd km acoss rivers, along beaches and farmland.

**hospitalfood** · 13th November 2008, 19:39

yeah, i know they are heavy. just wondering if they are shit ? what problems they have etc ?

**tri boy** · 13th November 2008, 20:05

They were built strong, but suspension and brakes were average.
Avoid ones that have signs of neglect, and engine noise.
A good one will still be chugging away long after the latest models have shit themselves.
Owned one years ago. Good honest sickles. MHO

**pete376403** · 13th November 2008, 20:48

KLRs are more or less the same bike as they started with about 20 odd years ago. Motor has gone from a 600 to 650, they lost the kickstarter about the same time. The new (2008) have new plastic, a bit more weight and a bit less off-road ability. The doohickey is the major failing in the motor (look it up on klr650.net, or advrider.com) but apart from that they are the sort of bike you would choose for a round the world trip.
Good honest no frills bikes that are far more than the sum of their parts.

**Padmei** · 14th November 2008, 06:45

Originally Posted by pete376403

KLRs are more or less the same bike as they started with about 20 odd years ago. Motor has gone from a 600 to 650, they lost the kickstarter about the same time. The new (2008) have new plastic, a bit more weight and a bit less off-road ability. The doohickey is the major failing in the motor (look it up on klr650.net, or advrider.com) but apart from that they are the sort of bike you would choose for a round the world trip.
Good honest no frills bikes that are far more than the sum of their parts.

How have they lost off-road ability?

I had to laugh when I saw is one on KLR650.net.
http://www.klr650.net/forums/showthread.php?t=53932
I had to ask myself why didn't he just buy a DR?

**Moki** · 14th November 2008, 19:48

Originally Posted by pete376403

KLRs are more or less the same bike as they started with about 20 odd years ago. Motor has gone from a 600 to 650, they lost the kickstarter about the same time. The new (2008) have new plastic, a bit more weight and a bit less off-road ability. The doohickey is the major failing in the motor (look it up on klr650.net, or advrider.com) but apart from that they are the sort of bike you would choose for a round the world trip.
Good honest no frills bikes that are far more than the sum of their parts.

I have a complete doohickey kit (with wrench, gaskets, puller, springs, and of course, doohickey (Eagle)). Had a brain haemorrage and bought an old Husaberg instead of an intended project KLR650. Mid-life crises I guess. May sell if interested.

**Padmei** · 14th November 2008, 21:14

Originally Posted by Moki

I have a complete doohickey kit (with wrench, gaskets, puller, springs, and of course, doohickey (Eagle)). Had a brain haemorrage and bought an old Husaberg instead of an intended project KLR650. Mid-life crises I guess. May sell if interested.

how much?

silly ten character rule

**pete376403** · 14th November 2008, 21:49

Originally Posted by Padmei

How have they lost off-road ability?

I had to laugh when I saw is one on KLR650.net.
http://www.klr650.net/forums/showthread.php?t=53932
I had to ask myself why didn't he just buy a DR?

The older model was a lot closer to the DR in terms of crashability off-road.

The new fairing seems to nice to bash up.

**Padmei** · 14th November 2008, 21:58

So they haven't lost ability just got a bit more plastic.

I can't see why the older ones are better apart from looking more utilia utalitar basicerer. The oil burning thing?

**hospitalfood** · 14th November 2008, 22:21

ok, well i bought it. had a great ride hm on it.

it is old, rattles, drips a little oil but nothing major, knocks when being lugged and shakes around 5000 rpm in 5th, and absolute joy to ride and fugly to look at.
what is the doohickey?????
what else do i need to know ?
can i adjust the preload on rear shock ?
how hard is it to strip the frame etc ?

thanks

**pete376403** · 14th November 2008, 23:00

Read this: http://www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html

The doohickey is the balancer shaft chain tensioner. They are known to fall apart, causing grief (minor to very major) inside the engine. The factory (finally) redesigned the part on the '08s so it is better, but still not considered excellent.

**RedKLR650** · 16th November 2008, 23:48

Originally Posted by hospitalfood

ok, well i bought it. had a great ride hm on it.

it is old, rattles, drips a little oil but nothing major, knocks when being lugged and shakes around 5000 rpm in 5th, and absolute joy to ride and fugly to look at.
what is the doohickey?????
what else do i need to know ?
can i adjust the preload on rear shock ?
how hard is it to strip the frame etc ?

thanks

If you want it to look a little less fugly, I do have a full set of new ( OK, 4 week old ) plastic panels off a Kawasaki Green 2005 KLR for sale ( I changed my first one to a red one before they were available here in NZ )

Cheers, Stu
0274 342 372

**marks** · 17th November 2008, 07:27

Originally Posted by hospitalfood

it rattles, drips a little oil but nothing major, knocks when being lugged and shakes around 5000 rpm in 5th, and absolute joy to ride and fugly to look at.

sounds like my 12 month old one