Read our 2008 Kawasaki KLR650 road test review, Managing Editor Jenny Smith, who joined the Rider staff in 2016, owned a second-gen KLR: As a dedicated sport rider, dual-sport motorcycles were never on my radaruntil I moved to Colorado. 2022 Kawasaki KLR650 First Ride Review. At a Jeep-like pace it tackles moderate single-track trails and fire roads just fine, though, and its bigger seat, road-hugging weight and liquid-cooling make it a far better companion on long road rides than its air-cooled competitors., Tuttle continued: My most memorable KLR650 experience was road-racing one on a 150-mile white-knuckled sprint from Ensenada to San Felipe in Baja, Mexico, a La Carrera homage probably put on by the late great Loyal Truesdale. (as tested) GVWR: 803 lbs. 2014 1/2: (Mid year) The 41mm forks were upgraded to make the springs 40% firmer and to increase the firmness of the rebound damping by 27%. The Kawasaki KLR650 is a dual-purpose motorcycle intended for use on both paved and unpaved roads. From what I've heard and seen Kawasaki hasn't fallen down yet. Kawasaki surprised us all a year ago when it brought back the KLR650, resurrecting the venerable adventure bike with fuel injection, updated styling, and a new one-piece frame.. For the U.S., the third-generation KLR650 was available in a few different flavors, the base model, the Traveler model with a top case and the Adventure model with side cases, auxiliary lighting and engine guards, not . My KLR never let me down. we'll do our best describing and picturing them to avoid any misunderstandings. With so many KLRs on (and off) the roadby some estimates, nearly 150,000 were producedthe venerable dual-sport fueled a veritable cottage industry in the aftermarket. In the May 1999 issue of Rider, EIC Tuttle wrote a project bike feature called King KLR. Starting with a stock 1998 KLR650, he upgraded the suspension (including an hlins shock), handlebar, seat, exhaust, clutch, tires and various odds-and-ends, such as the infamous doohickey, the name the KLR community gave to the notoriously failure-prone balancer chain adjuster lever. He also swapped the steel gas tank for a lighter plastic one (being translucent, it also provided a low-tech fuel gauge) and added hand guards, a taller windscreen, cleated footpegs, a centerstand, a skid plate and soft luggage. ). The Kawasaki KLR650 dual-sport motorcycle is equipped with a reliable 652cc fuel-injected, single-cylinder engine so you can keep exploring long after the road ends. Anything else specific to a certain year? A nifty half-inch bar has been added above the dash for mounting accessories, and the updated LCD is clear, easy to read, and now has a fuel gauge. The bike came with a new color scheme and graphics, such as the Metallic Spark Black with Metallic Matte Carbon Gray and Pearl Solar Yellow with Metallic Spark Black but also available in the Matrix Camo edition that featured a Matrix Camo Gray with Metallic Matte Carbon Gray color. And its even cheaper now than it was three decades ago. Dude Compares the Kawasaki KLR 650 And The Honda XR650L. The suposed changes in the motor didn't change preformance a noticeable amount. My first ride on a motorcycle was on the back of my Uncle Bob's 1984 KLR600. Thanks to the KLR, I learned how to ride a big dual-sport/adventure bike, tackling sand washes and technical hill climbs, crashing more times than Id care to admit. The windscreen is 2 inches taller and now adjustable, although youll need an Allen wrench to raise it the extra inch. Handguards and skid plate and that's about it. I have had a 1994 KLR since 1997. Great article! 2008: New fairing design, new instrument panel, redesigned handlebar control switches, new bar-end weights, revised powerband, revised suspension has reduced travel but with less static sag, new rear swingarm, new turn signals, larger petal-style vented brake rotors (280mm front/ 203mm rear), twin 27mm piston front caliper (1145mm piston area), Front brake pad area 1697 mm2, Master cylinder 12mm piston diameter, new twin-piston rear brake caliper, increased radiator capacity, fork diameter increased from 38 to 41mm (1.5 to 1.6in), new headlight similar to that used on the. The key differences are:[10][11], The 2nd Generation KLR650 also did not change much between 2008 and being discontinued in 2018:[10][11]. Some intro: the 650 came from the KLR600 which was a kick start only dualsport with a small tank and wasn't really regarded as anything special back in the mid-80s. Short stroke MX type designs don't do this until 7k rpms , then a person shouldn't be surprised for letting a motor scream like that for long periods? they sell every one they make, thats why it stays pretty much the same. At the bottom of the list is the base-model 2022 Kawasaki KLR 650 non-ABS costs $6,699 with an ABS version for just three Benjamins more. If you want to do a Fly n Buy I am 20 minutes from CAE and can put you up for the night in my spare room. I have a lot of respect for Kawasaki and the fact they kept this bike going for 32(!) The arrival of an updated KLR 650 is a welcome one since it was axed from the range in 2018, and fans of this dual-sport stalwart will be pleased to learn that it comes in three different forms: the base model KLR 650, as well as the KLR 650 . Description: PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE FREIGHT, SET-UP OR DOC FEES (NAULTS REBATE $1000.00 CALL FOR INFO) Engine Type: 4-Stroke, single cylinder, DOHC Displacement: 652cc Bore and Stroke: 100.0 x 83.0mm Compression Ratio: 9.8:1 Fuel System: DFI w/40mm Throttle Body Ignition: Cdi Transmission: 5-speed, return shift with wet multi-disc manual clutch Final Drive: Sealed Chain Its still in the family, so to speak, and I think of that bike every morning when I drink coffee out of my KLR650 mug. . and thats why they sell every one they make??? The KLR is for riders who want to enjoy the country theyre riding through, not just blast through to check another route off the list. I referred to my KLR as the Mountain Goat because it would go just about anywherenot particularly fast, but it was a trooper. But the world has moved on, and as with many long-in-the-tooth motorcycles, satisfying the latest regulations is a major driving factor behind the updates to the new model. Guy Pickrell. KLRs made in the final years of the production run were certainly better than the early models, but in some ways the KLR has been timeless. Wellif I had your money I would ride bikes like I used to own. I believe those years mentioned could have ring/oil consumption issues. According to an article in the New York Times Feb. 24, '08, this is a heavily modified Kawasaki KLR650 with a five-speed gearbox and a top speed of more than 90 mph. (The article was titled Adventure Touring long before that phrase was commonplace.) I added an ATV lounge to the back and I made my own dash and windshield. Ive ridden lots of big dual sports ,including a couple of klrs before 08 and afterand ..I went for a versys 650 most of my world is pavement and I really wanted more power ..not tons like my Gixxer just some more ..now if they would blend the klr and versys Im in!gotta love fuel injection..thanks. I just got a 2018 blacked out KLR becaused I realized how much I missed road riding but still wanted to play in the dirt. Follow Swanky Cat Show more Show more. Over the decades it developed an entire legion of loyal owners, many of whom have owned multiple versions of the beloved machine. Thanks for the story Rider. Hmmm I rode bikes as a kid; now 62. I suspect theyd sell a bunch of em; one of the very first to me. "KLR" redirects here. Kawasaki did a good job tuning the ABS to suit the dual-sport nature of the KLR, but it cant be turned off. Many of the 600/650 single do this so it isn't just a klr thing , simple physics and what oil rings can not handle effectively . He has about $2500 to spend on it and has been looking at the KLR 650's. They are all pretty much the same within the first generation '87?-'07. KLR650-B or Tengai: The Tengai got Adventure/Dakar styling, a full fairing blending into the tank, different sidepanels, and an unsprung front mudguard. I'm a new motorcyclist and am looking to buy a used KLR 650. There is a lot of interchangeability of parts throughout the years. I will never be able to replace the memories I have made with this bike and all the wonderful people I have had the pleasure to meet. Ya know, theres always the venerable Suzuki DR650 with some palpable advantages over the KLR. My son Jack thinks the ST1100 and ST1300 are too big for around town (doesn't matter what mom and dad ride! and our The KLR650 motorcycle is built to empower your passion to escape and explore. Good bike! Oh well, bye bye KLR.. Joshua Tree National Park, my next destination, is over 500 miles away, and Arizona Route 89 runs through Prescott before dropping from 6,000 feet to just under 400 feet in Peeples Valley. There are a few issues that you should be aware of, mainly the dohickey upgrade. This was truly the best choice out there. Cookie Notice Free shipping for many products! years. Route 60 rolls across the plain and into the Gila National Forest, where a massive thunderstorm provided an opportunity to test handling in the rain and the waterproofness of the hard saddlebags that come standard on the Adventure model. You dont mess with success, and if it aint broke, dont fix it. But at higher speeds, it would really benefit from a 6th gear. Then, over time, the batcycle evolved with more black stuff in gloss, flat, and satin The fairing on the newer models is made from the same plastic as street bike models. 2009: New piston rings are thinner and have more tension, resulting in a significant reduction in oil consumption. Still looks brand new. I couldnt get my motocross boot under the lever easily, especially when standing on the pegs. These are the bikes that define the true motorcycle purists. Adding ABS raises the price to one dollar shy of $8,000. To calm the nerves of the faithful, Ill start with what hasnt changed. In the October 2013 issue of Rider, Clement Salvadori wrote his Retrospective column about the 1993-1996 Kawasaki KLX650, a more powerful, more off-road-oriented spin-off of the KLR, and he summed up the icons early history: On the conservative end was the venerable KLR650, which began life as a 600 in 1984 and showed a very modern approach to dual-sporting as it had the first liquid-cooled engine, with a kickstarter and a smallish gas tank holding just three gallons. An amazing winding descent, where over a distance of just 10 miles the temperature climbs from a cool 68 degrees to 115. We had hoped for another update with fuel injection. The suspension is done as well as the KLX kit and Lmod. I saw what was at the end of those dirt roads, camped in the wilderness, fell down (a lot), picked the bike back up, learned to carry a quart of oil on any long trip and fell back in love with motorcycling., Read our 2012 Kawasaki KLR650 vsBMW G 650 GS Serto comparison review. Avoid scams, deal locally Beware wiring (e.g. I do worry about thedoohickey though. It has been made stronger and more reliable, and offers more comfort, wind protection, load-carrying ability, and versatility. Year: 2022 Make: Kawasaki Model: KLR650 Condition: Used. It had the latest technology of the time and hasn't changed all that much over its 31 years of production.
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