2009 KLR 650 Realiability?

[Drifter]

It seems Some of the 08s had oil burning issues and the never ending doohicky problems of all years. Did Kawasaki address these problems on the 09s?

Anyone have an 09 that burns excessive oil or a doo that needed replaced?

[Drifter]

Someone one here has to have an 09? Tell the stories good or bad!

[skewterdewd]

Originally Posted by Drifter

Someone one here has to have an 09? Tell the stories good or bad!

Try posting that question in the thumper forum on ADV rider:

Thumpers - ADVrider

There are many serial KLR owners there. Did I read somewhere that there was a recall on some early 08 due to the oil issue?

[Zammy]

I spent a good bit of time with a KLR650 and on the forums. I never had an issue with the Doohicky or oil burning . I DID however REPLACE the Doohicky with a heavy duty kit just to be safe . The failure rate was something like ten percent or less. I've seen pics of the new one and it has indeed been beefed up and the motor has been through a through update so I'd feel very safe with it. I have a friend with the new bike and he loves it.

[Sidekick]

I've got an '08 and have had zero problems. I broke it in easy and I'm on my second set of tires. I'm happy with it.

[northernman]

I would still recommned doing the doohickey.
If not the whole thing, at least replace the spring, as it runs out of tension.

The oil burning is generally not an issue with the 09.

Great bikes, and very reliable.

[VegasRPh]

Doohickey for sure, maybe around 5,000 miles or so.
I have a 2006 KLR650 and it runs GREAT.

[kirk650]

totaled my 07
almost hit a car lucked out and just a scratch on my elbow..

looking into 09s myself

the doo on the 08 09 to my knowledge is good but spring is bad from what i hear..

the oil issue and other issues with 08s from people i have talked to and techs at the dealer say a lot of the oil issues were caused by the rider not the bike.
he had one guy not ever change the air filter and got mad because the bike stopped working

[fong47]

I use to have an 08' but i sold it and as far as I remember, no issues.

[Circe]

I bought my 09 two weeks ago. I looked in the sight glass two days ago and saw that there was zero oil in my engine. This happened over about 700 miles of riding. I took the bike back to the dealership. They did an oil change so that I can see if I'm really burning that much oil. I guess we'll find out if the 09 KLR has an oil problem.

[northernman]

Originally Posted by Circe

I bought my 09 two weeks ago. I looked in the sight glass two days ago and saw that there was zero oil in my engine. This happened over about 700 miles of riding. I took the bike back to the dealership. They did an oil change so that I can see if I'm really burning that much oil. I guess we'll find out if the 09 KLR has an oil problem.

wow you only look at the oil level every 2 weeks?

holy crap man, daily, or if on a trip at every gas fill up.
On a klr it takes about 1 second to verify the oil level.

[northernman]

Besides this you should have changed the oil, and filter at the 50 to 100 mile mark as well.

[Drifter]

It seems the 09s are having the same oil burning problems as the 08s at high speeds and the doohicky is still is not fixed.....cant believe kawi has let this go on for this long the klr reputation is taking a beating because of this. I know 3 people who bought a v-strom because of these problems.....

[northernman]

Originally Posted by Drifter

It seems the 09s are having the same oil burning problems as the 08s at high speeds and the doohicky is still is not fixed.....cant believe kawi has let this go on for this long the klr reputation is taking a beating because of this. I know 3 people who bought a v-strom because of these problems.....

A couple burned oil, and suddenly people assume they all do.

As a guy thats owned 3 of the new generation KLR's and have worked on about 25 to 30 others do syuff for customers, and am in a KLR riding group in my area, that has many of us riding together often, I have not yet met an owner of a 2008 or 2009 that burned oil.

[Drifter]

I am close friends with a kawasaki mechanic and he has personally changed several sets of the bad rings simple fact! Check out the klr forum and see how many have this problem. Almost all of them if ridden hard burn way to much oil. Stay under 5k and most are ok. I did not make this up and i dont stick my head in the sand and hope it is not true either.

[northernman]

Originally Posted by Drifter

I am close friends with a kawasaki mechanic and he has personally changed several sets of the bad rings simple fact! Check out the klr forum and see how many have this problem. Almost all of them if ridden hard burn way to much oil. Stay under 5k and most are ok. I did not make this up and i dont stick my head in the sand and hope it is not true either.

Thing is its still the minority.

If a dealer sells 500, and 5 come back due to heavy oil use, that is 1%.

Some people make it out to be that they all burn a lot of oil.

So even if you bike does burn say 200 ml in a tank full of gas, just add 200 mls at each fiill up, who cares.