Any thoughts from riders of KLR 650's?

Re: 650

ZX-2R said:

So you bought the Kawasaki 650? I'm excited for you! We've experienced some really cool and wet days here. a couple of hot humid ones trying to dry off the wet surface then cool nights it made fog! Not nice...wicked steam like fog. Flooding, to much water, drizzle, this is just wierd. Not much we can do about it but set through it. I had to uurn on the air conditioner just to dry the house out. Humidity was like 80% on our two seperate gauges. Since then it is below 50% now in 3 days. Just constantly circulating the air seems to be drying things out, plus when it hit 90F the other day it was only 76F in the house, about where we keep it turned for the summer anyway. So tell me more about the bike. A better seat help in the vibration department? Perhaps a gell seat of some sort? Arms feel it too? How loud is the exhaust, is it repackable?

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Ok ZX, sorry for the long delay.... been putting a few miles on the bike. Finally took my first "long" ride with the KLR. Got it out onto both the interstate and a lot of state highways. Unfortunately, the interstate (I-94) had too many of those orange barrel thingys and I couldnt keep a long running time at 75+ mph. I did make it to 85 for a short distance and didnt encounter any problems. One thing I did notice that the buffeting from following vehicles at anything closer than 100 yards made you pay close attention to what you are doing. The wind was strong as well, probably 20 mph, which didnt help things. The bike had no problem keeping up with traffic and it also got a lot of looks, since it certainly didnt look like a "hog"!!! The biggest problem I encountered was (as has been mentioned before) that during the "barrel racing" time on I-94 that first gear is waaay too tall. I imagine the clutch will wear out much sooner than on other bikes. Its also too tall for off road riding without the embarrassing stall every once in a while. I would tell Kawasaki to change first gear in the tranny on future models to make the bike more off road capable. I am going to look into other sprocket setups to see if I can improve it as interstate travel will be minimal for me. Another problem during this was the height of the bike - it is a little tall for me (32 in inseam) - I know of the lowering links, but am stilll going to hold off a little while before going that route - as the pics I saw of it already look like they are on the 2004 model... anyone know for sure?

The vibration wasnt as bad as I thought it would be at higher speeds. In fact it was less noticeable at 70 mph than it was at 60. Mirror vibration dampeners are a must (should be standard from Kaw, but arent).The wind was much worse than I imagined, now I think I will look into the taller and wider windscreen for longer road rides as long as they are easily interchanged. I also purchased the saddlebags and like those. They went on easily and stay away from the exhaust pipe, even with the burn proof covering on it. The seat did get a little uncomfortable after an hour or so, but by that point its time for me to take a short stretch anyways, but I am going to look into other seats. I didnt notice any vibration there, but the additional permanent padding could be a reason that I didnt!!!! I am also going to cinsider adding the forward mounted foot pegs, that might make the longer rides easier.

I have also purchased a light set from PIAA. Though it hasnt arrived yet, I have had a couple people not see me immediately and I think these whiter lights should make me more visible. Another thing I checked was the speedometer. Michiganders normally drive fast, but I had a few people come up behind me so fast I thought my speedo was way off. I got out my GPS and checked it and it was off..... about 2.5-3 mph too slow! I guess at age 47 maybe I can be called "old" as I thought I was going fast at 62 (which was actually 65)!!!

As far as mileage, I got ~ 220 miles on the first tank (when I ran out at reserve), prior to breakin. It has improved, but I have not checked it accurately. I am guessing that I am around 40, but I understand that sometimes gas gets "hung" on the right side of the tank and until the tank is tipped to the left, it can be misleading. (read that somewhere on the net).

Well, thats its for now, but would like to ask for a suggestion on a throttle control - I have seen one listed on teh net, but cant find it again. Does someone know where I can find one and ease of installation?

Well, thats about it for now - I will try and be more prompt with my responses next time!

congrats on the bike

Hey congrats on your new bike I sure miss my KLR, I spend a few months putting mods in for a trip out west into the mountains when some *&$^face stole it out of my driveway, cut the chain and all. I know it was the meth heads next door. Well long story short after I got the insurance money I rode a buddies 02SV650s and since most of my driving was city commuting it was sure nice to have a streetbike and the power was awesome. I still want another thumper though and miss it tons seems to have a rock solid engine and clutch. With a few simple upgrades you can make that thing into a tank great for the outdoors you won't be doing any motocross but you'll be able to go places in the city and county no other car and few bikes will be able to follow.

I think says it best

"A unique, under-appreciated Army Jeep of a motorcycle. The KLR650 will take you to every road on the planet, dirt or paved, no matter how remote. The 6.1-gallon fuel tank will get you back home too. Extremely reliable and fun to ride"

Didnt find this forum, never mind your thread, until tonight.

Glad you ended up with the KLR. It is one of the best all-round bikes ever built. There is a reason it has been in production pretty much unchanged for so many years.

I bought mine when my old Honda XL500s was stolen from my buddys house just before a trip, so he leant me his shiny new KLR. On a side trip down an abandoned rail line, it kinda went endo, so I bought it. Have put a fair number of miles on it since then, and have the same opinions as others here.

We replaced his KLR with a KTM 640 Adventure S, and there is no question that it is a far superior bike off road, but for the vast majority of my riding, I am on a road or a trail, with a fair bit of highway. The KLR is actually a nicer tourer.

Yes, it is too heavy and the power is just adequate, but it sure is a smooth tourer and dead reliable. If there is any one big criticism, it is that it needs another gear so that first is low enough for picking away in tight spots, and 6th is just a wee bit taller on the other end. I will just have to keep breaking out my old TT500 on knobbies for the real off-road (as in MUD) stuff.

It will do just fine until I can get a diesel KLR when they are released.

Pat