Some seem sure the KLR is lost to history, extinct, part of the Dead Sea Scrolls. A "has been" that's never really "Been"!

It gets little respect from certain quarters ... yet still is THE MOST common bike we see for sale on HUBB want ads. (most of the time it seems) How can that be?

According to detractors ... they'd rather be DEAD than ride the lowly KLR anywhere. It's just NO FUN they claim. Is that true? :confused1:

Yet, we still see HUNDREDS out in the world at any given time. I even see them here in the Bay Area on the Freeways ... packed up for long Summer travel. Now why is that?

Are these KLR overlander motoqueros Sheep following along what others did 20 years ago? ...not looking out ahead at the BRAVE new Orange World! Not too bright I guess ... but who are the real Sheep here? The KLIM clad Orange Crush? .. or the dull army green KLR dullards in cheapo gear?

Funny, we rarely see the KLR guys blow their own horn or brag about their bikes. Most display a quiet confidence ... (or maybe just bought the bike from someone else ... and don't know a thing about it!)

Is the KLR still worth fixing up? Or will we see it soon disappear from the ADV landscape? KLR Gurus know it's real potential. Those who are looking for a Race Bike to go RTW ... will never get it. I do have to agree ... I'm not a fan of totally stock KLR.

But my eyes have been opened several times riding well set up ones. Details are everything it seems. Do the fixes make it fast? Uh, no. But the over bore kits really do make a substantial improvement ... and once over bored, oil burning usually goes away for good.

So how much has changed amongst travelers tastes since my 2nd HUBB meeting at Copper Canyon in 2004? It was a small event ... only 105 riders total. And guess which bike was most ridden there? Yep, the KLR. 35 of them that year. I counted. Nothing else even came close to the KLR in numbers.

So where are those guys now and what are they riding these days? Have they sent their KLR to Hell? Or ...? And what did they pick as a replacement?
And why?


Ancient KLR Skeleton

I thought the dodo went the way of the KLR?

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If humans ever explore the dark side of the moon, I fully expect them to find an old, junk, KLR up there.
I have ridden everything available in this country. Everything.
What do I own? a DL650, and a KLR.

Mine has Progressive monotubes inthe forks and a TopGun spring on the shock. It will climb walls

I am in the 12th week of a 2 year trip around the world, and I have chosen a KLR650.

Imagine this situation: you are in deepest, darkest Africa, you have the latest bike with EFI, ABS and maybe even electronic suspension, one morning you wake up and the bike doesn't idle properly and you can't take-off, what are you going to do? Unless you're a motorbike mechanic with diagnostic software...not much. With a KLR you may be able to fix it yourself or the local shade tree mechanic will do it for you.

Who is the dodo, the bulletproof KLR, or high tech mystery?

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Cheers, Ashley
Visit my website 2wheelstravelling.com

Could not agree more Ashley!
Yet another consideration for travelers is the possibility of losing your bike via theft or a crash. Many don't care ... they want the bike they want, no matter, come what may. Most times they make it fine. But "stuff" can happen ... and does from time to time.

I feel more comfortable riding a bike I can afford to lose. For me, losing a
$12,000 (usd) KTM 690 would hurt ... badly. A $20,000 BMW GSA? Unthinkable.

A $3500 (usd) KLR, DRZ400, DR650, XR650L or XR400 Honda, XT600 Yamaha? Would be sad ... but tolerable, I could recover from that, buy another and start again. (would unbolt my Ohlins shock if given a chance! )

or ... maybe not ....

Russia,Mongolia,Ukraine.....Netherlands on a KLR - ADVrider

In southern Chile-Bike won't run - Kawasaki KLR 650 Forum

Poor Doogle has no end of breakdowns with them that stop his assorted RTW trips. Not just for a day or two either. Try a whole summer marooned in Siberia.

If you really insist I will google "broken KLR" and post the results

Dont read on if you want to pretend that an overweight KLR is "bulletproof". Ignorance is bliss.

I always chuckle when someone claims any bike is bulletproof. If they are made for the consumer market, then they are ALL built down to a price and are ALL pieces of crap.

In the words of King James (who I believe was describing off the shelf motorcycles) ... "There are none righteous; no, not one"

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Or ... I could post the HUNDREDS of KLR trips that have been (relatively) problem free ... going back to 1986.
What were you riding in 1986? I was riding an early KLR!
It was terrible! but never broke down. (sort of )

No question KLR's need fettling as any travel bike would. Look at KLR's for sale, some have LONG lists of mods and alterations. Better? Yep? Have you ever ridden a well set up one? I have.
But some are Lemons and some KLR's are the victim of clueless owners.
Can happen with any brand, yea? (loose nut behind the wheel syndrome)

You must be thinking about BMW here? Sure, some components on "some" bikes are not up to torture testing ... or just plain wrong for a dual sport bike.

IMO, for intended use, most Japanese dual sport bikes (including KLR650) do the job if not beaten on too hard for too long with at least minimal maintenance. They are not race bikes, not intended to compete in that venue, but pretty tough bikes overall.

As day to day commuters or easy going travel bikes, most make it back in one piece with few major issues. Certainly more KLR's have done long trips than any other 650 class bike.

Are they elegant Race Winners or Dakar Wanna be's? Not so much ... but ALL big four Japanese companies DO have Race divisions ... and maybe have learned a thing or two over the years?
How's KTM's Moto GP effort going? BMW's Moto Cross program? Oh, sorry, neither have one and never had one.

Sadly not much tech from racing makes it to common Japanese dual sport bikes, most haven't changed for 20 years. (KLR, DR650, XR650L) Imagine what would happen to KTM if the Japanese took just a slight interest in dual sport ADV bikes.
Adios KTM?

We may see changes soon as both Honda & Yamaha have rekindled race efforts in the Dakar ... Kawasaki and Suzuki are lurking in the shadows.
Sleeping Giants awake?

Dream on... Sorry, I'll take a modern bike any day for reliability.