90%? :innocent: If you count "major" bike markets then it appears the DR and KLR are still hanging on. DR's and KLR's are sold in Australia, Canada, USA and several S. American countries. Suzuki have an assembly factory in Colombia ... and several Police forces use both the KLR and DR. (Colombia, Ecuador and Peru' to start) KLR'S are built in Thailand ... and sold there.

The USA doesn't have emissions standards?
Oh, thanks for that update. :rofl: FACTS: Our EPA is just a HAIR behind Euro
lll or lV standards and California's CARB meets or exceeds them.

Long ago both Kawasaki and Suzuki decided it was not worth it to sell either bike in EU markets. Tiny numbers. But the US is a big market for them ... so they've modified the bikes to squeak by, mostly with leaner and leaner jetting, air injection and a few other clever tricks.

Sure, I get his lack of interest and ignorance regards history of dual sport bikes ... specifically the KLR, but then WHY is he on this thread? I have to wonder why a guy with supposedly ZERO interest in these bikes ... or Japanese bikes (history) in general and apparently not even any interest BMW's ... is trolling around a thread about a bike he's probably never even laid eyes on. ???

There are about 200 countries in the world ...

You are making it up now. Where did I say that?

You cant invent an opposition and pin it on there nearest victim, just so you can have a rant.

If you want to quote me, quote me. But dont make stuff up. You lose all credibility when you do that, your own position becomes a joke, and the discussion becomes a farce. I mean there's "making a point", and then there's "losing the plot".

Where exactly did i say "The USA doesn't have emissions standards?"

Where???

If you are rolling on the floor laughing, its probably due to your own insanity ...

Reading this thread makes me want to buy a Dodo bird ;)

After mostly road touring I bought a Dodo bird for trying gravel roads between here and Inuvik, NWT. It served its purpose so I started being rougher on it -- spinning the rear beside my gravel driveway after warming for only a minute or so, riding rougher trails faster, etc.

But I have no complaints about the bike. Having decided to go farther more often, this is my preferred travel bike. I've resumed treating it like a machine that will repay care and maintenance with many miles of travel.

To me, this implies the US has no standards, and because it doesn't use ECE standards ... has no standards at all. The fact is ... we have our own standards.

Honestly, sorry if I mis-interpreted your post ... but that is just how I understood it.
And talk about "losing the plot" and "rants" ... mate, you're over the top here! Go back and read your attack on me ...

Pot/Kettle/Black? :eek3:

Yea, good eye their Moderator. I often troll my own threads. I haven't started many and this one was intended as a more lighthearted look at the KLR, appears some can't resist ad hominem attacks and going off into neverland.

Many KLR critics out there, many misconceptions and out right ignorance.
I'm fine with all that ... just don't take offense when corrected. (is correcting Trolling?)

You can have your own opinion, but not your own facts. :blushing:

To be historically correct, Europe got a post-1996 DR650 in the form of XF650 that sold in Europe until 2003.

Same frame and engine, only the XF got a dual carbed setup for more power and cleaner emissions.
Also, Suzuki mounted a 18 liter plastic fuel tank with integrated fuel gauge :)...
Digital dashboard, different plastics. 19" front wheel, but you can swap in 21" from DR650 without issues. 43mm front cartridge forks and 300mm front disc. Vastly better handling and braking than DR.

It was Suzuki's response to BMW F650, but it has gone the way of Dodo bird. Europe did not like it for some reason or the other, altough to me personally it is better bike than F650. And a whole lot lighter.

Right, you're talking about the Freewind, a very cool bike ... and another one never imported to the USA. I saw a Freewind in Germany. At the time, I had NO idea what it even was!

I don't know the Freewind well but have heard there are a few different things from the DR. Freewind engine won't bolt into a DR650 frame. On the DR we've got a bunch of wiring connectors, plugs and metal tabs ... all there for the FreeWind! This really confused a lot of DR guys until some Euro guys filled us in. :thumbup1:

Some DR guys wanted that Dual Carb set up ... but that too is impossible ... according to a few DR guys that tried it.

But the FreeWind motor was better, cleaner running and even got better economy from what i've heard. I like the better front brake too. Lots of them still used in Ecuador ... along with DR650's as well.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5...0/IMG_4460.jpg

Well, all I can say is I read and comment on what I want; I hope it is ok with you?

In any event I've concluded that you are a complete tool so won't be responding to you in future--congratulations, that's a first!

Sure, comment on what you like, but expect others to respond with facts and opinions to counter some of your misstatements ... and to call you on BS when they see it.
I hope that's OK with you? :smartass: (honestly, no offense intended!)

In the end it's mostly preference and opinions ... friendly sparing seems OK to me ...

I'd like to keep it friendly ... this is the Kawasaki forum on HUBB, not Jo Momma on ADV Rider or a BMW "Leg Humper" Ride Report.
Yes, the topic TITLE invites opinions and differing points of view ... and some controversy ... Can we handle that?

Interesting that a moderator has given your post a "like" which includes a personal attack. Curious.

Doesn't bother me ... but I thought mods wanted things to remain civil?
A "Tool" in Tea Bag speak means what? pr*ck? Co*k sucker? Wanker? Something along those lines, right? .... Nice! :nono:

A first? :sleeping: Dude, take your toys and go home to your own sandbox.

bier

Time for a timeout - Patrick, you're in the deepest of the deep brown stuff, and one or two others need to be careful. Just because you think someone is wrong doesn't mean it's ok to dump on him.

Grant,
I've responded to your PM's.

I'm hoping your moderator Chris can PM me and tell me why he's piling on here (Pot/Kettle/Black comment) then posting a "like" on a post with a direct insult in it and not taking any action on that? Fair and balanced moderation? :nono:

Maybe Chris could PM me with comments, don't want to further RUIN this KLR thread with more Off topic stuff.

G'day
Yesterday,Dexta (08KLR)and I had a little blattt up Mt.Glorious Qld Australia and it was good.:mchappy:
:rofl:

ok, so to answer the thread title question: No. it is still being produced and sold in numbers that obviously make kawasaki happy. same for its "sister" dodobird the dr650.bier