I know, I raised an eyebrow at that too I have no personal view as I haven't ridden either bike, but I knew a reviewer saying a 1000cc monster is better off road than an XR650L would cause a bit of a stir on here! lol

He goes on in the same review to say that it's also better than the BMW GS and KTM Adventure off road. But then again, as I say, how many bottles of wine had Honda bought him while he was writing that review? We won't know for sure what the bike is like until owners start taking them on trips and reporting back. Still, all the reviews of it I read are glowing with praise, so that's still a better sign than reviewers saying it's terrible.

Its called physics my dear ( I Think you are a a dear ) Lower the center of gravity which changes the weight distribution allowing for an easier pick up. I dono whats up with the Embed on here ? tried it the first go and it did not work, here is a link for a demonstration, it really is this easy.
https://youtu.be/kdxYlQ02CmQ

I liked my KLR, but they are little more than a tractor.


I suspect garbage Sweepers allowed crowd to get inside which allowed the nic. Overall great bike however I do not have time to deal with nonsense soooooooooooo I might have to go back to a tractor
Sure it does, if you are riding in mud or high dust areas constantly your seals will wear faster, just as the entire fork takes more abuse from more aggressive riding.
Garbage design in this area and Yamaha should be ashamed.

I doubt a few degrees difference in COG will offset the 200 lbs. plus differential in weight. Sorry mate, don't buy it.

Fact is, any bike layed down flat is tough to right. Try it on a steep hillside in deep, loose gravel ... or deep sand, or mud ... or on an Ice rink road!

The crowd at Grand Canyon overlook point parking was well entertained my me trying to pick up my R100RS ... on solid ice pavement. Thank God for BMW's jugs sticking out ... raising CG just enough to allow a lift ... after a few tries.

Little more than a tractor? Yea, whatever. But still lots of folk out there doing RTW on them. Why is that?

At a HU meeting in Copper Canyon years ago ... 105 riders showed up ... 35 of them were riding KLR's. Most of them headed to S. America from there. I'd bet most made it.

But since the KLR is not sold in EU or UK (for years), few have interest. It IS outdated, below average performance and somewhat poor in certain areas. Yet folks keep going on them.

I gave my KLR demo back to Kawasaki after a 6500 mile Mexico tour and haven't looked back. But must admit, a well sorted KLR is quite a surprise.
Who knew?

My Kawi press bike ... Copper Canyon, 1998. 6500 miles of Mexico, Baja, Copper canyon. Pic shot from film print. (sorry)

Not likely. Fork tube nics typically come from errant stone at speed ... or somehow something getting forced down in there.
Yamaha didn't design the forks ... Kayaba did.
Yamaha simply picked a tube size and length and decide what to offer in terms of adjustments. (preload, compression, rebound, ride height et al)

You know what hurts my back? 700 mile road days on an uncomfortable bike. Maybe the Super 10 is comfortable enough on the road that when you do drop it, you're feeling nicely relaxed and have plenty of strength left for lifting?

My point being, I read a lot about how horrible it is to pick up 500lbs bikes, but not much about how uncomfortable it is riding for 700 miles on a 350lbs bike.

I'm still working on the theory that it depends what the balance is on your trip. How many hours are going to be spent on a muddy trail? If it's a daily occurrence, then yes a light bike makes sense to me. But if it's 10 minutes out of a month long trip, maybe I'm prepared to hate my life for 10 minutes in return for 30 days of comfort?

It's horses for courses isn't it? 700 mile road days? Get a Super 10. Sahara desert? Get something a lot lighter.

100% road - An R1200RT, Goldwing, something like that.
90% road - An R1200GS, Super 10, something like that.
70% road - A KLR650, something like that.
50% road - a 250cc single...

I still haven't read anything that has convinced me that's a crazy way of looking at it.

Appreciate this is off topic but as a new KLR owner what should i be doing to get my bike set up well?


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I think this is an excellent way of looking at it.

I've done over 700 miles in a day on my XT660Z and it was one of the most comfortable bikes I've ridden; it was at a fairly sedate pace though (70-80 mph).

The only advantage of one of those bigger ones IMHO is the ability to go a bit faster where laws and conditions allow. Me, I'll stick with the middleweight bikes.

Fair play. But the XT660Z is like 450lbs isn't it? A lot of people would say that's still too heavy... And I refuse to believe that something like a KTM 690 Enduro R isn't more tiring to ride 700 miles on highway than a Super 10 would be.

It's 185 kg dry, whatever that is in lbs, so yeah, it's a bit of a lump.
Others might not find it so comfy to ride, but I love it. It's more comfortable than my wee-strom to ride, but the engine is, well, different. It would be a close call if I had to choose between them...

Never ridden the 690R or Super 10, so can't comment on them....

I love these conversations, it's like religion and people get afraid they will be converted if they open their mind a bit.
Then they go on to make up all kinds of scenarios to justify their closed mind like "well it's not a trail bike" no but then we are not talking trail riding now are we. If we were I sure as hell would Be looking for a 250 or a purpose built machine.

They are not for everyone and that is ok, they do offer another tool for the box and that's ok.

I picked one up for two reasons, one I could afford it which I think should always be a factor in anyones decision. second I needed a better two up bike, sorry the middleweights are what they are and two up machines they can be, but are like an over laden burro.

In the end I got a bike that beat the KLR in every single catagory and is a safer ride with infinatley better braking plus It did not get blown around on the highway by big rigs. For me not having to carry around a two by four to assist me in getting a fully laden KLR onto the center stand to lube the chain nearly made it worth it right there.
Tub less tires? Great now I just carry plugs instead of tubes, another win.
The last two are negatives IMO for the twin.


Now after all that if you want a big bike get one, if you do not and the old tractor works for you, that is ok. Ride and have fun, be grateful for whatever you may have, we all know or should at much of the world would like any ride, and we have options.

You may be onto a few KLR forums? Yes? There is SO MUCH good info from long time KLR experts. WAY more than I could ever hope to know.

I've not followed KLR world closely in years, only ridden a few really nicely set up ones. The best ones had upgraded suspension: One had WP forks and most had the Cogent rear shock. They do some nice ones for KLR.

Different bars, risers, plastic tank, better seat, better lighting, lighter muffler and all the usual Doo Hickey and other "fixes" many owners do. Letting the motor breath a bit better would certainly help and a lighter more free flowing exhaust would surely help.

New KLR's are a lot better in the braking dept. then original one. Also, suspension is better too but still not great for a travel bike. I did like the new generation vs. 1st generation, but still room to improvement I'm sure.

Good luck!

I think it was KLR650.NET Forums - Your Kawasaki KLR650 Resource! The Original #1 Ranked KLR650 Forum Community but plenty of good forums out there.

The front forks really are not so bad but they usually need a bit more oil

Rear spring is a bit week, may want to upgrade that depending on what you plan on doing.

Dohicky is apparently a must although the mechanics I frequent suggest just do it with a valve adjustment @ 24k

Head bearings can use a bit more lube, nothing to lose sleep over. As the wishbone bolt could usually use a light coating of grease as well.


Lighting IMO is good on the newer KLR as is the tank which has a range of about 250 miles/ do what YOU think you need not what others think is the ideal ride.

Just ride, many people fret over farkles and IMO it is unwarranted. Trust me, the interweb can bankrupt a new bike owner over nonsense.
IMO I am a soft bag fan even though I have both.

The KLR is a tractor for a reason, should give you many trouble free miles.

Edit: depending on your road riding, going a tooth higher on your front sprocket makes a world of difference cruising down the highway;.

Thanks both - that's helpful.

I've had the front and rear springs changed for stiffer ones to match my 97kgs, but wont get to ride the bike before i start so good to know what i must do.

Ive changed the pegs and fitted a bash plate. I plan to fit risers before i leave and change the tyres but thats it.

The whole doohickey thing confused the hell out of me - in the end i concluded best to leave well alone - bike should only have 18k on the clock at the end of my trip, i can sort then.

Cheers
Andy


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Absolutely spot on. Too many people seem to be buying into someone else's idea of the perfect ride.
Buy what suits you and use it where you want to go.



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My reasoning works completely opposite. Workout where you want to go then take the bike that can do it.

For me, the bike is the tool for the job.. It's what facilitates my trip.

In my head I have places I want to go and things I want to see. I then research the roads (if any), the terrain and the distances etc. I then pick my bike accordingly, within my budget.

It's horrible to be restricted where you can go where you can't go because of what bike you're riding. The best places in the world are always off the beaten track, if only by a couple of km.

Next year I might be doing some tour guide work and then the perfect bike would probably be something as dull as a TDM900... But its the correct tool for the job.

To be that hell bent on a certain bike to have your 'adventure' dictated by it either makes you a fanatic (nothing wrong with that) or perhaps a little daft.

Unless of course you don't really want to go adventure riding. But then why would you be on an adventure travel forum !!!

I also think that if you really want something and you can afford it then go for it. Life's too short.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

I can see what your saying Ted, but it depends on the riders ability to ride those roads.

Just ride what you like, don't get hung up on what the bike can and can't do, as long as your happy on it doing what your doing.

Btw Ted, but off topic, how did you find Cambodia? We're off there is Feb to visit my son who's working over there.


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