New 2021 Kawasaki KLR650

[Snakeboy]

So here it is - the new Kawasaki KLR650 2021.

https://www.kawasaki.com/en-us/motor...L-AQ4J2Yv-dF5E

Now it gts EFI, it comes in 3 different editions. And it weighs 460 ibs/210 kilos wet. Hm hm hm, what are your thoughts travellers?

Advpulse has a more detailed article about the KLR: https://www.advpulse.com/adv-news/ne...Hj7v225kJjQz_Q

[Jay_Benson]

Originally Posted by Snakeboy

So here it is - the new Kawasaki KLR650 2021.

https://www.kawasaki.com/en-us/motor...L-AQ4J2Yv-dF5E

Now it gts EFI, it comes in 3 different editions. And it weighs 460 ibs/210 kilos wet. Hm hm hm, what are your thoughts travellers?

Advpulse has a more detailed article about the KLR: https://www.advpulse.com/adv-news/ne...Hj7v225kJjQz_Q

Having a seen the price they must be planning to shift them very fast - $8000 for the top spec model - does that include local taxes? If so, what would the normal on the road price be?

[brclarke]

I think they will sell well, but I am surprised that the weight has gone up.
I believe the previous iteration had a wet weight of about 430 lbs.

[Grant Johnson]

for more on the new KLR, check out this video:

and yes I'm wondering about the extra weight too - oh wait - LESS weight would cost more. Right. Mustn't forget the accountants.

[mark manley]

Originally Posted by Snakeboy

And it weighs 460 ibs/210 kilos wet. Hm hm hm, what are your thoughts travellers?

I am not a fan of anything over 400cc with only one cylinder and with the same or more weight than my old R80G/S I would not consider one but I am sure they will be popular.

[backofbeyond]

Good for Kawasaki to update it but they do look a little like lipstick on a pig updates - tart it up with whatever costs next to nothing and gets it through e.g. pollution regs. Having said that I do have a soft spot for the KLR. A friend in the US has one and its been an amazingly reliable workhorse. I've done quite a few miles on it when I've been over there and it's one of those ride and take for granted bikes. It's not great at anything but it's comfortable enough, fast enough, reliable enough, cheap enough, plus a whole load of other 'enoughs'. I'm pleased it's back.

[frameworkSpecialist]

If you account for the bigger fuel capacity compared to the T7 the weight is basically the same.

The power is not great, but that has never been the point of the KLR.

I think this is a good cheap travel bike. It wont get you there very fast or very smoothly, but it will always get you there.

[*Touring Ted*]

Ahhh. Kawasaki finally release the 2005 KLR650.

It literally is a 2005 spec bike isn't it. With 2005 technology and specification.

Five speed gearbox in 2021.. Really ???

HOW HEAVY ??

It would have been comparable and in competition with the XT660Z which came out in 2007. That bike is out of date and discontinued now.

I think it still seems way too expensive for what it is. Even though I really don't like the Himalayan, it's $3000 cheaper. The only appeal of the KLR is that it's Kawasaki and they make extremely reliable motorcycles.

[AnTyx]

For the price, brand new, it would go right up against a CB500X. Can't see myself making a choice towards the KLR in that case.

[IndigoSwann]

It appears a lot of folks are disappointed Kawasaki did not take the opportunity to innovate with a new Versys 400X or a KLE500 twin type of motorcycle as opposed to marginal updates of the KLR 650.

Is there a market for this type of bike? Yes - but like Suzuki's ancient Dual Sport range of the DR650/DRZ 400 models, Kawasaki seem to be willing to be left behind in the ADV/Travel market.

[HappyTrailer]

a very interesting marketing decision by Kawasaki? It may work out okay. They are definitely marketing it as an ADV bike now. No pretences of it being a dualsport. That class is now reserved for bikes like the Honda 450CRF-L, KTM 500, Husky 501,...! BLOM-Bing Lots Of Money!

The 'mid' sized ADV bikes are where it's slotted in, whether by design or not. So it's competing against the Vstrom 650, BMW 750gs, T-7, KTM 890,...? If price point is an issue, the $7600, base model, $7900 abs makes it a great buy for true ADV. $2600 (for the abs model) under the cost of the Vstrom 650 XT. So one can wisely shop and add that amount of good farkles-foot pegs, side cases, lighting,...!

The $10k 'fully loaded', will be okay for the wanna-be ADV types, who just want to walk into the dealer and ride out feeling like they can go anywhere, and look like it. Some people don't like to farkle! In my thinking, that's about 2 or 3 out of 10 buyers?

Lack of power? A contentious issue for some but that's the intrinsic beauty of the KLR, tractable power delivery, ie try riding a GS or Tiger 800 in loose slow speed terrain! Trench diggers! It can be called a 'boring tractor' but if you're doing what I call, 'real world' adv touring, where you want all day, all week comfort at a slightly relaxed pace but still have enough capability to do reasonably tough terrain, they just work. The 1200 GS is an awesome bike but I would pick my KLR's any day for one-up, adv with serious off road jaunts. Especially if it were to fall over! A side bar, on a week plus tour to California with my son where I was on my 800 gs and he was on my 2009 KLR, we both agreed the KLR was much more relaxing and comfortable with the long hauls, typically 600+ kms. After trading back and forth a couple of times I couldn't pry him off the KLR, while I wanted relief from a buzzy, droning, improperly geared, GS.

Fuel economy should be improved with the efi. I regularly get 60 mpg (Imperial) in town, 65 at legal highway speeds, and have with all my KLRs. the exception being my 2010 with much larger jetting. I think 65mpg on regular gas is more to my liking than 50-55 on premium, like my GS1200. My 800 GS got up to 70+ but on premium. Tigers get about 50 mpg, depending on what year as they did improve with the 2015 or 2017 model year.

Finally, will I buy a new KLR? Not until I put another 60-80k kms on my current one. With all the farkles and when loaded, it's relegated to being a mid sized adv bike now. A new KLX 300 or nicely used small DS bike may happen later in the year for me. My 'big' decision for replacing my GS 1200 will be interesting. If I do replace it, I'm looking at a Versys 650, Vstrom 650, Tiger 800,..?!

Winter thoughts! Al

[Snakeboy]

Never owned or ridden a KLR - but except from the weight which is waaay too much, this new KLR does seem to give good value for money. And from my understanding its almost the same price for this new improved model as it was for the last carby edition in 2018. And thats not bad at all!

It would have been good with a sixth gear and a tachometer of course.

Now if only Suzuki could make their DRs with EFI and legal in Europe....

[Chris Scott]

Never get this fixation with 6 gears as if more must be better, like 5-bladed razors.
On a peaky or performance machine – road or dirt – it might make sense.
On a torquey, low-revving 'Himalayan-like' plonker, not needed.

I've owned or ridden 6-speed bikes and can't ever recall thinking: 'gee, these 6 gears are just great' or 'darn, I wish I had another gear'.

I admit an extra gear ought to mean 1st could be lower for easier control and less clutch slipping on a rocky climb – a common failing on all travel bikes which tick-over at 6-8mph in 1st.
Can't say I noticed on my 6-speeders but anyway, how much of that can you sustain on a 200+ kilo machine?
If you have days of such terrain ahead, fit a smaller front sprocket.

Plus I've been told 5 gears are marginally wider and therefore more durable than six. Sounds plausible.

It may look little changed, but whether they meant to or not, I agree Kawa did the right thing.
Few of us have become better off over the last year.
In North America, the KLR will carry on where it left off.
As said, let's see the DR-Z, DR-S and XR-L follow suit (and bring them all over here).

My KLR PoV:
https://adventure-motorcycling.com/2...e-2021-klr650/

[Flipflop]

Originally Posted by Chris Scott

Never get this fixation with 6 gears as if more must be better, like 5-bladed razors.
On a peaky or performance machine – road or dirt – it might make sense.
On a torquey, low-revving 'Himalayan-like' plonker, not needed.

I've owned or ridden 6-speed bikes and can't ever recall thinking: 'gee, these 6 gears are just great' or 'darn, I wish I had another gear'.

I admit an extra gear ought to mean 1st could be lower for easier control and less clutch slipping on a rocky climb – a common failing on all travel bikes which tick-over at 6-8mph in 1st.
Can't say I noticed on my 6-speeders but anyway, how much of that can you sustain on a 200+ kilo machine?
If you have days of such terrain ahead, fit a smaller front sprocket.

Plus I've been told 5 gears are marginally wider and therefore more durable than six. Sounds plausible.

It may look little changed, but whether they meant to or not, I agree Kawa did the right thing.
Few of us have become better off over the last year.
In North America, the KLR will carry on where it left off.
As said, let's see the DR-Z, DR-S and XR-L follow suit (and bring them all over here).

My KLR PoV:
https://adventure-motorcycling.com/2...e-2021-klr650/

I must say I prefer the 5 speed box on a GS1100 to any of the 6 speed 1150s I tried

[*Touring Ted*]

I do some work for a Kawasaki dealer quite often.

I was there yesterday as they had all their new prices and stock lists for this year from Kawasaki.

No KLR650 is mentioned or listed. So anyone in the U.K. shouldn't get their hopes up for Kawasaki's brand new 2005 KLR