How much do you weigh Vinny?
Vinny, sounds like the DL1000 will suit your perfectly.

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

I own a 06 DR 650 and highly recommend it ! Good on the highway and great off road ! I have a Aqualine 8.9 gallon tank and a corbin seat !

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LUNATIC

re mollydog:

Yep, that's me.
I currently have 5 KLR650's (A and C), 4 DR650SE, one Freewind, a MZ 660 Baghira HR (which I like a lot :-)
Two big bikes: A 900 Tiger and a 1100 GS

Phased out: F650 Funduro earlier and later models (circlip sprocket and retaining nut sprocket), F650 GS, F 650 Dakar.

I do all service and repair myself up to engine overhaul.

There were rumors at the time running up to the presentation of the R 1200 GS that BMW will bring out a completely new 650. The figures going around were 150 kg dry weight and 50 hp+. Never heard anything further, the project might have been scrapped completely or in favor of the 800cc twins.

I am a bit under the impression that the whole F 650 project always was some kind of an unloved child for BMW. At some stage it looked to me as if BMW just wanted to throw something in only to make sure not to leave the market to MZ and Aprilia (while the Funduro is an Aprilia in BMW tank emblem disguise anyway) and to the Japanese.

BMW SA definitely does not have a problem with warranty claims. After replacing steering head bearings on a GS and a Dakar on warranty the Dakar went back with bearings buggered the second time while still being under 20000 km and about 10 months old. I was told that the steering head bearings are now excepted from the warranty just like the usual wearing parts and electrical parts and paint andandand. WTF does the famous (here two) years BMW warranty cover?

Many Japanese importers in SA are upping their warranties to two years at least for big bikes.

A KLR KL650A currently sets you back ZAR 40000. A F 650 ranges between ZAR 63950 (GS basic) and ZAR 73700 (Dakar ABS + heated grips)
The DR650SE does not come in officialy any more :-((((( but I saw adverts for grey imports in the ZAR 50000 range. Suzuki SA unfortunately scrapped the import of the DR650SE after the advent of the DL650 and previously dwindling sales caused by hefty price tags.

I am very very much looking forward to the "new" KLR 650. I hope the clipped suspension travel does not make the KLR a street bike in disguise and looking at good sales of the KL650A since 2004 and a probably very competitive price of the new model I see no reason why KMSA should not import them.

Thats quite a fleet!

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

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Lecap, I've looked at the MZ 660 Baghira HR with the Yamaha engine and really liked it. But I thought that there wasn't enough support here in the States. If you could, give your reasons why you favor this MZ ride.
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.......Gary

I greatly value your experience and biking knowledge. I'm debating between the KLR and 650GS. I owned (and crashed)on a KLR 650. It is pretty crude, I had lots of aftermarket stuff on it. The 650GS just seems like a better bike overall. What do you think? I realize you may have answered this question previously.

The f650 is a nice bike to LOOK at but I wouldn't own one.

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

Again, Patrick, thanks for your input. I've looked but I don't see any windshield available and what about the small gas tank? These are issue for long distance travelling. I'm drawn to the simplicity and quality of the DR 650. Also, the DR 400 looks interesting. I've also looked at the 2008 KLR, wow, this could be THE bike to go for if they've made some fundamental improvements. Don't know when it will be out? Perhaps this year?

I will state first off that I own the KLR, and not the BMW. I believe both are fine bikes, and am a fan of both.

With that being said, I will run down a list of things I believe make the KLR MY choice. I'll start with the 'cons,' and move to the 'Pros.'

CONS:

1) Height:
The seat sits fairly high, and unless lowered will pose a problem for the vertically challenged. I am 6' tall with a 34" inseam, and it's taller than my Triumph Tiger on even it's perkiest days. This could also be a problem when the bike goes down, loaded with gear. Since it sits higher, the gear will have to be lifted at a more difficult angle, sitting higher above the wheel base than other bikes.

2) Doohickey:
If you have looked into the KLR at any length, you have found all about this 'mystery part.' As far as it keeping you from making the purchase, don't worry about it. In my opinion it's not a dealbreaker. Buy a new part immediately, from one of several places (on the web...google 'KLR Doohickey'...) and then enjoy the bike with piece of mind.


PROS:

1) Cost
I picked mine up for $3700, with two years and 1,100 miles on her. You can find them for less.

2) Mechanical Ease
Honestly, throw a wrench at the timeless engine, and it fixes itself (well, almost...) =) If I am travelling in another country, the simplicity of all the parts, from the wiring to the engine itself, makes me less worried about the computer, or fuel injection going out, stuck in the middle of nowhere.

3) Durability
They are simply a tank of a bike, without the weight. There's a reason the U.S. military buys these up like crazy (and then has a civilian company outfit them for their military career).

4) Aftermarket Parts
Hands down, MASSIVE aftermarket options. Bike has a cult following, which makes unique customizations very prevalent as well.

5) Fuel (in other countries)
Not as picky about what she drinks as the BMW.

6) The 'Jeep' Effect
Like a Jeep, a KLR just looks a little better with a few dents, scratches, and 'battle scars' than her sleeker BMW cousin. If I ever bought a jeep, the first thing I would do is walk over to the side of the road, pick up a rock, and give her a well placed dent. Jeeps just call for it, and look better for it; same with the KLR. (You won't have to do that with the KLR, though; most owners will give their mounts a good dent or two naturally).

7) Riding Comfort
I read a few reports here that suggeted it wasn't all that comfy. I disagree, and I'll tell you why it isn't in my case. I made these modifications, and took my bike on a 7 week trip across the U.S.A., with several 500 mile days, 10,000 miles overall, and felt great.
a) Custom seat (I went with Corbin). This is ESSENTIAL.
b) Progressive shock and springs. Larry Roessler knew what he was making. Pricey, but if $$ isn't a concern, do it, you will thank yourself later.
c) Nerf bars...they add protection for the engine and tank, but also have fold-down footpegs at a more forward location, giving you an option for the times you want to stretch.

8) Weight
Much lighter than the BMWf650/f650 Dakar models. Nimbler offroad, and easier to pick up after you fall. (Not an 'if,' but 'when.')

9) The 'It Is What It Is' Factor
The KLR is simply a street legal dirt bike on steroids. Period. It was intended to go places where the pavement ends, and up trails where you don't think it could go. I recently took mine up several black diamond rated bike trails, steep stair-step rock trails, all with street tires (Pirelli Scorpion ST's...).


I own a motorcycle touring company (www.great-escape-tours.com) and am in the planning process for a new Alaska trip we will be adding next year. We will be using KLR's on the tour, and so far have gotten nothing but positive responses to that decision. Of course, everyone has their own ideas of what they want, what they like, and how much they can spend, and that is all part of the fun. If we all rode the same thing, how boring would that be? But for my money, pound for pound, I'd take the KLR 9.8 times out of 10.

Hope this was helpful!

Dug Shelby
Great Escape Motorcycle Tours
www.great-escape-tours.com

Or to summarize the previous post: Sometimes simpler is better.

Nothing will make a KLR smooth or high-powered. But once properly armored it's pretty near indestructible, and if you do manage to break it, parts are everywhere and even if you don't have the right part anybody with simple tools can fix almost anything well enough to get going with nothing more special than some Kwiksteel, scrap metal, and a big hammer.

As for issues with the KLR, a KLR is a platform, and almost every issue you can think of can be resolved by customizing it to your needs. The only big issue for me is the lack of electrical power. The stock headlamp is dangerously feeble unless upgraded to a 100/90 watt headlamp. But if you do that, you can no longer use a heated vest. And if you are travelling in cold weather, a heated vest is very nice to have. I have to be very careful with my electrical power when using my heated vest and grips, I have a voltmeter attached so I can make sure I'm not dangerously discharging my battery. The BMW has a bigger alternator and has better headlights to begin with, so this is not a problem with the BMW.

As for the MZ, they are exotics here and you cannot get parts. So if you want to travel in the Americas, it is best to use something more mainstream, such as a BMW F650GS, Suzuki DR650, or Kawasaki KLR650. The Suzuki DL650 (V-Strom) is a smoother more powerful bike than any of these, but you give up the ability to handle offroad conditions that the other three will easily handle, and it is heavier than even the F650GS. It all depends on what compromises you're willing to make, and for me the big thumper is the right compromise. The only question is which thumper to get. I like the Suzuki and Kawasaki because they are simple. The Kawasaki is physically bigger than the Suzuki thus which one to get for me boiled down to which one I physically fit better on. It turns out that I'm right on the line between which one I fit better on (the Kawasaki is a tiny bit tall for me, the Suzuki a tiny bit cramped for me), so I ended up buying whatever was cheap and available on the used market, which in this area is the Kawasaki. But I would not have been disappointed with the Suzuki either.

The DR650. IMHO, YMMV, eccetera

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

I have not owned a BMW but have owned a KLR and rode it from Minnesota to Panama Canal. Mine was a 2000 and I did not like it at that time. It was a heavy mushy dog I thought. I rode with guys that were on Honda XR650L and so when I got back I purchased one of those. I rode it to Prudhoe bay and back and liked it better than the 2000 KLR. Then I rented a KLR in California and it was like a totaly different bike than I remembered. This winter I rode a KTM 640 down in South America for 6,000 miles and it is also a totally different bike. My 2 cents is the KTM is to heavy. The Honda is pretty good quality but no one makes much for it. The new KLR seems pretty good and if I were to have to go buy one I think would buy the KLR just for the best buy for the money. There is no one bike that is perfect for everyone. Deal with it. From the feedback from everyone it seems that the BMW just has to many problems and when I am on the road I do not want to have those. I worry about the ABS brakes and the fuel injection that if they go down you are screwed.

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Larry Davis

Good real-world comparisons. That's the only way. Good post.
If you get a chance to ride a friend's DR, give it a try.

Have owned an older R100GS which was reliable and a great machine albeit a little bulky, never had a problem other than a burnt exhaust valve, but for a cheap alternative to the latest GS machinery and other jap jobs, I'd suggest the laughable KLR650 as having owned one for the last few years have stacked it a few times attempting to do motocross, ridden it for a few thousand k's in one hit and run up the back end of many a sport bike in the very twisty bits in the hills of Victoria, and had a ball doing it.

They dont handle particularly well at over 120kmh, (tyres make a big difference, knobblies, dualsport etc.) vibrate quite a bit at touring speeds, but are water cooled, have a large tank, tacho,fairing and a comfy seat which bodes well for all manner of riding. Jack of all trades, master of none comes to mind and a very easy bike to maintain.

The front brakes are crap and I've changed to an EBC 320mm rotor, stiffer springs and put on a centrestand and heated handgrips and a decent switchblock (lights, indicators, horn etc.)for a total cost of around $7,600 new all up, so try one out.

They dont do things as well as more expensive machines but will be right there with them for half the cost.

Hi Bonzo,
Have you done much with yours two up mate? Or is there not enough room and not really a two up machine due to the vibrations? I think i have pretty much decided on a Wee or V Strom unless BMW launch the new 800GS early next year and that may come into the mix also.
Hey is your KLR red? You didn't happen to be out near Noojee with about 5/6 other riders 3/4 weeks ago did you?

Hey Mollydog do you know of anyone that has put DR forks and wheel on the front of a Wee to make it handle the dirt a bit better? Actually i'll do a search on ADV rider and check it out as i'm sure i read somewhere of someone doing that..



Chris