Hi all,

I have been mulling bike choice and reading this great site ad nauseum so I am posting my thoughts for you to pull apart. I have been researching what bike to ride and all roads seem to lead here- the KLR.


The trip is LA-Rio over 4 and a bit months. I envisage riding on tarmac where possible except I will be going through Copper Canyon and I expect a fair number of the roads in Baja to be gravel. Requirements of a bike are that it is mechanically sound, fit to a budget as NZ dollars don’t go far, be accessible to a relatively novice rider, have good second-hand supply in West Coast, lowest priority being comfort on tarmac. I will be travelling with a friend and I see buying the same bike to make it easier for carrying spares etc.

The ideal seems to be the V-Strom but there seems to be a short supply for purchase – looking at Ebay for the entire USA showed 13 the other day. Also the bike is more expensive than a KLR.

The KLR looks a bit more trail orientated than necessary but at least we know it will handle the rough stuff. With allowance made to kit it out with panniers there doesn’t seem much need for modification to travel. They are in plentiful supply and many people seem to buy them and find they only use them for the highway to work anyway. Mechanically they are simple. This is great. I have no mechanical experience on bikes. I can work out electrical problems or work out obvious motor difficulties – a carburettor I can understand if not strip. I will be doing a bike maintenance course before the trip but assume this will be things like chain adjustment, oil change etc.
I envisage taking just a few spares as it is a Japanese bike – spare sparkplugs etc. In the event of breakdown I am travelling with a companion so we can in case of dire melt-down ride two-up to the next town and try to sort something out.
In terms of vibration I will bring a sheepskin seat, I am sure if others can tolerate numb butt I can too.

One point, I note that the famous ‘doohickey’ will break apparently. Should a replacement be done before the trip? Should I carry a fix, just hope for the best?

Alternative bikes seem to be the Suzuki DR 650 or the Yamaha XT range, to look around and buy based on the best deal. Your opinions are appreciated.
I know this thread is maybe a bit open-ended so to get to what I want to know:
- do I seem on the right track? Good bike, simple mechanics.
- Are there further specific mechanical issues to look out for?
Thanks
Josh

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The Road To Rio - Locokiwi

Good choice mate, I myslef own a klr 650 and did some long travel with it .
Make sure that you are changing the sub frame axe and that you upgrade the electrical, regarding tires I run different brand and so far the best on and off road was the TKC80 (6000miles for the back 12000 for he front)the brake are a bit week so if you can afford it a larger front disk is great , the suspension can also be upgraded for some money . I did most of the upgrade and the price was very fair compare to other bikes, I drove the KLR accross many rivers and ride deep sand ,mud and other rough terrain without problem, the bike bike is great but not fast I usualy cruse at 70 to 75 miles per hours but that is a good speed for travelling, on the road you will love how easy it is to maintain.For more info go the the KLR650 webs .

Good luck.

thanks for the comments.
It's nice to know I'm thinking along sane lines... with the bike at least.

Yeah, Ebay is just an example - thanks for the recommendation of Craigslist, I understand San Fran is easier and more KLRs. Patrick you seem to echo this comment.

What I meant by the West Coast is yes, California but I will have a week to look at bikes before my friend comes over. If a great deal was up in Washington, it could be a nice way to see a few states, do some ks... but that's just an option. LA and San Fran are the most likely targets.

I'll have a look at KLR groups. Probably not a bad idea to specialise the search at this time given the number of them out there.

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The Road To Rio - Locokiwi

haha yeah I speak Spanish. Haven't been to South America since 4 years ago so a bit rusty but I keep up the odd conversation.
But my travelling buddy speaks nada and I'm looking forward to him telling the locals 'estoy caliente, por adonde esta el bar...'

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The Road To Rio - Locokiwi

Take a look at the Yahoo KLR forum, and AdvRider for all kinds of bikes.

KLR6560.net is specific to the KLR and lots of expertise there.

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Done with Prudhoe Bay and Ushuaia.

http://www.errant-ronin.com/PrudhoeBayUshuaia.htm

KLR 650 is generaly OK bike, but count that a lot of expiriences
came from North America where there are NO leading Honda and
Yamaha bikes ( all sorts of XT/Tenere, XTZ, Dommie, Africa Twin,
Transalp ). Here in Europe KLR is also present on market but we
prefer Honda/Yamaha enduro models in front of KLR because most
of them are realy better than KLR.
Regards,
AnteK, XTZ 660 Tenere

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AnteK

Kelly and Della Graham, whom some of you may know from HU meetings in Western Canada are 1 month into their RTW on 2 - 2005 KLRs. They've done quite a few upgrades which they've highglighted at www.kellarwt.com. There's also a journal of their trip. They expect to be in Creel for the HU mtg in October.

Just some additional info to look at.

Well, I know what you have in USA, but here we have on choose absolutely
everything. You do not have XT 600E, XT 660R, XTZ 660 Tenere, XTZ 750 Supertenere, TT600E/R, Dommie 650, Transalp 600/650 and Africa Twin. All mentioned bikes ( except maybe XT 600E ) are better and more reliable bikes than KLR 650. Of course, more overpriced, but they worth it. Do not mind me wrong, I am not KLR killer, rode it several times and could say that among Honda/Yamaha offers, KLR is last on the list.
Best regards,
AnteK, XTZ 660 Tenere

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AnteK

Don't want to wade into the argument!

DR650 is also on the list. Patrick you like the DRZ400 but is that maybe getting a bit too dirt oriented for me when I haven't really got experience/don't really need to go off road except in Baja/Copper canyon?

Josh

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The Road To Rio - Locokiwi

KLR 650, DR 650, or XL 650, or V-Strom are the only choices in this class for your requirements. As you mentioned, the V-Strom is in short supply, the Honda is probably more expensive, so your choices are the DR or KLR--and that is pretty much it as to what's available in the US. There is the DR200 and XT225, and a new KLX 250 (the three street-legal enduros with smaller engines) but it seems that the bigger engine is for you, and the cost difference new or used between the big bikes and little ones is negligible.

I think, barring importing a "better" bike from out of the US for a total that is equivalent to the cost of a KLR or DR, you will not regret going with the KLR 650, or if you find a better deal on one, the DR 650.

Try www.craigslist.org or www.cycletrader.com to help broaden your search

I just found this group...they have KLR's for sale on their classified

http://www.klr650.net/

Yes, we have XR 400/600/650. Some of my friends ride XR600. Those bikes are not so common on roads as Honda Dommie/Transalp/Africa, but they are present here.
Best regards,
AnteK, XTZ 660 Tenere

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AnteK

In June I rode a KLR from Denver to BC and back. The bike is OK on the road but 70 to 75 mph = 4,500 to 5,000 RPM, so it shakes the crap out of itself and you. There is no ground clearance (even worse when loaded) so it's not great for any technical offroad. I smashed the crap out of my center stand going over water bars in the road and had to take it off.

This would be the perfect bike if Kawasaki could do something about the gearing (sixth gear) and update the suspension. You can't argue with the price though, just make sure you go through and locktite everything real good.

Mollydog,

Wow, it looks supiciously kinda, sorta, like the V-Strom front fender...

Simon

Vibration is certainly an issue with the KLR, though it can be smoothed out with properly counterbalancer adjustment, tightening up engine mounts, gel grips, etc. But if vibration really bothers you, you might be better off with the Suzuki DR650, which has probably the smoothest thumper engine around (frankly, I found no difference between the F650GS that I did a test ride on and the KLR when it came to vibration).

Ground clearance is adequate if you upgrade your springs, but if you have the stock (soggy) springs that are only adequate for a 135 pound Japanese male, you'll bash your skidplate early and often on hard terrain.

Centerstands can be problematic. Most of the aftermarket centerstands for the KLR cut ground clearance and really aren't suited for offroad use. Call Fred at Arrowhead Motorsports for his recommendations if you really want an aftermarket centerstand for your KLR. I finally took my centerstand off and if I need to hoist my bike on the road, either prop it up with a stick under the right side footpeg or use my topbox (a Givi E45) under the skidplate.

V-stroms are nice road bikes, but they are complicated and heavy and probably not what I'd personally choose to ride through Central and South America. As far as Africa Twins etc. are concerned, they're better offroad than the V-strom, but unavailable in the US and like the V-strom are more complicated and heavier than a single-cylinder thumper. The big thumpers available in the United States are the BMW F650GS, the Suzuki DR650, the Kawasaki KLR650, and the KTM Adventure 640. The KTM has serious reliability issues, so it's out. The BMW is a good bike but is about 60 pounds heavier than the Suzuki and Kawasaki and is quite complicated with its fuel injection and ABS brakes. It is also quite expensive, which is why I personally discarded it as a choice for me -- even used ones on Craigslist cost more than new KLR's or DR's.

Choice of KLR vs. DR rests on a number of factors, such as whether you are going to stay with the stock tank or replace it with an aftermarket one (the DR stock tank is very small and must be replaced with an aftermarket one for long distance travel), your physical size (DR is better for people who are physically smaller, KLR is better for the physically larger), and so forth. KLR's are also more available -- I regularly see KLR's on the San Francisco Craigslist, I rarely see DR's there.

Note that people have gone around the world on lots of bikes, probably even on a 50cc Vespa scooter , but a nice simple thumper has less to break and is lighter than a multi-cylinder bike, so is what I would personally choose. Due to my physical size and availability issues I chose a KLR. If I'd been a few inches shorter I probably would have waited a month or so for the next one to appear on Craigslist and gone with a DR.

-E

I like the DR650, it is simple, reliable, and has sufficient power to handle any conditions, but it doesn't physically fit me. It's too small for me is the problem.

That's something to consider no matter what bike you get. I had a nice sport-touring bike. The sportbike-like riding position, though, just killed my knees. A bike which doesn't fit you physically, no matter how nice, is not a bike to ride 'round the world with. It's sorta like helmets. They all will protect your head (assuming they're DOT/EC/Snell certified). The best one, then, is the one that best fits your head.

Regarding the V-strom, I know there's places I've taken my KLR where I would never take a V-strom -- and I am *not* by any means a hardcore dirt bike rider, I'm talking about officially marked U.S. Forest Service "roads" in the Sierra Nevada. The KLR will handle sand and mud just fine for short distances, if you have the right tires on it -- just don't try to go through Jeep-swallowing bogholes with it! Even the Wee-strom is over 60 pounds heavier than a KLR, and a KLR is already a big honkin' bike for rough duty. I don't know if I could have gotten the Wee-strom out of that pile of sand that I ended up in at the bottom of a fire road that the map showed going across a creek but where in actuality a tree had been felled across the road right in front of the creek and the road closed. I was dubious about getting the KLR (loaded down with paniers etc., I was motorcycle-camping in the Sierras) out of that pile, but it tractored right on out.

Sure, I use nowhere near the dirt capabilities of the KLR and for most of what I do, the Wee would work just fine. But for those unexpected things, it's nice to have that little bit of extra capability available...

-E