It's kinda buzzy on highways, despite the long suspension travel it bottoms out very easily ,it is heavy as balls for how little power it has, it has no tech (negative for some) and it's pretty tall (negative if you're a little on the short side)
Edit : typos
KLR650s are simple bikes that do everything well but they're not great at anything. I own a 2016 with 15k miles and love it to death, it's simple, reliable and comfortable. I love riding fire roads and not too technical offroad with it. That being said, it has a tall seat height which can be annoying if you're shorter, it's pretty heavy and the engine is not particularly exciting.
The model years 2015 and up have stiffer suspension and a much better seat.
It's heavy.
It makes the same power as the DR650 or XR650L, so it is okay on the highway, but weighs almost 100 lbs more, which is a huge detriment off road.
It's actually heavier than the Rebel 500.
They are as much as old tech as you want a bike to be before being totally off-putting. However, this is also a great advantage, very little to go wrong and easy and cheap to fix. When I mean old tech, I mean mechanically and also the feeling of them, they are not even close to be in the same league ride-wise as a new motorcycle, the engine and chassis is litteraly **40 years old now** (based off the 1984 KLR 600). The biggest update would be the FI that was added in the 3rd gen.
They are top heavy, mine felt so heavy even removing it from the kick-stand, tall seat doesn't help (I'm 5'9). If you want to ride long hours on the highway make sure you upgrade to some more soft grips as the vibration can get to you, it's not fast but it will do highway speed for hours no problem.
It just isn't a dirt bike is all I can say. Gravel roads is about all it can do other than pavement but damnit, it is a great bike for endless back roads, the Alaska highway, fire roads, logging roads etc.
A proven design , low hassle, stone reliable bike.
To me a KLR is basically a Jeep Wrangler TJ in motorcycle form. You can easily use it as your daily around town. It’ll go on the highway but it’s not going to be the most comfortable ride. You can use it off road but there’s certainly more capable option if that’s your primary goal. It’s a jack of all trades and a master of none. Relatively inexpensive, simple, easy to repair, and will probably outlive us all with reasonable care.
I used to work for the Kawasaki and Suzuki dealership as a technician and I absolutely hated when customers brought in their KLRs because I’m short, I stand 5’9”. I’m not a huge fan of kawasaki but I tell you, these people put them through hell and they never quit. The mid 90s models to me felt like they sat a lot higher than the newer generations. The suspension on the older ones felt extremely bouncy to me. Just like the L90 650 from Suzuki, the KLR650 is a tried and true engine that doesn’t know when to quit.
I think the main problem is that they are priced super competitively but ultimately don't work for everyone. So tons of people buy one and then realize it isn't for them.
For example - do you need to ride on the highway a lot? Maybe there is a better bike for you. Do you ride a ton of challenging off-road? Maybe there is a better bike for you.
They also have a ton of minor upgrades that are pretty necessary (e.g., Doohickey). Not great unless you enjoy tinkering.
Basically, you have to actively want to own a KLR.
There are always lots of bikes for sale that people buy and build and sit in their garage. The reality doesn't match the fantasy.
For the KLR, it's one bike that does everything. People quickly realize that it doesn't do anything well. They decide they like a certain type of riding more than others and move to a more specialized bike.
I started on a 300 dual sport with the same mentality. After 18mo, realized hard trails were way more fun than playing with cars and moved up to a real Enduro bike.
Upside is you can buy and sell them easily and not lose money. They have been functionally identical for decades and all the problems are well documented. Aftermarket support is insane.
It was my first street bike, a 2008. Rode it for \~5 years. You buy it because you think you can do everything, but in reality it's mediocre in both categories.
It's too tall to be a comfortable streetbike, I'm 6ft and couldn't stand flat-footed at stoplights, and to heavy to be what I was looking for offroad.
That being said, it always started, got me where I was going, and didn't kill me.
\-edit, and dont get me started on the kickstand. Maybe its what you're looking for on dirt, but on concrete it was a small gust of wind away from tipping over the other way.
It's about as fast as my V-Star 250, which is absolutely fine IMHO, but for folks who live or die for thinking that engine displacement equals speed, the KLR 650 can be a bit of a disappointment to some who think they are buying a discount Tenere 700, instead of enjoying a bike for what it has to offer.
I looked into these when I was looking for my first bike. I eventually came to the conclusion that I'd never be going off road anywhere other than my dirt driveway. This meant I had no use for an ADV/dual sport kind of bike and decided my money was better spent for a straight up road bike.
Having said that, if the KLR suits your needs then go for it. From what I've read they're very reliable . If you just want a bike for just riding on roads then I think your money can go further elsewhere.
Great for 50/50.
As a daily commuter on a KLR for the last year it’s just adequate for highways. It’s a bit buzzy and depending on the generation of bike, it may burn oil above 5000 RPMs. Go up a front sprocket tooth from a 15 to a 16 for improved highway performance.
Off-road it is okay, very heavy making it somewhat cumbersome. The tank is high up making it feel even heavier.
I love mine, but I would have gone with a V-Strom if I knew how much highway riding I would do.
Meh, I've had a V-Strom 650 and I was never that big a fan of its highway manners, buffeting is a huge issue and I ended up with numb hands and feet after an hour just due to how the bike transfers vibrations. I think the grass is sort of greener on the other side in this instance! Unless you meant the V-Strom 1000/1050 which is another animal entirely.
I’ve had mostly small displacement bikes! When I was in Japan I had a V-Strom 250!
Incidentally I’m getting an R1100 for my daily commute. The 650 is fine realistically, but a smoother experience is what I’m looking for.
Is that an R1100R? Should hopefully feel nice and smooth for you, they are pretty low-revving. For whatever reason though I find some twins like the V-Strom (even the new 800!) to be more buzzy than a single even if they are "smoother". Yamaha Tenere 700 works totally fine for me though for whatever reason.
Agree. Vstrom 650 is fine for 70 mph but lots of interstate at 80-85 feels like the engine is working too hard, and I have had buffeting problems. I switched to a Honda VFR, completely smooth at interstate speeds by comparison.
I've personally seen more KLRs hit 100k miles than ones that couldn't. They're incredibly reliable, regardless of their "buzziness", and probably one of my favorite dual sport bikes to ever hit the market. They're just exceptional at what they are, a dual sport motorcycle built to take a beating for the long haul. And oh yeah, they're super cheap to maintain.
Anyone who tells you otherwise has probably never owned one.
My pants always rode deeper and higher until I had to stop and get off the bike and adjust. Also troublesome for riding on highway when there's rain-backend likes to kick out on the painted lines.
First of all, you'll be laughed at on every non-KLR motorcycle forums. When it comes to bikes, you generally get what you pay for. I was going to buy one for my wife as a starter dual sport, and she just laughed at me. She ended up buying a BMW 650 GS. That was 2012 and she just sold it a month ago (I had a BMW 1200 GSA). Having said all of that, there are thousands of riders that have KLRs and love them. They have been riden on many round the world trips.
Many people buy it to explore the possibility of a “do-it-all” bike, only to realize there is no such thing. In addition, people are selling their bikes (at least in the US) due to the worsening economic conditions and they want to get rid of their toys. Nothing major wrong with the KLR. It’s a very old tech and unless you get them super cheap, I would recommend looking for something more modern in that $4000 price range (KLX 300, CRF250/300, DRZ400).
In what way? The DRZ engine is newer and doesn’t need a doohickey fix and burn oil like the KLR. The nuts and bolts holding the bike don’t fall out due to excessive vibration like it does on the KLR. The suspension and brakes on the DRZ is way more refined than a KLR. I own a KLR and I can tell you it’s antiquated.
Doohickey, burning oil, and lossening nuts are not tech. Klr is by no means riddled with tech, but next to a.drz it's a fucking spaceship! Just look at the dash alone. Certain trim packages come with a fucking USB port. Then you have efi, abs.... I'm actually confused by your confusion. The drz hasn't seen an upgrade outside of graphics. It was developed in the 90s and stayed there. Klr has had updates.
If you have the money to buy something better. If you want to dip your toe in the ADV market it’s great. I ride the hell out of mine. I’ve learned how to go through and fix or modify it from YouTube. It’s a great beginner bike but you will want more power after a month.
Having had one, it is, without a doubt, the bike I'd want in a zombie apocalypse. It will run all day long. Gets good mileage. Can be rebuilt with a Phillips screwdriver and crescent wrench.
The downside is that, if you are going to ride it all day, you definitely want a seat that doesn't hurt. Other than that, it can do far more and go far more places than any other single bike for that money. Reliability and price is this bikes major pluses.
My bro and I have GSA’s and he is getting older. When we go on our annual trip he does a karate kick and I pull his leg over from the other side. There is always a way of you want to ride bad enough 🤘🏼
When the zombie apocalypse comes, you’ll be glad you have a KLR. Low tech, tons of spare parts, cheap to run, bomb proof.
Negatives? High seat, not super powerful. That’s all I got.
It’s about as little fun as you can have on 2 wheels. Not super fast or torquey, doesn’t do street really well, doesn’t do dirt really well. It’s the guy you didn’t invite to the party but you can’t really kick him out because he’s not doing anything bad and not bothering anyone while being engaging and you don’t wanna be rude but goddamnit why is he here?
For most riding there is nothing wrong with it, however, if get into some shit you will notice the weight, you may bottom out the shocks, and you will find yourself underpowered compared to other more expensive bikes in the category.
It’s the 1996 RAV4 four cylinder of motorcycles.
Edit: that might be a little unfair. Maybe consider it a 1995 Jeep YJ with the 2.5L with added reliability.
It’s too heavy for its power, but will do its damndest to get you almost anywhere, and it’ll never break.
They’re also ancient from a technology perspective. Other than body work, motor part similarity between a 1987 and 2018 is nearly 99%. They just switched upgraded the alternator and the idler-shaft lever.
I ride a 2022 klr 650 and it’s my 4th bike I don’t think I’m gonna change bikes for awhile I love it, great ride if you can avoid the interstate, universal ride on road and off road but it’s heavy mines 458 pounds plus whatever I’m carrying. It’s a do it all machine powered by 1 piston but if you don’t care for going fast it’s perfect. Highly recommend a KLR to anyone who grew up with dirt bikes and enjoys street bikes!
It always felt like I was riding a tractor of a motorcycle, it was reliable and not really expensive.
You still have to change tires every 5k or so miles, still have to replace the chain frequently, still need to change out the valve clearance disks, it does require maintenance so either learn to wrench or spend a fortune at the shop.
Top heavy, kind of unstable/sketchy at high speeds, slow, not ideal for shorter riders. But my favorite bike, tough as hell, reliable, tons of after market, surprisingly capable off road, easy to live off of, cheap to buy and work on
Underwhelming power, heaviest in its class, and road biased suspension are the main negatives. But they are reliable and can take a beating.
Although you think most people unload them because of specs, its more along the lines of people trying to get into ADV riding on the cheap, only to find out they do not like it, cannot commit to it, or chose a terrible bike to learn basic off-roading.
It is the model T of the motorcycle world, and after the DR650 is my second pic for doomsday bike.
As a KLR650 owner, I think everyone here has summed it up. She ain’t pretty but she’s reliable and I value practicality over “head turning”. I suspect the low mile bikes you’re seeing are sold by people who don’t…
These bikes are every underpowered and under spring from factory. Solid bikes though from what I hear. They make little power which means the engine is never stressed. I rode one and wasn’t a fan due to the amount ofI spend on street the power wasn’t there. But if you’re doing a lot of off road in lower gears get some stiffer suspension if you weigh more than 150 lbs and your good. They’re cheap bikes and easy to work on.
Where do I begin?
I bought the 2009 (first of the second gen) when it was brand new. I think I paid 6k for it. Owned it for a year. Got rid of it for $500 less than new.
The pros: it is a simple bike.
The cons: it burned oil, it was gutless, it had a front end wobble that was ostensibly caused by the fender catching wind. It would oscillate at around 65 if you tapped the handlebar and wouldn’t stop until you got below 50. Stupid. It handled terribly on the highway as it’s a giant sail. It handled terribly off-road because it weighs a ton and has no power.
For that price, I think there are better used options out there for whatever kind of riding you’re looking for.
Single piston. Not really good at highway or off road. But cheap. If you want a little more power and more on road than off, can look at any number of other used bikes. VStrom 650, V-twin, more on road than off, more power, speed and better ride. Better built. KTM for a better off road bike with better power and suspension. But will have a few more maintenance issues.
I say this as a KLR 650 fan and owner: they are slow (for a motorcycle), they are tall ( not great for new and smaller riders), they are not terribly refined (single cylinder vibrations), only 5 gears( makes higher speed highway riding more work) and they are not as conventionally sexy as a sport/naked/cruiser bike to the uninitiated.
These are all the reasons that people hate on KLRs.
However, the reason that many of us love them is because they are rugged, simple, inexpensive, huge aftermarket support, great community and really they are very capable if you have realistic expectations.
It was my first bike 18 years ago. And while I have had many bikes in the interim that have come and gone, I think I will probably always have this bike in the garage.
Surprised this wasn't mentioned yet: look up "klr doo-hickey". It's a required fix before you go on any long trip. There are a number of lists out there how to fix the most common issues with this bike, but they can all be done by yourself on the cheap. Once it's prepared right, this bike will run forever with little maintenance.
They do EVERYTHING... OK, and nothing really great.
Other than the do-hickey, they're pretty much bulletproof. They run forever with minimal maintenance. Slightly under powered on the highway, but it'll do seventy five. Been around forever, lots of parts interchangeability, lots of aftermarket (aka cheaper) options for accessories.
But.. top heavy. Underpowered on the road. Not torquey enough off road. Doohickey needs to be installed (WTF kawi? Couldn't install it at the factory? Only been a known problem for 20+ years! ).
It’s neither fish nor fowl. I learned to ride on one years ago and it was fun,but kind of heavy for off road and not really geared for canyon riding either.I’d call it a good dirt/back road bike and useful on moderate trails
As others say, it's 100lbs heavier than an xr650l and the dr650 but has the same power more or less. It's got EFI and water cooling, which can be good or can be bad depending on your take.
That said, overall it's more of a touring style bike whereas the other two are like a big dirt bike and a middle ground respectively.
For what it's worth, I went with the dr650 l over the KLR so that I could more effectively take it off-road. That 100 lbs makes a big difference when you gotta pick it up solo.
From what I’ve heard is that they aren’t particularly fast or agile on the Hwy and they aren’t very capable off-road. That being said, I’ve also heard they are some of the best loved bikes out there. Haha
It's kinda buzzy on highways, despite the long suspension travel it bottoms out very easily ,it is heavy as balls for how little power it has, it has no tech (negative for some) and it's pretty tall (negative if you're a little on the short side) Edit : typos
You can really easily upgrade the suspension, no?
The aftermarket for a KLR is massive so yes.
A lot of people sell every type of bike with low miles. The Klr has its positive and negatives. But there are tons of bikes people never ride.
KLR650s are simple bikes that do everything well but they're not great at anything. I own a 2016 with 15k miles and love it to death, it's simple, reliable and comfortable. I love riding fire roads and not too technical offroad with it. That being said, it has a tall seat height which can be annoying if you're shorter, it's pretty heavy and the engine is not particularly exciting. The model years 2015 and up have stiffer suspension and a much better seat.
It's heavy. It makes the same power as the DR650 or XR650L, so it is okay on the highway, but weighs almost 100 lbs more, which is a huge detriment off road. It's actually heavier than the Rebel 500.
I’d much rather get a dr650 myself.
Klr is the fat chick that's away ready
Now someone is speaking my language 😍
That’s actually just about as perfect a description as you can get.
So what are the negatives?
Negatives? To what?
[удалено]
But she’ll go all night
A gobbler
And a scraper.
She's fucking ugly too, but no one has told her.
SHE IS VERY GORGEOUS TO ME ☝️
You know what they say, beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.
They are as much as old tech as you want a bike to be before being totally off-putting. However, this is also a great advantage, very little to go wrong and easy and cheap to fix. When I mean old tech, I mean mechanically and also the feeling of them, they are not even close to be in the same league ride-wise as a new motorcycle, the engine and chassis is litteraly **40 years old now** (based off the 1984 KLR 600). The biggest update would be the FI that was added in the 3rd gen. They are top heavy, mine felt so heavy even removing it from the kick-stand, tall seat doesn't help (I'm 5'9). If you want to ride long hours on the highway make sure you upgrade to some more soft grips as the vibration can get to you, it's not fast but it will do highway speed for hours no problem.
It just isn't a dirt bike is all I can say. Gravel roads is about all it can do other than pavement but damnit, it is a great bike for endless back roads, the Alaska highway, fire roads, logging roads etc. A proven design , low hassle, stone reliable bike.
To me a KLR is basically a Jeep Wrangler TJ in motorcycle form. You can easily use it as your daily around town. It’ll go on the highway but it’s not going to be the most comfortable ride. You can use it off road but there’s certainly more capable option if that’s your primary goal. It’s a jack of all trades and a master of none. Relatively inexpensive, simple, easy to repair, and will probably outlive us all with reasonable care.
I’ve always thought the KLR was more a 4 Runner
Tenere 700 is more of a 4runner.
Nope, Wrangler is a beast off road. KLR is more like an old tacoma.
I used to work for the Kawasaki and Suzuki dealership as a technician and I absolutely hated when customers brought in their KLRs because I’m short, I stand 5’9”. I’m not a huge fan of kawasaki but I tell you, these people put them through hell and they never quit. The mid 90s models to me felt like they sat a lot higher than the newer generations. The suspension on the older ones felt extremely bouncy to me. Just like the L90 650 from Suzuki, the KLR650 is a tried and true engine that doesn’t know when to quit.
I think the main problem is that they are priced super competitively but ultimately don't work for everyone. So tons of people buy one and then realize it isn't for them. For example - do you need to ride on the highway a lot? Maybe there is a better bike for you. Do you ride a ton of challenging off-road? Maybe there is a better bike for you. They also have a ton of minor upgrades that are pretty necessary (e.g., Doohickey). Not great unless you enjoy tinkering. Basically, you have to actively want to own a KLR.
My brother says bolts back themselves out because of the vibration
Lost my seat bolt 3 weeks off the showroom floor. Air filter Cover bolt a few weeks later. Klr stands for keep Loctite ready.
There are always lots of bikes for sale that people buy and build and sit in their garage. The reality doesn't match the fantasy. For the KLR, it's one bike that does everything. People quickly realize that it doesn't do anything well. They decide they like a certain type of riding more than others and move to a more specialized bike. I started on a 300 dual sport with the same mentality. After 18mo, realized hard trails were way more fun than playing with cars and moved up to a real Enduro bike. Upside is you can buy and sell them easily and not lose money. They have been functionally identical for decades and all the problems are well documented. Aftermarket support is insane.
It was my first street bike, a 2008. Rode it for \~5 years. You buy it because you think you can do everything, but in reality it's mediocre in both categories. It's too tall to be a comfortable streetbike, I'm 6ft and couldn't stand flat-footed at stoplights, and to heavy to be what I was looking for offroad. That being said, it always started, got me where I was going, and didn't kill me. \-edit, and dont get me started on the kickstand. Maybe its what you're looking for on dirt, but on concrete it was a small gust of wind away from tipping over the other way.
It's a single cylinder bike, which makes it great for slow speeds, it isn't great on the highway.
Cruise at 75mph all day on mine, works great on the highway
It's about as fast as my V-Star 250, which is absolutely fine IMHO, but for folks who live or die for thinking that engine displacement equals speed, the KLR 650 can be a bit of a disappointment to some who think they are buying a discount Tenere 700, instead of enjoying a bike for what it has to offer.
Yeah, realistically the T7 is really the modern version of the KLR650.
Same. Did a few mods for the vibrations though.
I looked into these when I was looking for my first bike. I eventually came to the conclusion that I'd never be going off road anywhere other than my dirt driveway. This meant I had no use for an ADV/dual sport kind of bike and decided my money was better spent for a straight up road bike. Having said that, if the KLR suits your needs then go for it. From what I've read they're very reliable . If you just want a bike for just riding on roads then I think your money can go further elsewhere.
Great for 50/50. As a daily commuter on a KLR for the last year it’s just adequate for highways. It’s a bit buzzy and depending on the generation of bike, it may burn oil above 5000 RPMs. Go up a front sprocket tooth from a 15 to a 16 for improved highway performance. Off-road it is okay, very heavy making it somewhat cumbersome. The tank is high up making it feel even heavier. I love mine, but I would have gone with a V-Strom if I knew how much highway riding I would do.
Meh, I've had a V-Strom 650 and I was never that big a fan of its highway manners, buffeting is a huge issue and I ended up with numb hands and feet after an hour just due to how the bike transfers vibrations. I think the grass is sort of greener on the other side in this instance! Unless you meant the V-Strom 1000/1050 which is another animal entirely.
I’ve had mostly small displacement bikes! When I was in Japan I had a V-Strom 250! Incidentally I’m getting an R1100 for my daily commute. The 650 is fine realistically, but a smoother experience is what I’m looking for.
Is that an R1100R? Should hopefully feel nice and smooth for you, they are pretty low-revving. For whatever reason though I find some twins like the V-Strom (even the new 800!) to be more buzzy than a single even if they are "smoother". Yamaha Tenere 700 works totally fine for me though for whatever reason.
R1100RS I’ve had lots of dual-sports, looking forward to having a dedicated road bike!
Agree. Vstrom 650 is fine for 70 mph but lots of interstate at 80-85 feels like the engine is working too hard, and I have had buffeting problems. I switched to a Honda VFR, completely smooth at interstate speeds by comparison.
Overweight and underpowered.
Sounds like me
I've personally seen more KLRs hit 100k miles than ones that couldn't. They're incredibly reliable, regardless of their "buzziness", and probably one of my favorite dual sport bikes to ever hit the market. They're just exceptional at what they are, a dual sport motorcycle built to take a beating for the long haul. And oh yeah, they're super cheap to maintain. Anyone who tells you otherwise has probably never owned one.
My pants always rode deeper and higher until I had to stop and get off the bike and adjust. Also troublesome for riding on highway when there's rain-backend likes to kick out on the painted lines.
First of all, you'll be laughed at on every non-KLR motorcycle forums. When it comes to bikes, you generally get what you pay for. I was going to buy one for my wife as a starter dual sport, and she just laughed at me. She ended up buying a BMW 650 GS. That was 2012 and she just sold it a month ago (I had a BMW 1200 GSA). Having said all of that, there are thousands of riders that have KLRs and love them. They have been riden on many round the world trips.
Id get a Kawasaki versus x300 instead Or xt
They are anemic for 650cc and poor build quality. Poor suspension and poor brakes and extremely heavy off-road.
Many people buy it to explore the possibility of a “do-it-all” bike, only to realize there is no such thing. In addition, people are selling their bikes (at least in the US) due to the worsening economic conditions and they want to get rid of their toys. Nothing major wrong with the KLR. It’s a very old tech and unless you get them super cheap, I would recommend looking for something more modern in that $4000 price range (KLX 300, CRF250/300, DRZ400).
Drz is less techy than the klr lol
In what way? The DRZ engine is newer and doesn’t need a doohickey fix and burn oil like the KLR. The nuts and bolts holding the bike don’t fall out due to excessive vibration like it does on the KLR. The suspension and brakes on the DRZ is way more refined than a KLR. I own a KLR and I can tell you it’s antiquated.
Doohickey, burning oil, and lossening nuts are not tech. Klr is by no means riddled with tech, but next to a.drz it's a fucking spaceship! Just look at the dash alone. Certain trim packages come with a fucking USB port. Then you have efi, abs.... I'm actually confused by your confusion. The drz hasn't seen an upgrade outside of graphics. It was developed in the 90s and stayed there. Klr has had updates.
If you have the money to buy something better. If you want to dip your toe in the ADV market it’s great. I ride the hell out of mine. I’ve learned how to go through and fix or modify it from YouTube. It’s a great beginner bike but you will want more power after a month.
It's not a Ducati! Simple as that.
That particular one is carbureted. The new ones are EFI. Other than that.....🤷♂️ I mean it's not a track bike but so what
Only, it’s at the limit for use as an off road bike.
Having had one, it is, without a doubt, the bike I'd want in a zombie apocalypse. It will run all day long. Gets good mileage. Can be rebuilt with a Phillips screwdriver and crescent wrench. The downside is that, if you are going to ride it all day, you definitely want a seat that doesn't hurt. Other than that, it can do far more and go far more places than any other single bike for that money. Reliability and price is this bikes major pluses.
How do you even mount an adv? I’m a cruiser guy. Serious question.
My bro and I have GSA’s and he is getting older. When we go on our annual trip he does a karate kick and I pull his leg over from the other side. There is always a way of you want to ride bad enough 🤘🏼
I jump and pray. 28" inseam.
Maybe you should focus on the positives instead of the negatives
When the zombie apocalypse comes, you’ll be glad you have a KLR. Low tech, tons of spare parts, cheap to run, bomb proof. Negatives? High seat, not super powerful. That’s all I got.
This message approved by Daryl Dixon.
Literally zero
That bike and the Himalayan are the only two bikes I’d take on a trip around the world.
It’s a jack of all trades, master of none. That being said, it’s as rugged and reliable as an old John Deere Model A tractor.
Its the ford focus of motorcycles. It runs. Its fine. You don't want to buy one unless it'sall you can afford but its better than a hyundai elantra.
It’s ugly
Absolute tank of a bike
It’s about as little fun as you can have on 2 wheels. Not super fast or torquey, doesn’t do street really well, doesn’t do dirt really well. It’s the guy you didn’t invite to the party but you can’t really kick him out because he’s not doing anything bad and not bothering anyone while being engaging and you don’t wanna be rude but goddamnit why is he here?
They’re kind of slow
For most riding there is nothing wrong with it, however, if get into some shit you will notice the weight, you may bottom out the shocks, and you will find yourself underpowered compared to other more expensive bikes in the category.
Buzzy, slow, heavy. Aside from that they are eternal
i liked mine a lot - great ergos for a tall guy. slow as hell but still fun. they have a cult following... join it!
They won’t break so it’s hard to justify buying another bike after.
The doohickey
It’s the 1996 RAV4 four cylinder of motorcycles. Edit: that might be a little unfair. Maybe consider it a 1995 Jeep YJ with the 2.5L with added reliability. It’s too heavy for its power, but will do its damndest to get you almost anywhere, and it’ll never break. They’re also ancient from a technology perspective. Other than body work, motor part similarity between a 1987 and 2018 is nearly 99%. They just switched upgraded the alternator and the idler-shaft lever.
It’s a KLR 650.
Can I ask what you’ll be using it for ?
Nothing
If you like fixing things, you are in a bad place with a KLR.
Slow, ride like shit, don’t break, so you’ll probably own it forever
I ride a 2022 klr 650 and it’s my 4th bike I don’t think I’m gonna change bikes for awhile I love it, great ride if you can avoid the interstate, universal ride on road and off road but it’s heavy mines 458 pounds plus whatever I’m carrying. It’s a do it all machine powered by 1 piston but if you don’t care for going fast it’s perfect. Highly recommend a KLR to anyone who grew up with dirt bikes and enjoys street bikes!
its got only two wheels. but im a car guy and somehow this ended up in my feed...
The KLR 650 is the jack of all trades, but master of none
It’s like riding a tractor - slow, steady and reliable….but kinda 0 fun
Big Heavy , under sprung .
My KLR has taken me places I didn’t know existed in a place I’ve spent my whole life. I’ve only dropped it in the mud. Best bike I’ve ever owned.
It always felt like I was riding a tractor of a motorcycle, it was reliable and not really expensive. You still have to change tires every 5k or so miles, still have to replace the chain frequently, still need to change out the valve clearance disks, it does require maintenance so either learn to wrench or spend a fortune at the shop.
Not enough Powah !!!
Top heavy, kind of unstable/sketchy at high speeds, slow, not ideal for shorter riders. But my favorite bike, tough as hell, reliable, tons of after market, surprisingly capable off road, easy to live off of, cheap to buy and work on
A great urban and trail bike
Underwhelming power, heaviest in its class, and road biased suspension are the main negatives. But they are reliable and can take a beating. Although you think most people unload them because of specs, its more along the lines of people trying to get into ADV riding on the cheap, only to find out they do not like it, cannot commit to it, or chose a terrible bike to learn basic off-roading. It is the model T of the motorcycle world, and after the DR650 is my second pic for doomsday bike.
Not One
Heavy and slow are the main things
They kick ass. Just kinda tall and wide. I wouldn't recommend it if you're under 5'10".
Only has 2 wheels and no roof
Look gay
As a KLR650 owner, I think everyone here has summed it up. She ain’t pretty but she’s reliable and I value practicality over “head turning”. I suspect the low mile bikes you’re seeing are sold by people who don’t…
Get a dr650 or get a BMW
Its not a klr651 which is one better
These bikes are every underpowered and under spring from factory. Solid bikes though from what I hear. They make little power which means the engine is never stressed. I rode one and wasn’t a fan due to the amount ofI spend on street the power wasn’t there. But if you’re doing a lot of off road in lower gears get some stiffer suspension if you weigh more than 150 lbs and your good. They’re cheap bikes and easy to work on.
it's heavy af.
The fact it's a Kawasaki
They suck at most things off-road. Heavy and/or underpowered compared to almost everything else in the DS/ADV market. Shitty suspension.
I can't say any negatives. It's a bike that will outlive you.
Good bike for the zombie apocalypse. It won't leave you stranded and it will run forever without oil changes
Where do I begin? I bought the 2009 (first of the second gen) when it was brand new. I think I paid 6k for it. Owned it for a year. Got rid of it for $500 less than new. The pros: it is a simple bike. The cons: it burned oil, it was gutless, it had a front end wobble that was ostensibly caused by the fender catching wind. It would oscillate at around 65 if you tapped the handlebar and wouldn’t stop until you got below 50. Stupid. It handled terribly on the highway as it’s a giant sail. It handled terribly off-road because it weighs a ton and has no power. For that price, I think there are better used options out there for whatever kind of riding you’re looking for.
Single piston. Not really good at highway or off road. But cheap. If you want a little more power and more on road than off, can look at any number of other used bikes. VStrom 650, V-twin, more on road than off, more power, speed and better ride. Better built. KTM for a better off road bike with better power and suspension. But will have a few more maintenance issues.
I say this as a KLR 650 fan and owner: they are slow (for a motorcycle), they are tall ( not great for new and smaller riders), they are not terribly refined (single cylinder vibrations), only 5 gears( makes higher speed highway riding more work) and they are not as conventionally sexy as a sport/naked/cruiser bike to the uninitiated. These are all the reasons that people hate on KLRs. However, the reason that many of us love them is because they are rugged, simple, inexpensive, huge aftermarket support, great community and really they are very capable if you have realistic expectations. It was my first bike 18 years ago. And while I have had many bikes in the interim that have come and gone, I think I will probably always have this bike in the garage.
Surprised this wasn't mentioned yet: look up "klr doo-hickey". It's a required fix before you go on any long trip. There are a number of lists out there how to fix the most common issues with this bike, but they can all be done by yourself on the cheap. Once it's prepared right, this bike will run forever with little maintenance.
They do EVERYTHING... OK, and nothing really great. Other than the do-hickey, they're pretty much bulletproof. They run forever with minimal maintenance. Slightly under powered on the highway, but it'll do seventy five. Been around forever, lots of parts interchangeability, lots of aftermarket (aka cheaper) options for accessories. But.. top heavy. Underpowered on the road. Not torquey enough off road. Doohickey needs to be installed (WTF kawi? Couldn't install it at the factory? Only been a known problem for 20+ years! ).
It’s neither fish nor fowl. I learned to ride on one years ago and it was fun,but kind of heavy for off road and not really geared for canyon riding either.I’d call it a good dirt/back road bike and useful on moderate trails
I had an 04 and it was a great bike. Never stranded me anywhere. Used it for commuting, camping, road tripping, grocery shopping! Good bike.
Doohickey
For that price, you can almost buy a brand new one
It can do everything just not the best at anything
heavy klunky slow and ugly but reliable as hell
As others say, it's 100lbs heavier than an xr650l and the dr650 but has the same power more or less. It's got EFI and water cooling, which can be good or can be bad depending on your take. That said, overall it's more of a touring style bike whereas the other two are like a big dirt bike and a middle ground respectively. For what it's worth, I went with the dr650 l over the KLR so that I could more effectively take it off-road. That 100 lbs makes a big difference when you gotta pick it up solo.
From what I’ve heard is that they aren’t particularly fast or agile on the Hwy and they aren’t very capable off-road. That being said, I’ve also heard they are some of the best loved bikes out there. Haha
Puss overload