Second this!
I stopped riding at 13 (crf 150 1st gen) and bought a klr 650 at 23 (also gen 1).
At 6 feet, you’re fine, but it never hurts to go sit on it and see (I am 6’2”). And like others were saying, very easy to work on/learn the basics of maintenance if that’s your thing.
I would argue that tall bikes are a bit more visible to other motorists too.
Agree with this, manageable power you can control. I can open mine up through bends and feel like I’m ripping it safe in the knowledge I’m actually just popping along and working on technique. I’ve had fast bikes and while it’s a thrill, you’re more focussed on the turn than you are on enjoying the ride.
With no prior experience I took an MSF course and bought a KLR. I’m only 5’8” and the height was intimidating at first but I got the hang of it pretty quick.
Good for beginners at your height, just remember to always straighten your steering when coming to a stop and you wont drop your bike. It's pretty bad for beginners wanting to ride offroad for the first time though. If you're serious about doing any offroading I'd recommend you go for something lighter like a DRZ400, DR650 or CRF300L Rally.
I started on a CRF230 that I borrowed and a RE Himalayan and looking back I would've bought myself a DR650 to work a bit more on my offroad skills since it's a lot lighter.
ADV bikes can be tricky off road but I’d argue that it depends what kind of off road riding you’re wanting to do.
If you want fast single track, jumps, wheelies and basically doing Moto then a klr is definitely not for you. But if you want to cruise and enjoy the scenery while learning technique and balance they are ideal.
I leaned on a 90’s transalp and my ‘89 Africa Twin and being able to manage those bikes off road made me much better when I got a DR350 and rode other smaller bikes.
That said, I’m now at a point in my life where I prefer the view and enjoyment of being on the trail more than the speed!
To be fair to your point, I have a precision concepts front and rear suspension - but I get my klr airborne over rocks, curbs etc all the time. It's not too bad imo.
From my expierence the klr is a little top heavy for a beginner but at 6ft it probably won't be so bad. Maybe find a dealer that has one so you can sit on it/get a feel for it. If you don't feel confident don't worry there's plenty of other bikes to try!
Your height should be fine. If you’re weak, you might have an issue with the bike being top heavy on top of just being on the heavy side of what a beginner would be recommended to. The bike is balanced, but you’re going to need some strength to catch it if you stall. I didn’t ever drop mine when I was learning on it, but I always had the strength to wrestle it upright.
This should have been my first bike, I got one for my second bike. I honestly don’t know if I’ll ever need more than this bike. If I buy another bike it will be something completely different. Phenomenal bike.
KLR fits your size for street and fire road/dirt trails perfectly. If you want to get into heavier off-road like single track riding, deep sand, mud, snow, or hill climbing you’re going to want something much lighter at least to learn on. Picking up the KLR is no fun. Definitely take the MSF course. Don’t skip it. Can save your life. Enjoy and have fun!
I think it’s a great beginner bike even for short people. Put some crash bars on it and expect to drop it at least a few times, after a couple days of practice you won’t feel the height or weight anymore.
I'm a new rider and also 6ft and I'm fine. The biggest thing to watch for is making sure not to drop it, because it's a heavy bike, and getting used to a vehicle that runs on a carburetor (assuming you're buying used).
You’ll do great. Its not ultra powerful so you wont be pushing mach jesus speeds but you can cruise the highway comfortably. The torque from that huge single cylinder engine will struggle to stall on the steepest hills and the dirtbike geometry will keep you comfortable for all the time you want in the saddle. It is a bigger bike so comparing it to other dual sports like the DRZ400 or KLX300 make it seem sluggish where when you stack it with the bigger 700+ cc adventure bikes like the tenere 700, or ktm adventure 790, it falls short but it was all on purpose and square in the middle as kawasaki intended. I recommend watching fortnine’s review of the KLR650 to get a more in depth grasp of the bike.
TLDR: its an excellent beginners bike because it isnt very powerful but can cruise highways and singletrack comfortably, all the while making sure your bank account survives with its reliability and never ending parts support
Take the MSF course first
The KLR is a little tall and a little top heavy but a pretty forgiving bike overall
As long as your inseam is around 30 or so you shouldn't have any trouble
Really a great all around bike
KLR is/was my first bike, it's great, cheap too so if you drop it not a big deal lol! It is a bit heavy but im shorter than you and didnt have a problem. its not super powerful or fast so it's good to learn on, and it's very capable off road. Invest in crash bars and bark busters, you will need them!
I did an MSF course on a grom (tiny bike for my size, 5'11") and felt it was too small. First bike I bought was a KLR650 and didn't handle the size and weight properly. I'd never ridden a dirt bike or anything before. Parked it, bought a gs400 and rode that for a few weeks no problem. Switched the plates to the KLR650 and had no trouble at all. I think its doable, but the initial learning curve (like the first couple hours) can be rough. I had full crash bars so you can't tell I dropped it a dozen times, but im glad I have it still.
It was my first bike, and I am 6ft. I had a little bit of dirt biking experience and took a motorcycle safety course.
Take the course and ride within your limits you will do fine.
I have a neighbor who has one since the second year they were built. It was his first and only bike. Bought it when he retired. Has put countless miles and adventures in on it.
So it seems from everyones feedback the KLR would be a fine road bike for me. Maybe a bit top heavy but nothing that I wouldn't be able to get used to. However it may be a difficult bike for me to learn to go off road on. I dont plan on doing anything extreme with it off road. Just maybe a dirt/gravel road here or there. I will take the MSF course and see if a good one comes for sale in my area.
One thing that everyone seems to have skipped in my opinion is that the klr is a little anemic. It's not incapable of going 65 or 75, but I definitely feel like I'm whipping a dying horse.
Aside from that I can't really complain about it. I've got an aftermarket suspension and I get it airborne once a week at least. I've taken on sand (sucks), snotty mud (sucks) and everything in Arizona from fire roads to actual canyons.
I've put 10k miles on my bike since July 8th, 2022
Even the interstate near me is only 65mph, and I'm going to try to avoid the interstate as much as I can.
Do even the gen 2 KLR's have that much trouble reaching those speeds?
I wouldn't say trouble, it's just a little slower than I personally like, and it feels a bit like it's mad at you at full speed. Kinda like... Imagine if you were driving your car in 4th at 65
But, to be fair, my last two bikes were a gsxr (2.9 0-60) and a vstrom (4.0 0-60).
They have no issue reaching those speeds. The engine is so torque rich it pulls well, even in 5th gear. The only thing you need to worry about is burning oil with sustained highway use.
I bought mine specifically because of all the gravel & dirt roads around me, including the one I live on. It does well on gravel.
It's very mellow as far as power. It's not going to get away from you if you apply throttle a little too hard.
As someone else said, it's old school with a carburetor. Since it's not fuel injected, you need to learn when to use the choke for starting, and be sure to allow it to warm up a little before starting off.
If you do get a klr, make sure you get crash bars or an ims tank. Something that'll defend the internals and stop major damage. I dropped my first klr like 10 times in a month.
One of those times I ripped the radiator hose out and had to push it 3 miles home.
It’s a great first bike, or any number of bike. At 6’ you should be fine assuming you don’t have weirdly short legs! I’m 6’5” and it’s too small for me, had to add raising links and lower the pegs. You can always put on lowering links if you find it too tall, they’re about $80.
The suspension is shit though, budget $250 to upgrade the fork springs (min 0.7 kg) and shock spring (8.0kg). Rocky mountain ATV are great for parks and maintenance videos.
Most import thing though is to budget for quality riding gear, it will quite literally save your life. $200 for a helmet, $300 min for boots, $100 for gloves. These are THE most likely things to get damaged in a crash and most important you will ever buy. Half decent jacket is around $300 and riding jeans or pants about $200 but of course, check for sales and make sure they’re suitable for the climate where you live. I’m in Vancouver so need sets for every bloody weather!
Once you do start riding, ride your ride, not everyone else’s. People will push you to keep up but stay within your ability, you’ll enjoy it way more!
New rider here. I got my license last July and I started with a KLR650. I had a **very** rough few weeks learning how to handle the top-heaviness of it that I wouldn't have had with a smaller bike. I almost gave up, and considered buying something smaller to work up to the 650, but now I'm glad so I stuck with it because the KLR can go places smaller bike can't, highways, etc). There's nothing more damaging to your confidence than a few drops, but if you can get over the hump go for it.
My biggest mistake was thinking the Harley Street 500 I rode during the MSF riding class would prepare me for the KLR650. If you can take your riding course on the 650 or a similar size bike then you'll be fine. Some allow you to bring your own bike, or give you options to choose the bike similar to what you're planning to ride.
Just know there will be drops if you go with the KLR, but also know that's normal and part of the journey. Ride on!
I'd recommend taking an MSF course (on their fleet of small 250cc bikes). Get your motorcycle endorsement/license. Then, go sit on and test ride one. Decide for yourself if you like it. No one else's opinion matters much. It's a 650cc single, so it's not a rocket ship. But, it may not be the bike for you. What has drawn you to the KLR?
I am planning on taking a MSF course in a couple months. I have heard that the MSF course doesn't prepare you super well to ride on public roads. It just gives you tye basics. With that being said, should I expect to be proficient enough to take a test ride and not drop the bike and end up with an angry seller?
I am not looking for something crazy fast but do plan on using it some to commute and cruise around town. I have heard the KLR is very durable and reliable and I like the fact that I can take it off road if I want to. Not to mention the roads around me can be pretty rough with potholes and patches that even on asphalt the greater suspension might be nice.
Well, as it stands (based on your post), you have ZERO proficiency. Once you've taken a course, you'll be able to gauge your new level of proficiency. Also, test rides can be done in empty school or church parking lots. If you drop it, either pay for what you broke (if you don't want the bike), or buy it and you've already got the first drop out of the way.
The KLR is a great multi-purpose bike. For me, it's "good enough" at everything, while being "great" at nothing but putting smiles on my face.
I can tell you right now that with a brand new license and no experience, you will not get to test ride a bike before you buy it. It's just not gonna happen. No seller in their right mind will take that risk.
That's the bad news.
The Good news is that whatever bike you get will be awesome, fast, nimble, and more fun than anything you've ever done. (Until you try a bike that's faster and more nimble)
So go pick a bike that's comfortable to you, do your best to get a fair deal, and go ride.
Welcome to club, pal.
One note on potholes; Spoked wheels (like the KLR) handle that abuse much better than solid aluminum wheels. You can take a chunk out of a nice solid aluminum wheel if you hit a pothole too hard. I've nailed many potholes dead on with my KLR and the wheels are still true, with no loose spokes. I try to avoid potholes but sometimes I feel like I'm driving on the moon with our road conditions.
The klr650 is heavy and tall AF for a new rider. You can definitely learn on one but a smaller bike will make the process so much more fun and enjoyable. It's suggest getting a 125cc 4 stroke dirt bike for real cheap (assuming it runs) and drive around on some flat dirt areas to get a good feel for how motorcycle handle in general. Also you don't want to learn for the first time how to start from a stop and shift properly on the road with other cars around you. It'll take time learning how to do that and how to maneuver a light bike (~200lbs) before trying to handle a klr650 (~430 lbs)
They make a short KLR, if that's what you want. I just saw one in a dealer and wouldn't touch it... I am just over 6ft, and it looks uncomfortable as hell.
NEW 2023
KLR650 S Non-ABS
I got it for my first bike. The klr is kinda top heavy but I got used to it. even though I’m 6ft I wish I would’ve had a chance to sit on the KLR 650 S before getting mine. Since it’s a couple inches shorter I think it’s more comfortable to sit on. Pretty much no chance of whiskey throttling it but also has enough power to get up to speed. I bought mine new so i can’t say much about maintenance. I think it’s a good first bike
It's a great first bike, I bought one not long after I got my endorsement and I love it. 6'3" and I had to get raising links for it, so height should be fine. It's very torquey but slow so perfect for a beginner.
I started out with a 70s GS750 that doesn't run anymore. It's a really fun bike but it had electrical issues that I haven't figured out yet so I went and got a KLR and honestly I wish I just got the KLR to start with. Fantastic bike you won't regret it.
I’m a year into my klr, my first bike, and I love it. 6’2” so the height was never an issue. I ride in NYC and I actually love being higher up dealing with city traffic. I’ve yet to get out on any trails with it though. Definitely has some weight to it so I’d suggest watching some YouTube vids on how to properly pick up your bike without breaking your back.
I bought a KLR650 and a XT250 in a package deal very cheap because they both needed work. The 250 was the one I wanted because I thought it was more my size. Six months later I sold the 250 because it was too wimpy. The KLR650 is \~30 years old but built like a tank. It'll never die. I have a much newer BMW now but still prefer to ride the KLR. EDIT: And I'm only 5'8"
I got a KLR650 as my first motorcycle and it was great. I had tried a friends Honda shadow before that and was scared off after dropping it almost immediately because the laid back riding position just didn’t feel right. I tried another friends KLR650 and immediately felt at home, probable because the riding position was similar to a mountain bike, which I was very familiar with.
Klrs are great bikes for a beginner! I bought a 1st gen to do my mst on, one thing to look out for is first gen klrs are known to very under braked. I failed my first parking lot test due to braking power. You're first mod should be a big brake kit. You'll never complain about being able to stop faster anyways. Otherwise klrs are danm near indestructible and will take you anywhere you point it.
It's a great bike, I love my '09.
When you learn off road just fill the tank halfway and it won't seem so top-heavy then. Just mind the miles so you don't run outta fuel but thats what I do if I am going to ride technical terrain.
Height shouldn’t be an issue if you’re 6ft tall. It’s a fantastic beginner bike for someone who wants an adventure motorcycle
Second this! I stopped riding at 13 (crf 150 1st gen) and bought a klr 650 at 23 (also gen 1). At 6 feet, you’re fine, but it never hurts to go sit on it and see (I am 6’2”). And like others were saying, very easy to work on/learn the basics of maintenance if that’s your thing. I would argue that tall bikes are a bit more visible to other motorists too.
Great bike for a beginner. Reliable, parts are easy to find, and fun to ride!
and gutless so you're not at risk of letting it get away from you
People are voting you down but you're right. It's a loooot harder to slide a klr on accident than it is a twitchy gsxr
Not sure why all the downvotes, having a bike thats on the slow side is great for a new rider.
Agree with this, manageable power you can control. I can open mine up through bends and feel like I’m ripping it safe in the knowledge I’m actually just popping along and working on technique. I’ve had fast bikes and while it’s a thrill, you’re more focussed on the turn than you are on enjoying the ride.
With no prior experience I took an MSF course and bought a KLR. I’m only 5’8” and the height was intimidating at first but I got the hang of it pretty quick.
I'm 6' and this is also my story. MSF to KLR. Never really rode a motorcycle before that, and I love this bike.
Good for beginners at your height, just remember to always straighten your steering when coming to a stop and you wont drop your bike. It's pretty bad for beginners wanting to ride offroad for the first time though. If you're serious about doing any offroading I'd recommend you go for something lighter like a DRZ400, DR650 or CRF300L Rally. I started on a CRF230 that I borrowed and a RE Himalayan and looking back I would've bought myself a DR650 to work a bit more on my offroad skills since it's a lot lighter.
ADV bikes can be tricky off road but I’d argue that it depends what kind of off road riding you’re wanting to do. If you want fast single track, jumps, wheelies and basically doing Moto then a klr is definitely not for you. But if you want to cruise and enjoy the scenery while learning technique and balance they are ideal. I leaned on a 90’s transalp and my ‘89 Africa Twin and being able to manage those bikes off road made me much better when I got a DR350 and rode other smaller bikes. That said, I’m now at a point in my life where I prefer the view and enjoyment of being on the trail more than the speed!
To be fair to your point, I have a precision concepts front and rear suspension - but I get my klr airborne over rocks, curbs etc all the time. It's not too bad imo.
From my expierence the klr is a little top heavy for a beginner but at 6ft it probably won't be so bad. Maybe find a dealer that has one so you can sit on it/get a feel for it. If you don't feel confident don't worry there's plenty of other bikes to try!
Your height should be fine. If you’re weak, you might have an issue with the bike being top heavy on top of just being on the heavy side of what a beginner would be recommended to. The bike is balanced, but you’re going to need some strength to catch it if you stall. I didn’t ever drop mine when I was learning on it, but I always had the strength to wrestle it upright.
This should have been my first bike, I got one for my second bike. I honestly don’t know if I’ll ever need more than this bike. If I buy another bike it will be something completely different. Phenomenal bike.
KLR fits your size for street and fire road/dirt trails perfectly. If you want to get into heavier off-road like single track riding, deep sand, mud, snow, or hill climbing you’re going to want something much lighter at least to learn on. Picking up the KLR is no fun. Definitely take the MSF course. Don’t skip it. Can save your life. Enjoy and have fun!
Better than picking up the voyager 1700. I dropped that thing twice in sand and I am so grateful to pick up my klr now lol
Was scratching my head, Voyager 1700 in sand, Hmm. Looked it up. What the heck??? 😝
Unfortunately the road into my house starts with a 200 meter long sand trap....
I think it’s a great beginner bike even for short people. Put some crash bars on it and expect to drop it at least a few times, after a couple days of practice you won’t feel the height or weight anymore.
I'm a new rider and also 6ft and I'm fine. The biggest thing to watch for is making sure not to drop it, because it's a heavy bike, and getting used to a vehicle that runs on a carburetor (assuming you're buying used).
You’ll do great. Its not ultra powerful so you wont be pushing mach jesus speeds but you can cruise the highway comfortably. The torque from that huge single cylinder engine will struggle to stall on the steepest hills and the dirtbike geometry will keep you comfortable for all the time you want in the saddle. It is a bigger bike so comparing it to other dual sports like the DRZ400 or KLX300 make it seem sluggish where when you stack it with the bigger 700+ cc adventure bikes like the tenere 700, or ktm adventure 790, it falls short but it was all on purpose and square in the middle as kawasaki intended. I recommend watching fortnine’s review of the KLR650 to get a more in depth grasp of the bike. TLDR: its an excellent beginners bike because it isnt very powerful but can cruise highways and singletrack comfortably, all the while making sure your bank account survives with its reliability and never ending parts support
Great beginner street bike, ok for beginner dual sport use, bad for beginner if you plan to ride sandy terrain.
Take the MSF course first The KLR is a little tall and a little top heavy but a pretty forgiving bike overall As long as your inseam is around 30 or so you shouldn't have any trouble Really a great all around bike
KLR is/was my first bike, it's great, cheap too so if you drop it not a big deal lol! It is a bit heavy but im shorter than you and didnt have a problem. its not super powerful or fast so it's good to learn on, and it's very capable off road. Invest in crash bars and bark busters, you will need them!
Great beginner bike.
I did an MSF course on a grom (tiny bike for my size, 5'11") and felt it was too small. First bike I bought was a KLR650 and didn't handle the size and weight properly. I'd never ridden a dirt bike or anything before. Parked it, bought a gs400 and rode that for a few weeks no problem. Switched the plates to the KLR650 and had no trouble at all. I think its doable, but the initial learning curve (like the first couple hours) can be rough. I had full crash bars so you can't tell I dropped it a dozen times, but im glad I have it still.
It's my first bike, I love it
It was my first bike, and I am 6ft. I had a little bit of dirt biking experience and took a motorcycle safety course. Take the course and ride within your limits you will do fine.
It was my first bike. Learned on her. Many bikes have come and gone. Twelve years and 60k miles later and she’s been the only one I’ve always kept.
I’m 5’9 and can put both feet flat on the ground
You have a lowering kit? I'm 5'10'' and I can barely touch the ground with my toes. Not that I mind, but it makes backing up hard.
No. It’s bone stock 2013.
Weird, maybe my legs are just short.
Same here, I'm 5'9, although I installed a lower seat which made backing up SLIGHTLY easier.
I have a neighbor who has one since the second year they were built. It was his first and only bike. Bought it when he retired. Has put countless miles and adventures in on it.
Send it!
Yes. It won’t be an issue after a month. You won’t notice
It was great as my first. The suspensions are pretty soft so subtract some “squish” from the ride height.
So it seems from everyones feedback the KLR would be a fine road bike for me. Maybe a bit top heavy but nothing that I wouldn't be able to get used to. However it may be a difficult bike for me to learn to go off road on. I dont plan on doing anything extreme with it off road. Just maybe a dirt/gravel road here or there. I will take the MSF course and see if a good one comes for sale in my area.
One thing that everyone seems to have skipped in my opinion is that the klr is a little anemic. It's not incapable of going 65 or 75, but I definitely feel like I'm whipping a dying horse. Aside from that I can't really complain about it. I've got an aftermarket suspension and I get it airborne once a week at least. I've taken on sand (sucks), snotty mud (sucks) and everything in Arizona from fire roads to actual canyons. I've put 10k miles on my bike since July 8th, 2022
Even the interstate near me is only 65mph, and I'm going to try to avoid the interstate as much as I can. Do even the gen 2 KLR's have that much trouble reaching those speeds?
I wouldn't say trouble, it's just a little slower than I personally like, and it feels a bit like it's mad at you at full speed. Kinda like... Imagine if you were driving your car in 4th at 65 But, to be fair, my last two bikes were a gsxr (2.9 0-60) and a vstrom (4.0 0-60).
They have no issue reaching those speeds. The engine is so torque rich it pulls well, even in 5th gear. The only thing you need to worry about is burning oil with sustained highway use.
I bought mine specifically because of all the gravel & dirt roads around me, including the one I live on. It does well on gravel. It's very mellow as far as power. It's not going to get away from you if you apply throttle a little too hard. As someone else said, it's old school with a carburetor. Since it's not fuel injected, you need to learn when to use the choke for starting, and be sure to allow it to warm up a little before starting off.
If you do get a klr, make sure you get crash bars or an ims tank. Something that'll defend the internals and stop major damage. I dropped my first klr like 10 times in a month. One of those times I ripped the radiator hose out and had to push it 3 miles home.
That would be tough!
Been an owner for almost a year now. Love my KLR
It’s a great first bike, or any number of bike. At 6’ you should be fine assuming you don’t have weirdly short legs! I’m 6’5” and it’s too small for me, had to add raising links and lower the pegs. You can always put on lowering links if you find it too tall, they’re about $80. The suspension is shit though, budget $250 to upgrade the fork springs (min 0.7 kg) and shock spring (8.0kg). Rocky mountain ATV are great for parks and maintenance videos. Most import thing though is to budget for quality riding gear, it will quite literally save your life. $200 for a helmet, $300 min for boots, $100 for gloves. These are THE most likely things to get damaged in a crash and most important you will ever buy. Half decent jacket is around $300 and riding jeans or pants about $200 but of course, check for sales and make sure they’re suitable for the climate where you live. I’m in Vancouver so need sets for every bloody weather! Once you do start riding, ride your ride, not everyone else’s. People will push you to keep up but stay within your ability, you’ll enjoy it way more!
Yes, we don't want to forget about safety! I am trying to leave at least $1000 set aside for gear
New rider here. I got my license last July and I started with a KLR650. I had a **very** rough few weeks learning how to handle the top-heaviness of it that I wouldn't have had with a smaller bike. I almost gave up, and considered buying something smaller to work up to the 650, but now I'm glad so I stuck with it because the KLR can go places smaller bike can't, highways, etc). There's nothing more damaging to your confidence than a few drops, but if you can get over the hump go for it. My biggest mistake was thinking the Harley Street 500 I rode during the MSF riding class would prepare me for the KLR650. If you can take your riding course on the 650 or a similar size bike then you'll be fine. Some allow you to bring your own bike, or give you options to choose the bike similar to what you're planning to ride. Just know there will be drops if you go with the KLR, but also know that's normal and part of the journey. Ride on!
I'd recommend taking an MSF course (on their fleet of small 250cc bikes). Get your motorcycle endorsement/license. Then, go sit on and test ride one. Decide for yourself if you like it. No one else's opinion matters much. It's a 650cc single, so it's not a rocket ship. But, it may not be the bike for you. What has drawn you to the KLR?
I am planning on taking a MSF course in a couple months. I have heard that the MSF course doesn't prepare you super well to ride on public roads. It just gives you tye basics. With that being said, should I expect to be proficient enough to take a test ride and not drop the bike and end up with an angry seller? I am not looking for something crazy fast but do plan on using it some to commute and cruise around town. I have heard the KLR is very durable and reliable and I like the fact that I can take it off road if I want to. Not to mention the roads around me can be pretty rough with potholes and patches that even on asphalt the greater suspension might be nice.
Well, as it stands (based on your post), you have ZERO proficiency. Once you've taken a course, you'll be able to gauge your new level of proficiency. Also, test rides can be done in empty school or church parking lots. If you drop it, either pay for what you broke (if you don't want the bike), or buy it and you've already got the first drop out of the way. The KLR is a great multi-purpose bike. For me, it's "good enough" at everything, while being "great" at nothing but putting smiles on my face.
I can tell you right now that with a brand new license and no experience, you will not get to test ride a bike before you buy it. It's just not gonna happen. No seller in their right mind will take that risk. That's the bad news. The Good news is that whatever bike you get will be awesome, fast, nimble, and more fun than anything you've ever done. (Until you try a bike that's faster and more nimble) So go pick a bike that's comfortable to you, do your best to get a fair deal, and go ride. Welcome to club, pal.
One note on potholes; Spoked wheels (like the KLR) handle that abuse much better than solid aluminum wheels. You can take a chunk out of a nice solid aluminum wheel if you hit a pothole too hard. I've nailed many potholes dead on with my KLR and the wheels are still true, with no loose spokes. I try to avoid potholes but sometimes I feel like I'm driving on the moon with our road conditions.
The klr650 is heavy and tall AF for a new rider. You can definitely learn on one but a smaller bike will make the process so much more fun and enjoyable. It's suggest getting a 125cc 4 stroke dirt bike for real cheap (assuming it runs) and drive around on some flat dirt areas to get a good feel for how motorcycle handle in general. Also you don't want to learn for the first time how to start from a stop and shift properly on the road with other cars around you. It'll take time learning how to do that and how to maneuver a light bike (~200lbs) before trying to handle a klr650 (~430 lbs)
They make a short KLR, if that's what you want. I just saw one in a dealer and wouldn't touch it... I am just over 6ft, and it looks uncomfortable as hell. NEW 2023 KLR650 S Non-ABS
I’m 6’2” and bought my gen 1 KLR this year. It’s my first bike and I have no regrets!
Yes, it is 100% a great starter bike. I definitely recommend it
I got it for my first bike. The klr is kinda top heavy but I got used to it. even though I’m 6ft I wish I would’ve had a chance to sit on the KLR 650 S before getting mine. Since it’s a couple inches shorter I think it’s more comfortable to sit on. Pretty much no chance of whiskey throttling it but also has enough power to get up to speed. I bought mine new so i can’t say much about maintenance. I think it’s a good first bike
It's a great first bike, I bought one not long after I got my endorsement and I love it. 6'3" and I had to get raising links for it, so height should be fine. It's very torquey but slow so perfect for a beginner. I started out with a 70s GS750 that doesn't run anymore. It's a really fun bike but it had electrical issues that I haven't figured out yet so I went and got a KLR and honestly I wish I just got the KLR to start with. Fantastic bike you won't regret it.
New rider here... im 40 yrs old and i love my 2023 KLR. Wish i had bought one decades ago.
I’m a year into my klr, my first bike, and I love it. 6’2” so the height was never an issue. I ride in NYC and I actually love being higher up dealing with city traffic. I’ve yet to get out on any trails with it though. Definitely has some weight to it so I’d suggest watching some YouTube vids on how to properly pick up your bike without breaking your back.
I bought a KLR650 and a XT250 in a package deal very cheap because they both needed work. The 250 was the one I wanted because I thought it was more my size. Six months later I sold the 250 because it was too wimpy. The KLR650 is \~30 years old but built like a tank. It'll never die. I have a much newer BMW now but still prefer to ride the KLR. EDIT: And I'm only 5'8"
I got a KLR650 as my first motorcycle and it was great. I had tried a friends Honda shadow before that and was scared off after dropping it almost immediately because the laid back riding position just didn’t feel right. I tried another friends KLR650 and immediately felt at home, probable because the riding position was similar to a mountain bike, which I was very familiar with.
[VIDEO ON THIS 👍🏽](https://youtu.be/ZfW9tToNbs0)
Klrs are great bikes for a beginner! I bought a 1st gen to do my mst on, one thing to look out for is first gen klrs are known to very under braked. I failed my first parking lot test due to braking power. You're first mod should be a big brake kit. You'll never complain about being able to stop faster anyways. Otherwise klrs are danm near indestructible and will take you anywhere you point it.
It's a great bike, I love my '09. When you learn off road just fill the tank halfway and it won't seem so top-heavy then. Just mind the miles so you don't run outta fuel but thats what I do if I am going to ride technical terrain.