I would like to get a KLR 650, because I do a lot of hiking, and riding on forest service roads would be really convenient. For nearly 30 years the KLR has been a dependable motorcycle that has enough oomph to cruise at highway speeds and is light enough for just about any offroad newbie to feel comfortable riding on a fire road or beginner trail. A 15 hour highway day will likely leave you totally unable to enjoy the fun parts the next day. . Check your oil at every fuel stop. The Good the Bad and the Ugly - Building a Kawasaki KLR650 Adventure Bike. A great comfort for tired backs or cramped legs. I've heard a 685 kit really reduces vibrations due to the lighter piston. May 6, 2015. 60 mph is pretty much the limit for long distance riding on a KLR. First Ever Freeway ride on the 2008 Kawasaki KLR 650. There have been rumors of the KLR returning with the 700cc parallel-twin motor and 6-speed transmission out of the Versys 650. How tricky is it to fit a 12V plug? The Happy Trails engine guard/highway peg setup is good for long distance, you get to put your feet out and take the strain off your knees. The nut is a regular thread, ... After riding with for a month with this new sprocket I do believe that this is … If you are drinking because you are thirsty, you're already behind, and dehydration multiplies discomfort and fatigue. See more ideas about Klr 650, Windshield, Klr 650 mods. 150 Posts #21 • Feb 28, 2011. I can now do that with a breeze though. 60 mph is pretty much the limit for long distance riding on a KLR. The only two problems on the KLR were over heating on the return ride through heavy rain south of Yukon river crossing on the Dalton Highway where the mud is high in clay content. 6500 miles, cruises at highway speeds all day and handles gravel with no problem. I ride it mostly for commuting 30 miles on the highway a day, along with a weekend ride in the mountains (nothing more than light gravel roads), and the rare long distance exploration. Extra power and torque as well. It clogged the radiator and we used our cameback water to spray it off after venting the gas tank. Kawasaki 2008 KLR 650 electrical wire harness recall repair. It's a 15 hour drive if we go straight down highway 70. How do highway pegs improve the ride comfort? Saw this problem on two Suzuki V-Stroms at Coldfoot Camp as well. KLR 650 Highway Review. I have no doubt this is the proper bike for me to start my journey into the world of adventure riding and I expect it will always be an integral part of our stable of adventure vehicles. The all-day ride proved Kawasaki's point: The upgrades work, and work well. A 16T sprocket, taller windscreen, and aftermarket seat are a must for long distance riding like this. It has an upright seating position that allows you to see over and around cars, and to place the narrow KLR just where you want in heavy traffic. Save … First of, I'd say get yourself a 16 tooth front sprocket. It was the largest WTH I've had on my klr. Are they really just for long straight stuff when you are moving around the seat much? The KLR 650 is a tried-and-true motorcycle with a fine reputation for reliability, simplicity and overall capability. I'm up to about 20,000 Miles on my KLR, and a lot of that is highway. Klr will probably have a lot more room for growth. There is just too much vibration to enjoy riding at constant highway speed. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Press J to jump to the feed. Everything works as it should. after some research, I think the omni cruise is now second. Pegs have a detent ball to keep them in the up or down location. I have the ATV seat cover from Amazon. . We could run our laden bikes at 80 mph indicated all day except for going up steeper hills. R 45,000. Felt a bit Sketchy at first. Not too big and not to small engine size for all Latin America. Also, how big a difference does highway pegs make? The Kawasaki KLR 650 is the Swiss Army Knife of the motorcycle world. You can,t go wrong there a terrific bike., l personally would not ever ride anything else. Next: Electric Dirt Bike vs KTM 250 SX-F. You Might Also Like. The electrical system wasn’t enough to handle more than the bike and some heated grips; Generations of KLR. Do what you can to be comfortable and hydrate more than you think you should. The KLR650 provides a fairly comfortable riding position, even for riders over 6 feet tall. The frame, rims and suspension show true, off-road DNA, and carry features popular with pure-dirt riders.First, the double-downtube, stressed-engine frame is made of steel, known for providing a little bit of flex and give that takes the edge off the jolts. Kawasaki KLR. Sooo much turbulence on my helmet. Lots of Extras: Continental Conti Attack tires … Related Products: tweet; Previous: GoPro from a KFX450 quad following a Husqvarna dirt bike. Hey, sorry, know this is an old post, but could you expand on the 08+ fender? Watch a video blog/travel film about my solo motorcycle journey from Vancouver, BC, to Inuvik, NT, along the Dempster Highway of Northern Canada — … Designed with both street and dirt riding in mind, the large-displacement KLR more than meets adventure-touring requirements, thanks to an engine that cruises comfortably at highway speeds, an ample and comfortably padded seat for extended saddle time, a large 6.1-gallon fuel tank, handguards, and a mini fairing to help block the wind. The Honda comes in nearly 100lbs lighter than the Kawaski KLR 650. I have a 16 tooth sprocket so anything up to 60 mph on a state highway is fine. Sep 27, 2016 - here are the before an after pics with a few new mods. Add more from a repaint and more mods. Johnny KLR, Mar 16, 2005 #8. Smaller windscreen with less wind protection on the highway. Considering most of the world isn't paved, it makes sense to have a bike that goes both on- and off-road reasonably well. I ride a KLR650 around the city (San Francisco), and I love it. In summary if you want a good basic dual purpose bike that can be optimised for highway riding and also dirt roads the klr650 is a good choice for the money. Follow that with ROX anti-vibration risers, if the budget will allow. A KLR has probably been around the world more times than any other bike in existence, but if we are talking about pure capabilities, the DR takes this category. Plus they'll last longer at highway speeds than your knobblies will. Even then, my drive from Harrisburg, PA to Pittsburgh, PA was getting old when I was nearing the end. The 650 is my everyday ride and the Vstrom has become my getaway ride for those far away places and those roads less traveled. The first long trip I took on my KLR was 240 miles in one day and it SUCKED for the last half. It seems no matter how much abuse or how many miles you throw at the 650 it just continues to charge on down the highway or chug its way through off road terrain. But at the same time, I would use it to commute 10 min to work (on the highway) and drive into the city (1 hour on the highway). Are the tall windshields worth the investment? published 5 years ago. Lynx S. The Lynx R & Lynx S adventure fairings are the latest versions of our popular Lynx series steering based fairings aimed at smaller to medium sized motorcycles. Private Seller . Buzz. Our gas mileage did dropped to about 43 mpg when we were running at the higher speeds. Discussion Starter • #5 • May 13, 2018. Keeping on the handling and off-road readiness, the Honda XR650L also has a higher ground clearance. It sucked. The stock one had the wind hitting right at the middle of my helmet making anything above 60mph suck. Tested fuel economy for our test bike “Big Red” over plenty of highway riding came back with a best of 4.95L/100km. I suggest going for a nonstop two hour ride before your real trip. 17 tooth highway sprocket on front for lower RPM travel. I've found the upright position to be pretty good. 2003 Kawasaki Klr 650, 2003 KLR 650 in very good condition. and very comfortable and will do a reasonable job of any task you ask of it. Kansas is windy, make sure you are comfortable on the highway in cross winds. Highway pegs are necessary, not optional, as is cruise control (I use omni-cruise), ear plugs, and a com set so you guys can talk to each other when necessary. . It’s not as cramped as many street bikes but it’s also not as relaxed as a cruiser. Do youself a favour and get a nice touring seat. Invest in some highway pegs. Were going to do both, but the majority of it will be highway. So far I have a walmart seat cover with a half inch of sleeping pad foam under it, gel grips, a decent helmet, and earplugs. 2008 Kawasaki KLR650 road test review from Rider Magazine. I forgot to mention that I have an Acerbis front fender. Plan on leaving the offroad tires at home though. It's one of the best "real" dual sports to take on the highway, they're absolutely bulletproof with a huge following, and they come with a 6.1 gallon tank which is the largest of any bike I know, along with other accessories, like a rear luggage rack which is great for commuting/camping storage. With the crazy number of adventure touring bikes on the market today, it is … For me my arse started hurting after 150 miles and also had numbness, that I didn't realize it till it happened higher up. Lynx Dual Sport Fairing – Kawasaki KLR 650 (1987-2007) Lynx R & Lynx S Fairings. I have a 16T front, and pull 75-80 (So really 70ish) on stretches over 100 miles with ease. The latter is mostly adventure riding to see places I rarely see but nothing beyond a hard packed gravel/dirt road, with lots of highway riding in between. After its 30,000 mile report, the Globe Killer Kawasaki KLR650 Project Bike was pushed a bit harder than before. | KLR650 Highway Review - YouTube The Good the Bad and the Ugly - Building a Kawasaki KLR650 Adventure Bike. This would be my first ever bike. It helped A LOT. 6 likes. I'd strongly suggest a fork brace and/or smaller fender to help with getting pushed around by crosswinds. Click to expand... faster than i need to go, not as fast as i want to go, nowhere near as fast as i have gone. 2014 Kawasaki KLX 250S – Dealers Transmission. Added to List Add to My List Added My List. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Press J to jump to the feed. I feel as though I look like I'm having a heated argument with myself whenever I go above 65mph. hey, I'm trying to decide between the xr and a KLR and I like the weight and off road abilities I've heard about with the XR but I'm wondering what it's like for long trips. Bike has low mileage, almost all highway miles. Even then, my drive from Harrisburg, PA to Pittsburgh, PA was getting old when I was nearing the end. The biggest thing that got me was vibration in the handlebars making my hands go numb. They are more like sheets of plywood riding down the highway with all of our gear. KLR Highway Mods? Licenced good runner new battery , cash in hand or no test ride .... Read More. Krugersdorp 2 days ago. They are very simple, reliable, efficient. 3 one month. Longest highway day I did on my KLR was 550 miles. . May 3, 2015. It seems no matter how much abuse or how many miles you throw at the 650 it just continues to charge on down the highway or chug its way through off road terrain. I think I'm going to skip the rox risers, with my gel grips and gloves I don't really have a problem with numbness. I was reading some posts about how the new 08 klr is the machine to pick cause it can maintain true highway speeds of 80 to 85 miles per hour for extended periods of … The KLR's engine doesn't have the horsepower for highway driving, especially if you're tall. Home; KLR650 Tool Tube; ... Use the 27mm socket and torque wrench to remove the nut that secures the 15 tooth sprocket to the KLR. Discussions. Specifications. That drive is awful in a car. May 1, 2015. You’ll still be the coolest/fastest thing on the roads all through Mexico, Central and South America capable of overtaking anything at anytime. PS: The CO BDR is awesome. More. . . Just want to hear some opinions. I love my KLR, but I'm looking to get a sport touring bike to ride … Being a versatile, inexpensive bike, the KLR650 has been a strong seller for over 3 decades. Price. How Bad Is The KLR On Road? Break it up. Drops the RPMs at highway speed and makes a big difference. 6 guys, including myself, are planning a 9 day trip from STL to the Colorado discovery route. Aug 15, 2019 - KLR 650 Windshield riser and dash. If you don't have music then I highly recommend earplugs. Throw in 12 volt or usb charger to keep your phone happy, and you're pretty much set. Across sand, dirt, forests, and of course pavement, nothing else adapts like the KLR™650. is there a way to mount highway pegs without crashbars that's cheap? Similar opinion? Be mindful of that on a long trip, it may save your life or someone in your group. . Will a fork brace make it more stable on the highway? Pictures. Adventure-touring across North America. Rating. You will struggle to keep up with traffic going 80mpg. Ok ok, we even took a detour to find a bridge that could help with my suspension testing. It doesn't catch the wind like the old one. While Kawasaki hasn't kept up with the times, Yamaha sure has. Tire Irons (Motion Pro spoons-axel wrenches) Handlebar risers (.7 inch Eagle Mfg. I can keep up with about any traffic just fine on 70mph highway. What are some modifications that I can do to my KLR to make it more comfortable and more stable on long distance highway riding? Miserable, no. With the crazy number of adventure touring bikes on the market today, it is … Trade ins are welcome subject to view. 60 mph is pretty much the limit for long distance riding on a KLR. Pegs are high quality serrated Aluminum pegs to grip your boots. A 16 tooth sprocket is at the top of my list. The option is to not be in a hurry, then you can do 60. Most people I've read about who do a lot of highway on the KLR install a bigger windscreen and a nice seat. I don't like going faster than that and I don't like the interstate. The all-day ride proved Kawasaki's point: The upgrades work, and work well. 15 hours will definitely suck, 100% guaranteed. They will provide a more comfortable ride. 3 reviews; 5 likes; value for money backroads cruiser. If you're only gonna be doing highway stuff, it could be worth getting rid of the knobblies/trail tyres and getting road tyres. Riding Dirty: My KLR 650 Has Two ... when I bought my Kawasaki KLR 650, ... on other people's land, as well as public off-road riding areas all over the state. Can you split the 15 hour drive into two 7.5 hour days? I have to recommend the KLR, it seems to better fit your needs. Johnny KLR Woefully Adventurous. boys, time to fess-up about the klr and the highway (speed and distance) you all are riding at. The 2014 Kawasaki KLR 650 and all other motorcycles made 1894-2021. It honestly comes down to the rider. Yeah my legs were cramping pretty hard after 250 miles at 80 mph. Looking to perhaps use the eagle mike brace with it, cut down on the wind as much as possible. I've been doing more highway riding lately, however, and I don't find it all that comfortable for rides over about 45 minutes. Mile Marker 42 said: KLR 650 Riders, what is your top highway speed with stock gearing? 80 Posts . I will try recommendation while waiting for my new shinko 705's to come in. Joined: Oct 9, 2003 Oddometer: 7,439 Location: Lost Wage$, NV. On the freeway I run around 5200 I believe. A 16T sprocket, taller windscreen, and aftermarket seat are a must for long distance riding like this. The KLR 650 is a dual-purpose bike — the bikes from which adventure bikes were spawned. Get a 17 tooth sprocket and some earplugs. For off-road riding, weight is crucial. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Feb 17, 2017 - Riding and camping trips. Kawasaki built the KLR 650 for actual use in rough terrain, not as another motorcycle equivalent of the Soccer-Mom SUV. fixer KLR-riding cheap bastard. Cruising at 70-75mph is much more comfortable now. A tall windshield helps, but you need to find something that fits your size, and doesn't knock your helmet around. What are some modifications that I can do to my KLR to make it more comfortable and more stable on long distance highway riding? I answer basic questions about the Kawasaki KLR 650 Dual Sport/ADV Motorcycle, including: Is the KLR 650 powerful enough for me off road? By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. 2008 Kawasaki KLR650 road test review from Rider Magazine. Testing the suspension over a Hunterdon County bridge. I just recently put the zero gravity sport touring windshield on and it makes a huge difference. Daily commuter this summer. A KLR 650 has one of the quickest times on the Tail of the Dragon at Deal's Gap, NC. Will that be miserable? In retrospect it worked out very nicely as I was going to keep the ST13 and Burgman 650 and add a KLR for adventure riding, but these two bikes now fit the bill even better. I can't put bar end weights on with my hand guards. The Klr 650 is a fantastic bike due to it's incredible versatility. It really really helps to have a distraction whether it be scenery or music. Kawasaki KLR. The DR can do anything the KLR can do, but with a much narrower frame and nearly 50 pounds lighter the DR can handle the rough trail riding … whats it like for riding all day on the highway with gear? Bought me second used KLR 650 30,000km ago. Also had the 16 tooth sprocket. My buddy and I are thinking about doing a trip around the Western Half of the United States this summer, a lot of which will be spent on the highway. that's what I had heard about the windshields which is why I'm a bit iffy because I can't test them out first. R 39,990. In retrospect it worked out very nicely as I was going to keep the ST13 and Burgman 650 and add a KLR for adventure riding, but these two bikes now fit …