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Kawasaki KLR650 (page 2 of 2)
Mark BraddonPerth
The best fun
Simply put I am a self confessed motorcycle nut.I am one of those lucky guys who has a wife that rides along with our now grown up kids.Motorcycles have been and will always be part of my life, and there haven't been to many bikes I haven't ridden or owned at some stage.i am also fortunate enough to have several bikes at my disposal including the latest ZX14 which I purchased at Christmas just gone.
Last year something strange happened to me. I was tyre kicking down at my local Kawasaki dealer trying to mind my own business when I came acro...Read more
ss an all black 2012 KLR 650 displayed in all its glory. I have no idea what drew me to the bike but and hour later I was on my way home with it!!! Since that fateful day and our chance meeting I have never been able to wipe the sale off my face. I don't know what it is about this bike but I just can't believe the fun I have on it. My wife now has one along with my best mate and my son in law is picking his new 2013 up in two weeks. The KLR has really changed the way I have been looking at bikes for over 30years. Value for money is just crazy no matter what anyone says,The bikes are so versatile, no one notices you, police don't bother you and you can go anywhere with them depending on your skill level.The bare bones of the bike is the appeal along with the versatility. They are very capable on and off road,long or short rides with unquestioned reliability. Sure they rattle and roll but that's what they are suppose to do.I have never been one to consider fuel economy on a bike but if I was the KLR would win hands down.You can load them up with everything you need and head off into the sunset with a huge grin under your helmet. If you want a great value fun dual sport don't hesitate go and take one for a test ride,you won't be disappointed. Fun factor,looks,versatility,reliability,excellent fuel economy,go anywhere does everything wellSimilar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
Value for the money
I have a 2011 KLR 650, which has now done 20,000km's ...and have ridden on Freeways, Highways, Country Roads, Mountains, Dirt/Mud/Clay/Beach & Bush ie completly off road. This was bought for $7,990on the road plus a rear bag, and derestricted. It handles primary and secondary roads quite well at normal/legal speeds really likes 90 - 120, can hit 140+ when overtaking, however it can be wind affected and has on occaision given me the wobbles but not to the tank slapping soiling the pants point. It has good torque from about 45kmh in 4th - and 60k...Read more
mh in 5th. so sprightly around town in traffic, I have good tyres on now the ones delivered with the bike were ok for about 5,000km's. I find cornering was the bigest/nicest surprise from low speed and high speed, only over cooking it a few times down hill - so be carefull no ABS/low centre of gravity/sports bike steering dampening etc etc you have been warned. I found however that certain dirt road surfaces are trecherous - this bike seemed poor with on loose surfaces with damp clay underneath, it appears to slip on the loose stuff then really grab on the under surface quite disconcerting - particularly if you are experienced and don't mind some sliding(ye ha). I think the 22litre tank, tyre, fork geometry combination needs particular attention if you are doing more than about 80/20 - 70/30 road/dirt yeh I know. I had a wonderful 100km+ ride at low tide on firm beach sand however anything more than 10cms of soft means you need to reduce tyre pressure and see what the firmness underneath is like - I have taken a 55kg pillion off road who was good on the bike, but would not consider a heavier pillion unless you are just doing road riding. I have got between 4/5 and 5.5litres per 100km's - not really concened - try to put 95octain in it - mostly because I cant trust if there is Ehtanol in the 91. Now and then I put 98 in it for long distance open road, carrying weight etc etc. Overall fun factor, value for money, simplicity, ease of riding, cheap to run, can get off road a little! A bit un-sexy to look at, wind buffeting, flexing front wheel mud guard,
1 comment
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Dan2275AU
Great bike
Picked up a new 2012 klr just done 1000 km on it
May not be the best dual sport bike but definetely the best
For the price.
Rides good seat a little uncomfortable on long rides.
Bike a little under powered when restricted as lams bike.
When derestricted it is much more responsive .
Large 22 lt tank, build quality good for the price .
Overall very happy with the bike.
A lot of bike for a little price
Fuel guage would be nice with the large 22lt tank
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Find out how Kawasaki KLR650 compares to other Trail Bikes
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Terrible
poor quality parts all over this bike and bike is very time consuming to work on,fuel hose and vacuum hoses held on with very thin wire clips,cheap parts on this bike,not fully made in japan
just a pretty average motorbike,nothing really exciting to write about here this bike has more disadvantages than pros,bike does not balance very well,runs hot in traffic,not much good to say about it.
need to remove fuel tank,plus side covers front and back plus seat plus petrol tank just to change the spark plug.
2 comments
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vanderkooiAU
- 2 reviews
- 1 like
great bike fun and easy to ride
bought new 2011 model after 10yrs of no road riding .Took demo bike for a test ride and was immediately impressed by how easy it was to ride, handling was sure footed and suspension was up to par for my 120kg frame.On my own bike i have upgraded the front/rear springs to cope with the extra load [pillion/gear]and this has made a huge difference to the handling .I will be adding the taller front screen and rear luggage bag from kawasaki in a couple of weeks .Overall i am happy with my purchase.
great fuel economy,good value for my $.Great handling for this type of bike.
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HogriderAU
- 20 reviews
Second best bike I have ever owned.
Having owned dozens of motorcycles over 40 years I can honestly say this bike was and still is my second favourite bike I ever owned. It was not sold - but stolen and can honestly say would still have it now, even after having owned it for 8 years prior to being removed from my pocession.They have 2 x faults and dozens of good points. The exact opposite to most things I have owned. Particularly when it comes to dual sport Motorcycles. It does nothing particularly well - but it does most things better than most comparible motorcycles.It handled ...Read more
quite well on and off road. It braked quite well. It was ultra reliable and ran like a clock. It got 230 klm without reserve at 100kph unlike most that get mid 100's without putting bigger tanks on. It was stable at 120 unlike most and it also was still happy at this speed with standard on / off road gearing - unlike most which start to run out of revs without gearing them up for highway use over 100. The seat was comfortable as was the riding position.The seat height also was spot on for shorter legs like mine. Most are on steroids and reach with both feet is a problem for people under 185 cm tall. All in all it was hard to fault.It was no power house compared to my current KTM 640 but still then "KATO" does a lot of things wrong and very few right - but thats another story.I personally didnt like the KLR's looks but it grew on me after many years. After riding and owning many XL 500's AND XT 500's previously, at first ride on the KLR I was impressed - so I bought it. A great motorcycle. Most everything - barring looks - weight and over baffling of the standard exhaust. The exhaust needed a few extra holes to let it breath, weight is a problem in hard going - but not on dirt roads.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
Interceptor GTGreater Melbourne (Outer), VIC
- 9 reviews
- 6 likes
The Poor Man's BMW...
After owning a number of sports bikes and wanting comfort over speed on those long rides, the choice was clear... Dual Sports!
To cut a long story short: After some intense research on the Internet (surely that wouldn't lie to me!) and a few test rides on a number of different dual sport bikes I have to say the trusty KLR is undoubtably the best bang-for-buck machine on the market.
There is a whole sub-culture of passionate KLR owners around the world with a number of very helpful forums on the net where you can chat with like minded KLR...Read more
owners from all corners of the globe about this simple, honest and reliable machine. There is a mirad of information and tips for various mods and upgrades available for this bike. On The Road: Fantastic! It's capable, reasonably comfortable, surprisingly eager on tight & twisty pavement, happily cruises @ 110km/h and is absolutely class-leading on fuel economy. 420km before going to reserve means you'll be riding further and longer than your counterparts on long trips! Suspension handles all the potholes and bumpy back roads you can toss at it and even when it's loaded with a full tank of fuel and a stack of gear on the very handy luggage rack it still behaves nicely without that top-heavy factor. The only downside is that it's missing a sixth gear, an omission that is not devastating but would just add that extra "something" on the highway. On The Dirt: Loves dusty trails, rocky roads and even some harder trails and the odd river crossing. It's no motocross bike, but it will gingerly get you places most motocross bikes can, just not as fast or aggressively. Remember these KLR's have done epic adventures around the world in some of the harshest climates known to man... And it conquered them all.1 comment
Hi there. Have you trialled the Honda TransAlp? Do you have any opinion on the Transalp v the KLR?
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FPiragibeMetropolitan Adelaide, SA
- 9 reviews
- 17 likes
- Selected Review
A Reliable Big and Simple Beast
The KLR looks robust and strong at first sight. It's a big bike, definitely not for short riders, with its 890mm seat height. Despite of looking a bit clumsy, though, the one who rides it will find it very agile on corners and capable of doing really tight turns at any time.
The range is superb, with its 22 litres tank, the torque is good, both at low and at high revs, and the breaks won't let you down if you need them. But I missed a 6th gear when I was riding on highways. I tried to engage this non-existent gear many times...
If you're ...Read more
not a learner or a R-date, ask the dealer to de-restrict your bike. You'll experience a fantastic increase in power and throttle response. The new KLRs come power restricted from factory, so that it stays learner legal, and you cannot go beyond 5,500 rpm without having the restriction removed. I didn't know that until I found myself riding with the throttle fully opened and not going beyond those revs. My dealer did it for free but, even if they charge you the usual fee (around $ 120.00), it pays off. Once de-restricted, the bike owes very little to any other of the same class, and becomes a good bike for any road, including highways. Of course, it becomes king when you enter gravel paths. The saddle is comfortable and smooth, and the luggage carrier is enough for almost anything you might need, especially if you buy a fairly cheap top box for additional stuff. But, unless you're a very skinny person, you'll have to adjust preload and rebound: they come too soft from factory, but this is very easy to change. I usually ride with my wife as a pillion and, with 2 on the bike, these adjustments are mandatory. Anyway, the suspension is beefy and highly adjustable. So, you won't have a problem with that.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
made in thailand kawasaki
the back rack comes in handy,height of bike is nice,nice to ride where this klr 650 fails badly is hardly any aftermarket parts are available,the rear chain adjusters are the worst i have seen on any bike,the carby mixture screw is almost impossible to get at,i have never seen a plastic bash plate in all my years off riding only on the klr,the bike is not wholy made in japan as kawasaki would like you to beilieve but its got alot of cheap parts on it from thailand,kawasaki used to have top quality bikes and over the years i owned many but too ...Read more
much cheap stuff on this thailand klr 650,front master cylinder leaks,carby never idles smoothly,staples fall out of the seat,chain adjusters are ridiculous,just to name a few lots more faults on this bike and i have owned 2 klrs as new 2009 and 2010 models its good on petrol has a rack on back thats about it,very ordinary bike really quality of workmanship and parts is just not there which i was very dissapointed about,kawasaki have had a good reputation over the years but looks like they have dropped the ball here with the klr badly.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
Find out how Kawasaki KLR650 compares to other Trail Bikes
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migo33Sydney, NSW
- 19 reviews
Excellent
It's a dual sport "easy rider" version. I took it for a ride from Sydney to Alice Springs and it was a pleasure. I could go off-road anytime. At normal speed the fuel consumption is fantastic. It's quite relaxing to know that you can fix the bike almost anywhere.
Cheap to buy, cheap to maintain, great fuel consumption for a 650cc, good build quality, many accessories and parts, 20+ years heritage. Very large fuel tank and reserve. Quality materials. Hi voltage alternator (17 amp) so you can add all your gadgets on-board. Simple and fun!
not the most comfortable seat but not may dual sports that are (or any bike). No fuel indicator. Taking off the seat requires a ranch and 4 screws. Windscreen is not the best for tall guys (above 180cm/ 6').
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Excellent
I love my 2008 KLR. I bought it at 23k from the first owner who rode it around Oz fully loaded. I've now put 12k on it in 12 months most of it on dirt and it won't break. It gets smashed on corrugated, washed out, unused bush tracks on long distance travel and just keeps going.
After installing a staintune muffler, blocking carby slide holes, shimming fuel needle 2 washers and adjusting mixture screw 2 turns out it's suddenly a different bike. Have some progressive front springs on order and getting rear shock overhauled should handle the dir...Read more
1 comment
Put a braided front brake line on it and you'll be amazed at the difference
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Good
I have owned the bike since new and have had no problems with it (6,500 kms), recommend it for riders returning to riding after a long break, learner riders and anyone who needs a bike that can be ridden at legal speed limits and still have fun!
versatility, fuel economy, range, reliability, wind protection (with optional taller windscreen), mechanical simplicity, ease of maintenance, pillion capability, comfortable riding ergonomics, excellent built-in rack, excellent on a tight winding road, initial low price
likely eventual need to replace doohickey (factory should have fixed this by now), cold starting takes a while (in Canberra winters) I let the carb heat up in the sun for a few minutes to help overcome this (works)
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Good
bike seems to be well built and rides well,bike seems to be better suited to the open roads.for the price its not a bad buy at all but i would not take this bike bush bashing off road its not really made for that.
nice bike to ride good on fuel,has a nice rack on the back excellent for tieing down a good crate or toolbox,is fast up top end for highway riding.
no centre stand,a centre stand is a must for a heavy bike or you cant change a flat easy out on the freeways. need to take petrol tank off to change plug,runs hot in city traffic,my radiator fan does not cut in until temp almost reaches red zone
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Excellent
ok once I fitted a staintune sound great and very noticable difference in power and from what I have heard once you get them derestricted they go like a cut snake so can't wait for that need a few more k's on her,didn't think ti would be so nibble in the bush you can throw it around very easy,as I said earlier great on dry track's but the std tyres are a little slippery on wet muddy track's but that's to be expected on those tyre's,haven't had it to long but compared to the other's in it's range I don't think you could go past the KLR650 and va...Read more
lue for money you can't go wrong,can't wait yo get a few weekend's away on her I no it will do every I wan't it to very happy with bike. were do I start ok,very comfortable,great on the black stuff,great on dry dirt roads and trails,good size rack,plenty of protection up front with screen and fairing also hands,good size tank so your not stopping for fuel every couple of hundred k's ok not to many but a few,lack of sound and power staight out of the box,would of being good with bark busters std other than that I'm wrappedSimilar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
ac4000
- 3 reviews
Bad
I took a the KLR on a test drive today. Very nice road manners, you would not think you are riding a 650. Expected the front wheel to be lifting with the big single but non of that, cruises well, liquid cooling kept things under control. If you every drop this thing even once its gona get marked, thing is massivley wide on the front, has rear brake hose sticking out on rear. Kawasaki have now made this a tourer only machine, who would want a single cylinder tourer? - shame on you kawasaki.
Doesn't sound like a big thumper
Vulnerable off, dont you dare drop it
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Find out how Kawasaki KLR650 compares to other Trail Bikes
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Good
I have just purchased the bike new and found it to be acceptable around town. It has enough power to get you out of any sticky situation, anymore would be for kicks. Not to say the KLR isn`t fun, far from it. The 650 has enough power to lug a big load on or off road but I`ve found it`s performance lacks slightly in both departments. Offroad it seems to live up to its reputation as a rugged, reliable bike. It`s gearing could be lower though but this would effect its onroad qualities. Onroad the bike cruises well in and out of tight cornering how...Read more
ever you don`t have the confidence to take coners as quickly as you normally would given the higher centre of gravity (which you can certainly feel with a full tank of fuel!) All that said i reckon this breed of bike is never going to be the best at both on road and off but the compromise in both areas has been kept to a fine minimum with great results. I use the KLR as a regular commuter and have fallen in love with its simplisity and old school ruggedness. It needs no encouragement, the KLR650 in my opinion has a reputation that not many bikes can boast. It is what it is and it does it the way it should...its a good value for money purchase. Simplistic instrumentation and controls. Very well balanced for a bike of its size. Long range tank, comfortable seat and excellent weather shielding make it a great tourer...oh and the price!! how do they do that? Headlight aim too high, mirrors easily loosened when bumped, geared for touring makes it a little sluggish around town but still acceptable if you don`t mind a compromise in return for good offroading ability.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
casagrande1973Greater Melbourne (Outer), VIC
- 2 reviews
Good
Overall a good product for the money and a lot better than is what on offer from other manufacturers and after a few personal inprovements to make a good bike great.
Good looking bike light to handle great on fuel lots of fairings and a tacho,comfortable riding position well priced 8 grand on the road pack rack and bash plate standard bark busters also standard overall a good duel sport bike.can purchase 3 inch lowering links from ebay. Much better product than whats on offer from other manufacturers for similar money.
Suspension on rear way to...Read more
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Good
I have covered nearly 20k on this bike with at least 50% of that in almost unused bush tracks. Yes I have fallen off usually just before coming to rest when my feet are dangling over a hole or whilst laughing at some more unfortunate BM rider, This bike has climbed tracks that have stymied larger more powerful and heavier GS bikes and all this fully loaded, Made some pannier racks out of 8mm solid round just to keep them off the exhaust (not carry full weight). Put slider pull out plate on carrier for cooking saves bending down (make sure bike ...Read more
is almost vertical). Rammed 50mm of rolled lead in bar ends what a difference adds a bit under a kilo but smooth on bitumen. Doohicky fixed with torsion spring. But even with spring breakage chain remains as is for at least another 5k providing adjusting bolt firmly tightened. New bridgestone Trail wing tyres are now the go and the 130 looks almost like a 140. A good bike more/ no, often better than other more expensive dual purpose machines and I'm not constantly worrying about damaging the bodywork. A good go anywhere trail bike that has proven itself better than most in comparable company. Also easy to hop on for that shopping trip. Get headlamp off switch from KLR 650.com better for starting on cold mornings or when battery has been used for accessories. Needs better fron brake 06 model but squeeze harder and it works. Side standpushes the bike more upright when loaded so select low road side for side stand. Get a sealed battery usually available from Kawasaki dealer for around $10 more.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
Questions & Answers
Jimasked
Is this a bike you can ride on the highway for a trip?
nicatranquiloasked
hi..i`m from Nicaragua and my english i`ts not so good. I have a kawasaki kl650, 1992 when i`ts running it has oil drop by the muffler rigth on the cylinder head.
the smoke is white and the oil engine level drop quikly. i changed the valves oil seals and the gasket but it doesn't work.
Any idea about what to do?
2 answers
I'm sorry but I'm not a mechanic and can't really offer a solution.
Is there oil in your coolant or coolant in your oil? ... if so and you've changed the head gasket then perhaps it's a cracked head.
I would suggest you try joining one or more of the many KLR owners Facebook groups around the World as members will probably be able to offer better advice than I can.
I hope you get it fixed. Good luck.
With any oil leak you need to degrease the entire area and run the engine until you find where the oil is coming from. Might take 10-15 minutes or sooner.
Johnnyboy58asked
Hello !! Does any one know how I can find out what motor will bolt right up on my klr 650 1995? Do to the fact my other motor threw a rod and cracked the center case . I found several motors on ebay but want to make sure before I buy !! Thank you .and yes I called local dealer. And received no help !!! Thank you John c
2 answers
Slack dealer not giving you advice. Try contacting Kawasaki Australia. Surely the can provide an answer. As the KLR motor has been virtually untouched since it was introduced in the late 80's there shouldn't be any problems with any KLR 650 motor. But better to check with K A.
Old post, but try an Kawasaki ERN650 motor, parallel twin. Much more reliable, much more power and modern technology. They fit well, but mountings and fittings are different, so a bit of professional fitting is necessary.
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Stevie bb
Absolutely agree with David's comments about the klr 650 . I purchased mine in August 2012 for $8-490, best value for money on the road. It came with the tour pack eg: hi screen tank bag side panniers... Read more
& top bag . I put a lexx power pipe & k&n air filter they made huge difference, great cheep fun bike . My only real complaint is the seat very uncomfortable on long trips .