KLX 650?

[Spooler]

Anyone know anything about mid 90's klx650s? I've been thinking about a dirt-oriented dual sport for a while and there's a cheap 96 klx650 on craigslist. Don't really know much about them, but vie heard they're more dirt-oriented than the klr. Anybody have first-hand experience?

[Chippertheripper]

Kawasaki's answer to the xrl. I almost bought one myself a couple years ago.

My .02, if you want a really capable bigger dualsport (offroad) look for a ktm lc4.

[gregp]

I like KLX 650's. They had the street legal "dual sport" version, and the dirt only version. They are a bit heavy, but they make decent power and are very reliable. A KLR motor will not drop in, though. Different cases, or so I have read on ADVrider.
I owned a 1996 KTM620 RXC and hated it. It was too tall, heavy, and difficult to start. It also vibrated like no other bike I have ever ridden. I sold it quickly, but spent several years working on them as my brother had two of them. Beware of shattering stators!

[KingCast 650R]

A good workaday bike, nothing exemplary in any way, and a bit heavy but overall good rice. I think I like my friend's XR 650L a bit more. My first adult bike of my own was a KLR 250 back in '86 when they came out. They both pretty much stayed the same for 20 friggin years, mate. Parts amundo.

Check out this site:

http://www.bikefinds.com/650-dual-sport-bikes-for-sale

[mikeb]

rode a friends 96 klx 650 several times. beat it off road aswell. bike is a little heavy but not as bad as a klr. i should have bought my friends when i had the chance. solid bike.

i'm looking for a klr/dr/xr when i get my z sold. imo the dr is the better bike. lighter, faster and doesn't sit so dam high. xr's are tall as hell.

[schleppy]

^ what he said. Having owned a DR650 I would definitely buy another one. Really easy to ride, incredibly simple (and cheap) to work on. And you can customize it to work on road and off pretty well.

[gregp]

+1. I sold my DRZ400S and bought a DR650 last year. The big DR has been a great ride! It is trouble free, and performes very well as long as you do not mistake it for a real dirt bike.
The DRZ had a bit of an identity crisis, IMO. It (and a lot of mag and online reviewers)*thought* it was a good dirt bike, but it wasn't.
I owned a 1984 KLR600, and it was pretty good as well. The skinny and flexy forks were its downfall... The 1996-up DR650 engine is much smoother and more powerful than the KLR 600 motor was, though.