Klr650 yay or nay?

[boosten lebaron]

Got word on a smoking deal on a new klr650 for 50% off. Can't say I've ever ridden anything like it so what's the general consensus of them? Mostly gonna use it for light adv I think. Probably nothing more complex than Oxford dam. Some highway too. I don't need the bike but it's hard to argue with the price.

[RandyO]

how can you go wrong ?

[boosten lebaron]

That's what I'm thinking. So cheap...

[RandyO]

now is time for dealers to clear floor space for new deliveries they have committed too

[Crconnor18]

So long as you understand it’s not powerful or light it’s a nice bike. It’ll never scare you with the power but will never leave you stranded and extremely light on the wallet for what it is. Don’t expect to power wheelie or hit 100mph on it. Expect vibrations throughout your body.

I don’t know if I’d ever get one again but if I did it would be a first Gen with the giant (32l) safari tank and take it across Africa, up to Alaska and back on a tank of gas. The early gen’s can be setup to be kick start and run without a battery. The weak points have been adjudicated with readily available parts (subframe bolts, doohickey, seat etc).

[boosten lebaron]

Im pretty sure I know what to expect but you never really know until your on it. I think it will be fine for me riding wise.
My main hang up right now is I would need to get rid of two smaller bikes to make room for it here and that means the hawk gt and the nsr. As it is I gave to rotate one bike outside all the time now with the seasonal need for my snowblowers at both house. My garage build has been delayed due to a neighbor dispute so my storage situation won't be changing any time soon.

[TIMMYDUCK]

I picked up a 2009 model 3 years ago at an estate sale .

Great bike to have .

[Crconnor18]

I probably jumped the gun when I sold my KLR and never have it the attention it deserved. Back then it felt like adv riding was only what you saw from Chris Birch and I wanted some power.

I’ve done a number of FFAR’s with the hard routes and plenty of KLR’s have been able to conquer route without issues. For the right price (that looks like you have here) you can’t go wrong. Some good tires, new seat and some stronger bolts here and there and you’ll never go wrong.

I may be able to convince the mrs to rehome the NSR if you have to

[boosten lebaron]

Lol. You would be perfect for the nsr. You've seen and heard it already. Thats most of it.

[Crconnor18]

I also find it ironic the first article on ADVRider today..

https://www.advrider.com/2013-kawasa...ike-right-now/

[whynot]

I had a 2009 for three years (2011-2014). I rode the TMT with a small group, it was fine. I sure got used to the extended range that a 6 gallon tank delivers.

Lots of aftermarket out there, and everything is know and available. Depending on how you use it, you might change tires and gearing one way or the other. Riding mostly pavement, I went +1 on the front sprocket and Shinko 705.

I did drop it on some loose sandy rutted rocky roads near the prison camps. Fortunately, it was a group ride so others lifted it off my leg. It's not a light bike.

On solo rides I stuck to pavement or roads like this:



I wouldn't mind having one now, which would mean selling a couple of bikes that I don't use much.

PS -- on my 2009, I made a couple of changes that made a HUGE difference -- on the front suspension, IIRC, I went with Progressive springs and drop in valves, RICOR "Intiminators." When I had the forks off, I found that the factory had used the wrong fork oil, much too light, looked like ATF, while spec is 20w. Just changing out the fork oil would have made a big improvement. And I did a Dyno-Jet carb mod. I'm OK with carb'd bikes. Of course, you could keep spending on upgrades, as with any bike ... .

[nick5446]

I should have kept my first gen as it was alllll farkled out and I was into it cheap. If you set your expectations correctly, you'll be stoked.

I'd also consider what you want to add to it and how much that'll set you back...if you want hard luggage, a pipe, skid plates, etc., you might end up spending more on accessories than the bike.

As others have said...tough to go wrong. Good luck!

[boosten lebaron]

I'm not sold on the hard luggage the klr has but I found one thats at a heavy discount as well. They seem very plastic-ey and make getting on the bike a challenge. It's a might leg swing to clear that seat.
I would imagine I would use it as a minor adv tourer and probably just use it to explore local areas. I don't know anyone that rides for camping trips or anything like that so I'm unlikely to have to really load it up. I would like to use it for rough camping but I know that won't happen by myself.

[nick5446]

It’s not my money, so I say go for it!

I bought some huge Moose aluminum panniers a while ago because they were priced wrong on Walmart’s website. I’ve yet to find a use for them, but I’ll sell them cheap if you want them.

[boosten lebaron]

Interesting. Let me look into fitting those. Could sway my choice.

[Imbeek]

If you are on the fence and looking for other reasons that these types of bikes are cool, one of the uses I’ve discovered for my KLX400 is to solve the problem I have of when I drive the RV somewhere and need to do errands from the campsite ( or in my case, bluegrass festival). The KLX is light enough that I can just put it on a bumper rack on the camper’s Reese hitch. Then when I get to the campsite, I unload the bike and I have a way to go get things at the store, or just ride around the countryside for fun, without breaking down the whole campsite and driving the RV.

[MattR302]

How “new” is this half-price KLR?
The 2022+ models are the Gen3 - basically got EFI and digital gauges (and more weight)
If it’s a leftover Gen2, I’d pass, but a Gen3 might be worth it

[boosten lebaron]

Gen 3 otd for $5500 is an easy deal to find right now. I have a bit better of a deal but its for the traveler one which has higher MSRP.

[OneCheekRider]

I've never had a KLR but I do have a WR250R dual sport and multiple Triumph Tigers. I could be completely off base here but the KLR seems too heavy for dirt stuff and too underpowered/underfeatured for road stuff. If the intended use is mostly street with some mild ADV/dual sport, I'd personally get a used Tiger 800 (or similar) that matches the KLR's weight but can have cruise control, loads more power, and potentially more factory optioned accessories like heated grips/seats.

If you need to have a new bike at a low price, require a large tank, or just love simple machines, then I can see the appeal of the KLR.

[boosten lebaron]

I love simple machines. It's as simple as that. I want nothing to do with rider aids or modes or anything like that. I don't even want abs. Too many gizmos take away from the experience.

[PurplePackage]

those are good bikes. easy decision:

if you will actually ride it ,yes
if it will just sit 24/7 until you finally sell it, no

[boosten lebaron]

I would ride it actually. I need something like that for my new house. It's all rural so that bike would be perfect there.
I am getting a bit tired of dealing with Kawasaki dealers though so may not even get one. One place added 55% to the price after I got a quote from them so they can piss off. Seacoast power sports (different from the much renowned seacoast sport cycle) is giving me the run around now so they are out. Poughkeepsie seems legit but they aren't open enough during the holidays for me to actually get down there and get the bike or even pay for it. Looks like these cheap klrs go away the first of the year and I'm running out of time.

[SteveM]

Added 55% to he price?

Wtf

[boosten lebaron]

Yup. $5000 advertised but otd included $800 destination charge. Final paperwork showed $7700 with doc prep and set up charges. I bailed without even attempting to discuss it with them.

[whynot]

Yeah, like false advertising, but with fine print.

So, how about back to Royal Enfield? A friend picked up a used 2023 350 Classic, loves it.

New OTD $3300

Or new "Hunter 350" $2999 OTD

Over engineered bikes, fun to tool around on, lots of atermarket available, especially from India.

OTD proces from your friends in North Pownal VT

https://www.royalenfieldbenningtonvt...rcycles-7.html

Includes free winter storage.

I'm tempted myself.