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I need to apologize to all of you KLR650 riders

ScottRNelson

ScottRNelson

Adventure and Dual Sport
Joined
Aug 3, 2002
Location
Meridian, ID
Moto(s)
Honda XR650L, KTM 790 Adv R
Last week while I was in Hawaii, I rented a KLR650 for a day from the guy who runs hiadv.com. I was hoping for a DR650, but he sold that before I got there.

Although the KLR still has an unexciting powerband compared to my XR650L and is a bit clumsy off road, I have to admit that it is a much better bike on the street than the XR. I rode the thing 335 miles from South Point to as high as you can legally go on Mauna Loa. I would have had a sore butt on the XR, but the KLR worked great the whole time and was a lot of fun on the twisty sections of road that I was able to find. I felt great after the ride I can now see that if you only have one bike, that would be a good choice. Looks like it would be an excellent commuter bike too, since I didn't have too much trouble hitting 90 mph a couple of times and it would cruise at 80 no problem.

So I will no longer be making fun of KLR riders and might even recommend that bike to some people. It is a decent bike. :thumbup
 
Apology accepted. 300+ miles on a KLR in one day is a feat in itself. Tires also make a huge difference for the KLR's handling/speed characteristics.
 
That's the problem with prejudice, bikes or otherwise - they're irrational, and almost always wrong.
 
They're still ugly as sin.
 
:laughing As far a bang for your buck, do everything bike. I don't think it can be beat. You would be surprised how well they can corner too, I couldn't tell if I was excited or scared to be dragging pegs on a set of $120 Kenda tires(don't ask about the stock brakes though..)
 
I just bought a KLR NE and I am surprised how much I am liking it.

It's not that it excels at any one thing, but it just does a lot of things really well (or well enough?). I'm not gonna take it to Hollister Hills or anything like that, but I did take it over Old San Juan Grade/Fremont Peak for its first ride and I had a blast. This past weekend I went over Old Coast Road for the first time in years, and it was quite a little adventure. The new bike even got a little dirty.

I am collecting parts/accessories I want to put on, but nothing too outrageous... (ok, I did get a Two Brothers pipe for it.)
 

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Congratulations John! So many good places to explore on the Central Coast.
 
John,we have to hit Coast Ridge/Los Burros rd soon,have a little dual sport adventure.
 
I did 250 miles on a klr250

That sucked....
 
I did 10 miles on a KLR 650 from Davis to Woodland. That sucked.

Then I did couple hundred miles on the same bike on my 128>29>butt canyon loop and it was awesome
 
Heh-heh... We KLR riders get no respect I'm telling you... I don't mind because I have lots of fun on mine...
 
I loved my KLR, but the KTM 990 is better in every possible way except one. I didn't mind dropping the KLR on dirt.

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ScorpioVI said:
I loved my KLR, but the KTM 990 is better in every possible way except one. I didn't mind dropping the KLR on dirt.
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Make that two. The KLR gets quite a bit better fuel mileage than the KTM. Enough of a difference that I consider hauling along a fuel can on some trips up in the Sierras where gas stations are very far apart.
 
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