Kawasaki KLR650 reviews

I owned the past generation KLR which was a good bike but the brakes were spongy and the cam chain tensioner was subject to failure. Kawasaki has made many improvements to this stable performing workhorse. Better lower end torque and great fuel economy. I have averaged 55 to 60 MPG. The only complaint I have is that the tires that come with the stock bike wear out in less than 5,000 miles. The engine is bullet proof and the build quality and durability far surpasses comparable bikes costing more. The bike is a great value and a blast to ride in the twisties. Show less

I'll get to the point. Great looking bike, with the new body style. Soft suspension and comfort while riding. At 36 horsepower, it's a little under powered for what it is. I'm not asking for huge horsepower, but I think there should be a little more to offer with todays technology. I would sacrifice some of the fuel mileage for maybe 5-10 more horsepower. Fatten up the carb and put on a better pipe. Friends of mine want one but the seat height is too tall for them. Show less

This is the second installment/review of this bike. In 1 year of owning this bike I am still satisifed and agree with my past review on 12/8/2008. Now breaking past to 10k mile barrier the bike is still handling like a champ. I've smoothed out the ride with a set of Avon Distanzia tires and added Elf Synthetic oil to the mix which has improved the sound and performance during shifting up or down the scale. No oil burning issues. On the long ride this bike is comfortable even with the stock seat. When climbing hills the lower torque of this bike give the umph needed, this KLR loves to climb, lots of power when needed. Brakes still responding very well (I'm a pretty conservative rider). The current stator/powerplant has supported a variety of items, extra turnsignals/lighting, GPS, HID aux lights, etc., Although I do connect to a battery tender every night just to make sure. If you are looking for an excellent commuter, adventure tourer bike while on a tight budget the KLR650 is an excellent choice. Too many pluses to pass up. Show less

I bought the Blue 2008 and put 300 miles on it in just a few days. The next 300 miles was a combination of dirt, water, and rocks during the Shenandoah 500 put on my the Northern Virginia Trail Riders. I did not modify the bike in any way for the ride. There was plenty of front and rear suspension and the braking was awesome. Due to the steep terrain, I would recommend a sprocket upgrade, because first gear is too high and there was a constant need to change between second and third. The stock tires did well, but heavier knobbies would be a benefit when off-road. This bike spends a lot of time in traffic and is used as a commuter bike daily. Show less

I bought 3 2009 KLR's, one for myself and two for my sons. We ride every weekend on highways to get to dirt roads, so we get a wide range of riding. The bikes do great on the highway and exceptional on dirt/gravel roads. We have taken the bikes down some dry creek beds and they seem to be a little heavy on the front end for loose sand and geared a bit high for slow maneuvering. But this is typical of all good dual sport bikes. You have to consider I was able to purchase 3 bikes for the price of 1 BMW. The KLR performs very well. However, the seat definitely needs to be upgraded. These bikes are virtually bullet proof and for the money by far the best bike out there. Show less

The KLR is my first street bike and so far has exceeded all of my expectations. It is really fun to ride on the twisty roads. It has tremendous low end tourque, you can really accelerate exiting a corner. The bike handles very predicably wich is good for a new rider. Comfort is really good. But for riding on the highway I think I will get a taller wind shield to keep the wind off of me because of my height. You can't beat the price. The most bang for the buck of any motorcycle sold today! Show less

You can't beat riding a dual sport machine like the KLR 650. I can go anywhere with this bike -- one day it gets me to work and back home, the next it gets me to an old fire tower way up in the hills. It is easy to handle, has plenty of power, and is fun to ride both on and off the road. Show less

Had my 09 Thumper now since Oct 08. Took the correct precautions with break-in which is a make or breaker(went by on-line forums, not the manual)and this thing is SWEET! Adjusted the rear shock pre-load and return pressure for my weight, as it comes pre-set for smaller folks, and I've been very pleased with it. Anyway, the KLR is a great machine as long as you keep it in it's realm. Too heavy for a real dirt bike...and the OE tires pretty much suck. It's more of a logging road, dirt/gravel road type of bike, but if you're looking for something that you can ride on the street to get there(5 plus gals of gas), and then ride off the street once you arrive, it's right up your alley, and seems to be dependable with some of the problems of earlier models (dohickey) worked out. I commute on it and I love it. Good price too! All in all a fun piece, durable of equipment. Show less

I initially bought this bike as an inexpensive commuter, and the KLR650 has filled that role very well. What made me choose the KLR over other models was the large fuel tank, liquid cooling, rear rack, fairing and upgraded gauges/styling that other bikes didn't offer, not to mention the KLR was less expensive. That was the icing on the cake. I've had 14 or 15 other bikes, most of which were high horsepower sportbikes. What surprised me most about the KLR was that even though it isn't a speed demon, and even though it's not the most powerful bike in the world, the bike is extremely satisfying in many, many ways. I consider it to be one of the best motorcycles I've ever owned to the point where I consider it a keeper. Bikes come and bikes go, but if I get rid of them all one day, there will always be a place for a KLR. The bike is that good. The handling in the twisties is on par (or better) than all the high end sportbikes I've ever owned. If you are mechanically inclined, the single cylinder is a breeze to maintain and adds to the satisfaction of doing the job yourself. I gave it a 4 for reliability due to an improperly routed wire harness that left me stranded going to work one day. Other than that, the bike has been flawless. When I wear this KLR out, I will buy another. One more plus is that the bike looks great dirty! Show less

This is my second KLR, bought 2006 new in 2008. Only has 40 miles as of 2009. Still waiting on aftermarket parts before I hit the road. Adding fork brace, tall windshield, bag, pipe, sprocket, lowering links, skid plate, heated grips, and LED tail light. Am 46 and have owned a dozen bikes over the years and this is the best swiss army knife do everything bike. Great for work commuting and fun to hit the dirt roads and trails. Can't do serious off roading but is perfect to investigate something off the pavement. My first KLR was very reliable and expect this to be the same. Show less