Kawasaki KLR650
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39 reviews · Statistics
Reviews
Good all round modern day horse.
Good large on road off road bike. Keeps up with speed limits. Seat a bit uncomfortable. Great for the price. Cheap to register. Stock tyres a little slippery in mud. Owned since new, 8yo. Could use extra gear.
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38.000Km Report
I bought the bike new in 2017. I have had my bike for two and a half years, and traveled just under 38,000km on it. I ride it about 40km every weekday and take it out on weekends for fun.
I still think the bike lacks power. I did gain a moderate increase in power by changing the Carburetor slide to one without holes. (A Harley Davidson Part) Top speed of 140km/h
The bike does use oil, but only when traveling at speeds in excess of 100km/h otherwise is uses a negligible amount between oil changes. However, if you want to travel more than ab
... Read moreout five hundred kilometers at highway speed, then you should bring some oil with you. It will use oil whether or not you change gearing. The furthest trip I have taken it on was about 770km one way. (Adelaide to Melbourne) Highway all the way. The bike used no oil on the way to Melbourne. It used no oil on the first half of the return trip. It used a significant amount of oil on the last half of the return trip. It has used oil at Hwy speeds ever since. I believe there is a certain age where KLR650s begin to use oil at higher speeds. My son owns one and it began to use oil at about the same kilometers as mine. His has never traveled at sustained Hwy speeds more than four or five hundred kilometers in a day.
A great value packed all-rounder
I have a 2013, and have added a tall screen, stronger luggage plate to the carrier, mirror extenders, tank bag, crash bars are next and driving lights, then a top box, I commute everyday, it's faultless but should have a sixth gear, I'm not adding a 16 tooth sprocket, that overgears the bike, and can lead to oil burning, also about to do the doohickey balancer part change with the torsion spring, (the only mechanical weak spot, on this bike), Kawasaki get it right on it's replacement.
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A very nice all purpose motorcycle
I bought a KLR650 not very long ago and have used it a number of times but haven't travelled too far from home. I find the bike very easy to ride, easy on fuel and attractive. It turns heads. I love the electric start that my xl500 didn't have. The price was right and Kawasaki even gave me a tank bag and cover bonus! Im so glad I bought this motorcycle before the bike shops ran out of them since the klr will not be made after 2018. Way to go Kawasaki!
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Best all round fun reliable motorcycle out there
Road touring and dirt trails, some pretty rough carved up terrain too around FNQ.
2015 model restricted for Australia, (now de restricted ) SW Moto engine bars and bash plate added.
Take the top off the carb and block the two restriction holes in the top of slide ( JB weld steel stick from Jaycar ) and no more spluttering and a bucket load more grunt, 1 hour job including JB hardening time, very easy to do.
Does not burn any oil (7500kms)
Oil burning
I have owned a klr for 4 years now and it is a fantastic bike its versatility is second to none. Many klrs have been known to be oil burners. It is my experience that this is largely caused by over gearing, which so many owners love to do. I have found the stock gearing to be far the best both on and off road and would never run a 16 tooth front sprocket, which overloads the engine. The klr has a weak piston design and over gearing causes fracturing between the rings and oil burning.
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The one bike for all tasks
This is my second KLR 650 and is one of the many bike brands I have owned, it is not the most powerful or the shiniest bike but it is the most fun,and Kawasaki reliability is legondary. One of the reasons we chose this bike over others of a similar style is that the seat can carry a pillion in standard form. My only gripe is that the standard gearing was a bit low for my intended use so l went up 1 tooth on the front sprocket and that made it more user friendly on the highway, 4000 revs = 100 K. If you can only have one bike in your life this is it a truly great all rounder.
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Pure and Simple
The Klr 650 is a fantastic bike due to it's incredible versatility. They are very simple, reliable, efficient. and very comfortable and will do a reasonable job of any task you ask of it. You can,t go wrong there a terrific bike., l personally would not ever ride anything else.
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Proven reliability and design..
I have an older 2005 model and 60K on the clock. Previous owner had set up for touring with adjustable preload on the rear shock and had radio coms arial fitted which I removed. Bike uses no oil and is strong, has great low down torque. Brakes are mediocre but they work well enough when squeezed hard. Fitted a Lexx muffler and 16 tooth front sprocket. Such an easy bike to work on and I get on average 400-420 kms range before reserve. Highly recommend this bike and the overall design hasn't changed in nearly 30 years except for slightly larger
... Read morefront shocks and a few cosmetic changes to the front end plastics and rear grab handles. Other than that, it's the same bike. The Kawasaki KLR650 makes a great hobby bike and excellent commuter. If you like tinkering in the garage and making little mods to the bike then this is a blast...I feel if anyone complains about this bike then they shouldn't be owning a motorbike at all. Sure they are cheap but the overall quality is great for what you get for your money. The American military have been using them for years though many are a diesel conversion of the petrol engine... Its sure no KTM but its worth its weight in gold and have read many previous owners regret selling their KLR650's. I highly recommend this bike as a good and reliable all rounder with a durable engine.Find out how Kawasaki KLR650 compares to other Trail Bikes
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The best possible bang for your buck
Yes, it's old school. It's been around almost unchanged for over a quarter of a century and if it had four wheels it would probably be a tractor... but it's as cheap as chips to buy, easy to maintain and bullet-proof reliable.
The current "New Edition" version has some very welcome improvements to the suspension as well as a redesigned seat but keeps all the features which has made it the benchmark for economical adventure motorcycling.
It is no exaggeration to say that you could jump on the bike at the showroom and ride it to the next town..
The more I ride it the more I love it:
Purchased the KLR new in 2013. It has done 16,000 klms to date. Made a few mods. Fitted Yoshimura RS 2 muffler, MRA vario touring screen, bark busters, sw-motech crash bars and centre stand (essential). The most significant was putting on a 16 tooth front sprocket (standard 15). Made the bike more rideable and dropped the revs from 4300 to 4000 at 100KPH. Softer hand grips are a good idea. Fitted Heidenau K 76 Scouts which are superb on bitumen. Not a lot of power but oh so much fun to ride. Basic, low tech but that can be an advantage. I re
... Read moreally look forward to pushing the starter button and heading off. I have been down the sports bike and tourer scene but I suspect the KLR 650 will see me out. Returns between 21 to 23 kilometres per litre. Well done Kawasaki. Why change something that works.
A few mods to make a good reliable all rounder
I bought a 2008 model 8 years ago and have done 35,000kms on it. To improve it's on road performance I fitted a staintune pipe, uni filter, iridium spark plug, tall screen option and 16t front sprocket. To maintain reliability I've adjusted my valves and fitted a new stock spring to the doohickey balancer and adjusted it. Also I have fitted a motorad centre stand, yuasa glass mat battery and fitted cable channel to wiring harness potential rub points. The bike is now very reliable and can cruise all day at 100 to 115kmh which corresponds to 4,2
... Read more00 to 4,500rpm (sweet spot for this big single). At these highway speeds I get 19 to 20km per litre running 91 octane. In summary if you want a good basic dual purpose bike that can be optimised for highway riding and also dirt roads the klr650 is a good choice for the money.Find out how Kawasaki KLR650 compares to other Trail Bikes
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value for money backroads cruiser
Bought me second used KLR 650 30,000km ago. Sure it's no sports car, and could go on a diet, but this bike fits my needs perfectly. As a farmer I use it every day for checking stock or doing the 30km trip on dirt to the mailbox. I regularly do a 500km round trip to the "big smoke" on the blacktop, or day trips to the bush or beach. Just keeps on going. The new version looks great. I have heated grips and taller screen for longer rides. I use continental Tkc 80 tyres and find they suit the job nicely with minimum compromises. I have other bikes
... Read moretoo, but just about live on this one. Take a back road, take the long way, take your time-or not-enjoy the ride. Big tank is a plus. Big rack holds heaps. Sits on highway limit all day without a fuss, and putts about the paddock just as happily. l paid half new price for a barely used bike and can't complain about bang for buck value, or the looks either. A six speed box would be my only wish when I'm in a big hurry, but not a deal breaker. Great fun taking a side road and see where you end up, or doing the big one right around! Enjoy!
You get what you pay for
I've got a 2010 klr 650. 39000 km . Around 350 km to work each week plus a few longer trips. Just put new front and back springs on her which has made a big difference ( race tech ).
Sits on 110 km/h all day. Very easy to customise to individual taste. Friend has a bmw 1200 gs . Yep it's good but"..
Keep it simple !
Just buy one
Bought one of these bikes for the work commute of 130klm per day.
Geared the running gear to the max for highway running.
Put 140000 klm on the clock and didn't even have to reshim the valve clearances, as the bike looked like new and the odometer went right round and back to zero, I got an amazing trade in value for it, so I bought another one.
The only problem is that you have to remember to grease the speedo drive or it will seize up in the front hub, bit of lathe work and tig welding and all good again.
Don't go crazy buying oil from a
Questions & Answers
I have a KLR which has a thermostat bi pass which looks standard.It has a clear section in the bi pass tube where the coolant can be seen.How does this compare to the thermo bob.Is a thermobob still needed on this model?thanks
It sounds like you're referring to the carburettor heater, which is stock on Australian models , the clear check tube comes out the thermostat, then is clipped to the black hose which passes through the front of the carb to stop it icing up in winter , then returns to the cooling system down the left side of the engine across to the water pump, It's not a Thermobob, that's a aftermarket kit that is fitted to the cooling system to provide a coolant bypass that is in every other cooling system but the KLR650!!, it's stops the cold coolant effect stressing the engine,so that hot coolant is always entering the engine, there is proof of warping in the stock engine, to piston and cylinder overtime that leads to the oil burning the KLR is known for, so the answer is YES , it drastically improves the life of the engine.
Is it worth getting a 2008 KLR 650 with 40,000 miles on it? the price is set at 2,800 USD and everything seems to be in good condition. the only thing that was off when I went to go check it out was that it was low on oil and had a few scratches witch is as expected with a dual sport bike
What is the purpose of the small steel tube behind the feul tank of a Kawzsaki KLR 650. I took the seat of to remove the battery and notice there is no pipe connected to the tube. Is that an overflow?
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Details
Features
The Kawasaki KLR650 is equipped with a powerful 650CC single cylinder engine, which is liquid cooled and fuel injected. Paired with a wet multi-disc 5 speed manual transmission, electric starter and 22 litre fuel tank, the KLR650 delivers plenty of performance.
Other features include a multi contoured seat, which narrows at the front, which increases comfort over longer riding periods. A 41mm front fork, which includes stiffer springs, increased oil height and revised damping, better suited for on-road riding situations and carrying heavier loads. This helps increase ride comfort and improve handling.
Rear suspension is also included which also assists with load carrying, when loading up the KLR650 for longer road trips.
Points of Praise
- With additional customisation, including storage boxes, taller front windscreen, mirror extenders, tank bag and crash bars, the KLR650 becomes a great commuter and ideal for longer trips.
- Riders find the bike easy to handle, easy on fuel and overall appreciative of its design.
- Road touring and dirt trails are all easily covered by the KLR650..
Pain Points
- It is commonly known that some KLR650’s can burn excessive oil. Keep an eye out for this.
- Brakes aren’t the most responsive, they require a harder squeeze on the brake lever and pedal.
| Category | Trail Bikes, Learner Approved Bikes and Adventure Touring Bikes |
|---|---|
| Engine Capacity | 651cc |
| Release date | |
| Manual | Download manual |
Extra Information
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