I HATE the Kawasaki KLR650… so I BOUGHT one 

my man goes 30 in a place where no police car's been for the past 2 years, and takes a "shortcut" through woods rather than just going a bit faster.

I had a 2009 KLR, and loved it! I had full luggage, high windshield, comfortable air seat and gps. It would run all day long and easily keep up with touring bikes. Reaching the off road trails, luggage and windshield off in 5 minutes and off road you go. There wasn't anywhere I asked it to go that it didn't soldier through. Knock it all you want, it's a beast.

"It's the toyota Hilux of motorcycles" And with that, I'm sold.

The most overlooked aspect of the KLR is the community. You need help? Have a question? Want to just share something (even a bike that's not a KLR) without having the "fan boy fraternity" chastise you? KLR owners are typically down to earth good natured people that just like riding.

Showing the "action" in the dirt a big plus. As an over 6 foot tall 370 pound guy, the KLR is the only bike that doesn't make me feel like I'm riding a YZ80 down the road. Also, it's a plus to get a trunk box big enough for your hat in case it rains while sitting in a parking lot. I hate carrying my hat around in stores, and don't want the bluetooth to get wet or stole in the parking lot. I always wanted to paint it to look like a Hayes m1030 or a Harley MT500 but never got around to it. Miss that bike. This assessment is spot on. Kudos.

Man, nice I'm 68 and recently got a new 2022 KLR650 base model no abs, my first KLR, I bought it because I wanted a big thumper, and it's a hoot to ride !

I literally got my 99 KLR running after 7 years. Bought it as a non runner. I got it running to fight these gas prices.

Had a 97 KLR 650. Put 90000 miles on it before I traded it in on a 99 Tiger. Wish I had kept the KLR as a second bike. The KLR was rock solid dependable. Rode it on 2 week tours going from Seattle area south as far as Moab and north to Laird hot springs on the alcan. Never gave me any problems. Only reason I went to the Tiger was I was tired of having to work the gears to keep the one lunger in proper power band. Lugging a one cylinder cuts the life in half. Comfortable for long rides, good fuel range.

We had a 2014 in the family and I cannot stress what an all round amazing bike Kawasaki brought out. There is an abundance of parts if ever needed. It's for the most part fuel efficient and just an absolute pleasure to ride in any conditions. Might I add that it remains the most reliable motorcycle that I have personally encountered in my existence.

Want to get another really slow, even heavier 650 that can also go off road? Try a Ural next! (and those are even twin engines)

Very informative, thanks for taking the time to go through the KLR so thoroughly. As a Harley road guy, I've been considering a dual purpose 'beater' that I can ride on the dirt roads around the place and the KLR may just be the right (read cheap) answer!

I just got a 2017 KLR650, after owning many bikes, its probably one of the most fun bikes ive ever had. Cant offroad an MT07/09 without crying

I have seen so many mentions of the KLR650 in other posts but this video by far was more memorable and entertaining. Just the right seasoning of sarcasm. All the traits I look for in any vehicle (reliability, function, simplicity, parts/repair, good history. I’m on a Valkyrie now but a KLR could be in my future when I retire to a third world country in a few years.

I just bought a 2018 with 3,402 miles with plenty of performance mods in pristine condition with a maintenance journal showing all work. I had walked in to the local dealer expecting to ride out on a 2023 Himalayan, but I got so much more a little more money. Its the only time I've owned the same model twice. My previous KLR was a gen1. This 2018 gen 2 with carb, intake, exhaust, suspension, etc. mods is an Uber Pig. I took it up to 92mph at about 5krpm and it was still pulling steady with no speed wobble. It'll do 100mph+ no problem. I did get a minor speed wobble when I chopped the throttle at 92mph. Sadly, my pig will be relagated to commuting and living outside of my condo 24x7x365. I expect weather to take its toll in 5-6yrs. As an outside bike that is self maintained, simplicity counts. The biggest pain is the shim in bucket lifters under twin cams, but I've done them in a morning in my parking spot on my old pig. I would even think about it on my vStrom 650. The KLR lifter service is every 15k miles. The Himalayan is evey 3k miles, but it has tappet adjusters that are tiny and hard to get at like my baby ninja. The Himalayan only has about 60% of the hp of a stock KLR and the weight of the bikes are essentially the same. The only advantages of the Himalayan are its air cooled which translates to few maintenance issues and it has a lower center of gravity at the cost of suspension travel and ground clearance.

I have a 2008 which I purchased for $2500. it came with Nav garmin Givi bags ,aluminum dash plate and bash bars. The guy who had it befor me toured and put 64,000 KLms on it, now has 67,000klms. The running gear was worn, New sprockets & chain, new clutch, new tires, carb kit got rid off heavy GIVI bags, just put new shims in and engine is still running strong. Does what i want it to do back roads gravel, hwy. for the small investment and bringint up to snuff, its a beauty.

Very well put together video! I enjoyed the way you wrapped it up at the end.

i had a klr in 1990. drove thru snow. got me to work! im old now and miss biking.one of many bikes i rode. great video.

Love mine, 2023 fuel injected. I would not have bought it if it was carb. Two things I wish it had from factory. Lowering options & cruise control.

The benefits of versatility are very real and far outweigh being the best at (some) one thing. Its why i loooove my Versys 650. But i do wish it went offroad… 🤔 (nah, i love the corners too much 😆)

Love the humor a realistic point to your video. I have 37000 km on my 2015 KLR 650. At 60 it keeps me riding and you would be suprized where I take it.

The KLR is definitely the best bang for the buck. It's an excellent starter bike (off road and on road) because you can take it almost anywhere. It's a slow chugger that will get you up hills, out of sand or mud, through snow or streams. You have room to add extra bags and gear but the KLR will still take the extra weight and get you there. It's a mid/heavy for starters, but it's best to learn on a mid/heavy and go from there. I believe they are the most versatile bikes when it comes to parts and aftermarket parts. Plus with tons of forums and social media groups dedicated to this bike. So no wonder Kawasaki didn't change much. Besides the now fuel injected KLR's. I own a 2023 KLRS and absolutely love mine. I just feel like that people who rag on the KLR are only saying so because they compare it to a bike that is more specific to its class.

i bought an 88 KLR as my first bike and it has absolutely served that role perfectly. 1500 bucks for the bike, plenty of cheap mods and excellent cheap replacement parts that are readily available

Interesting take on this tractor, CC! 👍🏼Getting the backpack load off my back improved my ride on another level. I just DIY'ed 4-points clip-on straps to the rear seat without using the top box.

Bought my 09 model new in 11, got it cheap. Perfect for my AK trip. Huge aftermarket availability, large online following for help. Parts available everywhere, anyone can work on it. It is able to carry my ego, something a lot people require ktm’s and gs’s to do.

What a superb video. Love your review. I went for the Versys X 300 as my first foray into Adv bike. Have to say I absolutely loved it, largely due to the fact that I could get my feet on the ground. I found the KLR just too tall to feel comfortable on. Having said that it was right up there on my potential list of bikes to get. Keep up the great work. Ps we do have the best "playground" in the world here in South Africa 👍

Wow, thats a review i would expect to see on fortnine channel. You are up there with the best!

In many places here in the US, our fuel supply is intentionally contaminated with ethanol. It has been my experience that fuel injectors are more tolerant of ethanol in gasoline than carburetors in motorcycles... Maybe if you ride the bike every day, ethanol doesn't gum up the carbs, but if you let it sit for any time, it seem to do so... On the other hand, the bike that I have with fuel injection starts right up even if I leave it sitting for months at a time...

I had the original one back in Italy, custom illegal aluminum exhaust, removed all the cast iron crap and gave it +30 km/h in speed. A monster bike.

I'm loving my 2022 basic model and have done several 1000 klm road trips and oodles of 200 klm off road adventures.

not sure why you bought a old one though, a new KLR has different powerband, fuel injection and different suspension, longer rear swing arm, more rake in the front, a more solid frame and subframe, vibration dampening, digital dial, better seat design, a bigger magneto and places to put USB and other electricals, basically everything you didnt like was changed.

This is a bike that is meant to be ridden, abused, modified, etc. I highly recommend a better seat. I got an old corbin one and it is like sitting sideways on a weight bench which is surprisingly comfortable compared to the stock one. I have ridden it for hundreds of miles a day for days on end.

I know this is an old video so the chances of you seeing this are low. But I appreciate the video and the unbiased opinion. I use to be big into Japanese sport bikes. My last one being a turbocharged hayabusa. I then saw expeditionsouth with Alex Chacon and fell in love with the Klr I bought one and have never looked back. It is the bike you can do anything well enough with. The community is amazing and they are so reliable I dare say it competes with a Toyota Corolla in that aspect.

To fix the engine problem. The needle is not adjustable. All you need to do is place a small electrical washer under the needle to raise it a touch the thickness of the washer about half a millimeter. Enjoy the mid range extra power.

I'm a professional motorcycle test rider for a major manufacturer. I ride over 8500 miles a month. I ride every bike on the market and can afford any bike i want. My klr is my go to almost every time

I love my KLR! A simple machine that supplies lots of fun!

They seem to be a jack of all trades for places like Africa and Australia. Off road, and on. In Australia they are also dirt cheap, and legal to drive with a learners licence with a power governor, so you don't need to buy a more competent bike after you get the full licence. You mentioned it's the Hilux of bikes. I'd argue it's the Mazda Bravo / Ford Courier of bikes.

If it isn't broken , don't fix it. Form follows function. Reliable, easy to maintain and lots of accessories. I ride a Harley Davidson Sportster for a 100 mile a day round trip. Ugly, behind the times and it gets right at 48-50 mpg. But I like it. It reminds of the old British bikes I owned. It talks to me and it lets me feel the road. If you like it, use it.

They're reliable and an all around good bike..That being said..I sold mine..It lacked power,hwy speed and was buzzy in the handle bars..

You should round the edges after cutting stuff... like those 2 sharp windscreen corners. And the corners of those aluminum brackets that will eat into your backpack. ;)

I use my klr as a tool to explore my environment. Rather than a bike for riding for ridings sake. Basically it will get me to the camp ground or fishing spot or interesting thing I want to see. And by the way it handles some pretty crappy roads just in a slow methodical manner.

Putting the PW50 as an alternative option was absolutely savage 😂

Had 2 Klrs. Crashed one so bad I had to reframe it, they are tanks for sure but good miles and reliable. Now im riding on one wheel on the street w a exc 500. Yipeeee

The only (1) serious issue that would make me *_not_* buy the newer *2022 KLR 650* is: *_the doohickey_* in the engine that goes bad after about 5000 miles & may ruin the engine. And _yes_ this is still a problem on the 2022 models, I'm told by non-Kawasaki dealers. Addendum - The small issues that also make me *_not_* want any KLR 650 single: - way too high of a 1st gear, - too heavy/sluggish, i.e power to weight ratio, - no tachometer, - many other 2022 adventure motorcycles are *_higher tech._* & has *_better features_*

So, I recall not long ago that the KLR wasn't even known by the general public. I used to love them, but nobody talked about them. Is it because of Ryan at Fort Nine, who made 2 videos about the KLR, with millions of views, showing the KLR as being indestructible, that raised their profile so much? Because from what I'm hearing, you can't get them cheaply anymore. I recall 10 years ago, there were 4 KLR's for sale on any given month on Craigslist, and they were selling for $4,000 in really good condition, with low miles. I'm assuming they are way over priced now?

I bought one of these as my first bike 2 weeks ago, have ridden it 6 times so far and still feels like it wants to kill me every time. Ill tame it some day.

Renthal handle bars and progressive springs make the KLR a pleasure to ride.

Really solid video work. I love my KLR because it is so not-special. It’s like a Jeep YJ.

KLR = Keep Loctite Ready. I love my KLR. The bike has taken me to Death Valley, Zion, White Mountain, Bodie Hills, Sequoia and more. You can buy the bike, gear and travel across the United States for less than the cost of a BMW GS.

It was a jack of all the trades when it came out, it is a master of the Enduro! It's great on the road and it is phenomenal off-road, my opinion, still jelly yours is green and mine is white lol😂

off road touring as opposed to racing, similar reason the Enfields maintained popularity

That single cylinder also means more torque at low rpm, though the peak torque is not super high.

Nope, don't hate them. I bought one brand new in1993. Still have it, still ride it. It's been to every western state in the US and damn near every state in Mexico. Met my wife in Manzanilla,Colima,MX. while travelling. Why do we like them? You can go anywhere(dirt, gravel, sand, and paved roads) fairly comfortably if you don't drive over four hours a day. They are easy to work on, cheap to work on, and reliable. FYI- I even road my KLR to the top of Sand Mountain in Nevada. Recall, it only has about 35 hp so getting up it wasn't easy. I had to get up to 90 mph to make it. But I did make it.😎(after three or four attempts). And speaking of carburators - I had to disassemble mine while twenty miles deep into the Canyonlands National park (Utah) loop. Cleaned it out, put it together and I was on my way. Here is a RU-vid video of the White Rim loop ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Rd4_LxhmcZU.html

That bike is a jack of all trades. It does nothing great but does everything you need... My KLR was called Jerry. I jerry rigged everything on it when things broke. The thing just always worked after a jerry rig.

I bought a 2015 KLR650 new, I was so disappointed with that bike. I had heard so many great things about the bike, but it had the most awkward center of gravity with that giant gas tank way up high. With a full tank of gas, luggage on the rack, and a backpack on, I never felt super confident about going too hard into turns. When the rear tire slid, it slid far, it made off road maneuvering in tight areas very risky. They don't take falling over very well, replacement plastics are stupid expensive. The seat and hadlebars suck after an hour of riding, the exhaust sounded terrible, and over 70 MPH it was very squirrely. I had it over 90 MPH on the highway once. I never did that again. I put 6,500 miles on it before I lost control on a tight turn and stuffed it under a gaurd rail.

It really cracked me up when I heard the theme music from my favorite KLR RU-vidr Masons ADV! Seemed very appropriate!

Excellent vid. I owned a Kawasaki Tengai 650 (KLR in a nice frock) for several years in the early 90's. I put hairline cracks in the frame near the footpegs by riding it to Central Australia @ 130kph. (nice 23L tank, though) It was/is a tractor. I rode a more recent model KLR about 5 yrs ago and the (not so) happy memories came flooding back. Suzuki V-Strom 650's have been my steed of choice since 2007 and they are orders of magnitude better than the John Deere.

I have never found any motorbike to be boring. Especially the KLR650. 63 years of riding 62 bikes owned, many others ridden so nope I've never gotten to boring because I am an enthusiast.

its an amazing bike for a new rider a great way to learn and understand the mechanics of the bike if it didnt change in 20 years that should tell you everything you need to know

As an owner of a 2nd Gen KLR 650, I very much enjoyed this video :)

Add mod that thing immediately. If it's street legal I would reduce that rearched drive's block to a small as I could fit. Then I'd adjust to valve timing and the cooperator. I'm not lying. I had a rebel 400 stock. Max speed was 80. Did all that stuff to it? Which only took an hour and I think was ripping along at about 1:40. I'm on 60 not sure the speedometer only went to 80 miles an hour and stock had never reached 80 miles an hour, so just a thought don't have to settle for Manila vanilla.

I’ve got a 2010 model. 100000 and not a problem. Around Australia x2 . Keep it simple. Some upgrades in springs, brake parts screen and sprockets. Excellent

T7 for a budget adv bike. KLR if you just need budget and transportation. I owned a DR650 and absolutely loved it. I’ve owned about every bike type and currently own a 2004 R1. I’m thinking about selling it and getting a 2022 KLR650 to tour the US

I've driven my friends KLR, it's all right and reliable and insurance is dirt cheap. If you pipe and jet it there is definitely more balls there and lots of torque down low. It does what it's supposed to do. Certainly better than walking...

KLR has a decent engine , pretty much straightforward and pulls harder than an XT , but it's heavy not only heavy but top heavy with full tank , its turn radius was not so bright also as far as i remember not my cup of tea but i would take it over XT if i have to make a choice.

I bought a BMW f650GS. It’s a parallel twin, boring as crap, but it corners really well, it’s oddities are endearing and I usually find myself picking that bike for the day versus my other two bikes. Something about it… 🤷🏻‍♂️

Spot on with the video. It is the least expensive most competent all around option. I loved mine and wish I had it back. Thank you!

I own a 2022 KLR Adventure and love it as my first bike. Admittedly so I wish it had more power and a sixth gear but it doesn't. For my first oil change all I could find was an oil filter for a 2002 and the damn thing fit. I thought that was so cool that parts for a bike 20 years older worked on my brand new one. Idk if ill keep the KLR but it'll always have a special place regardless.

Ill never get rid of my klr. Just like an old dog its always there to love when you need it

They are motorcycle rider-owner motorcycles, they are not jeweler or related to ego or any of that. They will last as long as you’re willing to work on them. The only problem for me is that they are very tall.

Pirelli Rally Scorpion STR's would probably a banger on a KLR

I just ordered a 2023 KTM 890 adventure r but my next bike will be a 20 yr old KLR. Why? It’s the perfect bike for the pan American highway. Alaska to Argentina. Cheap bike if stolen, cheap parts. Parts are globally available and easy to find. Not too flashy especially when I paint it flat black. Upgrade the shitty clutch. Crash bars. Good tires. Cycra handguards and Mosko reckless bags. Off to travel the world

I still have the Original Sales Brochure, back in the 80's this was my 3rd dream bike, Although i never owned one Having the '86 KDX200 i thought the looks of it was bad a----.

The motor is that way because there isn't a village in the world where you can't find somebody to work on a stone-simple carb'd single engine. Being able to be fixed with simple tools is the most important thing to true long-range adv bikes. Because they always break.

I have that exact same model of KLR. But mine is a 2014. I Really enjoy the bike. It works for me. Best Wishes! M.H.

I have earned one in the last two years, after always having a bike for the last 40 years, I so regret ever selling it. What a bike, never trying to be something else

Then, my Himalayan is, kind of, a similar one. Low powered, heavy, but very fun to ride.

The price is by far the best point if you can afford better bikes get a better bike but the klr gives people that can't afford one the ability to do alot more

Some people prefer sport bikes, some prefer dirt bikes. There are so many different reasons people like riding on 2 wheels and there are so many different types of motorcycles/scooters out there. I don't really like track bikes and think they're pretty over-powered and pointless on the road. I mean, who needs to ride in a racing position to commute to the office or go grab lunch somewhere?! I understand that many people prefer them, even if I don't really understand why. I love adventure bikes/dual sports because they just open more doors to things i'm able to do and places I can go. Single cylinders might not be the most efficient design compared to v-twins and inline 4's, but they make up for it in simplicity. I've never encountered a mechanical issue I couldn't troubleshoot(dr650 and dr250). Parts are cheap and readily available. I don't care how the bike looks. I care about saving 2 hours on my morning commute by lanesplitting across the bay bridge, and the clogged streets of SF. With that same bike, I can cruise to the Sierras during my off time and ride around the farm or go explore gold mines and jump in remote rivers and lakes without spending much on gas. That would cost a fortune in my car, and would be impossible on a street bike. When I buy a more powerful bike, which is something I plan on soon since the 650 is a little underpowered on longer highway rides, it'll be another dual sport. Thinking a GS or tiger, but I'll never get rid of the trusty DR.

GOOD TIRES ARE A MUST ON THOSE GET THE BEST YOU CAN AFFORD

I love those oldscool bikes... Either this KLR ... I would buy one, but in germany is wasn't sell anymore 😢

Scientifically a single cylinder bike will give better traction control on dirt ! Because of the travel of the wheel versus the power stoke on the 4th rotation . Just fyi

I love my klr. Been to many remote places with this thing. Yes it’s slow on the highway but there’s no bike this size and this comfortable that can go to such isolated places as easy as this.

I bought 2023 klr 650 brand new..I dont need much power..I m beginner..I tried all same times of adventure bikes before buying this klr..Klr 650 most lighter,most smaller i could found between whole advent runners .

I regret not getting the XR650. But funny enough I dont regret buying the KLR. I've been riding litre bikes for twenty years, I'm on a Hayabusa now and I just wanted something for Simplicity and reliability and the ability to go with nearly anywhere I want. After doing lots of research these things are pretty much unbeatable for reliability. To be fair through my research I've also realized that I want to own a tw200

You buy the bikes you hate... I can't even buy the bikes I like 😂

Try a 82 xt550 by yamaha single cyclinder dual sport very torquey but not fast it wasn't meant to be fast just as you stated. I bought mine in 85 rode it for years. I live in the pacific northwest in the United states where mountains are everywhere and i live near MT Rainer so climbing is where the singles shine.

Change the sprockets on these,makes them longer legs,more highway

It was better when it was carb. If you open up the air box and re jet it, feels like a new bike.

When I can pull parts off my John Deere and put them on my motorcycle, I’m happy farmer

So, its the land cruiser of the bike world. Basic, bare bones and reliable as hell, will go anywhere with no fuss and is boring to boot.

Mine was awesome. But then I used it for transportation to my favorite places to do exciting shit, not as an entertainment device. And if you don’t want it, give it to someone who appreciates it.

You should have got a Gen3. It has fuel injection, updated display and brakes. 😂

I loved my KLR. it was slow and ugly, but it NEVER broke down. My wife and I rode it all over western Colorado, in places you wouldn't ever think of going 2 up on a bike. Standard gears were a bit too tall for this kind of thing, but a 15 dollar gear one can swap out yourself in less than a half hour took care of that. We never ran low on gas, the tank is huge. That bike could climb a tree, it was that good off road. We made a trunk for our gear out of a milk crate and some bungee cords. It climbed any hill, crossed any creek, and even outran a bear. No one would commute to work on a KLR. The road capability is for getting from town to where the fun is. If you want to commute, take the bus. That's what it's for. Poser.

This is the best video and narrative of any video that I have ever watched on the KLR. Thank you

I'm here to complain about your complaint. It is entirely wrong. A jack of all trades, master of none... Is still always better than a master of one. That's the real quote.

Almost a motorcycle. I bought a new one in 2015. It was a dog, and st speed (120 kph) it was stretched right out. I took.it of paved roads but no single track as the KLR is too heavy. The bike was cheap. I bought it to replace my 2005 GSXR 750. A now have a Suzuki Vstrom 1000 (2015) A way better bike. I also have a 2011 ZX10R . An absolutely wonderful bike. brutally fast and solid.

I own a 2006 with 14k miles and I've been offered 3k dollars I'll keep my tractor and enjoy it as my grocery getter

Own a cg 125 the bike hasn't change for decades .

That one big piston seems to be in a two stroke engine.

I was one of the first one's in my area to get the 22 klr650. I put 300 miles on it and had to trade it in. Bike was horribly slow... so much I just could not stand it