kdemotorsports Once it's all said and done if I remember I'll post a video and email you. Yes I am, along with "performance" mods. Those and crash protection/luggage mods make up most of the cost
Don't ever.....EVER......ever....sell it. Just tighten everything up, fix what you break from gnarring, and learn to hate aluminum and love steel. Loctite
whatupg1 agreed these are upgrades that I think are pretty common. Unfortunately the used market doesn’t typically want to acknowledge the costs. So you really have to accept that this money will be lost when the time comes to sell.
You don't have to do all that in my opinion we drove from Canada to the tip of south america on stock KLR bikes . Never had single a problem . All we had was a tank bag and soft luggage which was prety cheap and convenient.
It cost me 13K dollars to import mine to Kenya. Ive put on about 75K km in three years on mostly offroad. Its a tough bike but it has its issues for sure. The frame under the seat and the rear sub frame are just crap. Ive broken the frame so often the welds are like mutant additions of rebar and mig welds. The gear box ratios are totally wrong for offroad usage. Ive put a 14 on the front which helps but my mileage now is very poor. Brakes are absolute rubbish. The rear brake boils over on extended offroad riding in equatorial heat. The front is just pissy weak. However saying this, the bike has fairly reliably got me through three years of riding in South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Just last week I was in Virunga Mountains on the Congo border. The KLR is really tough and I would buy one again given the same choices.
Thanks for watching I look forward to seeing some of your videos. Based on the frame damage it sounds like you are encountering some pretty rough conditions. This also usually means a pretty interesting trip.
Never heard someone trash something so bad that they've put so many miles on and live to tell about it. You're couple sentences at the end does your post no justice. The son of a bitch has 75K km on it in three years over rough countries. Tell me what other bike will do that for you. Damn negative people. I hate em!
Thank you for the video. Would you believe I just found a 2018 with only 2000 miles and almost all these upgrades for 5k? I feel like a found an awesome deal
I would believe it, the used market usually pushes the price to that point even with the upgrades. So I suspect it’s a legitimate deal and personally I think a good buy especially at that price.
Great walkarund video. Got a 2018 and started with the mods like you plus a few more. All said and done, the cost of the upgrades/protections/etc it almost the cost of the bike new. Heated grips, Barkbusters, KLRDash, foot pegs, 1" longer shifter, 1-1/8" handlebars, RoxRisers with vibration dampening, Outback Skid plate, Dirtracks front and rear racks, tankbag, panniers, full LED light conversion with added LED floods, Eagle Mike Carb upgrade/doohickey kit/fork brace/fender lowering/larger front brake, triple-tree power outlets, Seat Concept commuter seat with Tusk heating pad, modified rear luggage rack with backrest,.... it goes on. This thing is a blank canvas for the tinkerer. At the end of the day, make the bike your own it can last for years if taken care of. If I do decide to sell it one day, the bits can always be taken off and sold separately from the bike. Friends were kind of laughing at me, then it was pointed out that the final total was still 2/3 the cost of one friend's new Africa Twin BEFORE he started added things to his. 1/2 price of my other buddy's new BMW 1200.
Ha ha, 9k? Fast forward 2022 and I can't even find a KLR out the door for under 8K. Good list of mods though. I had a similar build a while back but found hard boxes really had too much drag for highway use.
I paid 5500 new for my 08. you need suspension and motor(doohickey and klx kit) work done. the list of upgrades on mine is long and expensive to the point that itll never be sold, probably 10k total into it. over 10 years but its been good for 53k miles and seen 3 coasts. I have literally done an ironbutt qualifing ride on it and then raced a 200 mile off road rally the next weekend. wouldnt trade it for anything, i can repair this one with a basic toolkit. the same cant be said for most any newer bike with the same capability. my friends joke about how particular I am about some of my other bikes but the klr could be upside down and on fire and i would be like well i can fix that for 500 or so.
Excellent write up. Thanks for sharing and watching the video. Although the KLR is not a performance monster there is a reason why it was so popular for so long. Enjoy the bike and the rides!
Nice vid . Thanks . Pretty normal KLR set up. Similar to mine. I would add in the area of protection a radiator guard from JNS. The stock piece pf plastic is almost useless. And maybe a headlight protector as well. Do the suspension and you have a brand new world tour bike for $10k. If anyone is critical on that then maybe they should take their tour and a half wornout BMW or KTM.
KLRRon thanks for watching and yes I do think this setup is kind of the average that a lot of people. I won’t be doing any more upgrades because this bike is going to my son now. I have the triumph and now a KTM. But I’m sure he might continue to add some stuff. Looking forward to this season.
Informative and straight to the point. Every video should be done this way. I picked up my 2011 with 2500 miles just about completely stock for $3500. I've added quite a bit since then but the aftermarket possibilities for these bikes i think is part of what makes them so cool
They are great bikes. I now have a tiger 800 and a KTM 1090 but the KLR still has its place and picking either of those other two up makes the KLR feel like a feather weight even though it is generally considered a pig. They’re all good though in their own ways. Something to be said though for the simple design on the KLR.
My first upgrade was suspension, the rear is especially awful. I went with a progressive rear shock with remote preload adjuster, and progressive springs and heavier oil up front. If you wanna upgrade on a budget get a better spring on the rear and tap the caps of the forks with air valves. Add 10 psi and it really helps the wallowing feel off road.
Suspension upgrades would’ve been on my list too if I were going to keep the bike. Definitely a weak area of the KLR. I was looking at the touratech shock which was really nice, but also really expensive. Is that the rear shock you went with?
@@kdemotorsports No, the brand is actually called Progressive. It's the series 465 with optional remote preload adjuster. It has good reviews but more importantly was the only one I could get through my work, saving hundreds. My main issue was bottoming out the rear. I was doing some multi day trips 2 up at the time and it helped a lot.
I have a 2013 KLR 650 in green (same graphics), it has 12000kms, I'm about to have the Eagle Mike doohickey fitted with torsion spring behind lever, oil and filter change of course, it's the most important thing to do, or a spring breakage and a bent stock lever could wreck your engine ,then all your accessories are useless, as is the bike, until that expensive engine rebuild.
I had a yellow '13 and bought a '14 New Edition. I liked the '13 better. The new bike had a low speed weave and mine wasn't the only one with this issue. I have no idea if it was the stiffer suspension that caused it but I liked the softer suspension of the '13. I don't think I'd spend all that much money on a KLR but to each his own. On the Jeff Emig KLR Ride done by Rocky Mountain ATV/MC they did not put crash bars on his bike and none of the others had them . Less weight I suppose , but they rode hard.
With proper maintenance a bullet proof motorcycle. I think Japan built it with America in mind and I appreciate that very much. Never sell it and thanks for the videos.
They are really really good bikes. I won’t be selling it, instead it will be going to my son. So hopefully it will continue to make appearances in videos with him riding with me.
My 08 has 30,000 miles and only been to shop once and was by choice due to the hours I was working. Had a short in wiring harness and no time to fix myself! Other than brakes tires and maintenance mine has been reliable as a hammer! love it!
You could actually get closer to 15k because you could do power upgrades which I'll be doing to mine here pretty soon I'm putting the 705cc big bkre kit, stage 4 carb, stage 4airbox, oversized valves, ported head, hotcams
The sky is the limit 😂 personally $9k was probably even a bit much, but I did enjoy the bike setup that way. As it creeps higher I think there are a lot better options out there. Especially if you’re looking for more power. Just my $.02
Thank you for watching. I think you'll be happy with the choice. There is a reason these bikes are so popular. Even though I own other more expensive bikes I still appreciate the value and simplicity of the KLR's.
I mean, it's not that ridiculous. A 650cc bike with good offroad capability, tall windshield, GPS hardwired, charging ports, voltage meter, high quality crash bars, skid plate, centerstand, luggage, touring seat, and above average battery would probably cost $12-13k from the factory. The only downside on this bike is the low tech engine. A fuel injector is about the only thing that could improve the bike even more
Suspension is still a big down side on the KLR and it can be addressed from the aftermarket but it is expensive. The rear shock from Touratech I think is about $1k then heavier fork springs are about the only option for the front. At this point though you’re getting dangerously close in price to other bikes that come with better components. Still the KLR is a great bike for going and having a lot of fun.
Your final price does not seem that high to me. A 2017 can be had right now brand new for $4,999 on Cycle Trader. There are things needed to kit it out to get it ready for offroading. I'd say you did a nice job of building it out well.
Thanks, if that price is valid on cycle trader that is a great deal. Like I said in the video I think even at the full $9k it makes a great bike. There are some things money can’t buy like simplicity. My KTM 1090 has to be plugged into a special tablet any time they want to diagnose something. The KLRs are old technology but if your broken down in the middle of nowhere good luck getting your hands on one of those KTM tablets. I love the KTM but all these bikes have a unique advantage to them. I was impressed when I rode the 1997 I had before this one they really are good bikes.
I'd rather work with something like this that is a tried and proven tech, than something that has to go to a dealer every time there is an issue. Try getting a KTM or BMW ready to go long distance off road riding for $10K or less. Good luck with that. That is why I started looking hard at this model.
Oh you won't touch a KTM ready to go for anywhere near $10k. Trust me I know, in fact I'll be doing a video on that soon. The KLR is I think a fantastic deal even with the $9k I put into this one.
Have you noticed how your front tire was put on backwards, the grooves in the tires are designed to flow water through and out the side, but when there like this the water gets pulled to the middle of the tire caused it to be more prone to hydroplaning, you should really get that fixed for your own safety
I’ve seen this comment before and it is inaccurate these tires come with a directional arrow directly on the tire. It is mounted 100% correct according to the tire mft. Thanks for looking out though.
Its not about the money, it's about having things the way you want. Just wondering why you never had any top box? Maybe you just load up your rack and put a cargo net over it ?
I’m just not a fan of top boxes because of where the weight is on the motorcycle. Up high. I try to pack anything with weight at the bottom of the side cases to keep the center of gravity nice and low. And I agree there is significant value in having a bike setup just the way you personally want it and suits your needs. Kind of like the top box I know a lot of people love them and if it works for you then definitely run one. 😀
$5000 in 07/2018, used but meticulous (marine mechanic owned with all receipts/paperwork) 2016/4200miles came with center stand, tall windscreen, Happy Trails skid plate, low profile oil plug, KLR bar bag, 16 tooth front sprocket, new Shinko's front and rear, transferable Kawasaki extended warranty until October/2021 What I added: $130 KLR Dash Rally Dash kit $30 Lisyline (like Rox but 1/3 price) risers $11 Progrip 714 Gel grips $63 ProTaper SE ATV high bend bars $50 Tusk D-Flex handguards $120 DoubleTake Adventure Mirrors $90 Nelson Rigg RG-1045 Tank Bag $350 Tusk Aluminum Panniers /racks $280 Seat Concepts "Tall" Seat $65 Tusk Billet Race Foot Pegs $85 JNS Lowering Foot Peg Mounts $20 Tusk Folding Shift Lever $158 Tusk Crash bars $200 Lexx MXe exhaust $800 Cogent Adventure shock, DDC front suspension kit $19 Uni Air Filter $0.22 Carb mod $27 Koubalink Extended Mixture Screw So roughly $2500 mods and I got a really, really great bike. I also have a big bike, Vulcan 1700 Vaquero, but I only ride it now when my Harley buddies wanna go for "a ride" aka bar-hopping. I'm jumping on the KLR more and more. Oh yeah forgot, a shit ton of Blue Loctite :)
Nice video. Great editing and sound as well. No distractions or annoying sound and music in the background. I'm considering either buying a new final year 2018 KLR650 or one already farkled out. Either way I'm glad to know of sources for a center stand and other mods such as the dash. I've learned so far that priorities are the doohickey, the sub frame bolt and a Thermo-Bob 2.
Those are all very good upgrades. I also have a nearly $9k DR650 and I'm not even done yet. LOL! I love the bike though. I only have to justify the cost to my wife. To me all the money I spent on mine is 100% justified.
Thanks for watching, the only person you need to justify the money spent to is yourself. Well and of course the wife. So glad to hear you have a setup you like and are happy with. That is the key thing.
9 thou isn't too hard to believe. I will tell you you made a great choice! Long term. I've had my klr for 9 years now and has been as reliable as a hammer. Best bike I've ever had and I've owned alot!!! I know this is an old video but wanted to comment
Thanks for watching and thanks for sharing. My KLR has gone to my son since this video but they are still very good bikes. I will say though that the Tenere I think is another one to consider. It’s more expensive up front but requires fewer modifications.
To make bike worth that amount of money, in the long run, I would take care of the Doohickey and Thermobob. Those are 2 known issues with these bikes and well documented. Also, the suspension would be the next item to address. The fork brace does wonders along with a new rear spring....
Tim, I couldn't really decide about the doohickey and the thermobob. Certainly I did notice the variation in temps for sure. Suspension as I said in another response is something I would definitely address if I were going to keep the bike. But that will be up to my son now since it is his bike.
I have just discovered your channel (via the Himalayan analysis) and find your presentations most helpful and very interesting. Well done! I bought my 2013 KLR here in Canada for $6K and have added another $7K + to it. I should probably be embarrassed to confess that....but one gets on a roll with a favoured ride and realizes intuitively that we don’t generally get into motorcycling out of “need”. N’est ce pas? However, we should give some thought to the realities of resale value, from which it may be difficult or impossible to recoup any substantial part of our investment, and the question (in my case) as to what else I could have purchased for $13K CDN? But what a delightful bike.....for a KLR!
Thank you for the compliment and thanks for watching. I would agree most of us tend to go a bit overboard on accessories. I know I’m guilty myself just check out my $9k KLR video. That’s US dollars so I’m not sure how that compares to current exchange rates. But I think the most important part is whether or not you are enjoying it the way you have it setup. Resale will never come close the investment for sure. Also stay tuned for more info on the Himalayan because the bike that was featured previously is likely to appear again as soon as calendars align between myself and the owner of that bike. Again thanks for watching and your kind words.
I don’t see any reason not to buy one if you like the klr650. You can save a lot of money buying used. However there are valid reasons to buy new and they aren’t outrageously priced.
Nice Klr. I bought a used 2009 with 1900 miles on it for 5,000. It has all that plus mad stad shield, thermos bob, doohickey done, and high dollar Givi hard bags. I looked for a long time and found what I consider a gem. The guy that built it loved to wrench, but not ride, lol. It’s an option though. I almost bought a new one.
Jim sounds like you got a really great deal then. Hopefully you enjoy it I know I have enjoyed mine. They really are great capable bikes especially after the upgrades.
Thanks for sharing your Klr 650. Good upgrades and really quite standard upgrades for the most part. Suspension for sure would make a huge difference. All the best Max
whatupg1 I agree these are pretty much standard for most KLR owners. If I were going to keep it I probably would do springs and the replacement rear shock. But it is going to my son instead so it will be up to him if he decides to do that or not. Thanks for watching.
Good observation and yes it is on purpose. I like the way it fits like that better and flipped around the correct way would intrude on the KLR dash lower
It's OK, I am well on my way to building a $7,750 BMW G310GS ( new msrp $5,400) hahahaha! I do LOVEEEE the KLR's, but I am short inseam, and a very light 175'ish lbs and after owning and off roading a V'Strom 650, I just did not want a tall 500+ lb bike again. The group I rode with last Sunday was a "KLR riders group" and there was 7 KLR's, 1 KLX450, and 1 Honda (think it was a XL650) that was there. I was the smallest bike in the group, on mostly street tires, and for the most part still managed to keep up!!!! Or...........was they just going slow so as to not outrun me???? Hmmmmmmmmm. LOL hahahahaha! LOVE your bike! Great vid!
I think in most scenarios riding adventure style routes confidence has much more to do with it than power. So it sounds to me like you're on the right track. You've got a bike that you feel totally in control of and fits you well. Don't worry about the HP's :) Congrats on the bike and keep on riding!
@@coyote102076 They make a three inch drop for the klr, also a drop seat! Incase you didnt already know. I have a 28 inch inseam and just got used to mine. Was going to do the 3 inch suspension drop but got used to it. And with a dynojet kit, lexx exhaust and airbox mod, my klr runs way better than stock! Just for future references. Lol Enjoy your next adventure!
He forgot the front headlight rock screen. Just takes one bike or truck with 'knobbies' to toss rocks through your headlight, thus ending your night time adventures. expensive to repair too. I have several KLR's and personally like the DIRT TRACK bars as better designed than the ones he chose ( have those too).Seer
That is very difficult to say because the choice would depend heavily on miles and how the bike was used and cared for. Higher mileage on a KLR wouldn't scare me away personally. Also would depend on what if any upgrades the bike has. As you can see from this video those things do add up quickly. Best of luck and either one I think you'll enjoy riding it.
9000 is kinda on the low end of a build if you count the purchase price of the bike. You have a fairly standard build. Need to up grade your lights. Nice bike, keep going and you’ll have a decent ride.
Upgrades to a KLR, other than what you have done is in my opinion over rated. It is a rock solid cruising adventure bike which won't win races but will "get you there" for many years if maintained. Don't believe the hype on what constitutes a good adventure bike. Near stock KLR is absolutely fine.
They did mount right to the stock handlebar without any modifications needed for the handguards. However the turn signals in them are LED so they need a resistor to get them to blink normally. I never got around to mounting that before the bike went to my son. So they were still flashing faster than normal when the signal was on. Thanks for watching and thanks for the compliment on the video.
@@kdemotorsports Thank you very much. I'm about to buy these handlebars but the ones without the LEDs. Do you think they're gonna fit right? Thanks again a sorry for that many questions!
jlacerda14 the tusk ones with or without LEDs will bolt right up. Measure the bar diameter though because there are 2 sizes of clamps and I don’t recall which size the KLR uses.
Thank you for watching and thanks for the compliment on the shop. It was horse stalls when we bought the house so a lot of work went into converting it into this.
The KLR Dash is what causes the screen to be at that angle. It is adjustable for the angle so you can lean it back further or almost upright like I have mine. But that option is only available if you are mounting it to the KLRDash upper.
do the doohickey ! my daughter and me had identical bikes at 35,000 km. i did the diihickey and mine was fine but on my daughters bike the spring was broken . BTW we drove from canada to the tip of south america and this was the only thing that broke ,in the whole trip , the bikes never missed a beat !
That trip sounds pretty similar to what I have in mind. I want to start all the way up in Inuvik and then all the way down to Tiera del Fuego... Could you share your experiences? What was the most difficult part? What part left you disappointed/surprised you? My worst fear is to be stranded in Central America due to some mechanical error - thats why I'm interested in the KLR, KTMs and BMWs are nice and well until something breaks and you need a spare part (not to forget the KLR is a lot cheaper). Also Latin America is a pretty rough patch from what I researched, but that is nothing you can really plan ahead.
@@Immortal.. here is a link to my daugher's blog latitude54.blogspot.com/ i think your best bet is the KLR , KTM is not known in these areas and BMW takes weeks for parts and are less reliable than the KLR , in my opinion . the only thing that was a bit of an issue was the rear tire 17" tires are hard to find , the front tire 21" is no problem . you can carry a spare 17" rear or lace on a 18" rim on the rear , they are a lot easier to find . also i used soft luggage , better when you tip the bike , and this will happen . cases break and can't be fixed plus it is not more secure , if somebody want's to get into them , they get into them .! take along fuses and a good tire repair kit , a good pump and tire lifters of course . we had one flat between both bikes in the entire trip , but replaced 4 sets of tires each , the were just worn right out . things we had but did not need were spare inner tubes, spare cables , spare brake and clutch levers , spark plugs ,ect , nothing broke during the entire trip . if i can help you with more feel free to contact me .
@@theklrdudeoo9173 Hey I just saw you actually replied, never got that in my feed. My preferred bike at the moment is the KLR, although I have mixed feelings about soft luggage. I'm not worried that someone will steal my stuff, but if you dont have the comfort of asphalt I expect a lot of dust and dirt to get in (also possibly rain). I will absolutely carry at least a spare rear, as I've been in Inuvik before and the Dempster was not really kind to my tires (was a van though). Thanks for you help, Sir
I love these low tech middleweight builds. Total reliability; easy maintenance; massive parts and upgrade options. If you spend the extra on trick suspension as well, you could end up with a machine whose ride quality and abilities might even compare favourably with a similar sized KTM (if you're riding skills are on that level such that you'd notice) but the same money provides a much more comprehensive bespoke riding experience with the KLR. Like the equivalent DR, these bikes are almost unobtainable here in Britain; great shame. Superbly detailed and relevant review.
Excellent points. I think the Tenere 700 is going to offer a lot in this category too especially once they get to a point where they’re available on the used market.
It wasn’t meant to be that. It was more a straight forward this is how much a lot of people spend. I think the KLR especially can creep up in price over time. Most people don’t spend it all at once it is a gradual build up. Thanks for watching.
this question is for all the klr owners in the comment section. Has anyone ever had the doohickey fail or seen one up close and personal, whether it b a friend or video etc.....? And by fail I mean non rideable fail! On the gen2?
I can only provide feedback for my personal experience and those I know. I have not seen it. I ride with at least 3 other KLR owners regularly and they have not had the failure.
kdemotorsports nice too know. Since seeing all the hype it makes me wander should I do this!? But at same time I personally have never seen or heard of a faiĺ! Thanks for your response.
kdemotorsports I got parts for mine at my local kawasaki dealer and asked them their thoughts and they said they never had an issue but at same time were they defending their product? It's about time for me to check my valve clearances so just for piece of mind, I'll probably do the doohickey! lol
I would agree now that bikes like the Tenere are available. Prior to that though I can see why so many have done it. Plus it is easy to do without realizing it because it is just this part here and that part there 😂
