All:

I am looking for a good used KLR650. IS there a year to look out for, or is it all the same??

On the new KLR's what is the difference between the KLR New Edition and the standard KLR . . . Chain Guard??

If I get a used KLR, is there anything I need to change on it if it is a stock motorcycle?? Something that may be well known that needs to be replaced to avoid problems in the future??

Thx!

Curtis

Those questions could quite literally take pages and pages to answer .
To sum it up, they are all good! Buy the best one you can afford, put gas in it and ride!

P.S. If you were looking to buy brand new, I would definitely go for the "New Edition". It has upgraded suspension and seat and isn't that much more than regular model.

They are all good, as 650Stew says, but I would avoid the 2008 and 2009 models. They had some serious oil burning issues that didn't get corrected until some time in the 2009 model year.

My favorite is the 2007 black KLR.

Most people figure that the balancer adjustment lever (called a doohickey) needs to be swapped out for an aftermarket part along with the spring.

The stock skid plate is really only good as an emergency snow shovel (if you add a handle) and should be swapped out for an aluminum one if you'll be going off-road.

Some kind of radiator protection is a good idea, too, if going off-road.

After that there are simply tons of mods that can be done to personalize the bike to your needs.

Tom

In addition the 2008 and up models have a better fairing for wind managment on the highway and the 2007 down models are a little lighter and more crash resistant off pavement due to the lack of the bigger more fragile fairing.
jj

More robust suspension has been mentioned; a more comfortable saddle also complements the New Edition.

The $ 100 additional price of the New Edition is at least an order-of-magnitude less (i.e., 1/10, a tenth) than what the aftermarket equivalent would cost for these new features.

Yet, Curtis Hustace, a USED New Edition will be hard to find, since this model has been on the market less than a year.

Nerfs can protect the plastic in the event of a fall; more critical for Generation 2s (2008 and later) because of the additional plastic acreage in harm's way.

Hope you find a bike soon and enjoy the ride!

Thx all:

I am now the proud owner of a 2001 KLR650 w/11k miles on it in Green! WOOT!

Curtis

OH NOOOOO!!!! Not the DREADED 2001 in GREEN. Didn't anyone WARN you about the 2001??? They are nothing but TROUBLE!! Too bad SUCKER!!! They're just about as bad as a HARLEY!!
You'll be replacing the muffler bearing and piston return springs before long. The carburator belt and the air in the airbox will need changing soon too, especially with so many miles on that tired old unit.
It is really too bad you didn't ask us about buying a 2001 before you rashly slapped down your cash.

Congratulations....justjeff

Jeff . . . sorry for the long delay in responding . . . THX! I am very excited.

I didn't know you could mention the "H" word on this forum!

all the best.

Curtis

It's all good Curtis! I thought no one noticed I slipped the H word in! My Brother won't ride with me anymore as I keep leaving him behind when his breaks down!
Regards....justjeff