Kawasaki KLR Forum banner

hi all

2K views 10 replies 5 participants last post by  AzulMule 
#1 ·
new here and to motorcycles , i'm looking at the KLR for my first bike , would you recomend this or should i get a beater first ?
 
#4 ·
KLR is much heavier then a normal dirt bike... 400lbs.

I wasn't new to motorcycles, but the KLR was my first offroad bike. It took a lot of beating while learning. I ended up getting a KDX200 dirt bike also and that's where I really learned offroading much better because it was far more forgiving. You can flick a KDX around though, but you don't flick a KLR around, you let the engine do the work. The KLR is better at a little faster pace, but when I was learning I kept chuggin slowly along and that made the KLR a real beast to handle because there wasn't enough momentum. The thing is, it's tough to speed up when your new because you don't know how to fully handle the bike or trails yet and don't fully know what the KLR is capable.

I definitely owe a lot to the guys I ride with because by watching them I was able learn what the KLR was capable of. It's important to know because you have to trust that the bike can make it through or over whatever it is you are dealing with. I used to stop at or avoid every obstacle, including little 2" puddles because I didn't know what was going to happen or how to handle a wet dualsport tire on a dirt trail. Yep, I was a real chickenshit. Now I pretty much hit anything except for large mud and water pits/ruts. I hate mud and will avoid it at most any cost.

Gravel was the worst experience and I finally worked my way through that by spending a day playing around on it by taking off fast, spinning the tires and then stopping right away. I would build up more distance, go a little faster, stop a little faster or stop a little slower. It really worked because instead of 30, I can now go 60/70 on gravel without any problems.

If you get an 08 or newer, I would recommend crash bars as your first investment and before you ever go offroad. Lots of people have posted already about their fairings breaking easily.
 
#5 ·
Thanks for the information , i have another question , i'm planing on buying the bike and van it to an empty parking lot and learn how to ride it on my own before taking the MSF corse .
Would this type of riding be legal without a license?

I really want a KLR but i'm thinking of maybe buying a 1983 honda nighthawk cb450 and ride it for a year to get good and then go with a new KLR.
 
#6 ·
Depends... are you getting a loan?

I don't think you can get insurance without a motorcycle license and without insurance you can't take the bike off the lot if you have a loan on it. Something like that. I could be completely wrong.

I got my initial motorcycle endorsement with the written test then bought the motorcycle then got the insurance. I could ride during day and without a passenger. Took the riding test (not msf) a month or so later and passed and could do whatever then.

Unless you absolutely want to, I don't see any reason to bother with the nighthawk. On the road, the KLR isn't a big deal at all, it's really easy ride. I have never laid it down on the road, just off road on crazy terrain.
 
#7 ·
Well i'm planing to buy from a private owner , i've found KLR 2008 with 400 miles on it for only $ 4,400 on craigslist and the Hawk for $1,000 (i figured if i crash the hawk no biggie, as i probably wouldn't even get insurance )

I've reserved a spot for a MSF course in spring time , but i'd like to get some riding experience before i go in and take the class ....I like the route you took though , so the initial motorcycle endorsement (would that be a learners permit?) and then a written test and i'd be legal to ride, I LIKE IT
 
#8 ·
I would take the course first, that way they can teach you the correct ways, if you learn on your own they will have to teach you to break any bad habits you may learn on your own.

A street bike and a KLR are two different worlds as bikes go. (if you take it off road)

The MSF course provides the bikes, I would take it and then buy the bike.
 
#11 · (Edited)
My 2 cents... Take the MSF course first then get your bike. I rode a moped in jr high 20+ years ago and hadn't ridden since. I got the bug, took the MSF course and then decided what to buy. I ended up getting an '09 KLR (ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!) no regrets at all. It is big and relatively heavy but I feel its very manageable. Maintenance and fairly easy and frankly its an economical bike to buy and operate. I was also looking at KTM's and BMW's. I am 6' and 215lbs and it seems right for me size-wise.

I have limited my riding to onroad for now but I'm hoping for crashbars for Christmas then we'll see where I go from there. Fit and feel and very personal matters but I couldn't be happier with the KLR.

Best of luck but take the MSF course!

:)
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top