Now it is a Hog.

 

:50: :animal: :31: :61: :39: :character0029: :character00271: yea a BIG fat plastic HOG!! 2008 KLR650 bunk!! look bunk! travle... joke!! iam sure it's gottin heaver too as there more junk to deal with.. thats one ugly bike now....... the KLR650 as we no it is gone fore good DAM kawasaki.....!!!!

 

I'm glad that I have the last good year of the KLR.

 

OK I am going to be the antaginist (sp).

Buy an '07 KLR, you can get them for $4900 OTD in this area. Now make all the upgrades that the '08 KLR has from the factory. How much do you think the '07 will cost finished?
+41mm forks
+front brake rotor and dual piston caliper
+headlight
+better gauges
+mirrors with less vibration
+non-buffeting fairing/windshield
+left-side lightswitch
+left-side mirror relocated
+adjustable front brake lever
+larger non-buffeting hard guards
+handlebar vibration dampeners
+better sidestand with big foot
+tail light / inner fender
+sub-frame
+10mm upper sub-frame bolt
+comfortable seat
+aluminnum radiator
+plastic radiator screen
+larger stock skid plate
+stainless steel header with stainless steel header heat shield
+larger header (inside diameter with no seam)
+side panels that keep saddlebags away from the exhaust and rear wheel
+balancer lever (doohickey)
+thicker wheel spokes
+"possibly" a dual piston rear brake
+larger rear rack
+narrower turn signals with clear lens
+non-buffeting front fender
+increased flow on the intake valves
+hidden front brake line
+higher handlebars
+what else?

How much does that '07 cost?

I am not bad mouthing the pre-'08 but it does have its good points. There are not too many things that need to be upgraded.

Is it ugly? In some eyes, yes. In other eyes, no. Definitely in the eyes of the riders that drop the '08 and crack the plastic ($25 here and $125 there). But if you are a true off-roader who cares about looks. Ride it, drop it, pick it up, ride it...don't wash it.

 

So far nobody has addressed my question...... Is the '08 heavier than the older molels??

-T

 

So far nobody has addressed my question...... Is the '08 heavier than the older molels??

-T

Hi Tim. Do a search. It has been discussed heavily (pun intended). End result the '08 is heavier though you should notice it on the road.

Are you looking for another KLR?

 

389 lbs dry weight is what I read in a review??? the book from dealer says 337 lbs??? not sure am going to look and see for my self this week and decided if I will buy it or not?...But like tomato said has alot of well needed upgrades that are worth the near same price as those paid for 07's???

 

15lb difference



Top Gun motorcycles measured the weights of a 2005 KLR 650 with a full tank of gas, and a 2008 KLR 650 with full tank of gas.

2005 KLR 650 = 413 lbs
2008 KLR 650 = 428 lbs

15 lb difference.

Top Gun Motorcycles 2008 KLR 650 Review

 

I'm skeptical of those weights. What kind of scale and how was the measuring done? He claims that some of the goofy numbers are due to scale error, but it's more likely that he used a bathroom scale and didn't account for weight transfer when lifting just one wheel on the bike to weigh it.

 

larryboy,

Assuming he used the same technique to weigh both bikes then I expect he should have gotten an accurate reading of the difference in weight between the 2 bikes, whether the gross weights are correct or not.

Motorcycle Consumer News weighs all the bikes they test and they list the wet weight of the KLRv1 as 409 lbs, which is close to the 413 lb weight measured by Top Gun. I'm not sure how much gaoline is in the tank when MCN determines wet weight but if there was a difference in the amount of fuel in the tank it could account for the 4 lb difference.

 

He's close enough to ease one's mind about buying an '08. 428 pounds is a lot of motorsickle and frankly the wrong direction for a single. They should have tried for 380 wet.

 

In case anyone is interested, here are the wet weights of other adv bikes as listed in the Jan 2007 issue of Motorcycle Consumer News:

Suzuki DRZ400SM - 319 lbs
Suzuki DR650 - 358 lbs
Kawasaki KLR650 v1 - 409 lbs
Kawasak KLR650 v2 - 428 lbs (data from Top Gun, not MCN)
BMW F650GS - 430 lbs
Suzuki Wee-Strom - 472 lbs
KTM 950 Adv - 498 lbs
Buell Ullysses - 507 lbs
Triumph Scrambler - 513 lbs
Suzuki V-Strom - 523 lbs
'02 Triumph Tiger 955i - 543 lbs
BMW R1150 GS Adv - 614 lbs

The heaviest bike on MCN's list?
Honda GL1500 Goldwing SE '99 - 912 lbs

 

I want to know why the '08 gained weight on the rear. Do the side panels, rack, sub-frame, tail light, rear brake weigh that much more?

The front I can understand.

 

One question: Why don't the manufacturers make the plastic parts out of something that doesn't crack, break or split? Something like the material that they make motorcycle fenders out of? It makes no sense to me that anything on a bike that is designed to go off road would have anything fragile on it.

C

 

One question: Why don't the manufacturers make the plastic parts out of something that doesn't crack, break or split? Something like the material that they make motorcycle fenders out of? It makes no sense to me that anything on a bike that is designed to go off road would have anything fragile on it.

C

They do if you bought a '87-'07 KLR. Kawi has a different audience for their '08-'?? KLR.

 

Kawi did the research and it showed that the majority of owners use the KLR for exactly what a dualsport was meant for. Never was meant for singletrack, knarly hills, or any other form of hard off-roading. Even though it can do it, doesn't mean it was built for it. The KLR was meant for riding 200ish miles, at most, to the forest roads, exploring them all day, and then riding back home. Before creating the 08' they listened to the issues and the majority won, they wanted better wind protection, highway usability and better suspension. They got it!

Those of us who like to get in to the thick of it won't like the fairing or the extra 15 lbs. The fairing won't take the abuse of tree branches and brush beating the snot out of it. It will look like crap compared to the current fairing. Several reports already about cracked fairings after minor falls. But, you rarely have these issues on roads that the KLR was meant for.

I also don't like the fact you can't see the front tire anymore. The fairing clearly blocks any direct view. I like the ability to see my tire on the KLR.1 as I'm off-roading in tighter stuff.

Overall though, the KLR.2 will be a much better bike on everything it's actually meant to do.

 

It has thicker spokes, beefed up frame, beefier suspension (at least in front), and peg feelers ... that might be 30 pounds?

J/K about the feelers ... the key chain probably weighs the same.

 

man, I've got to keep up on this thread better.

I didn't see all the replies 'till just now.

So what's the deal with the new swing arm? It looks different for sure, but what's the advantage?

-T

 

its sexy

 

i was told by a dealer in north ga that it gained 18 pounds

 

I think your dealer was either drunk, high or didn't want to scare you away from buying the new bike.

Then again I've been hearing that it's anywhere from 15 to 32 to 49 pounds.

-T