[MzConduct]

I knew I wanted a Klr so I didn’t test ride it. Was that a huge mistake? So bought a new 2023 Klr650 ABS as a second bike for commuting and light off road fun. I took the back roads home so we’re talking 35mph roads for about 20 miles. It was snowing so I was taking it easy but I just never felt the torque I expected. I felt like I had to do a lot of downshifting to get a jump on traffic. I plan on breaking it in before I do any major mods like sprockets or exhaust. I hate not seeing a tachometer so that’s prolly the first think I will attempt to do. So internet is it me expecting too much or just riding it wrong?

Warm regards from frosty Michigan!

 

[Intruder]

That's a sad story. I've never heard of a KLR being a sport bike. But there are inexpensive improvements that you can make.
But I have found the KLR to be an excellent 2nd bike for the trails and the highway.

 

[DrewNJ]

Nope, that sounds like a KLR to me. More "chuga chuga chuga" and not so much "Umph".... 😁
Your not really "overtaking" much on a KLR.....sorry.

 

[Gen3piglet]

Nope, that sounds like a KLR to me. More "chuga chuga chuga" and not so much "Umph".... 😁
Your not really "overtaking" much on a KLR.....sorry.

Really ?? I dusted the doors on a big truck with a hefty stack of logs uphill last week !! He never stood a chance

 

[Gen3piglet]

Really ?? I dusted the doors on a big truck with a hefty stack of logs uphill last week !! He never stood a chance

Only you can decide if it wasn't a prudent purchase. For me, it's the best cruiser I've ever owned. Laid back bike manners. Relax and enjoy the ride. You'll get where you're going (eventually 🤣)

 

[Whitehuntsman]

The KLR is what it is. Not the best at anything but good at everything. Will always get you to your destination and back home again.
With some mods can get a little bit more oomph, but don't expect much. It is big, it is heavy, it is a single cylinder after all.
I ride mine everywhere, know it wont beat any super bikes off the line, wont be as nimble as a 250cc, cant hit the jumps like a WR, not as comfy as a Goldwing, no acceleration like a ducati, no top speed like a Buusa..... However..... all those bikes are good at one thing. The KLR can do it all, just not as well. That is why they are so popular. You will have fun on it. We all do.

 

[MzConduct]

Ok, cool just gotta temper my expectations a bit. Not like I’m gonna be hopping over logs on the way into work. I just need to let it find its groove. It is a nice comfy ride…maybe I’ll concentrate more on the scenery than passing the vehicle in front of me. . Thank you for the replies!

 

[Gen3piglet]

Ok, cool just gotta temper my expectations a bit. Not like I’m gonna be hopping over logs on the way into work. I just need to let it find its groove. It is a nice comfy ride…maybe I’ll concentrate more on the scenery than passing the vehicle in front of me. . Thank you for the replies!

Now you're getting it 👍👍

 

[Intruder]

I didn't ride the KLR before I got mine. I rode it home on the interstate at 85-95mph, with a Avon full knobby. A day or two later, I realized it wouldn't do a wheelie. A few cheap mods fixed that, but I still don't like to cross the yellow line.
I'm looking to upgrade my KLR now, but it's been a keeper.

 

[SirMarksAllot]

My best friend has raced dirt with KTM and YZs, owned/ ridden large displacement BMW and Goldwings. His son bought a KLR, then I bought one, so he bit the bullet and got a 2022. He’s tweaked and coaxed and even dyno’d trying to get more oomph. And he still says it’s the weakest bike he’s owned. BUT, he also says it’s grown on him and he has really grown to like that it’ll do a little of everything pretty well.

My advice, give it a season and see if you fall in love with the bike. I know we have😉. Besides, it also gives you the chance to have OTHER motorcycles that specialize in their field.

 

[Thumper1]

Everything above , Still my favorite bike to just hop on and go …. And I have 5 different bikes for 5 different riding situations….
Just my 2 cents

 

[JimR]

It's a boring bike, slow, fat, and uninspiring. But it's inexpensive and reliable (so far) and gets the job done in a good workman like manner and there is a ton of aftermarket crap for it. Probably one of the easiest bikes to "make your own". I wasn't really happy with it at first but after I made some minor mods it's now my bike, one of two that's in the garage, and I use it to commute to work with and enjoy it for what it is. I did ride it out West on my summer vacation and rode some pretty crappy dirt and gravel BLM and Forest Service roads and it did just fine, even with the stock suspension it ate the bumps and ruts and the "washboards" just fine, no issues. Ride it for a year and if you're still not happy with it move it along and get what makes you happy.

Regards, Jim.

 

[Gunnar88]

I wring my klr's necks pretty much all the time, it's fun to try and ride a slow motorcycle fast. I have a 2nd gen with the 685 kit a pipe and jetting, if it makes 5 more horsepower I would be shocked, but it does rev smoother. The basic motor design was conceived in the early 1980's and on paper it should do better, but it doesnt. I ride as fast as I can on the street and I'm pretty slow off pavement. I think of it like a kit bike, I have done so much to mine that it seems it's more me than Kawasaki, motor aside. I can see thinning the heard, ive got like 5, but only one road worthy, but I can't see completely getting out of KLR's all together. It is often my go to bike and I currently have a Moto Guzzi Stelvio NTX and a second gen Yamaha FZ-1, the Guzzi is no powerhouse, its way faster than the klr of course and will roll at 100 mph all day long, but the FZ-1 makes 140 hp and its not heavy and its serious fast. Ive has a 1700 vmax and they make 185 hp stock, that thing was 33% again as big as a normal motorcycle and it behaved so well, looked and sounded so good and it was really fast too. I also had a 2005 Triumph Rocket 3 with a turbo that made 230 hp and 230 ft pounds of torque, and that thing was a ravening beast, it revved like a 2 stroke, and would power wheelie at 100 mph, which was terrifying. They were neat bikes but they aren't in my garage anymore, but there's that dusty old klr that I ride more often than not, with no plans to sell it. Im trying to get my ass down to Argentina and ride back, time, business, wife, blah blah blah, but if I make it it will almost certainly be on a klr.

 

[DrewNJ]

The best is that you'll find it doesn't really stress you out when it gets dirty, scratched, rained on, or when it eventually falls over.
It does give you a quick lesson in patience for passing or overtaking though...

 

[Whitehuntsman]

No issues passing here. Highways are 100kmh and Freeway is 110kmh. Cant really speed much on the freeway so maybe 115kmh overtaking. However on back highways and roads, can easily crack 135kmh to pass a car or truck quickly. The lighter rear end and bigger exhaust helps with that.

 

[Restless]

I too was disappointed with the gearing/power especially off-road. I made a gearing change from the stock 15/43 to 14/45. In my opinion it barely helped the low end grunt for trails and also lost a lot of road speed. If Kawasaki were to fill my wishes it’d get a six speed gear box that included a granny gear. They could even probably leave all the other ratios as is but ideally increase them just a touch. Doing that may eliminate the road riders from switching to a 16T front.

For your line of thinking though it could use a bit more power. The problem with that is for guys like me that little bit is never enough and there’ll be repeated customer’s demands for another bump up. You will get used to it as I did.

 

[Steve_S]

I knew I wanted a Klr so I didn’t test ride it. Was that a huge mistake? So bought a new 2023 Klr650 ABS as a second bike for commuting and light off road fun. I took the back roads home so we’re talking 35mph roads for about 20 miles. It was snowing so I was taking it easy but I just never felt the torque I expected. I felt like I had to do a lot of downshifting to get a jump on traffic. I plan on breaking it in before I do any major mods like sprockets or exhaust. I hate not seeing a tachometer so that’s prolly the first think I will attempt to do. So internet is it me expecting too much or just riding it wrong?

Warm regards from frosty Michigan!

I, like you, just bought a KLR (2018) without ever riding one. I have a '94 ZX6E with an inline four. I too, expected a lot more torque out a 650cc single thumper. My inline four feels like it has more torque. I find 1st gear not low enough off road. I'll probably be changing sprockets soon, since I don't do alot of highway riding. I really like the seat height of the KLR, and it's a good all around bike.

 

[bigbluklr]

As it was and is my first and only bike, the power was perfect to learn with, both slab and dirt. Now that I'm getting a bit more comfortable and spreading my wings, a little more oomph to get the rear tire to kick out in dirt would be helpful and of course Hwy a bit more would be useful. 90-95% of the time what it has is all it needs

 

[Fanbelt]

A brand new KLR to one with about 2000 miles on the clock is a different machine! Wait and be delighted.

 

[pdwestman]

I just need to let it find its groove.

I'll suggest that you need to find "its groove". Give yourself some time, maybe a full year?

If you still haven't found any appreciation for its overall capabilities, trade it in on the Kawasaki Versys 650 twin-cylinder.
About double the HP, revs about half again higher, much more 'sporty' on the roads & highways that you just described, still capable of graded gravel roads.

Once you get about 1000 miles on it and are accustomed to a KLR's power delivery they will readily stay ahead of most traffic from 30mph(in 3rd gear) to 75mph(in 5th gear) in a 'rolling drag-race' up to speed when leaving town. After that, just let them go.
I love doing this as the exit from my hometown has a passing lane beginning at the 70mph sign. I ride the LH wheel track to the sign, so they don't try to 'share my lane' early, then move to the right lane LH wheel track at the sign to let them go, if they can.
It then goes up-grade and the KLR just keeps stretching its legs. The weight of cars & trucks is their worst enemy. They probably use more fuel in that mile long passing lane than I use in the next 10 miles to work. lol

I love my old bike. It can run 95mph on graded dirt/gravel roads and asphalt highways.