[XLR]

Hi. Hello. I am new to the KLR world, and have been doing my research. I'm considering getting one of these things, so I joined the forum anyway.

A long time ago, I sold my large "adventure" bike and it has left a black hole in my soul. I replaced it with a cruiser, because I thought I needed to look cool, or something. I cannot stop thinking about how much I miss the dual-sport.

(I guess "dual-sport" is different from "adventure bike", but I don't know the difference. DS's are smaller? I don't know, so forgive my ignorance. I will just use the term, "apocalyptic" from now on.)

I've only owned the one apocalyptic bike so far, but I ventured off-road every chance I could. My driveway is "off-road" now, all gravel and uneven. The other day, I bottomed out on my cruiser, merely pulling into my driveway. That is when the black hole in my soul began to grow and overtake my entire processes.

I don't have my KLR yet, but I already need to do the doo-hickey, something about some sub-frame bolts, different tires, juice up the electrical system, relocate my rear turn signals, find some hard luggage and mounts, get a beefier skid plate, change out the seat, glue the rubber pucks that will fall out when I lift my tank, shorten the kickstand, get some engine guards and maybe mount some highway pegs to them, and maybe change the sproket, but I've never ridden a KLR, so I don't know how I'll feel about it's gearing.

My footpeg bolts will strip out, so I better be ready for that. The bike may or may not eat oil, so a 685 kit might need to be equated. I might need to get a different windshield. I should probably add a 12v outlet. SS brake lines seem to be all the rage to improve the front brake some.

Whew! Then, I'll have to drill out the cover on the carb adjustment screw. Fit some washers somewhere in the carb and maybe some other tinkering.

I'm hoping my stock exhaust doesn't develop the "chirping" sound after a while, but I'm thinking about what to do about that.

I'm going to remove all the decals (I hope it's all stickers) and murder out the all black motiff even more.

A fresh, off the showroom floor, project bike. That just sounds crazy to me, but I'm going to do it. Because it will be FUN. I fit the mold. I actually WANT to do all that stuff, but thanks to these forums, I'm aware of what I'm getting myself into. Thanks.

A couple grand more, at least - for all the farkles, mods, and upgrades. It almost brings the cost up to other bikes.

I hope I like it. I think I will. I know I do. I've never even sat on one, but it's the only (and cheapest, still) bike out there that really speaks to me.

 

[Tom Schmitz]

XLR -

Welcome to the forum; you'll like it here.

And the KLR - you'll like that, too.

Tom

 

[Maverik]

Welcome to the "Dark Side"... Where are you located? Maybe you are close enough to one of us to get some preliminary seat time. I had never been on one 'til signed on the dotted line... And now I know I can never go back to a fulltime cage. Welcome aboard.

Maverik

 

[XLR]

I had never been on one 'til signed on the dotted line...

Same here... about an hour ago! Just went for it, without even test riding it. My initial impression is that this is the largest "little" bike I've ever ridden. It LOOKS HUGE, but then riding it is a different story. It reminds me of my first bike, a 250cc Yamaha. I kept thinking they pulled a fast one on me, and switched it for a 250 when I wasn't looking.

It has more power than a 250, but the "RIDE" just feels like a small bike!

That's what I wanted though. Something NIMBLE, and LIGHT. Fits the bill perfectly, yet it's still a "man's" bike. Being physically large and tall. I don't feel like a "noob" on it, like I would feel on a Honda Rebel.

Of course, I got the Metatllic Flat Raw Greystone and Ebony color scheme, with those Black wheels - "murdered out" :35a:

I'm in the process of removing all the stickers now :animal0010:

EDIT: (later on...) The stickers are all gone, including the "KAWASAKI" under the windshield. It's interesting this year doesn't have any identifying marks on the engine, or the seat. If you don't know your (Gen II) KLRs, then you might really wonder what this thing is. I tried to remove the silver warning sticker on the luggage rack, but that left all the goo, so I stopped before it was too late.

I also realized it's not exactly "murdered out" - the tank is very grey and the sides of the (vinyl?) seat is too.

Coming from a larger displacement, zombie apocalypse bike, I'm impressed. I wanted a nimble, and light bike, and that's just what I got. It's SO LIGHT! Compared to how HUGE it is. It's like an optical illusion. It looks like a BEAST sitting next to my cruiser, but when I need to move it around the garage, it's like a moped.

 

[wnc/mtn= klr]

well

nimble and light... ah don't feel that is the klr,, with its large gas tank..

yes when moveing/riding bike handles very good for its size,,,,but get stopped on hill ,on not so level spot ,, you will find out how,,light and nimble the klr is....

ah sure you have a klr== "its like a moped"..lol.. maybe in your garage on lever ground..
try picking bike up, when off-road in a hole on a hill and tank on down hill side-tires up hill(it took two to get back on wheels)...so,, ah ,it can be very heavy(w/full tank) in the wrong spot...

think klr is a good 100lbs heavier than its most comparable ds model (honda650xr)

but also feel klr , is the most capibale of all the ds models =as been same model for some 20 years even the upgraded 07 newer models are not that much differant...

klr is a tank,, an will take any abuse you throw at it....street or trail.....

 

[fishbonedc]

I've not got my bike I don't what to pick the Harley sportster 1200 or the klr 650 its a hard one to decide help


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[XLR]

I've not got my bike I don't what to pick the Harley sportster 1200 or the klr 650 its a hard one to decide help


Sent from my iPhone using MO Free

The clear crankcase breather tube keeps filling up with oil (it has a cap on it). Don't know what that's about.

I considered a Harley vs the KLR, and I'm extremely glad I went with the KLR. It's only been half a day, but so far I'm stoked.

 

[fishbonedc]

I know the harley is a lot more weight I've never sat on the klr yet to know the weight but if I get a Harley Iam not going to want to get a scratch on it lol ( the trail in the woods)


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[Savage]

Welcome aboard XLR and congrats! You didn't mess around man.
I use to think they were ugly and a worthless excuse for a dual sport until I rode one.
Many of us have stated that we will never be without a KLR in the stable.

 

[steferf]

I think adventure bike is just that...for adventures. I think people categorize vstroms and versys as adventure bikes. (could just be me being delusional....i donno...lots of adv inmates with vstroms and versys)

For your motorcycle, sit on the bike and ride er around for a few hundred, then figure out what she needs. KLR has alotta aftermarket parts, so there is much fun to be had.

Additionally, there is a trick I just found out. Once you upgrade something, you can stick the OEM part on Ebay (if applicable). Then again, ebay can be a pain sometimes, but you can really recoup money.

Finally, I like the concept of a cheap bike and doing upgrades to get it to the price of the alternative. You'll have a bike more geared toward your needs.

 

[wnc/mtn= klr]

oh..

I've not got my bike I don't what to pick the Harley sportster 1200 or the klr 650 its a hard one to decide help


Sent from my iPhone using MO Free

so you looking to get either a harley xr???? (i want one !!!) --- or a klr ???

ah what do you want to ride?? street or some dirt too ???

if only street ,,oh yes xr harley is what i buy !!!

but for all around do any thing bike = the klr (and for $) wins hands down!!!!

 

[XLR]

I already need to do the doo-hickey, something about some sub-frame bolts, different tires, juice up the electrical system, relocate my rear turn signals, find some hard luggage and mounts, get a beefier skid plate, change out the seat, glue the rubber pucks that will fall out when I lift my tank, shorten the kickstand, get some engine guards and maybe mount some highway pegs to them, and maybe change the sproket, but I've never ridden a KLR, so I don't know how I'll feel about it's gearing.

My footpeg bolts will strip out, so I better be ready for that. The bike may or may not eat oil, so a 685 kit might need to be equated. I might need to get a different windshield. I should probably add a 12v outlet. SS brake lines seem to be all the rage to improve the front brake some.

Whew! Then, I'll have to drill out the cover on the carb adjustment screw. Fit some washers somewhere in the carb and maybe some other tinkering.

I'm hoping my stock exhaust doesn't develop the "chirping" sound after a while, but I'm thinking about what to do about that.

I'm going to remove all the decals (I hope it's all stickers) and murder out the all black motiff even more.

A fresh, off the showroom floor, project bike. That just sounds crazy to me, but I'm going to do it. Because it will be FUN. I fit the mold. I actually WANT to do all that stuff, but thanks to these forums, I'm aware of what I'm getting myself into. Thanks.

A couple grand more, at least - for all the farkles, mods, and upgrades. It almost brings the cost up to other bikes.

It turned out to be an even bigger project than I had imagined. Don't get me wrong, I like my KLR, but I might have done things differently had I known just how much I wanted to (had to) change. It's like it never ends. It's like I'm slowly building an entirely new bike from aftermarket parts.

My KLR now has 4, 167 miles on it. It's still my "project bike". I haven't done the doo-hickey. I haven't done the thermo-bob, or the 22¢ carburetor mod. I haven't touched the sub-frame bolts. I'm still on the stock tires. My electrical system has been more than adequate, even running a GPS. I relocated my rear turn-signals, using the bracket that came on the license plate (free). I'm still using the stock seat, but find it become uncomfortable pretty quickly. I didn't shorten the kickstand, or change the sprocket. My footpeg bolts are just fine, it doesn't use oil (although it does leak oil), and the exhaust hasn't developed any "chirping" sounds.

I cranked my rear shock all the way up to "5", but with my luggage it's still too soft. If I put 8 lbs in the right bag, the bike wants to fall over to that side. Just the weight of the empty boxes makes the suspension sag enough to not be able to put the kickstand up without leaning the bike waaay over to the right, to clear the ground. I'm able to flat-foot at stop-lights, because I'm riding around with so much sag. I really shouldn't be able to flat-foot at all (6' tall with 34" inseam). My suspension needs to be upgraded, desperately.

I tend to ride the bike hard - I think because it's lack of horsepower, which makes the oil need changed at around 2000 miles or less.

I got most of the protection, like crash-bars, skidplate, headlight-guard, and jesse luggage, but I'm still using the original handguards.

I wired in a light-switch, and a 12v outlet. I painted the tank and front fairing with spray-cans - black. I'm using a RAM mount with Garmin Nuvi 255w, and it's pretty awesome.

I want to change the windscreen buffeting situation. I want to upgrade the suspension, do the doo, disable the safety-switches, get a better seat, fix the oil leak, etc.

It's all I think about when I want to spend money. It's turned into the most money-grubbing thing I've EVER owned. I got a "cheap" bike, that I've put more money into than any other bike I've ever had - in the first year, and there's still so much "left to do" to it, that it's overwhelming. So many more mods I want to make, and upgrades and changes.

My old R1150 GSA never needed anything, and it had a fuel gauge, bigger tank, center stand, etc. Its suspension never sagged under huge loads either. I don't know if the F800GS might have been a better option for me.

I guess I'm having buyer's remorse. :fiddler: I wish I would have gotten a bigger/better/more-expensive bike instead. I have a lot of fun on it, until I feel like passing someone on the dotted yellow line.

I'd lose a shed-load of money if I sold it at this point, especially with its new paint-job. :Quit complaining: I still might though. Sell that and my other bike, to hopefully get enough money to get just ONE bike that works better for me. I think I just decided to bite the bullet and go ahead and take the loss. Lesson learned.

The least expensive dual-sport bike didn't work for me, because I can't afford it. I felt since the quality on many aspects are "cheap" I need to upgrade them, which ends up costing more than just getting the "nicer bike" to begin with. (less to "upgrade" on the nicer bike)

After you upgrade the living crap out of it, you still have a KLR. A nicer KLR, but one that costs twice as much.

I'm not trying to offend anyone, I just think I realized it's not for me. It was fun while it lasted, but I don't really want to fix this oil leak, and can't afford all the mods I want to do (nor the time). With the doohickey doomsday looming in my mind, to the poor highway performance (wind buffeting, lack of horsepower), I think I'm better off without it.