The KLR is so slow...

2924 Views 80 Replies 36 Participants Last post by KLR-Mule, 5 d ago

PNWexplorer

Discussion Starter · 27 d ago

How slow is it?

I had to run to town today in the middle of an oil change since Walmart sold me the wrong oil filter.

It was blustery and stormy but about 60 degrees, so I figured I'd take the KLR on the 30 mile round trip to town and back.

On the way back in a 60 mph zone, I got stuck behind some jerk going 55 mph. Rural 2-lane highway with lots of traffic and few passing zones.

There is a small mountain pass halfway home where the road splits into 4 lanes going up a 7% grade for about a mile.

So I just remained patient, knowing that I would be able to pass safely in a few minutes.

When we finally got to the 4 lane section, the jerk started increasing his speed. He sped up to 68 mph.

I couldn't pass him. The KLR didn't have enough power to go over 68 mph up the grade. 🥺

I may need more power. I have soft panniers and stock windscreen. Maybe 20lbs of gear in panniers. I was tucked down close to the tank to reduce wind drag.

But, I am 6'2" and 302lbs.

I have ridden many bikes and never encountered a situation in which I couldn't make a safe and efficient pass on the highway.

It was alarming.

I can't imagine how slow it will be this summer with all of my camping gear on it.

Reactions: 3

61 - 80 of 81 Posts

AntonK

· #61 · 22 d ago

You can’t have reliability and longevity AND power - a high out put high compression motor will never last as long as something like a KLR…I just spent six weeks riding Mountain trails in Colombia on a DR650 - rarely used 4th or 5th gear - different tools for different applications….

Reactions: 2

Capt_Obv

· #62 · 16 d ago

PNWexplorer said:
It wasn't a problem for my Road King. I don't understand the second part of your statement.

Road king has well over double the displacement. No idea why it would have more power.

Reactions: 1

OverSquareEng

· #63 · 16 d ago

AntonK said:
You can’t have reliability and longevity AND power - a high out put high compression motor will never last as long as something like a KLR…I just spent six weeks riding Mountain trails in Colombia on a DR650 - rarely used 4th or 5th gear - different tools for different applications….

The rotax 650 single in the BMW F650 would like a word with you.

Reactions: 2

DPelletier

· #64 · 16 d ago

OverSquareEng said:
The rotax 650 single in the BMW F650 would like a word with you.

A legendary powerplant though I'm not sure how many unrebuilt examples there are with 200,000 miles on them....

Reactions: 1

Swamp

· #65 · 16 d ago

If you want to ride like your describing you need to buy a different bike. The KLR is a Tractor in the motorcycle world. Trying to do things like this on a bike that was not designed to do so, and getting frustrated about it, is going to get you into a bad situation some day.

Why were you frustrated behind someone who is under the speed limit a little?

Reactions: 1

OCL

· #66 · 16 d ago

Swamp said:
Why were you frustrated behind someone who is under the speed limit a little?

Let's give PNWExplorer some slack.

I wouldn't want to be following someone doing 55 mph on a 2 lane mountain road either.

Reactions: 1

Carpediem

· #67 · 16 d ago

I like its road abilities. Keeps me from lowsiding speeding out of leaning turns. Very forgiving. I had a kawasaki mach 3 750 when i was 18 and that happened more than i like to admit.

ymracing

· #68 · 16 d ago

OCL said:
Let's give PNWExplorer some slack.

I wouldn't want to be following someone doing 55 mph on a 2 lane mountain road either.

If I find myself behind someone slowing me up on a fun road with no decent place to pass. I pull over, maybe take a drink, leak, or both. Give my wife a Gen 4 Spot an "I'm f*ckin' groovin'" msg. Get back on my bike and take off. It's more fun than being pi$$ed.

Reactions: 5

AntonK

· #69 · 16 d ago

OverSquareEng said:
The rotax 650 single in the BMW F650 would like a word with you.

I would not describe the F650 engine as “high output” it’s about 20 horses short of the mark…. But it’s about 10 better than the KLR. A good mill for sure.

OverSquareEng said:
The rotax 650 single in the BMW F650 would like a word with you.

It’s not a high output engine …I meant something like the Husqvarna 701 with over 70 hp out of a 697 cc mill

Reactions: 2

AntonK

· #70 · 16 d ago

AntonK said:
I would not describe the F650 engine as “high output” it’s about 20 horses short of the mark…. But it’s about 10 better than the KLR. A good mill for sure.

It’s not a high output engine …I meant something like the Husqvarna 701 with over 70 hp out of a 697 cc mill

Correction - 692.7 cc

Swamp

· #71 · 15 d ago

OCL said:
Let's give PNWExplorer some slack.

I wouldn't want to be following someone doing 55 mph on a 2 lane mountain road either.

Why not? As he stated in his post, the vehicle sped up when he had the lane to pass him, and the individual was basically being an A--Hat to a motorcyclist. You do not want that type of person behind you in a vehicle while on a bike.

The point I'm trying to make, is that you don't want to get frustrated and pissed off at someone when your riding in traffic. That mindset leads to making bad decisions on a motorcycle. As stated, pull off the road, take a break, and let the guy go. When you have a break in traffic, proceed with your ride.

OCL

· #72 · 15 d ago

AntonK said:
It’s not a high output engine …I meant something like the Husqvarna 701 with over 70 hp out of a 697 cc mill

If I recall, KTM's 690 Enduro R motor dyno out to about 59 rwhp at a lofty 8,200 RPM. It's a fast bike. It will show its taillights to the Tenere 700 and probably keep up with my VStrom 650 if I let them.

T7 dyno's around 63 rwhp and VStrom 650 around 68 rwhp.

Reactions: 3

Reveille

· #73 · 15 d ago

I've ridden the 690R and a T7. Both are fast bikes but the 690 is crazy fast which is why I don't own one. The T7 has a nice meaty growl and has a different power delivery. I like the T7 power but I like the light weight of the 690R. I guess we can't have it all until someone builds a reliable 600cc twin @ sub 400lbs wet.

Reactions: 1

Gunnar88

· #74 · 12 d ago

banditcilik said:
I now make a habit to slipstream behind semis, it's warmer due to less wind and surely save some gas. Not sure if the truckers like the idea.

Where do I sign up to buy $50 bike?

I avoid ridding behind semis like the plague! Have you ever seen one peel a tread? It's not pretty as they unwrap smacking around putting off a ton of debris and eventually spitting itself out at about 12 feet long, I think. Not a good thing to have happen in front of you in a car, real bad news on a bike!

Reactions: 3

OCL

· #75 · 11 d ago

Reveille said:
I've ridden the 690R and a T7. Both are fast bikes but the 690 is crazy fast which is why I don't own one. The T7 has a nice meaty growl and has a different power delivery. I like the T7 power but I like the light weight of the 690R. I guess we can't have it all until someone builds a reliable 600cc twin @ sub 400lbs wet.

They T7 is quite possibly the closest thing to that Unicorn.

Having said that, if you're pining for a "KLR twin", all arrows seem to point to the new Honda Transalp 750. It weighs almost exactly the same as the KLR, has the same suspension travel, 17/21 wheelset. But that new motor is a gem. On the Hornet, it puts out, get this: 85-88 rwhp. Honda gave it a big bore and short stroke with big valves to allow it to breath deep at high RPM. The result is class leading power. The Suzuki 800 motor belts out about 76 rwhp on their GSXS 800. That's a whopping 10 rwhp difference between the two. Now before someone says, oh they sacrificed torque, not really. You won't feel that "sacrifice" according to testers. The Transalp 750 is going to be the fastest middleweight ADV bike out there. The T7 sacrificed a ton of top end power for torque, then Yamaha geared it low. So you have all that low down grunt, but you've got many owners complaining the motor feels busy at high speed. Well duh....you can't have it all. The T7 revs about 500 rpm higher at the same highway speeds as my VStrom 650.

I know we all have KLR's, and we all talk about how nice it would be to have just 10-20 rwhp more. And if you've ridden a bike near the same weight as a KLR with that much more power, yeah. It is an eye opener. It lets you do things on pavement, you will never do with the KLR.

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Reactions: 1

line6distortion

· #76 · 11 d ago

If you are upshifting at 3k rpms you are probably correct that the KLR slowly torques its way up to speed but does not get there in a hurry. But there is a sweet spot - dependent on your gearing. off the top of my head my stock gearing when wound to about 4500rpms is in the groove and in merging onto the freeway at these higher rpms pulled me up to about 80mph where I soon realized I better slow down. Again off the top of my head 4k rpms pulls along about 60mph which is a starting point for highway and one can adjust from there. perhaps the takeaway from this is "get in 2nd gear and patiently let her wind to 4500, maybe 4700 or 5k - then hop into 3rd 4th 5th. This seems to be a torque sweetspot, no it isnt an inline 4, but works well for a bike like the KLR, and IMHO is not slow. 38 - 40 horsies is all you got. Manage them well and youll get going as fast as anyone needs.

Reactions: 1

Reveille

· #77 · 11 d ago

After my fuel pump recall, my bike is much more responsive and runs great throughout the rpm range. I also completed a valve adjustment just prior to the fuel pump so it could be a combo that netted the increased performance.
Either way, I'm happy with the power it puts out for what it's worth.
In regards to the transalp, I'd have to sit on one but based on the specs, it seems way too small for my size. I'd like to check it out either way if they ever show up in dealers.

Reactions: 1

Biggs3118

· #78 · 11 d ago

If your riding is more street biased the trans-alp would be a better choice. More dirt bias and the T7 takes the crown. Either way

Reactions: 1

Dennis Cook

· #79 · 9 d ago

Rode my KLR up and over paved Nike Hill yesterday in 5th gear. Most cars struggle as the steep grade is long and most cars have to shift down and slow to 35 mph before reaching the top. I got a good run at it and my KLR pulled effortlessly all the way up to the top in 5th gear and around 60 mph. Could probably do 80 up to the top. My bike has a Yoshimura pipe. Don't know if that makes a difference? I don't think of my bike as a PIG!

Reactions: 1

Gunnar88

· #80 · 6 d ago

Im not sur shoe long or steep the thill is but 60 seems very doable, the klr kinda hits the wall at 85-90 ish and even a little head wind will keep me firmly planted at 80, never mind a steep hill.

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