My 22 KLR is a beast on the twisties, sits solid on the road. After doing an airbox modification so I have positive air pressure the torque is amazing in top gear, overtaking is no problem
I capped the intake at the rear of the box because it was just dragging in dirty air from the rear of the bike. I then neatly carved a nice sized opening in the airboxes service door along with a nice slit in the outer side cover, then I made packing around the new intake with some stiff leather and pot rivots so when the side cover was placed back on the air is forced into the box 👍 I got the idea from an Australian dude that done the same to his Africa twin. You may know of him, he calls that bike the 'War Horse
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 it has lowered it slightly but I think if I was in a situation where the water is up around the high end of the engine I shouldn't be attempting it on the heavy KLR anyways, but up around the bottom of the engine I would have no doubts water would not get in. But absolutely so much more torque than the restricted version and thats just my first modification. I have got about 6000 km's on it now, love it to bits offroad because its like a tractor and its awesome on the twisty hilly bitumen roads. The things I dont like are straight roads, its abit boring on the KLR and it doesn't corner well on loose gravel roads, the back end stays to planted which in turn makes the front feel weird because you are then just relying on the steering to get you around the corner without the aid of some rear end drift
@@shanewilliams7742 I just went back and watched that Warhorse video again. Did youcut holes in the side panel as an intake like the Warhorse has? Did you take any video or photos of it?
The bike is what it is. I'm 65 . 6'2 250lbs . I have no issues with my 23 klr. I ride the crap out of it. It's a blast on and off road. I love the fact it isn't tech driven.
@@patrickalbani4056 Congrats on the purchase mate. What year / model? I always recommend a Staintune: Unlock 10% MORE POWER On Your 2023 Kawasaki KLR 650! ua-cam.com/video/a1jgQWANlzU/v-deo.html
If anyone has any doubts that the KLR is a good bike, they need only watch the Emig ride videos here on the tube. Jeff Emig (a former pro supercross racer here in the USA) uses a KLR to lead the ride and rides it hard with zero issues. Adding to that, I'm a former pro-am MX rider as well as intermediate enduro and supermoto racer and I've had a 2012 and 2018 KLR that I rode super hard for over 30,000 miles each and never had an issue (sold the 2012 to make the mistake of buying a ring for the wrong girl and sold the 2018 to give the DRZ a shot). I'm currently in the market to get a 3rd gen KLR
Honest representation of this bike. I would rate it a little higher than you have. I’m 53 6’3 and just shy of 100 kegs. This bike has a very forgiving nature and is well suited for someone who wants a bit of everything. I went for a ride with some young guys last weekend and when we stopped for lunch they were amazed that I was never far behind and sometimes breathing down their neck. They were on enduros and it made me pretty happy with my purchase. A bit of a key though is to get on the bike and practice key skills such as obstacles and power slides. I can lift the front wheel when needed but I think I would really push the envelope with the rear suspension on a large obstacle. Great video Thanks
Great video. At 57 I've not ridden for twenty years, after always being on a motorcycle earlier in my life. A '22+ klr adv or crf 300 rally are at the top of my short list, and the klr keeps popping to the top.
@@wgrangerjr1 That’s the thing, isn’t it? It’s like buying a truck after driving sedans. Yes, it feels bigger coz it is bigger, but you get used to it.
Great video, and "enough" is the KLR! I have owned 6 KLR's in the last 40yrs! I go through bikes and low and behold a KLR shows up in the garage again. Guess I have learned that I should always have a KLR in the garage. I currently own a Gen3 S model. I think the Gen 3's are the best KLR's so far. It handles twisties as fast as I need to go. I find it also handles wind on the highway much better then the Gen 2's. I usually shed about 25lbs on all the KLR's I have owned with basic mods. Yes it is heavy but it is soo comfortable. I am fortunate to own a couple of dedicated off road bikes so I know my KLR's limitations. I paid $7200 OTD for my bike. That is the kicker. Hard to beat for the price.
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 On my past KLR's slip on exhaust, lithium battery, lighter handle bars, pegs, license plate holder, de-smog stuff, got me about 23lbs. So far just a slip and pegs on this bike. I think it comes out to about 8lbs.
Comfortable for old farts, good for dirt roads, not a serious off-road bike. Not too heavy, but NOT stupid heavy like some massive adventure bikes. Was also used by the military. Good street bike but not great. I guess if your done with serious off-road stuff, but just want an all arounder, it's outstanding. Good price point also. Sit on one in the show room and you will see.
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 I picked up my KLR yesterday put on 85 miles gettin it home. While at the dealership I traded in my 21 multistada for a 24 pikes peak. Delivery is scheduled for Wednesday..
Ill pass on gen 2 and 3. I love gen 1 and always will and never had a problem passing even with a front wheel laterally out by a 1/16 " ....giving a little wobble doing a high speed s maneuver changing lanes but im used to it. She's awesome to me and will never give mine up
Great video and summation of the KLR. Mine is a final year gen 2 which I bought brand new when they killed it off temporarily. It is the most versatile and reliable bike I have owned and I will never get rid of it. When my other bikes give me trouble, I turn to it and off we go. Thanks for the laughs from your video.
@@CB_out Thanks mate. Glad you liked it. I guess you’re in the US then? Even though Kawi stopped selling them in 2018 in the States, they sold here in Australia through ‘21 and rolled into the Gen 3 in ‘22.
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 Guilty as charged. I had a good chuckle at your 'murica numbers. I had demo rode these at various events over the years and finally decided I needed to get one, and with them going away, I figured it was time. Bang for the buck can't be matched by anything I've found.
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627you’re a good guy, great video. I’ve owned two gen 2 KLR and just could a gen 3 but I see a newer version may come out 2025.i own 3 other bikes one being a Ducati multistada but won’t use in the rain as a commuter
@@patrickalbani4056 Yeah, I’ve seen some things about a 2025 KLR, but they look like AI generated videos to me. And given Kawasaki’s history with previous models of KLRs, I’d say we have at least another ten years with the Gen 3.
Thanks for the review! I have been riding my 2023 KLR650 and filming across different parts of America and I does pretty well. Not the best bike but like you said parts are cheap. It can do a little of everything.
the thing that has stopped me from buying this bike is the horsepower. How does it only have 8 horsepower more then my 300? Then the price point kinda kills it, there are other bikes around its price point that out perform it.
Hmmm looks like I deleted my own reply. Oops… Anyway, HP isn’t the only thing to consider. While the HP might not be as high, the torque will be much higher, which is more important off the road. Just something to consider.
I had a 2005 gen 2. You talked about the front end being unstable on the highway. I found that removing the hand guards made a huge difference. I took them off in the summer and put them back on when the temps dropped. I liked the bike just for riding to work and back. Otherwise, not so much. I live in the Platte River Valley 16:46 braska next to the sandhills, so most offroad riding is in sand, lots of sand, and the KLR sucks in sand. After putting on knobbies, its performance only slightly improved. Due to back injuries, long distant adventure rides were out, so I grew bored with it and traded it for a Ninja 650.
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 I load mine up with gold mining equipment and was very surprised of the type of terrain you can conquer on them. Very underrated bikes because I think the majority of KLR owners aren't really experienced riders so you hear alot of not so good things about them. You really just got to keep those big bikes moving and constantly looking ahead for your line. I wouldn't trade mine for anything
Had a 1st generation for 10yrs and felt like a kid again. Getting ready to pull the trigger on a '24 S model. I'm looking to simplify. I'm psyched that they're offering a lower seat version, at 5'7" the first gen model was fun and manageable in my 40's. I'm keeping my Triumph T-120 for styling around town but I miss the perspective from the seat of the utilitarian KLR.
I have the Gen 2 Kawasaki KLR650. I have not noticed any vibration. I still use the OEM tyres and the OEM rubber covered foot pegs. I have ridden the bike from Sydney to Perth, a 4,300 km trip. The 22 litre fuel tank made the trip possible.
@@kristianj6048 Hahaha that’s not clickbait. Clickbait would be if I tilted the video ‘I bought an Africa Twin’ and then released a video about the KLR.
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 Nah mate, you're better than that. There's no need to slide into clickbaitey titles if the quality is there. It's a slippery slope.
Nicely done and well said. I love my KLR and know it's limitations but I do sometimes want another bike. If I were to get something else I would keep the KLR cause like you said, I've built it into what I wanted it to be and it does everything I need.
Well I have it on good authority that the correct number of bikes is N+1, where N is the number of bikes you already have…. But yes, for me, a second, lighter trail bike would be nice at times.
The Gen2 2010 is my first bike I have owned It cost me bugger all And I love riding it , highway , gravel roads and just to the shops and back . My next purchace will be a Gen3 , why would you buy anything else ? Ps : I have ridden other bikes . 😅
Yep first KLR. I love it’s carrying capacity for luggage and the rack on the back. I’ve connected a pelican box to the back and things that I have for camping trips fit right in it. I love all the aftermarket support and extras that are available for it. And I just love riding it.
Great review....interesting on your feedback regarding the fork brace. The gear shift lever may need replacing or adjusting, as riding with adventure boots is a bit of an issue and the seat for some odd reason gave me a sore ass after my last long ride....not sure why as the seat appears comfortable 🤔
Thanks mate. I'm glad to hear you liked it. Did you catch my last video? In that video, I install the fork brace, along with two other mods, and go for a ride to get a feel for it. You can check it out here: ua-cam.com/video/Bw5VC5N-YrY/v-deo.html
I own 4 bikes- the KLR sees twice the annual mileage of the other 3 combined. I commute and Moto camp on it, the ergonomics are perfect for me at 6’ tall 185 lbs. My biggest gripe is the poor fit and finish; it keeps shedding fasteners and the plastics are irritatingly asymmetrical. I’ve had 3 Gen 1’s and the Gen 3 is a brilliant step up… I’d pay more for it if they could tidy up the detail.
Love your video, is that a staintune muffler, are you happy with it. Owing a KLR is frustrating because it does everything well, which makes it hard to move onto any other bike. I have been using pivot pegs, that are expensive but the ride days out in the bush are much more enjoyable. Thanks again for your video. 👍👍
Yeah mate, that is indeed a Staintune. I highly recommend it. I have a video with more about it here: Unlock 10% MORE POWER On Your 2023 Kawasaki KLR 650! ua-cam.com/video/a1jgQWANlzU/v-deo.html I would have loved Pivot Pegs but didn’t have the coin, so I have NiceCNC instead.
Very nice video, I recently bought a '24 KLR Adventure as it was the nicest bike for the price point. I agree with basically all of your points. This is my first new bike after riding a cruiser for 10 years, and first adventure bike. Looking forward to learning this new hobby on a trustworthy bike!
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 I haven't really struggled with overtaking like you said, but also havent really been in many 110 zones, mainly just 100 or less! Its a fantastic bike
thank you so much for this review. great content, great insight I live in sydney and am planning to do a trip up the coast to townsville, then to alice springs, down to adelaide and then back to sydney. the Klr seems like the perfect bike for a trip like this. Keep up the good work
I have 2000 Kms on my 2023. Only complaint I have is the steering head issue that some 2023 have. Over tightened at factory possibly damaging roller bearing. Seeing the dealer for evaluation and inspection this Wednesday. Fingers crossed they fix it. Terrible feeling only at low speed say 20 to 40 Kms/hr. Has a wobble that takes you off guard. Everything else you said was spot on. Great bike. Love it.
Interesting. Mine is a ‘23 and I haven’t had that issue. I know that others have though. Are you in Australia or the US? I haven’t seen many (if any) Oz delivered bikes reporting that problem.
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 actually I live in Canada. Bought mine new in March of this year. Awesome bike but from day one at low speed you get the feeling you think you have a flat. Then you get used to it as expecting the front end to just jerk to one side or the other. Interestingly there seems to be little affect at high speed. Thank God. I have 50 years riding experience and have owned over 40 motorcycles. So I’m not new to this. I’ve heard that only 20% of the bikes in 2023 were affected. You may be one of the 80% 👍
@@DaveGeezerI had the exact same symptoms you mentioned, like I had a flat tire, no problem at higher speeds. I had the dealer install new bearings and races and it was a night and day change. This is my 23rd motorcycle, I knew something was wrong within 150’ of leaving the dealer. I did the thermobob at just over 300 miles with the digital temperature gauge. Amazing how fast it warms up, and stays at 192* when on the highway. I recommend even in warmer climates. (I am in Phoenix, Arizona) Cheers!
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 Im looking for a kit ro replace the rubber dampers and I'll be replacing the pegs amd soon buying another pair of DoubleTake Adventure mirrors.. should have snagged them from the XR before I sold
Great video, I to have 2013 Gen 2 KLR and I love it. I know that I can roll up to my bike and know that she will start anytime i need it to. Zero problems to be had. Looking forward to getting into the dirt with it though. Like many others I sold my cruiser to buy this one and to be perfectly honest I do not miss the former.
Thanks mate. Glad you liked it. Do you have anything you’d like to see in a video about the KLR? How do you find the oil usage in the 2013? I believe they fixed it in the 2009 1/2 model.
True - the KLR offers a lot to a new rider. Things to consider are resale value if you decide it's not for you, and picking the thing up when you drop it. But search up some 'how to pick up your adventure bike' videos here on UA-cam and you'll learn some good techniques.
@adventurebikesaustralia7627 I went with a cheap UFO supermoto fender. You do have to modify the fender a bit to get it to fit nicely, but it's nothing too crazy.
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 I really did feel like you were fair. In fact, I can picture every other UA-camr losing their minds when you said the rubber footpegs were okay. Every one of them loves to whine about the damn footpegs! Excellent review sir!
My 2023 KLR 650 engine also cuts out and dies, if I try to take off right after starting it. It's not a deal breaker, in my opinion. I just need to allow it to warm-up for a minute or two. Love my KLR!
@adventurebikesaustralia7627 no. I have not asked. I assume that the fuel system needs few seconds to build up pressure. I have heard many gen 3 owners say their bikes do the same thing.
@adventurebikesaustralia7627 On 8/2/24, my '23 KLR650, with only 2.7k miles on it, stopped running, 7 miles away from home and left me stranded in the local Post Office parking lot. I loaded my KLR on a trailer and took it to the dealership 80 miles away. The fuel pump failed. My Kawasaki warranty covered the entire repair bill. $479 for the new fuel pump, plus labor, ended up being $675 total. I was without my motorcycle for 3 full weeks and picked it up from the dealership shop on 8/23. Since I have had my KLR650 back, with a new fuel pump on it, it no longer dies when I try to rev the engine immediately after starting it. As I understand it, there was a recall on certain '22 models, because of fuel pump issues. I still love my KLR650! Kawasaki treated me good. Although, being without my motorcycle, for three weeks, was kind of a drag. I only have the One Year Kawasaki Factory Warranty. My warranty will expire on March 29, 2025. Luckily, for me, the fuel pumped failed while still under warranty.
As a long term KLR owner I attributed the wobble in the front end to the ridiculously large front mudguard causing wind steer. I changed it out for a smaller aftermarket item, problem solved. I found the Gen 1 didn’t suffer from the problem but the Gen 2 and Gen 3 did. I have never experienced any problems that couldn’t be solved at the roadside. The biggest one being the failure of the kick stand start safety switch. Thanks for the video. I wish I had bought the green KLR 🤔👍🇦🇺
Thanks mate. Happy to hear you liked the vid. Was the Gen 1 fender different to the Gen 2 / 3? I’ll have to Google it. What fender did you replace it with?
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 yeah made in China, US design there’s a UA-cam vid from the designer fitting it to a gen3. Fitted perfectly in 10-15mins. Also reduced the effect of road snakes where road repairs have been done
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 I went down to a 42 tooth. I tried a 40 but it lost to much off the bottom. I don’t like changing the front. Last year I did about 16,000 miles (25,500k). My normal is around 9,000 miles (14,500k) …
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627my KLR is a 2013. It uses about 1/4 of a quart of oil every fill at the pump. Thinking of just doing a big bore kit on it to fix the issue
@@leeinwis Still seems to be a contentious issue. Kawi says they’ve fixed it, but there are some Gen 3 owners who say it’s still a problem, and many others who say it isn’t. I haven’t checked mine so can’t comment, but do tension it up at each oil change.
@@leeinwis No, is isn't. That is a mass hysteria created by an old man that sells the "solution". I have seen numerous KLR's with 50-100k miles and it was never changed no issues. People just don't know how to properly adjust the factory one with the mallet trick. I spoke to a Kawasaki engineer who stated the 1st Gen had an issues because of the 2-piece design that was fixed in Gen2 then with the Gen 3 that fixed the real lingering issue and that was the Cam Guide they replaced it with a much stronger one.
My 22 KLR is a beast on the twisties, sits solid on the road.
After doing an airbox modification so I have positive air pressure the torque is amazing in top gear, overtaking is no problem
Good stuff! What was the airbox mod that you did?
I capped the intake at the rear of the box because it was just dragging in dirty air from the rear of the bike.
I then neatly carved a nice sized opening in the airboxes service door along with a nice slit in the outer side cover, then I made packing around the new intake with some stiff leather and pot rivots so when the side cover was placed back on the air is forced into the box 👍
I got the idea from an Australian dude that done the same to his Africa twin.
You may know of him, he calls that bike the 'War Horse
Yeah, I saw that one. I’ll have to go back and have another look. Would it lower the intake to a point where you’d be worried about water crossings?
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 it has lowered it slightly but I think if I was in a situation where the water is up around the high end of the engine I shouldn't be attempting it on the heavy KLR anyways, but up around the bottom of the engine I would have no doubts water would not get in.
But absolutely so much more torque than the restricted version and thats just my first modification.
I have got about 6000 km's on it now, love it to bits offroad because its like a tractor and its awesome on the twisty hilly bitumen roads.
The things I dont like are straight roads, its abit boring on the KLR and it doesn't corner well on loose gravel roads, the back end stays to planted which in turn makes the front feel weird because you are then just relying on the steering to get you around the corner without the aid of some rear end drift
@@shanewilliams7742 I just went back and watched that Warhorse video again. Did youcut holes in the side panel as an intake like the Warhorse has? Did you take any video or photos of it?
The bike is what it is. I'm 65 . 6'2 250lbs . I have no issues with my 23 klr. I ride the crap out of it. It's a blast on and off road. I love the fact it isn't tech driven.
@@MW-iv3es Yep, I agree. I love the fact that’s a big dumb trail bike - exactly what I wanted!
I bought a 2024 KLR650S a couple of days ago. This is my 3rd KLR. It's my commuter bike, and it can do much more than that.
@@adrianw3985 Your 3rd? You must really like them! Which Generations have you had?
Picking the KLR tomorrow morning. What slip on do you recommend
@@patrickalbani4056 Congrats on the purchase mate. What year / model?
I always recommend a Staintune:
Unlock 10% MORE POWER On Your 2023 Kawasaki KLR 650!
ua-cam.com/video/a1jgQWANlzU/v-deo.html
If anyone has any doubts that the KLR is a good bike, they need only watch the Emig ride videos here on the tube. Jeff Emig (a former pro supercross racer here in the USA) uses a KLR to lead the ride and rides it hard with zero issues. Adding to that, I'm a former pro-am MX rider as well as intermediate enduro and supermoto racer and I've had a 2012 and 2018 KLR that I rode super hard for over 30,000 miles each and never had an issue (sold the 2012 to make the mistake of buying a ring for the wrong girl and sold the 2018 to give the DRZ a shot). I'm currently in the market to get a 3rd gen KLR
@@dualsportoutdoors Thanks for the tip about that KLR content. I’ll check it out.
Honest representation of this bike. I would rate it a little higher than you have. I’m 53 6’3 and just shy of 100 kegs. This bike has a very forgiving nature and is well suited for someone who wants a bit of everything. I went for a ride with some young guys last weekend and when we stopped for lunch they were amazed that I was never far behind and sometimes breathing down their neck. They were on enduros and it made me pretty happy with my purchase.
A bit of a key though is to get on the bike and practice key skills such as obstacles and power slides. I can lift the front wheel when needed but I think I would really push the envelope with the rear suspension on a large obstacle. Great video
Thanks
Cheers mate. Glad you liked it.
I have the klr650 adventure 2024 and other than having to join a gym to lift this sucker up, it's a good all arounder.
Hahaha I had the same response. I had a friend who’s a PT draw me up a free weights plan.
Ive fallen down the KLR rabbit hole. The ugliest, dumbest looking bike, but i want one SO BAD!
@@cali5ive124 I have to disagree on the ugly part, but it is definitely an old school bike for sure.
My 2011 is the perfect bike for me. Why? Because i love riding off road and it's the only bike i own.
@@biggooddad Me too. And it’s clearly a favourite for many people around the world, with the KLR being a top selling bike for 37 years now….
Needs gear selection indicator, needs 1 more higher ratio gear, needs less vibration........ to make it more than enough
Hahahaha fingers crossed for 2025!
change the klr fender to a klx fender, will take the highway wobble away.
@@RB-tz1tv That’s next on the list, but the fork brace seems to have done a lot for it at the moment.
Great video. At 57 I've not ridden for twenty years, after always being on a motorcycle earlier in my life. A '22+ klr adv or crf 300 rally are at the top of my short list, and the klr keeps popping to the top.
The CRF Rally is a more modern platform, but the torque and the weight for balance on the highways is why I went with the KLR.
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 - I really like that the klr hasn't changed much in 37 years.
I have a 2022 KLRs. Love it. It's a heavy pig, but I've gotten used to that.
@@wgrangerjr1 That’s the thing, isn’t it? It’s like buying a truck after driving sedans. Yes, it feels bigger coz it is bigger, but you get used to it.
Great video, and "enough" is the KLR! I have owned 6 KLR's in the last 40yrs! I go through bikes and low and behold a KLR shows up in the
garage again. Guess I have learned that I should always have a KLR in the garage. I currently own a Gen3 S model. I think the Gen 3's
are the best KLR's so far. It handles twisties as fast as I need to go. I find it also handles wind on the highway much better then the Gen 2's.
I usually shed about 25lbs on all the KLR's I have owned with basic mods. Yes it is heavy but it is soo comfortable. I am fortunate to own a couple
of dedicated off road bikes so I know my KLR's limitations. I paid $7200 OTD for my bike. That is the kicker. Hard to beat for the price.
Yeah, the value proposition is hard to beat for sure. How did you shave that much weight off your KLR?
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 On my past KLR's slip on exhaust, lithium battery, lighter handle bars, pegs, license plate holder, de-smog stuff, got me about 23lbs. So far just a slip and pegs on this bike. I think it comes out to about 8lbs.
@@dirtdad8478 Bloody good start!
Lee Amy Harris Susan Lopez Mary
Hi mate, are you tagging people?
Comfortable for old farts, good for dirt roads, not a serious off-road bike. Not too heavy, but NOT stupid heavy like some massive adventure bikes. Was also used by the military. Good street bike but not great. I guess if your done with serious off-road stuff, but just want an all arounder, it's outstanding. Good price point also. Sit on one in the show room and you will see.
Great summary. All good points!
You’re a good guy great video
Thanks mate. Glad you liked it.
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 I picked up my KLR yesterday put on 85 miles gettin it home. While at the dealership I traded in my 21 multistada for a 24 pikes peak. Delivery is scheduled for Wednesday..
Ill pass on gen 2 and 3. I love gen 1 and always will and never had a problem passing even with a front wheel laterally out by a 1/16 " ....giving a little wobble doing a high speed s maneuver changing lanes but im used to it. She's awesome to me and will never give mine up
That’s a great tribute to the bike that started it all. Congrats on finding your forever bike!
Great video and summation of the KLR. Mine is a final year gen 2 which I bought brand new when they killed it off temporarily. It is the most versatile and reliable bike I have owned and I will never get rid of it. When my other bikes give me trouble, I turn to it and off we go. Thanks for the laughs from your video.
@@CB_out Thanks mate. Glad you liked it. I guess you’re in the US then? Even though Kawi stopped selling them in 2018 in the States, they sold here in Australia through ‘21 and rolled into the Gen 3 in ‘22.
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 Guilty as charged. I had a good chuckle at your 'murica numbers. I had demo rode these at various events over the years and finally decided I needed to get one, and with them going away, I figured it was time. Bang for the buck can't be matched by anything I've found.
What’s a kawazocky?
@@patrickalbani4056 Hahaha might just be my Aussie accent.
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627you’re a good guy, great video. I’ve owned two gen 2 KLR and just could a gen 3 but I see a newer version may come out 2025.i own 3 other bikes one being a Ducati multistada but won’t use in the rain as a commuter
@@patrickalbani4056 Yeah, I’ve seen some things about a 2025 KLR, but they look like AI generated videos to me. And given Kawasaki’s history with previous models of KLRs, I’d say we have at least another ten years with the Gen 3.
Thanks for the review! I have been riding my 2023 KLR650 and filming across different parts of America and I does pretty well. Not the best bike but like you said parts are cheap. It can do a little of everything.
Wow! Sounds like you’re putting some serious miles on it!
And yes, goes everywhere without fuss. Love my KLR!
the thing that has stopped me from buying this bike is the horsepower. How does it only have 8 horsepower more then my 300? Then the price point kinda kills it, there are other bikes around its price point that out perform it.
Hmmm looks like I deleted my own reply. Oops…
Anyway, HP isn’t the only thing to consider. While the HP might not be as high, the torque will be much higher, which is more important off the road. Just something to consider.
I am no way in the market for this bike but I really enjoyed the video and its presentation.
Happy to hear it mate - thanks for the feedback. What are you riding?
I had a 2005 gen 2. You talked about the front end being unstable on the highway. I found that removing the hand guards made a huge difference. I took them off in the summer and put them back on when the temps dropped. I liked the bike just for riding to work and back. Otherwise, not so much. I live in the Platte River Valley 16:46 braska next to the sandhills, so most offroad riding is in sand, lots of sand, and the KLR sucks in sand. After putting on knobbies, its performance only slightly improved. Due to back injuries, long distant adventure rides were out, so I grew bored with it and traded it for a Ninja 650.
@@karmabomberger4410 Atleast you stayed green!
I've done 5000km on my 2023 KLR 650 Adventure in 4 months.
Nice! I’m jealous. I need to get more saddle time. I love camping off it too.
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 I load mine up with gold mining equipment and was very surprised of the type of terrain you can conquer on them.
Very underrated bikes because I think the majority of KLR owners aren't really experienced riders so you hear alot of not so good things about them. You really just got to keep those big bikes moving and constantly looking ahead for your line. I wouldn't trade mine for anything
Yep, all valid points. Momentum is key with the heavier bikes.
Bro, I hit 28,000 mi in my first 12 months.
@@Texan_American Wow! That’s some serious saddle time. How do you feel about your KLR after that many miles?
Had a 1st generation for 10yrs and felt like a kid again. Getting ready to pull the trigger on a '24 S model. I'm looking to simplify. I'm psyched that they're offering a lower seat version, at 5'7" the first gen model was fun and manageable in my 40's. I'm keeping my Triumph T-120 for styling around town but I miss the perspective from the seat of the utilitarian KLR.
@@rickcooper1573 Sounds like a winner. I’d love to have two bikes.
I have the Gen 2 Kawasaki KLR650. I have not noticed any vibration. I still use the OEM tyres and the OEM rubber covered foot pegs. I have ridden the bike from Sydney to Perth, a 4,300 km trip. The 22 litre fuel tank made the trip possible.
@@gary1477 That sounds like an awesome adventure. Well done!
Clickbait. He keeps the KLR
@@kristianj6048 Hahaha that’s not clickbait. Clickbait would be if I tilted the video ‘I bought an Africa Twin’ and then released a video about the KLR.
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 Nah mate, you're better than that. There's no need to slide into clickbaitey titles if the quality is there.
It's a slippery slope.
We need a klr 450
A twin, weighing about 50 kilos less would be good!
Too bad the EFI reliability is questionable. "Not a single recall...."
Yeah, that was a small issue with a small number of bikes in the grand scheme of things.
Nicely done and well said. I love my KLR and know it's limitations but I do sometimes want another bike. If I were to get something else I would keep the KLR cause like you said, I've built it into what I wanted it to be and it does everything I need.
Well I have it on good authority that the correct number of bikes is N+1, where N is the number of bikes you already have….
But yes, for me, a second, lighter trail bike would be nice at times.
A klx 300 or versys x 300
The Gen2 2010 is my first bike I have owned
It cost me bugger all
And I love riding it , highway , gravel roads and just to the shops and back .
My next purchace will be a Gen3 , why would you buy anything else ?
Ps : I have ridden other bikes .
😅
That’s the thing mate - the KLR can do it all. It’s a near perfect balance of everything.
Awesome 😎
@@geekvinos Thanks mate. Glad you liked it. Let me know if there’s any other things you’d like to see.
Yep first KLR. I love it’s carrying capacity for luggage and the rack on the back. I’ve connected a pelican box to the back and things that I have for camping trips fit right in it. I love all the aftermarket support and extras that are available for it. And I just love riding it.
@@jeffmccaffrey4650 Sounds like you’re winning all round!
Love my Gen 3!
That’s great! Is it your first KLR? What do you like most about it?
Great review....interesting on your feedback regarding the fork brace. The gear shift lever may need replacing or adjusting, as riding with adventure boots is a bit of an issue and the seat for some odd reason gave me a sore ass after my last long ride....not sure why as the seat appears comfortable 🤔
Thanks mate. I'm glad to hear you liked it. Did you catch my last video? In that video, I install the fork brace, along with two other mods, and go for a ride to get a feel for it. You can check it out here:
ua-cam.com/video/Bw5VC5N-YrY/v-deo.html
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 yes I did watch it and you said you would comment more regarding if the fork brace made a difference 🤔
Hahaha gotcha. I need to spend a bit more time out there riding. It’s definitely better in the street rides to work and back.
I own 4 bikes- the KLR sees twice the annual mileage of the other 3 combined.
I commute and Moto camp on it, the ergonomics are perfect for me at 6’ tall 185 lbs.
My biggest gripe is the poor fit and finish; it keeps shedding fasteners and the plastics are irritatingly asymmetrical.
I’ve had 3 Gen 1’s and the Gen 3 is a brilliant step up… I’d pay more for it if they could tidy up the detail.
Yeah, I can’t stand the squeaks that come from the fairings.
Love your video, is that a staintune muffler, are you happy with it. Owing a KLR is frustrating because it does everything well, which makes it hard to move onto any other bike. I have been using pivot pegs, that are expensive but the ride days out in the bush are much more enjoyable. Thanks again for your video. 👍👍
Yeah mate, that is indeed a Staintune. I highly recommend it. I have a video with more about it here:
Unlock 10% MORE POWER On Your 2023 Kawasaki KLR 650!
ua-cam.com/video/a1jgQWANlzU/v-deo.html
I would have loved Pivot Pegs but didn’t have the coin, so I have NiceCNC instead.
Very nice video, I recently bought a '24 KLR Adventure as it was the nicest bike for the price point. I agree with basically all of your points. This is my first new bike after riding a cruiser for 10 years, and first adventure bike. Looking forward to learning this new hobby on a trustworthy bike!
Cheers mate. I’m glad you enjoyed the vid. Can I ask which points be you disagreed with? Not being argumentative - genuinely interested.
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 I haven't really struggled with overtaking like you said, but also havent really been in many 110 zones, mainly just 100 or less! Its a fantastic bike
thank you so much for this review. great content, great insight
I live in sydney and am planning to do a trip up the coast to townsville, then to alice springs, down to adelaide and then back to sydney. the Klr seems like the perfect bike for a trip like this.
Keep up the good work
Thanks mate. Glad you liked it. Sounds like a great trip. The KLR will eat that up for breakfast!
I have 2000 Kms on my 2023. Only complaint I have is the steering head issue that some 2023 have. Over tightened at factory possibly damaging roller bearing. Seeing the dealer for evaluation and inspection this Wednesday. Fingers crossed they fix it. Terrible feeling only at low speed say 20 to 40 Kms/hr. Has a wobble that takes you off guard. Everything else you said was spot on. Great bike. Love it.
Interesting. Mine is a ‘23 and I haven’t had that issue. I know that others have though. Are you in Australia or the US? I haven’t seen many (if any) Oz delivered bikes reporting that problem.
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 actually I live in Canada. Bought mine new in March of this year. Awesome bike but from day one at low speed you get the feeling you think you have a flat. Then you get used to it as expecting the front end to just jerk to one side or the other. Interestingly there seems to be little affect at high speed. Thank God. I have 50 years riding experience and have owned over 40 motorcycles. So I’m not new to this. I’ve heard that only 20% of the bikes in 2023 were affected. You may be one of the 80% 👍
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627Update. All fixed. Dealer was able to fix it and it’s now an amazing bike. lol. Always was but better now. Cheers.
@@DaveGeezer Good news! And yes, they are great bikes.
@@DaveGeezerI had the exact same symptoms you mentioned, like I had a flat tire, no problem at higher speeds. I had the dealer install new bearings and races and it was a night and day change. This is my 23rd motorcycle, I knew something was wrong within 150’ of leaving the dealer. I did the thermobob at just over 300 miles with the digital temperature gauge. Amazing how fast it warms up, and stays at 192* when on the highway. I recommend even in warmer climates. (I am in Phoenix, Arizona) Cheers!
IMO my gen3 vibrates more than my gen2..or my xr650l did...and the pegs are awful and mirror vibration is absurd
More than an XR650L? Wow! That's a lot. Pegs on mine have since been replaced, and head checks always beat mirrors in my book.
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 Im looking for a kit ro replace the rubber dampers and I'll be replacing the pegs amd soon buying another pair of DoubleTake Adventure mirrors.. should have snagged them from the XR before I sold
Love my '22 Gen 3 and "enough" describes it perfectly.
I know, right? The value proposition is hard to beat!
Great video, I to have 2013 Gen 2 KLR and I love it. I know that I can roll up to my bike and know that she will start anytime i need it to. Zero problems to be had. Looking forward to getting into the dirt with it though. Like many others I sold my cruiser to buy this one and to be perfectly honest I do not miss the former.
Thanks mate. Glad you liked it. Do you have anything you’d like to see in a video about the KLR?
How do you find the oil usage in the 2013? I believe they fixed it in the 2009 1/2 model.
Yeah, oil is good. I ride everyday and zero problems, I can't complain at all.
As a potential new rider a used KLR seems like a pretty hard bike to beat
True - the KLR offers a lot to a new rider. Things to consider are resale value if you decide it's not for you, and picking the thing up when you drop it. But search up some 'how to pick up your adventure bike' videos here on UA-cam and you'll learn some good techniques.
I put on a low mount and smaller fender on the front, and it pretty much eliminated all of the sketchy handling during windy days.
Yeah, I’m hearing that a lot too. Which one did you go with?
@adventurebikesaustralia7627 I went with a cheap UFO supermoto fender. You do have to modify the fender a bit to get it to fit nicely, but it's nothing too crazy.
I wish they would come out with a civilian version of the rare army diesel
Could be very interesting. I believe that the conversion was done by a third party though, not by Kawi themselves.
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 yeah i believe you are right. of course i guess the 650 already runs kinda like a diesel lol
I have a green 23 that’s been on the road for one year with 13,300 miles and zero problems.I’ve replaced the chain and sprockets and regular services.
Wow! That’s some saddle time - well done! Did you think I was fair on the bike in my opinions in the video?
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 I really did feel like you were fair. In fact, I can picture every other UA-camr losing their minds when you said the rubber footpegs were okay. Every one of them loves to whine about the damn footpegs!
Excellent review sir!
@@wallacerotternaut Hahahaha yeah, they get upset about that. Now that said, I did recently replace the pegs and the new ones are much better.
My 2023 KLR 650 engine also cuts out and dies, if I try to take off right after starting it. It's not a deal breaker, in my opinion. I just need to allow it to warm-up for a minute or two. Love my KLR!
Okay, so it’s not just me. Have you asked a dealer about it? I’d love to know why it happens.
@adventurebikesaustralia7627 no. I have not asked. I assume that the fuel system needs few seconds to build up pressure. I have heard many gen 3 owners say their bikes do the same thing.
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 Can you share a link to where to buy the side crash bars like on your green KLR?
@@lincolnscott5547 Start here:
srcadventuremoto.com.au/products/kawasaki-klr650-crash-bars-full-upper-lower-protection
@adventurebikesaustralia7627 On 8/2/24, my '23 KLR650, with only 2.7k miles on it, stopped running, 7 miles away from home and left me stranded in the local Post Office parking lot. I loaded my KLR on a trailer and took it to the dealership 80 miles away. The fuel pump failed. My Kawasaki warranty covered the entire repair bill. $479 for the new fuel pump, plus labor, ended up being $675 total. I was without my motorcycle for 3 full weeks and picked it up from the dealership shop on 8/23.
Since I have had my KLR650 back, with a new fuel pump on it, it no longer dies when I try to rev the engine immediately after starting it. As I understand it, there was a recall on certain '22 models, because of fuel pump issues.
I still love my KLR650! Kawasaki treated me good. Although, being without my motorcycle, for three weeks, was kind of a drag.
I only have the One Year Kawasaki Factory Warranty. My warranty will expire on March 29, 2025. Luckily, for me, the fuel pumped failed while still under warranty.
As a long term KLR owner I attributed the wobble in the front end to the ridiculously large front mudguard causing wind steer. I changed it out for a smaller aftermarket item, problem solved. I found the Gen 1 didn’t suffer from the problem but the Gen 2 and Gen 3 did.
I have never experienced any problems that couldn’t be solved at the roadside. The biggest one being the failure of the kick stand start safety switch. Thanks for the video. I wish I had bought the green KLR 🤔👍🇦🇺
Thanks mate. Happy to hear you liked the vid. Was the Gen 1 fender different to the Gen 2 / 3? I’ll have to Google it.
What fender did you replace it with?
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 Gen 1 was different shape
Replaced the Gen 2 and 3 with the type used on super moto bikes. Much shorter at the front. 👍
@@mullins6429 Good to know mate. I'll add that to the wish list!
Didn't notice that at all of course I have strong forearms so maybe that is why lol
@@poweredbyrice5708 Hahahahaha I'll leave that where it is...
What tail bag is that?
Hi mate. It's an eBay special - more here:
ua-cam.com/video/bNyQo1BTJ1A/v-deo.html
Very good review !
@@jerrycoleman6910 Thanks mate. Glad you liked it. Is there anything else you’d like to see in a video?
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
Thanks mate. I take it you enjoyed the video?
Adding a fork brace solved the wobble for me on my gen 3
Great to hear. What brand did you go with?
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 xitomer mate.
@@andrewharrold3641 Is that a Chinese brand?
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 yeah made in China, US design there’s a UA-cam vid from the designer fitting it to a gen3. Fitted perfectly in 10-15mins. Also reduced the effect of road snakes where road repairs have been done
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627
ua-cam.com/video/yDx6xn1KmrM/v-deo.htmlsi=vQkBuU9B2tOdux5o
Nice bike, got a second gen myself, no complaints besides oil consumption
What year of the second gen? When researching the KLR, I read that the 08 / 09 was the one with the oil usage problem.
My 2017 doesn’t use a drop … I did change the rear sprocket so I’m running 4500 rpm at 115k …
@@timlubbers2884 Yeah, from my research a 2017 should be fine in that regard. What did you change the rear sprocket to? Do you do much offroad?
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 I went down to a 42 tooth. I tried a 40 but it lost to much off the bottom. I don’t like changing the front.
Last year I did about 16,000 miles (25,500k). My normal is around 9,000 miles (14,500k) …
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627my KLR is a 2013. It uses about 1/4 of a quart of oil every fill at the pump. Thinking of just doing a big bore kit on it to fix the issue
Doohickey ?
A doohickey is the nickname given to the balancer adjustment lever.
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 yeah I know, but is it still a issue ..
@@leeinwis Still seems to be a contentious issue. Kawi says they’ve fixed it, but there are some Gen 3 owners who say it’s still a problem, and many others who say it isn’t. I haven’t checked mine so can’t comment, but do tension it up at each oil change.
@@adventurebikesaustralia7627 show us how
@@leeinwis No, is isn't. That is a mass hysteria created by an old man that sells the "solution". I have seen numerous KLR's with 50-100k miles and it was never changed no issues. People just don't know how to properly adjust the factory one with the mallet trick. I spoke to a Kawasaki engineer who stated the 1st Gen had an issues because of the 2-piece design that was fixed in Gen2 then with the Gen 3 that fixed the real lingering issue and that was the Cam Guide they replaced it with a much stronger one.