I have been riding most of my life and have had high end adventure bikes. The new Gen3 KLR with a few essential mods is a brilliant motorcycle. I got tired of all of the technology and over engineering on the expensive machines. I like riding motorcycles ..... not computers. KLR all the way for me.
KLR, TransAlp, Tenere! Africa Twin, Super Tenere, Elefant, I’ve owned and rode the crap out of them for the last four decades. I still own two first gen KLRs. Need I say more? KISS.
I have a 2022 tenere and love it..I don't care about phone connectivity at all I ride to get away from tech...my goes in my pocket and stays there.. I will never mount my phone to the handle bars
I bought my KLR because it was the bike I was sitting on when my wife said, "Why don't you just buy it?" If I'd been on a T7, I'd have bought it. So far, I only regret the Pig when I watch comparison videos, but that fades. I've been able to get the bike where I want it for less than the MSRP of the T7, which is a lot of money for gas and travel.
I have a new KLR for my first bike. Went for the adventure model with ABS on sale for $5600. Total steal for sure, but if I had the money to spend I think I would have went with the T700. When I have the money for a second bike I think that's what I will go for.
The reason I really love my cb500x rally raid level 2 is: Great suspension Nice wide seat Good ground clearance Lots of protection 400-500km of range depending on how your ride Good wind protection Lugs down low amazingly well. Twin motor Low center of gravity (much easier to pick up than my dr650 was) It's almost like a tenere and klr had a baby with a smaller engine lol.
Gave up waiting for a Tenere and bought an Africa Twin. Still have my Gen 1 KLR that goes almost anywhere. Then there is the DR that does go everwhere.
It all depends on what you intend on using it for. For me, the KLR is on my radar. It’s easier to find, easy to work on, very reliable and the price can’t be beat. I’m confident the KLR would help me make the bucket list of riding the Dempster Hwy. It’s a donkey, old tech, slow, but will do the job just as good as a higher end bike. I still do like the Triumph Tiger 900 rally pro, but if something goes wrong, the availability of parts if harder to get. With the KLR there is a better network in Canada, so it wins for me over the Tiger.
Wow, your two choices aren't in the same universe. I like a bit more road so my choice is between Suzuki V-Strom 650 and Triumph Tiger 900GT. The Suzuki does the job VERY well for two thirds the price new (or less than half with low k's and accessories).
The Tenere is every bit as reliable (if not moreso; it doesn't come with "must fix" problems)- but the CP2 has been rolling since 2014 and has been absolutely bulletproof. Mine is doing the Dempster highway next year :)
Dude, I have a 1st gen, I put a RICOR Duel Sport shock and their front fork Intimidators and got a whole new bike... on and off road. Still get satisfying pulls out of corners... I rode with a bunch of Harley guys on a few occasions... They were all very surprised I could keep up within the group. Only the biker club lost me, on the interstate, pulling up a mountain... They let it rip... Said they "just wanted to see what it could do"... Biggest challenge was riding two-abreast on country roads in WV (Old school) with the club. My point isn't that the KLR is "so badass fast"... But, in normal riding scenarios, you don't really need more. People put it down all the time on UA-cam, but I get no hate from other riders and a lot of complements... Love my "mule." And so many people, riding much nicer bikes, have told me they used to have one and wished they still did. Peace
@@toddmichaels42 I dislike it for being slow, and specifically so for longer highway runs because *for me* it's awfully boring to ride on the highway. My T7 is the bare minimum of highway performance for me, and that's my slow bike. Frankly, I'd die inside if a group of Harley riders could leave me behind anywhere. Have you ridden anything else? But I'm not saying the KLR is bad. The KLR is an excellent machine in many ways, and an *outstanding* bike for the price. It's a GREAT low cost donkey of an adventure bike and as I said elsewhere here, low cost is a crucial factor for adventure bikes as it's also low cost to maintain, low fear to crash. It's a great bike. It's just slow, and (again, personal opinion) it's slow enough to make long highway runs more boring than they already are. There for sure is an upper limit for performance on the street where you're basically never going to be able to use more, but that's more in the 120hp/500lb range. I mean, I've got times where I bemoan the T7's 70hp when on the highway. I should be able to pass anyone, *particularly* on a steep uphill grade. 20 over the limit shouldn't require WOT. If I'm on a wide, long, empty highway I should be able to hold 100mph without wringing the crap out of the engine. And none of that is special. The KLR is nearly there, but not. But everything past the KLR is.
I love the concept of the T7. I would love to see one to get the feel of it. To decide if I want to get one or not. But in my area, they are a true unicorn. My local Yamaha dealer has only had one in the shop and it was already sold before it came in. I’ve been looking around to see if I see anyone riding one, but no luck there either.
I will say, this is a VERY good question for adventure bikes in particular. Not just about purchase price, but the reality of adventure bike life, if you're buying it to take if offroad. You probably will crash it. You will damage it. So you need to consider the ongoing price of the bike as well. This is where the big ADV bikes fall down IMHO, and why most big BMW's for example just end up being touring bikes. Even if you can afford that much money for the bike up front, does having a bike that expensive mean you're no longer willing to have fun with it? You need a pretty fat wallet to do extensive repaires on a 1250gsa. Everything is $$$ Both the KLR and T7 are pretty cheap to work on, but the KLR does have an edge there. This is where these bikes shine though, because you can play with them. Breaking them isn't a huge problem, parts are readily available, and they're both easy to work on. Anyways, I ramble. I just think this is a factor people don't often consider when comparing adventure bikes and price, but is a very important one. I mean, I'd be WAY more likely to spend 20k on a street bike I'll (hopefully) never drop than on an adv bike I'll ride through rivers.
@@DifferentSpokesTV right? My first offroad trip on my T7, not having ridden in dirt since the 80's on Vancouver Island, we came to this steep 4x4 jeep trail leading down to a dried riverbed. It was WAY out of my abilities and I knew it. But the T7 was wearing good front and rear crash bars ( love Heed!) And I knew anything broken could be easily and cheaply fixed, so full send. Crashed it three times, hard, but had a blast and learned so much. Bent the shifter and rear brake levers back into the right shape (ish), learned why people replace the exhaust (Huzar, $250, amazing!) - no problem. I'd never have tried that on a really expensive BMW or KTM. But a Tenere? Or a KLR? Full send.
My philosophy is never take a bike weighing more than 400 lbs including luggage for serious off-road or you'll regret it and risk potential serious injury and/or damage to bike in process. It is much better to trailer a smaller bike for serious off-road and if you make a mistake then you have fall back plan. Otherwise, if you crash and bike becomes inoperable then you are screwed and paying big money to get out of a jamb. In that sense traveling long-distances on any bike your mindset should be laying it down is simply not an option. That determines how and where you ride off-road relative you your skillset and bikes abilities. If you consider that not fun well what about you or your buddies whose trip is cut short or compromised by the guy who makes such a mistake or has a breakdown due to older bike and/or poor preventative maintenance?
BOTH are way tall - used to have a '96 KLR and went to the VStrom - 2002 1K and now a 2007 650.... i am 5'-5.5 with a 32" inseam.. and the new bikes, i boot the pannier or seat every single time i get on.. the VStrom of the generation i have... not an issue.. and i can ride it anywhere i want.. maybe slower than some, but i get there with no issues... cheers from Vancouver!
I have an '08 KLR650 right now. It's all clapped out and I don't trust it anymore for our long trips. I may be buying a new bike soon and when I do, it'll be another KLR650.
I had a KLR, big bore 685 kit. With a load on, old ladies with the hat and tissue box on the parcel shelf would downshift and whiz by me going uphill in their asthmatic white good vehicles. Its heavy, and so is the Tenere.
Great video, I love my Tenere. I also agree on the reliable 450 being ideal. I want a WR450, street legal, with service intervals closer to street bike spec and that would be perfect.
I think the Versys is a paralell twin which is the WAY WAY more fun engine. Paralell twin engines are the best engine ever, they are screaming, high performance engines, you can revv them to 10,000 rpms all day long and they don't complain.
Im still making up my mind, but im starting to lean towards the T700. Having that acceleration for a quick overtake and more powerful brakes would definitely make me feel much safer on the highway. Definitely seems like a seat upgrade would be necessary for longer road rides though.
For me, '22 KLR650 Traverler ABS, it's about the adventure, not how fast I get there. The new T7 in our group likes to stop every 30 to 45 minutes because the seat kills his butt and back, same guy has a 22KLR [ Lucky bugger to have both bikes]and says it's the most comfortable bike he has ever ridden.
I gotta say the klr is better just due to the reason that you can find them at dealerships. Yamaha seems to also dislike us people across the ocean due to the fact they don't want to sent the rally and the world raid to the American markets.
The reality is the KLR is the better bike suited to 99% of ADV riders and how they actually ride. Iv been there, done that with the expensive bikes. U dont buy a high end ADV bike to ride it like a dirt bike like these ad's try to get you to think. Those guys dont pay for all the fixes after crashes. Iv stupidly done it, but 450lb bikes arent made to jump and ride in deep mud/sand. The ADV model KLR is a CRAZY deal, that T7 decked out comparibly here is well over twice the price of the Kawi that gets a lot longer fuel range and is ready to go immediately off the showroom floor. Save the money, and take some actual trips instead of worrying bout having the "best". A lot of are older or getting there and the slower/comfy bike is more appealing anyway.
i loved my 2nd gen klr. it took me cross country and back very stoicly.. however it is quite heavy underpowered and the brakes really struggle if you have a passenger.. and having to upgrade the doohickey right off the box is a pain.. i think the tenere is interesting upgrade
Unless ur the less than 1% who truly live the lifestyle of ADV riding, the KLR will be just fine. Too much watching the u tube and wanting to be like the ‘cool kids’ gets more folks into more bike than they need, or really, want. IMHO. It’s just a toy. If ya have all the money in the world, get what ya want. If ya know yourself and just want to go out and have some fun now and then, don’t worry about keeping up with the ‘cool kids’. Trust me, over time, the bike will spend more time in the garage than not. It’s a toy.
Great video. Honest review. I agree about the gen1 KLR on looks. Picked up my '07 two years ago, had less than 8k on the odo and was garage kept, came with large Tusk boxes. When I upgrade, it will likely be the T7. I knew I would likely drop it off road, and have. Didn't want to sweat dropping a nicer bike and likely not do the off road stuff I have done. Peace to you and your wife, Brooke.
I bought a KLR for $3.3k to do the TAT. It accomplished it without a hiccup and I sold it on with serious respect for its reliability and ability. I’m not sure I would have found the same quality with anything else….. (except a Honda)
Answer it's very simple ! YT700 it's pretty simple, reliable versatile and of course beautiful, but it is a true ICON on his class. KLR it's a Japanese "Royal Enfield" that's it !
The DR650. It is as cheap as KLR (basically) and is lighter and more fun... OK, it is not "adv" in it's marketing, etc. but add a windscreen if you must.
Mostly trip around on my 08 Klr putting about 10K kilometres on the clock each year and rarely use it for commuting. Do the maintenance work myself and it's cheap to maintain ect. I tour slow so Klr is perfect for chugging around and exploring. I've thought about the T7 a few times and it might happen when I get the urge to ride something faster.
For me, I just have different bikes for different things. Fast bike (inline 4 street bike) for when I want to go quick or do track days, slow and light adv for when I want to be nimble on trails or city streets, and a big ole touring cruiser when I want to take big trips with a passenger. But all of these are old junkers so I definately get to do a lot of maintenance :D
I like the sound of the KLR 650 just love the sound of large singles. The Tenere 700 gas tank way to small for a ATV bike, even the Honda CB500X has a 17.5 liter tank and can get over 450 km per tank. Put a 21 + liter tank on the Tenere 700 after all the call it a ATV bike. The lowering kit on the Tenere what will be the seat hight. I had the first gen KLR650 and thinking of getting another one.( third gen )
I'm currently looking for a dual sport or adv and the KLR sounds good on paper but I don't like how it looks. I think the tenere looks awesome but out of my budget. Old KLRs look so much better
Well done comparison of the two bikes. I spent my money on a V-Strom 1050 because it is difficult to go offroad where I live, so this travel capable naked / universal japanese motorcycle fits me pretty well. Pricewise a comparison between KLR and CFR 300 would reasonable and also be pretty interesting.
I bought my '22 klr, all of my (many) mods, all of my riding and camping gear totaling about $2500 worth minus the bike. In my area at the time of my purchase, one was paying $15,000 for a T7 IF you could find one... key word, IF. Now, was that T7 7-8000 better during this time? Nope. And I stand by a very old but true statement. It's always better to ride a slow bike fast than riding a fast bike slow. I do like the T7, though. Yamaha builds great products! Great video!
If I were richer, I would definitelty try Tenere. But for poorer countries KLR fits just so much better. A lot of utility, less complex engine, lower price, still decent enough to commute, travel and go offroad. And even if it's half as reliable as the old KLR... It's a shame that Kawasaki does not sell KLR 650 wide enough. KLR's customer lives in places like Eastern Europe, and ex-USSR countries, rather than the rich USA and Canada. IMHO. What's funny, T7 IS available in those places!
So they don't sell the KLR in Eastern Europe? I live in the USA, and I can tell you that I don't know how anyone can afford to drive a new motorcycle here in the USA. It's $450 a month for insurance for a new motorcycle, full coverage insurance. I was going to go buy a new Hayabusa for $15,000 because the payment would be relatively low each month (only about $250). Rent in some places here is $1500 a month. $250 a month is fine, but not when you add $450 for insurance. The insurance is a scam, it's more than twice the cost of the motorcycle. I can't afford $700 for a vehicle, that's just fraud, and a scam. Nobody should be willing to pay that much just to own a new vehicle. I ended up buying a used Hayabusa for $7500 with only 5,200 miles on it. I had to buy new tires for $600 and a new $100 battery. But still less than half the price of new.. The resell value of motorcycles in the U.S. is much, much lower than cars. People basically throw away their motorcycles and just want them gone. You can buy a 2012 Honda Goldwing with 9,000 miles on it, for $8,000 USD, they are basically $30,000 new.
@@Ritalie no, they don't. Kawasaki sells a variety of bikes here, but not the dual sports, for some reason. Neither KLR, nor KLX. Some re-sellers bring new ones (0 miles) unofficially, bought somewhere else and transported over the border. I seriously thought of of buying one of those, back in 2021, before the war. It did not happen. What you tell about the insurance, is insane! 450 a month is... a full bike's cost in 2 years, right? In our parts I never heard of anything like this. What exactly do you get for this sum of money?.. And why do people even bother buying new vehicles under such conditions?.. I wouldn't bother. Used ones are okay as long the state is good, in my opinion.
Ok, my dream is a KLR 450 (Versys 450X?), Ninja 400 engine, Eliminator stroke improvement, 380ish lbs, 60 HP, 40 ft lb torque, 7" travel... come ON Kawasaki!!!
A friend has the T7 and his wife won’t ride with him. He also has a V-Strom that she’ll travel with him as a passenger. I’m not sure how comfortable the KLR is for a passenger, but I just bought one. I don’t know if I’ll ever have a passenger
Just curious but you mentioned at some point that the KLR will do single track the africa twin would have a hard time at. Have you tested the AF on these conditions?
I ran the AT Adventure Sports on the same trail. It was pretty gnarly (video is on the channel a couple of months back). I suspect the regular, lighter AT would have done better but those bikes are heavy and the weight shows in the tight stuff. You can do it but the heavier the bike, the less fun it is. That trail is a blast on my wife's CRF300L Rally.
Great video! love the T-7, but i'm loving my 23 KLR. Is my second KLR and i also ride a 03 Meanstreak. KLR is the perfect bike for what i wanted; mostly dirt and gravel roads to see the back country. Too old to rip on dirt or I'd get a yz250. If you understand that the KLR is a tractor, You can walk out of the dealer brand new at 6200.00. Right on T-7's but god bless the KLR!...
Since I own one, the T7. My experience? I have never made it anywhere near 300km in range on my T7. It's 100km each way for my commute and if I fill the tank around the corner from my house I can make it to work and back, but I would be lucky to make it half way to work the next day. This is all highway riding, BTW. Seat Concepts seat was a must. With the new stuff being added to the T7 and price going up, it looks like the original mission statement for it is going out the window, which is a shame.
You can definitely do 300km on the T7, but you have to ride it like it's a KLR (slowly) to do it. All the CP2's have this issue - once you wind them up they start just guzzling fuel. Me, I don't mind stopping for gas (I think 200km commutes aren't super common!) As after 200km, I like to stretch my legs anyways. Seat Concepts Tall Rally for this guy. Stock seat isn't great.
Yeah, to get to 300k you need to stay around 80-90kph on the back roads. Then you might get there if it's not too hilly. Also, the bags and engine guards create a lot more drag so that might be something that contributes to reduced mileage, especially at high speed.
@@DifferentSpokesTV exactly. If you flip the display to fuel consumption it's pretty educational. There's definitely a point where it goes from awesome to awful; generally after 100kph. And yeah, I think it's largely drag related because riding slow at high rpm doesnt do it so much.
Are you sure your not just judging that by the low fuel light. When you get to the flashing bar you still have well over a gallon left. This bike reads fuel levels terribly. I burn through a whole gallon before the first bar disappears. The next 5 are a bit under the two and the last is about a gallon and a quarter
twenty years ago the KLR didn't have to compete with other bikes except maybe the Suzuki's DR 650 (the Honda 650 has always been over priced) and the main reasons the KLR was popular is it was a simple (mechanically) motorcycle, and it was affordable... under $5000. Since then, Kawasaki has basically put lipstick on a pig, charged a lot more money and now the KLR is not the affordable, easy to work on motorcycle it used to me. I've owned 4 KLRs, all pre 2008 models. If I wanted to get another dual sport today, I can do a lot better than the KLR with just a little bit more money thrown in.
I believe the key of the KLR is that is not really a dual sport, but an adv bike. If you want a dual sport, of course there are better options. Pretty much any dual sports is better. But you cannot go and do a 1000km trip on a dual sport off the dealership. As always, it depends what your riding is going to be and the KLR fits a purpose that not many (if any) bikes fit at that price point
I said exactly the same thing about the Gen 3- until I rode one. On paper it is a pig, out of the box it is probably the most comfortable road bike I have ever owned. Mine probably wont get thrown around off road the same way my previous Gen 1's used to, but I'm lucky enough to own an XT250 now as well- so I have the best of both worlds.
I love the tried and true klr. I bought a 2017 new and put 13,000 miles on it. It will get everything done. With that said. My t7 is so much better in almost every way. Its every bit as reliable and easy to work on. The only drawback is less fuel. Its absolutely worth the extra money over a klr. You couldnt build a klr to do the things a factory t7 could. Its a whole other animal, both on and off road. Rev limiter clutch dumps in 4th and the front wheel is pointed at the sky at 50 mph. NOT happening on a klr.
I am hurting on money but the tenere just seems like it would be the better option in the long run and that is better value. The KLR is nice but I would quickly get bored and have an urge to want more.
@@giovanhagar Ive owned the T7 for over a year now and like it a lot more than those bikes. If all I did was offroad then sure, the XR650 would be nice but I do a lot of street riding too.
Agreed with others, well done! It sounds like to me that there's one question in particular that one would need to ask first when choosing between these: Do you ride more to go places and see stuff, or do you ride more to enjoy riding dynamics? I.e. if your main focus is exploring the world on a bike, the Kawasaki will get you there. You could even count how many kilometers worth of gas you could buy with the price difference - It could be a surprisingly long trip's worth of fuel! Or you could put that extra into your riding gear, which will ultimately make more of a difference in riding comfort than much else. Or you could take a long trip and sleep in hotels, hostels and BnB's instead of roughing it. Whatever you like, really. Or if you like the experience and feeling of stronger acceleration, making it quicker down a technical trail, and feeling "one with the bike", then maybe the Yamaha is for you! If it's not so much looking at the sights and talking to the locals but more about finding different roads and trails and those visceral feelings of riding engagement, then that nicer engine and chassis would serve you well. For many of us the answer is somewhere in the middle, or both equally. And then you need to start weighing things more carefully. Of course, if you have enough money and can't think of a better way to spend it, then the Yamaha will be an easy choice: you can see the sights just as well from the saddle of the more expensive bike as the cheaper one.
I don't know if it's just me, but KLR's cockpit is way too short. Dealer said it's for "riding standing up" but I am not buying it... literally. If I sit normally my elbows are almost at 90 degrees. That's way to close for my comfort. I am 5'10" BTW.
Kawasaki has its own midweight twin cylinder adv bike at the same 700cc displacement, that's versys 650. For someone who cannot bear the big thumpers, the versys 650 provide a more budget friendly option than T7
Great video Bro! 🍻 I chose the KLR basicly because of price however I have grown to love the bike and I guess I ha e never ridden the T7 so I don't have bike envy and I put that down for a win. I would love to compare the two in the future and then I can make a decision fir myself... thanks for the great moovie... (;{~
I don't think the North American market gets these T7 upgrades. So far, every 2023 T7 I've seen purchased in the groups I'm in are just like the previous year with the original release graphics. So, they're paying +$200 for a new skin. No color TFT or any other overseas perks.
IMHO the KLR is to the T7, what a T7 is to a KTM 890. Is it worth the difference? In terms performacnce probably yes, but more importantly in terms of memory maker machine probably not. BTW I own a T7 as we don't have the KLR available here in Spain...
yes, yes it is. of course it is KLR 650 + necessary mods + oil consuming blackhole + shlt engine + lame suspension + bolts that shake loose all the time .... or a rock solid real Bike Yamaha T700 that needs none of that and is vastly superior in every way for just 2500 more. dont be a fool, get the T700
T700 - every day. worth every penny. especially because every mile you ride a KLR you are leaking pennies. lots of pennies. You feel like youre riding on borrowed time - the KLR is just not as much "tank" as people claim. The Yamaha just feels like you married your dream girl and its gonna last forever.
The 650 just is too slow. Yes, it can do highway speed, but it's *not* fun. The T7 can do every bit as well offroad (or better) but can also hang on fast runs through the twisties. I've had to stop and wait for the KLR boys to catch up so many times. A T7 will get you to around 120mph happily, and handles very well at speed. The KLR? No.
I have been riding most of my life and have had high end adventure bikes. The new Gen3 KLR with a few essential mods is a brilliant motorcycle. I got tired of all of the technology and over engineering on the expensive machines. I like riding motorcycles ..... not computers. KLR all the way for me.
KLR, TransAlp, Tenere! Africa Twin, Super Tenere, Elefant, I’ve owned and rode the crap out of them for the last four decades. I still own two first gen KLRs. Need I say more? KISS.
I have a 2022 tenere and love it..I don't care about phone connectivity at all I ride to get away from tech...my goes in my pocket and stays there.. I will never mount my phone to the handle bars
Teah, I pretty much feel the same way. Plus, seeing that thing light up is distracting.
I wouldn't want any bike that connects to a stupid phone.
I just bought KLR with ABS $6199; happy with the deal I got.
Where do you live?
I bought my KLR because it was the bike I was sitting on when my wife said, "Why don't you just buy it?" If I'd been on a T7, I'd have bought it. So far, I only regret the Pig when I watch comparison videos, but that fades. I've been able to get the bike where I want it for less than the MSRP of the T7, which is a lot of money for gas and travel.
I had a Gen 1 back in the early 90'S, loved it for years.
Yeah, those were the good ol' days when they were quite a bit lighter.
@@DifferentSpokesTV DR650 is still available here, has a lot in common with the gen1 klr (5 gears, carb, light,...)
I have a new KLR for my first bike. Went for the adventure model with ABS on sale for $5600. Total steal for sure, but if I had the money to spend I think I would have went with the T700. When I have the money for a second bike I think that's what I will go for.
I have ridden both. For my own...personal money I'll take the KLR-650 everyday.
I want the YT7 but the KLR650 seems the responsible choice for what I want to do and that's explore the world.
The reason I really love my cb500x rally raid level 2 is:
Great suspension
Nice wide seat
Good ground clearance
Lots of protection
400-500km of range depending on how your ride
Good wind protection
Lugs down low amazingly well.
Twin motor
Low center of gravity (much easier to pick up than my dr650 was)
It's almost like a tenere and klr had a baby with a smaller engine lol.
KLR will be on my list ,i want distance and comfort and price
Gave up waiting for a Tenere and bought an Africa Twin. Still have my Gen 1 KLR that goes almost anywhere. Then there is the DR that does go everwhere.
This is exactly the video I needed. Thank you very much for making it.
It all depends on what you intend on using it for. For me, the KLR is on my radar. It’s easier to find, easy to work on, very reliable and the price can’t be beat. I’m confident the KLR would help me make the bucket list of riding the Dempster Hwy. It’s a donkey, old tech, slow, but will do the job just as good as a higher end bike. I still do like the Triumph Tiger 900 rally pro, but if something goes wrong, the availability of parts if harder to get. With the KLR there is a better network in Canada, so it wins for me over the Tiger.
Wow, your two choices aren't in the same universe. I like a bit more road so my choice is between Suzuki V-Strom 650 and Triumph Tiger 900GT.
The Suzuki does the job VERY well for two thirds the price new (or less than half with low k's and accessories).
The Tenere is every bit as reliable (if not moreso; it doesn't come with "must fix" problems)- but the CP2 has been rolling since 2014 and has been absolutely bulletproof.
Mine is doing the Dempster highway next year :)
If you want to travel but are not too concerned about the performance, definitely get the KLR. Why spend the extra money to do the same thing?
Dude, I have a 1st gen, I put a RICOR Duel Sport shock and their front fork Intimidators and got a whole new bike... on and off road.
Still get satisfying pulls out of corners... I rode with a bunch of Harley guys on a few occasions... They were all very surprised I could keep up within the group. Only the biker club lost me, on the interstate, pulling up a mountain... They let it rip... Said they "just wanted to see what it could do"... Biggest challenge was riding two-abreast on country roads in WV (Old school) with the club.
My point isn't that the KLR is "so badass fast"... But, in normal riding scenarios, you don't really need more.
People put it down all the time on UA-cam, but I get no hate from other riders and a lot of complements...
Love my "mule." And so many people, riding much nicer bikes, have told me they used to have one and wished they still did.
Peace
@@toddmichaels42 I dislike it for being slow, and specifically so for longer highway runs because *for me* it's awfully boring to ride on the highway. My T7 is the bare minimum of highway performance for me, and that's my slow bike. Frankly, I'd die inside if a group of Harley riders could leave me behind anywhere. Have you ridden anything else?
But I'm not saying the KLR is bad. The KLR is an excellent machine in many ways, and an *outstanding* bike for the price. It's a GREAT low cost donkey of an adventure bike and as I said elsewhere here, low cost is a crucial factor for adventure bikes as it's also low cost to maintain, low fear to crash.
It's a great bike. It's just slow, and (again, personal opinion) it's slow enough to make long highway runs more boring than they already are.
There for sure is an upper limit for performance on the street where you're basically never going to be able to use more, but that's more in the 120hp/500lb range.
I mean, I've got times where I bemoan the T7's 70hp when on the highway.
I should be able to pass anyone, *particularly* on a steep uphill grade. 20 over the limit shouldn't require WOT. If I'm on a wide, long, empty highway I should be able to hold 100mph without wringing the crap out of the engine.
And none of that is special. The KLR is nearly there, but not. But everything past the KLR is.
I love the concept of the T7. I would love to see one to get the feel of it. To decide if I want to get one or not. But in my area, they are a true unicorn. My local Yamaha dealer has only had one in the shop and it was already sold before it came in. I’ve been looking around to see if I see anyone riding one, but no luck there either.
I will say, this is a VERY good question for adventure bikes in particular. Not just about purchase price, but the reality of adventure bike life, if you're buying it to take if offroad. You probably will crash it. You will damage it. So you need to consider the ongoing price of the bike as well. This is where the big ADV bikes fall down IMHO, and why most big BMW's for example just end up being touring bikes. Even if you can afford that much money for the bike up front, does having a bike that expensive mean you're no longer willing to have fun with it? You need a pretty fat wallet to do extensive repaires on a 1250gsa. Everything is $$$
Both the KLR and T7 are pretty cheap to work on, but the KLR does have an edge there. This is where these bikes shine though, because you can play with them. Breaking them isn't a huge problem, parts are readily available, and they're both easy to work on.
Anyways, I ramble. I just think this is a factor people don't often consider when comparing adventure bikes and price, but is a very important one.
I mean, I'd be WAY more likely to spend 20k on a street bike I'll (hopefully) never drop than on an adv bike I'll ride through rivers.
Good points. The GS and GSA are basically sport tourers. They can go off road but if I spent that much I probably wouldn't take one there.
@@DifferentSpokesTV right? My first offroad trip on my T7, not having ridden in dirt since the 80's on Vancouver Island, we came to this steep 4x4 jeep trail leading down to a dried riverbed. It was WAY out of my abilities and I knew it. But the T7 was wearing good front and rear crash bars ( love Heed!) And I knew anything broken could be easily and cheaply fixed, so full send. Crashed it three times, hard, but had a blast and learned so much. Bent the shifter and rear brake levers back into the right shape (ish), learned why people replace the exhaust (Huzar, $250, amazing!) - no problem. I'd never have tried that on a really expensive BMW or KTM. But a Tenere? Or a KLR? Full send.
My philosophy is never take a bike weighing more than 400 lbs including luggage for serious off-road or you'll regret it and risk potential serious injury and/or damage to bike in process. It is much better to trailer a smaller bike for serious off-road and if you make a mistake then you have fall back plan. Otherwise, if you crash and bike becomes inoperable then you are screwed and paying big money to get out of a jamb. In that sense traveling long-distances on any bike your mindset should be laying it down is simply not an option. That determines how and where you ride off-road relative you your skillset and bikes abilities. If you consider that not fun well what about you or your buddies whose trip is cut short or compromised by the guy who makes such a mistake or has a breakdown due to older bike and/or poor preventative maintenance?
BOTH are way tall - used to have a '96 KLR and went to the VStrom - 2002 1K and now a 2007 650.... i am 5'-5.5 with a 32" inseam.. and the new bikes, i boot the pannier or seat every single time i get on.. the VStrom of the generation i have... not an issue.. and i can ride it anywhere i want.. maybe slower than some, but i get there with no issues... cheers from Vancouver!
I'm a tall rider at 6'6" I love the KLR 650. The price the simplicity and the comfort cannot be beaten
I love my T7, but you can’t beat the sound of a thumper.
I like a thumper on dirt, but on the road the P-Twin sounds like a Ducati.
T7 sounds way better than a single cylinder thumper! Not even close?
Ty for the input but I still haven’t decided
This is a great video, good work
I have an '08 KLR650 right now. It's all clapped out and I don't trust it anymore for our long trips. I may be buying a new bike soon and when I do, it'll be another KLR650.
I had a KLR, big bore 685 kit. With a load on, old ladies with the hat and tissue box on the parcel shelf would downshift and whiz by me going uphill in their asthmatic white good vehicles. Its heavy, and so is the Tenere.
Great video, I love my Tenere. I also agree on the reliable 450 being ideal. I want a WR450, street legal, with service intervals closer to street bike spec and that would be perfect.
My main problem with KLR is the weight. So I'd pick the Versys-X lol
I think the Versys is a paralell twin which is the WAY WAY more fun engine. Paralell twin engines are the best engine ever, they are screaming, high performance engines, you can revv them to 10,000 rpms all day long and they don't complain.
How about comparing cost of ownership. Frequency cost and complexity of the valve adjustment service for example.
Close to comparable and the service intervals are wide. Both bikes require pretty minimal maintenance.
You can do it yourself with a Suzuki DR650.
Im still making up my mind, but im starting to lean towards the T700. Having that acceleration for a quick overtake and more powerful brakes would definitely make me feel much safer on the highway. Definitely seems like a seat upgrade would be necessary for longer road rides though.
I find the stock seat to be pretty good. Best to keep things stock for a while to see what you want to upgrade to suit your needs.
For me, '22 KLR650 Traverler ABS, it's about the adventure, not how fast I get there. The new T7 in our group likes to stop every 30 to 45 minutes because the seat kills his butt and back, same guy has a 22KLR [ Lucky bugger to have both bikes]and says it's the most comfortable bike he has ever ridden.
I gotta say the klr is better just due to the reason that you can find them at dealerships. Yamaha seems to also dislike us people across the ocean due to the fact they don't want to sent the rally and the world raid to the American markets.
It's not too hard to find a T7 in dealerships. There's one down the street from me right now
Yeah, The Rally and World Raid are MIA around here. The bike is so much in demand you'd think they'd ramp up production.
The reality is the KLR is the better bike suited to 99% of ADV riders and how they actually ride. Iv been there, done that with the expensive bikes. U dont buy a high end ADV bike to ride it like a dirt bike like these ad's try to get you to think. Those guys dont pay for all the fixes after crashes. Iv stupidly done it, but 450lb bikes arent made to jump and ride in deep mud/sand. The ADV model KLR is a CRAZY deal, that T7 decked out comparibly here is well over twice the price of the Kawi that gets a lot longer fuel range and is ready to go immediately off the showroom floor. Save the money, and take some actual trips instead of worrying bout having the "best". A lot of are older or getting there and the slower/comfy bike is more appealing anyway.
The cost of decking out the T7 was never really stated other than it would be expensive..now compare that to the KLR that comes fully equipped.
The bags and hardware alone was $2000CAD. Plus the engine guards and a few other odds and ends.
I would have to go for the Yamaha since the KLR isn’t sold in Europe as of now, but if I could, I’d rather go for the Kawa
Yeah, that sucks that Kawi doesn't brink it to Europe. It might have something to do with Euro5.
Yep. For me even the DR650 or DRZ400 but government making life harder
i loved my 2nd gen klr. it took me cross country and back very stoicly.. however it is quite heavy underpowered and the brakes really struggle if you have a passenger.. and having to upgrade the doohickey right off the box is a pain.. i think the tenere is interesting upgrade
I drove off and left a t7 on the interstate the other day on my big bore, jetted, uncorked gen 2 klr.
You absolutely did not 😂 the t7 rider was not trying to race. The klr is 30 less hp. You won't get 30 hp out of the most built up klr...
of all the things that didn't happen, this didn't happen the most.
Unless ur the less than 1% who truly live the lifestyle of ADV riding, the KLR will be just fine.
Too much watching the u tube and wanting to be like the ‘cool kids’ gets more folks into more bike than they need, or really, want. IMHO.
It’s just a toy. If ya have all the money in the world, get what ya want.
If ya know yourself and just want to go out and have some fun now and then, don’t worry about keeping up with the ‘cool kids’.
Trust me, over time, the bike will spend more time in the garage than not. It’s a toy.
Great video. Honest review. I agree about the gen1 KLR on looks. Picked up my '07 two years ago, had less than 8k on the odo and was garage kept, came with large Tusk boxes. When I upgrade, it will likely be the T7.
I knew I would likely drop it off road, and have. Didn't want to sweat dropping a nicer bike and likely not do the off road stuff I have done.
Peace to you and your wife, Brooke.
Excellent presentation of both bikes
I bought a KLR for $3.3k to do the TAT. It accomplished it without a hiccup and I sold it on with serious respect for its reliability and ability. I’m not sure I would have found the same quality with anything else….. (except a Honda)
Sounds like very decent duo of bikes to me, slight diversion on their focus is also pretty good so yeah more like this mindset is always nice
Answer it's very simple ! YT700 it's pretty simple, reliable versatile and of course beautiful, but it is a true ICON on his class.
KLR it's a Japanese "Royal Enfield" that's it !
The DR650.
It is as cheap as KLR (basically) and is lighter and more fun... OK, it is not "adv" in it's marketing, etc. but add a windscreen if you must.
Great video. Well done.
The KLR is on sale for $4999 right now. I don’t know if I can turn it down at that price…
Nice review... but I'd still pick the KLR.
Mostly trip around on my 08 Klr putting about 10K kilometres on the clock each year and rarely use it for commuting. Do the maintenance work myself and it's cheap to maintain ect. I tour slow so Klr is perfect for chugging around and exploring. I've thought about the T7 a few times and it might happen when I get the urge to ride something faster.
Sounds great! No point in spending money if you're happy with what you have.
For me, I just have different bikes for different things. Fast bike (inline 4 street bike) for when I want to go quick or do track days, slow and light adv for when I want to be nimble on trails or city streets, and a big ole touring cruiser when I want to take big trips with a passenger. But all of these are old junkers so I definately get to do a lot of maintenance :D
@@AleksiJoensuu You've got the perfect setup, would do the same, but registration and insurance costs make it unviable in Oz.
for pennies you can put a switch on the KLR to turn the ABS off and on.
I like the sound of the KLR 650 just love the sound of large singles. The Tenere 700 gas tank way to small for a ATV bike, even the Honda CB500X has a 17.5 liter tank and can get over 450 km per tank. Put a 21 + liter tank on the Tenere 700 after all the call it a ATV bike. The lowering kit on the Tenere what will be the seat hight. I had the first gen KLR650 and thinking of getting another one.( third gen )
I'm currently looking for a dual sport or adv and the KLR sounds good on paper but I don't like how it looks. I think the tenere looks awesome but out of my budget. Old KLRs look so much better
Well done comparison of the two bikes. I spent my money on a V-Strom 1050 because it is difficult to go offroad where I live, so this travel capable naked / universal japanese motorcycle fits me pretty well. Pricewise a comparison between KLR and CFR 300 would reasonable and also be pretty interesting.
Way ahead of you. The KLR and CRF video is on my channel four months back. Check it out.
I bought my '22 klr, all of my (many) mods, all of my riding and camping gear totaling about $2500 worth minus the bike. In my area at the time of my purchase, one was paying $15,000 for a T7 IF you could find one... key word, IF. Now, was that T7 7-8000 better during this time? Nope. And I stand by a very old but true statement. It's always better to ride a slow bike fast than riding a fast bike slow. I do like the T7, though. Yamaha builds great products! Great video!
If I were richer, I would definitelty try Tenere. But for poorer countries KLR fits just so much better. A lot of utility, less complex engine, lower price, still decent enough to commute, travel and go offroad. And even if it's half as reliable as the old KLR... It's a shame that Kawasaki does not sell KLR 650 wide enough. KLR's customer lives in places like Eastern Europe, and ex-USSR countries, rather than the rich USA and Canada. IMHO. What's funny, T7 IS available in those places!
Yes, that's a big criticism of Kawasaki. They just don't send their bikes to so many markets where people would definitely buy them.
So they don't sell the KLR in Eastern Europe? I live in the USA, and I can tell you that I don't know how anyone can afford to drive a new motorcycle here in the USA. It's $450 a month for insurance for a new motorcycle, full coverage insurance. I was going to go buy a new Hayabusa for $15,000 because the payment would be relatively low each month (only about $250). Rent in some places here is $1500 a month. $250 a month is fine, but not when you add $450 for insurance. The insurance is a scam, it's more than twice the cost of the motorcycle. I can't afford $700 for a vehicle, that's just fraud, and a scam. Nobody should be willing to pay that much just to own a new vehicle. I ended up buying a used Hayabusa for $7500 with only 5,200 miles on it. I had to buy new tires for $600 and a new $100 battery. But still less than half the price of new.. The resell value of motorcycles in the U.S. is much, much lower than cars. People basically throw away their motorcycles and just want them gone. You can buy a 2012 Honda Goldwing with 9,000 miles on it, for $8,000 USD, they are basically $30,000 new.
@@Ritalie no, they don't. Kawasaki sells a variety of bikes here, but not the dual sports, for some reason. Neither KLR, nor KLX. Some re-sellers bring new ones (0 miles) unofficially, bought somewhere else and transported over the border. I seriously thought of of buying one of those, back in 2021, before the war. It did not happen.
What you tell about the insurance, is insane! 450 a month is... a full bike's cost in 2 years, right? In our parts I never heard of anything like this. What exactly do you get for this sum of money?.. And why do people even bother buying new vehicles under such conditions?.. I wouldn't bother. Used ones are okay as long the state is good, in my opinion.
Ok, my dream is a KLR 450 (Versys 450X?), Ninja 400 engine, Eliminator stroke improvement, 380ish lbs, 60 HP, 40 ft lb torque, 7" travel... come ON Kawasaki!!!
A friend has the T7 and his wife won’t ride with him. He also has a V-Strom that she’ll travel with him as a passenger. I’m not sure how comfortable the KLR is for a passenger, but I just bought one. I don’t know if I’ll ever have a passenger
My wife was pretty comfy on the back seat on a three hour ride which is better than the T7.
Just curious but you mentioned at some point that the KLR will do single track the africa twin would have a hard time at. Have you tested the AF on these conditions?
I ran the AT Adventure Sports on the same trail. It was pretty gnarly (video is on the channel a couple of months back). I suspect the regular, lighter AT would have done better but those bikes are heavy and the weight shows in the tight stuff. You can do it but the heavier the bike, the less fun it is. That trail is a blast on my wife's CRF300L Rally.
i wanna 400cc adv bike. 270 crank. long suspension. like tenere 700 but more light.
No updates on the 2023 for Canada and USA on the tenere 700..still the same old tft and no phone connections
the KLR is the goat. no other bike has enough trade offs to overcome it
The older you get, it's all about seat width.
In that case the KLR wins :)
@@DifferentSpokesTV im sure the tenere has agtermarketmseat options right? I put the sergeant on my KLR and its helped a lot.
That's what she said
Wish Kawasaki had introduced a diesel KLR, like the one that US military had modified. Of course, not sure how it fared over the years
I think get the KLR and mod it. Put new suspension, up the power a bit, do some things to shed weight. And the KLR becomes a competitor
Great video! love the T-7, but i'm loving my 23 KLR. Is my second KLR and i also ride a 03 Meanstreak. KLR is the perfect bike for what i wanted; mostly dirt and gravel roads to see the back country. Too old to rip on dirt or I'd get a yz250. If you understand that the KLR is a tractor, You can walk out of the dealer brand new at 6200.00. Right on T-7's but god bless the KLR!...
Cracking my up no cell service where I ride.
Since I own one, the T7. My experience? I have never made it anywhere near 300km in range on my T7. It's 100km each way for my commute and if I fill the tank around the corner from my house I can make it to work and back, but I would be lucky to make it half way to work the next day. This is all highway riding, BTW. Seat Concepts seat was a must. With the new stuff being added to the T7 and price going up, it looks like the original mission statement for it is going out the window, which is a shame.
You can definitely do 300km on the T7, but you have to ride it like it's a KLR (slowly) to do it. All the CP2's have this issue - once you wind them up they start just guzzling fuel. Me, I don't mind stopping for gas (I think 200km commutes aren't super common!) As after 200km, I like to stretch my legs anyways.
Seat Concepts Tall Rally for this guy. Stock seat isn't great.
Yeah, to get to 300k you need to stay around 80-90kph on the back roads. Then you might get there if it's not too hilly. Also, the bags and engine guards create a lot more drag so that might be something that contributes to reduced mileage, especially at high speed.
I don't know kilometers mine registers miles and I get between 280 to 300 per tank
@@DifferentSpokesTV exactly. If you flip the display to fuel consumption it's pretty educational. There's definitely a point where it goes from awesome to awful; generally after 100kph. And yeah, I think it's largely drag related because riding slow at high rpm doesnt do it so much.
Are you sure your not just judging that by the low fuel light. When you get to the flashing bar you still have well over a gallon left. This bike reads fuel levels terribly. I burn through a whole gallon before the first bar disappears. The next 5 are a bit under the two and the last is about a gallon and a quarter
twenty years ago the KLR didn't have to compete with other bikes except maybe the Suzuki's DR 650 (the Honda 650 has always been over priced) and the main reasons the KLR was popular is it was a simple (mechanically) motorcycle, and it was affordable... under $5000. Since then, Kawasaki has basically put lipstick on a pig, charged a lot more money and now the KLR is not the affordable, easy to work on motorcycle it used to me. I've owned 4 KLRs, all pre 2008 models. If I wanted to get another dual sport today, I can do a lot better than the KLR with just a little bit more money thrown in.
Yes, the pre-2008 models were significantly lighter and better looking. This one definitely has better weather protection though.
I believe the key of the KLR is that is not really a dual sport, but an adv bike. If you want a dual sport, of course there are better options. Pretty much any dual sports is better. But you cannot go and do a 1000km trip on a dual sport off the dealership. As always, it depends what your riding is going to be and the KLR fits a purpose that not many (if any) bikes fit at that price point
I said exactly the same thing about the Gen 3- until I rode one.
On paper it is a pig, out of the box it is probably the most comfortable road bike I have ever owned.
Mine probably wont get thrown around off road the same way my previous Gen 1's used to, but I'm lucky enough to own an XT250 now as well- so I have the best of both worlds.
I guess no updates yet for 23 T7. We seem to continue with the same setup as 22 Euro 5 exaust.
I love the tried and true klr. I bought a 2017 new and put 13,000 miles on it. It will get everything done. With that said. My t7 is so much better in almost every way. Its every bit as reliable and easy to work on. The only drawback is less fuel. Its absolutely worth the extra money over a klr. You couldnt build a klr to do the things a factory t7 could. Its a whole other animal, both on and off road. Rev limiter clutch dumps in 4th and the front wheel is pointed at the sky at 50 mph. NOT happening on a klr.
How about a comparison video of klr650 to 300 Rally?
You really put these bikes through the paces. How long does it take to make a video such as this? Thxs Dave
I am hurting on money but the tenere just seems like it would be the better option in the long run and that is better value. The KLR is nice but I would quickly get bored and have an urge to want more.
Less is more. The DR650 and XR650 have no water pump, no fuel pump, and less weight.
@@giovanhagar Ive owned the T7 for over a year now and like it a lot more than those bikes. If all I did was offroad then sure, the XR650 would be nice but I do a lot of street riding too.
Agreed with others, well done! It sounds like to me that there's one question in particular that one would need to ask first when choosing between these:
Do you ride more to go places and see stuff, or do you ride more to enjoy riding dynamics?
I.e. if your main focus is exploring the world on a bike, the Kawasaki will get you there. You could even count how many kilometers worth of gas you could buy with the price difference - It could be a surprisingly long trip's worth of fuel! Or you could put that extra into your riding gear, which will ultimately make more of a difference in riding comfort than much else. Or you could take a long trip and sleep in hotels, hostels and BnB's instead of roughing it. Whatever you like, really.
Or if you like the experience and feeling of stronger acceleration, making it quicker down a technical trail, and feeling "one with the bike", then maybe the Yamaha is for you! If it's not so much looking at the sights and talking to the locals but more about finding different roads and trails and those visceral feelings of riding engagement, then that nicer engine and chassis would serve you well.
For many of us the answer is somewhere in the middle, or both equally. And then you need to start weighing things more carefully. Of course, if you have enough money and can't think of a better way to spend it, then the Yamaha will be an easy choice: you can see the sights just as well from the saddle of the more expensive bike as the cheaper one.
You can't lock up the KLRs front brake on dry asphalt if you try. So why would you need abs? Crappy brakes the og abs
I'm waiting for the Honda rally type with 40+ horses and a real suspension with easy adjustments in a little over 300 lbs.
THEY came out with it!!!! The Honda Transalp 750cc. OMG it's so awesome.
For the money you cant beat rhe klr, but I love everything about the T7. Shes the bike for me.
Currently got the KLR but I think I'll upgrade to the T7 next.
Sold my klr and got a tenere. The klr is just boring to ride at the end of the day even with mods
I don't know if it's just me, but KLR's cockpit is way too short. Dealer said it's for "riding standing up" but I am not buying it... literally. If I sit normally my elbows are almost at 90 degrees. That's way to close for my comfort. I am 5'10" BTW.
Kawasaki has its own midweight twin cylinder adv bike at the same 700cc displacement, that's versys 650. For someone who cannot bear the big thumpers, the versys 650 provide a more budget friendly option than T7
Great video Bro! 🍻
I chose the KLR basicly because of price however I have grown to love the bike and I guess I ha e never ridden the T7 so I don't have bike envy and I put that down for a win. I would love to compare the two in the future and then I can make a decision fir myself... thanks for the great moovie...
(;{~
My KLXS 2023 was$5899!
Sounds better is a personal opinion. I prefer the thumper sound.
Maybe Yamaha will focus on bringing more units to the US for 2023, we'll see, thanks
Being a former KLR owner... I'd go for the T7
I don't think the North American market gets these T7 upgrades. So far, every 2023 T7 I've seen purchased in the groups I'm in are just like the previous year with the original release graphics. So, they're paying +$200 for a new skin. No color TFT or any other overseas perks.
KLR650 is fully equipped and cost way less, comfortable long range bike.
I think the KLR looks better. 👌
KLR alot of bike for the money.
Especially if u can find a used one.
10 lbs of torque cost how many thousand dollars more?
Honda transalp 700 :) (2014 - abs ver)
You might get a 2023. Maybe it'll be introduced next week.
The question is T7 vs XT660Z vs 300L for me
At 70, I’d go for KLR.
Perfectly good bike.
IMHO the KLR is to the T7, what a T7 is to a KTM 890. Is it worth the difference? In terms performacnce probably yes, but more importantly in terms of memory maker machine probably not. BTW I own a T7 as we don't have the KLR available here in Spain...
yes, yes it is. of course it is
KLR 650 + necessary mods + oil consuming blackhole + shlt engine + lame suspension + bolts that shake loose all the time .... or a rock solid real Bike Yamaha T700 that needs none of that and is vastly superior in every way for just 2500 more. dont be a fool, get the T700
Good review 👍
Thank you!
T700 - every day. worth every penny.
especially because every mile you ride a KLR you are leaking pennies. lots of pennies. You feel like youre riding on borrowed time - the KLR is just not as much "tank" as people claim. The Yamaha just feels like you married your dream girl and its gonna last forever.
The T7 is more Street Civil and a more refined off roader
There's so many CHEAP used KLRs. Tenere's you're lucky to see it $1,000 under MSRP lol
In Australia for the price of a new T7 I could buy a new KLR 650 and a new CRF300 Rally.
Yes, I heard that Yamaha is gouging you guys. A Rally is better off road than either of these... by a lot.
I sick and tired of this never ending comparison of apples and oranges. The KLR HAS NO AX TO GRIND. It is the ANVIL.
The 650 just is too slow. Yes, it can do highway speed, but it's *not* fun. The T7 can do every bit as well offroad (or better) but can also hang on fast runs through the twisties. I've had to stop and wait for the KLR boys to catch up so many times. A T7 will get you to around 120mph happily, and handles very well at speed. The KLR? No.
Klr, all day long!
If huskavarna can make a 701lr why can't someone make a 4 or 500 even lighter with dependability in a rally with real range, ' honda '?