As the owner of an XR650L who rides with friends who have KLR650s I'd say your review is spot on. The short version I give people is the KLR is a street bike you can ride in the dirt and the XR is a dirt bike you can ride on the street. For two bikes that seem like they should be pretty similar they couldn't be much more different. I have no problem staying with my KLR friends on the street, aside from fuel range but there's no question they have a more comfortable ride and aren't nearly as twitchy as the XR at freeway speeds. Off road the XR is far superior. Like most dual sport riders I spend a lot more time on the street than I do off road. Normally that would make the KLR a better choice. What makes the XR a better choice for me is when I am off road I ride pretty aggressively and ride more technical trails. It was worth trading some street manners for better off road abilities. Plus I have a couple of street bikes for all day pavement riding so riding more than one tank of gas out of the XR in a day is a very rare thing. Anything beyond 100 miles a day on the XR is certainly doable but I wouldn't received it on a regular basis. That's what the KLR is for.
I have both...living in Appalachia the XR doesnt see the street much..but is tagged..it is a beast in the woods!..but I take the KLR to town on a regular basis ..its an easy riding bike..and perfect for the 75mile round trip..light trail bike better suited for the street.
I don't know.....I keep reading and hearing how heavy the XR is...I guess...but it feels "light" to me....seriously light....of course after riding my 900 lb Valkyrie Interstate the last seventeen years, I guess it would....anyway....great video thanks.......I love my XR!!......
KLRs really, really have a low depreciation in value. I bought a used 08 KLR for $3,500 and had it for six years and the Blue Book value was still $3,200. And you're right, the KLR is the do it bike. Had a Pelican Case on mine . I could ride to the supermarket get a good bill of groceries and take um home. Only times off road was a dirt road over the mountains here and that eas rare but the bike was fine in that situation.
Raced with my dad at VCGP he was on xr 350l those were the days last raced on yz250 although raced on xr500 years ago love big bore thumpers raced back before they were cool
The one and only thing that's keeping me from selling my 250X and buying an XR is the lack of fuel injection. Come on, Honda!! You haven't changed this bike since before we were worried about airplanes falling out of the sky for Y2K. I'm in Colorado, and my commute is at 5300 ft and most of my rides are between 8000 and 13000 ft elevation. I want fuel injection, but I don't want the weight of the KLR nor the price and problems of a KTM.
Good vid man. I love my KLR 650 and accept it's a fat pig lol. It's so reliable I'd probably never sell it. I did buy a much lighter and peppier DRZ 400. Best of both worlds.
Thanks. Yeah... I just went mushroom hunting on my 650, it's pretty frightful for deep woods riding. Was a bit scary, just too heavy. I have a DRZ400S I am making into a supermoto using factory parts (mine is the green KLX400SR). It's a good bike too but also a bit heavy. So I have acquired a KLX250S (street legal) and a KLX300R (off road) to make into one, a light weight yet powerful dual sport for shorter range adventures. Should be fun ; )
Both bikes get around 50 mpg depending on how you are riding. Hard single track, of course worse mileage. I wouldn't push the XRL past about 100 miles on the stock tank, unless it was easy riding (light throttle). But that's pretty average for a dual sport/dirt bike. The KLR is a super tanker. I have ridden it 300 miles on a tank. But of course that's a lot of fuel, and heavy. 100 mile range isn't too bad, and you can always carry more fuel.
As the owner of an XR650L who rides with friends who have KLR650s I'd say your review is spot on. The short version I give people is the KLR is a street bike you can ride in the dirt and the XR is a dirt bike you can ride on the street. For two bikes that seem like they should be pretty similar they couldn't be much more different. I have no problem staying with my KLR friends on the street, aside from fuel range but there's no question they have a more comfortable ride and aren't nearly as twitchy as the XR at freeway speeds. Off road the XR is far superior. Like most dual sport riders I spend a lot more time on the street than I do off road. Normally that would make the KLR a better choice. What makes the XR a better choice for me is when I am off road I ride pretty aggressively and ride more technical trails. It was worth trading some street manners for better off road abilities. Plus I have a couple of street bikes for all day pavement riding so riding more than one tank of gas out of the XR in a day is a very rare thing. Anything beyond 100 miles a day on the XR is certainly doable but I wouldn't received it on a regular basis. That's what the KLR is for.
Thanks for the input!
Xterraforce o
Thanks for the input!!
I paused the video and just read your comment thanks
I have both...living in Appalachia the XR doesnt see the street much..but is tagged..it is a beast in the woods!..but I take the KLR to town on a regular basis ..its an easy riding bike..and perfect for the 75mile round trip..light trail bike better suited for the street.
I don't know.....I keep reading and hearing how heavy the XR is...I guess...but it feels "light" to me....seriously light....of course after riding my 900 lb Valkyrie Interstate the last seventeen years, I guess it would....anyway....great video thanks.......I love my XR!!......
My other "dirt" bike is a 1200GS. I think my XR is light!
I love my xr. It takes me anywhere. Have had my crashes and what not. But the thing can't die. And you sold me that carb. Works well. Thanks.
You are welcome! : )
KLRs really, really have a low depreciation in value. I bought a used 08 KLR for $3,500 and had it for six years and the Blue Book value was still $3,200. And you're right, the KLR is the do it bike. Had a Pelican Case on mine . I could ride to the supermarket get a good bill of groceries and take um home. Only times off road was a dirt road over the mountains here and that eas rare but the bike was fine in that situation.
Love my XR 650.. definitely not a great streat bike though. ... Regardless, spot on review. Thanks. Robert Jr NJ here and the pine barrens.
honda has been phoning in the xr650l since phones had rotary dial
It's old technology for sure, but sure is a reliable engine.
radiator/fan guards on the KLR are definitely a must have if you going in the back country. Don't ask me how I know
That's ANY liquid cooled bike!
I'm going with the Honda XR, I miss my 1984 XL350R
Joz Sports I just acquired an 83 xl200r. Most fun I’ve had
Raced with my dad at VCGP he was on xr 350l those were the days last raced on yz250 although raced on xr500 years ago love big bore thumpers raced back before they were cool
You can walk around to the other side of the XR and see if it's been desmogged
Brilliant ,honest from the heart ,no bollocks review ,keep it up .😀🌈🇬🇧🏍
great review i really want an XR
You won't be sorry! Fine bikes.
XR650 all the way... Thanks for the video! Subbed
Informative review, thanks.
2007 was the last year of the 1st gen.
Thanks for the info
Yep. Got the '07 Gen 1. Like it better that Gen 2 look
The one and only thing that's keeping me from selling my 250X and buying an XR is the lack of fuel injection. Come on, Honda!! You haven't changed this bike since before we were worried about airplanes falling out of the sky for Y2K. I'm in Colorado, and my commute is at 5300 ft and most of my rides are between 8000 and 13000 ft elevation. I want fuel injection, but I don't want the weight of the KLR nor the price and problems of a KTM.
J Puckett the KLR doesn't have fuel injection either.
@@circlingoverland4364 it does now! Lol
Good vid man. I love my KLR 650 and accept it's a fat pig lol. It's so reliable I'd probably never sell it. I did buy a much lighter and peppier DRZ 400. Best of both worlds.
Thanks. Yeah... I just went mushroom hunting on my 650, it's pretty frightful for deep woods riding. Was a bit scary, just too heavy. I have a DRZ400S I am making into a supermoto using factory parts (mine is the green KLX400SR). It's a good bike too but also a bit heavy. So I have acquired a KLX250S (street legal) and a KLX300R (off road) to make into one, a light weight yet powerful dual sport for shorter range adventures. Should be fun ; )
good commentary, good review too
Thanks!
Xr650l check klr May be the next one !
,07 was last 1st gen
Thank you to clarify!
yeah
How is the XR MPG?
Both bikes get around 50 mpg depending on how you are riding. Hard single track, of course worse mileage. I wouldn't push the XRL past about 100 miles on the stock tank, unless it was easy riding (light throttle). But that's pretty average for a dual sport/dirt bike. The KLR is a super tanker. I have ridden it 300 miles on a tank. But of course that's a lot of fuel, and heavy. 100 mile range isn't too bad, and you can always carry more fuel.
Thank you so much for replying.
Sure, buddy