Love your videos thus far, mate. Thanks for not blasting annoying loud music throughout the video and just allowing your viewers to listen to you and the bike while you ride. As a viewer, I've had an increasingly difficult time finding a motorcycle UA-camr that is enjoyable to watch, gets to the point, and takes me along on the ride without unnecessary music. Personally, whilst being interested in owning a KLR, I want to watch videos where I can get a good a grip as possible from the seat of my chair regarding how the bike rides, sounds, and operates while riding. Basic riding, or off-roading. Your videos definitely succeed on that regard. All round, great videos.
The first, and most important, mod you can make on ANY year or generation of KLR is to add a good fork brace. The KLR forks have all the structural integrity of damp pasta. Adding the fork brace will make noticeable improvements in your front end's behavior, and will especially help in soft terrain, like sand and mud, since it reduces all that darting about the front end does as the forks flex, then you overcorrect in one direction as the forks then flexes in the other direction......over and over again.
That's odd... I'm on my 3rd klr650, weigh 268lbs, 6'6", and ride them hard on and off road. Never had an issue in 20 years. I don't know anyone that has. I think most mods are completely useless and unnecessary.
I had a long list of mods I wanted to (and still want to) do on my 23 Adventure, but decided to spend that money on exploring Colorado/Wyoming/Black Hills forest roads, mining/ranch roads, jeep/ATV trails, and mountain passes. My only mod was a Tusk flush-mount, magnetic oil drain plug.
We would have to agree on first and third mods. We noticed a big improvement with the Progressive Suspension springs and JNS Engineering lowering peg mounts with larger foot pegs. We're on Gen 1 KLR's so we can't comment on the dash. Great video!
All right, I'll bite.... (Subbed) I've owned both a 2006 and a 2008 (Current KLR) and my #1 is improved front brakes. The Gen 1 brakes are downright scary, and the Gen 2's are improved but can still use some improvement. My #1 is a 320mm rotor, new stainless brake lines and HH Pads (DP Brakes are my fav). My #2, and will wake any KLR right up, is carb mods. The $0.22 cent mod is super cheap and helps a lot. The full blown KLX Needle and rejet works the best but it's more expensive. My #3 would be a tie between an improved skid plate or foot pegs. Good footpegs on Amazon are around $40 bucks to your door. They are quite as nice as yours but they work well. Skid plates are quite a bit more than that. Honorable mentions include the doohickey change on gen 1's (Im undecided on gen 2's) and Thermo-Bob (Or copies) installation.
Not noticeably. Only thing I’ve noticed change efficiency in a big way was not cleaning my air filter after riding dirt for awhile. It looking like a slice of chocolate cake. Thanks for watching!
Interesting all the research I did showed having to remove the front wheel and take the forks apart. How would I remove the fluid if not taking them apart? Some kind of pump?
@@klrshthead2906 it didn’t cross my mind you changed the springs with the forks on the bike. I’ve always pulled forks off to do any maintenance. Doesn’t make sense to me to put new components in used oil.
@@camt2626 From what I’ve read the only reason to change the fluid is if it becomes discolored or in the process of changing the seals on the forks. I popped the fork caps pulled out the old springs slapped in the new ones and replaced the small amount of fluid that was lost while changing the springs. Thanks for watching my friend!
What I cant stand is how big the bike is but is still catered to shorter riders. I put the JNS lowering brackets and the bike is still cramped. Im 6'3". I know its probably unrealistic but with the new KLR-S, they should redesign the regular KLR and name it the KLR-X(short for XL) and make it more taller rider friendly while the S is more shorter rider friendly.
I’m 6 feet and 275 so I’m a big dude. I raised the bars and set my pre-load to 5 and mine rides super tall. Anyone under 6 feet struggles to get on the saddle. I’d love to see a twin cylinder KLR one day! Thanks for watching 🤙
Oh yeah, good one...... the reason the KLR is a better adventure bike is because it is heavier. Dosent get blown as round as much by the wind on exposed roads and you also benefit from more wind protection , a more comfortable seat..... so yeah. I have a KLR, (my first road bike.) I also want to get a WR450 so I still have a bike I can Race that's still road legal😮
Rapscallion certainly has more flair, but to my way of thinking, sh*thead is simply unnecessarily coarse, and also very likely inaccurate.. Seems you can do good work, so chin up, friend!
Wow, someone with a brain amazing lmao....I will do the 16T front sprocket, crash bars, and already have a slip on on it most of the MUST DO OR IT WILL EXPLODE cult crap is nonsense
No worries mate , I wasn’t bagging it but I worked on them a long time and blokes would never check the oil capacity and steel cams on soft alloy heads chews them out pretty quick , so often it was a new cam , new rockers & machining of the cylinder head is big $$ Just keep them topped up & replace the oil every 2000 Klms. and you won’t have a problem. Cheers mate
Love your videos thus far, mate. Thanks for not blasting annoying loud music throughout the video and just allowing your viewers to listen to you and the bike while you ride. As a viewer, I've had an increasingly difficult time finding a motorcycle UA-camr that is enjoyable to watch, gets to the point, and takes me along on the ride without unnecessary music. Personally, whilst being interested in owning a KLR, I want to watch videos where I can get a good a grip as possible from the seat of my chair regarding how the bike rides, sounds, and operates while riding. Basic riding, or off-roading. Your videos definitely succeed on that regard. All round, great videos.
Thanks for the kind words my friend! Your comment honestly makes the time I spend making these videos worth it :)
The first, and most important, mod you can make on ANY year or generation of KLR is to add a good fork brace. The KLR forks have all the structural integrity of damp pasta. Adding the fork brace will make noticeable improvements in your front end's behavior, and will especially help in soft terrain, like sand and mud, since it reduces all that darting about the front end does as the forks flex, then you overcorrect in one direction as the forks then flexes in the other direction......over and over again.
The fork brace is a great mod and I noticed improvements in the ride of the bike after installing it. Great advice! Thanks for watching!
That's odd... I'm on my 3rd klr650, weigh 268lbs, 6'6", and ride them hard on and off road. Never had an issue in 20 years. I don't know anyone that has. I think most mods are completely useless and unnecessary.
I had a long list of mods I wanted to (and still want to) do on my 23 Adventure, but decided to spend that money on exploring Colorado/Wyoming/Black Hills forest roads, mining/ranch roads, jeep/ATV trails, and mountain passes. My only mod was a Tusk flush-mount, magnetic oil drain plug.
All you really need is some gas in the tank! Thanks for watching
We would have to agree on first and third mods. We noticed a big improvement with the Progressive Suspension springs and JNS Engineering lowering peg mounts with larger foot pegs. We're on Gen 1 KLR's so we can't comment on the dash. Great video!
Thanks for watching! That suspension really does make a huge difference.
I need to do the progressive springs. I did the dash and foot pegs when I first bought my 2011 three years ago.
@@insatiable_mind the springs made a big difference on the highway and off road. Thanks for watching
He said a big windshield " looks like dog$hit " That made me think of Cheborneck on Cheech & Chong's Big Bamboo album.
Thx for watching 🤙
Great video! what handguards and handlebars do you have?... i want to upgrade the ones on my 2012
Stock bars and Acerbis hand guards.
All right, I'll bite.... (Subbed) I've owned both a 2006 and a 2008 (Current KLR) and my #1 is improved front brakes. The Gen 1 brakes are downright scary, and the Gen 2's are improved but can still use some improvement. My #1 is a 320mm rotor, new stainless brake lines and HH Pads (DP Brakes are my fav). My #2, and will wake any KLR right up, is carb mods. The $0.22 cent mod is super cheap and helps a lot. The full blown KLX Needle and rejet works the best but it's more expensive. My #3 would be a tie between an improved skid plate or foot pegs. Good footpegs on Amazon are around $40 bucks to your door. They are quite as nice as yours but they work well. Skid plates are quite a bit more than that. Honorable mentions include the doohickey change on gen 1's (Im undecided on gen 2's) and Thermo-Bob (Or copies) installation.
There are a bunch of good mods. I agree with brakes. Thanks for watching and the sub!
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I had a 2004 KLR. The three best off-road mods: 1 off-road tires, 2 reduce front sprocket size by 1 tooth, 3 hand guards, 4 foot pegs
I know that’s 4 not 3 lol
Who’s counting :)
Those are some good mods! Thanks for watching and commenting my friend :) it means a lot
What exhaust do you have on that bad boy?
Thanks for watching my friend! It’s an FMF slip on but I don’t remember the model :)
How does the change in the windshield angle affect fuel efficiency?
Not noticeably. Only thing I’ve noticed change efficiency in a big way was not cleaning my air filter after riding dirt for awhile. It looking like a slice of chocolate cake. Thanks for watching!
After 2014 1/2 bikes, the front end was fixed by Kawasaki, no diving during braking
Interesting I’ve been on 14,16 and 18 stock bikes and they all seem to dive pretty hard. Did they switch the front suspension for the mid 14’s and on?
@@klrshthead2906yes, the 2014 1/2 have 40% stiffer front springs. I own this year of KLR.
Also way better seat, I can do a 300 mile day on the bike.
What year is your Bike?
2012. Thanks for watching !
Windshield could be molded anyway if someone really wanted to make them.
Dude, changing fork oil is not that more involved than changing fork springs. You were right there and you can get a liter of oil for less than $15.
Interesting all the research I did showed having to remove the front wheel and take the forks apart. How would I remove the fluid if not taking them apart? Some kind of pump?
@@klrshthead2906 it didn’t cross my mind you changed the springs with the forks on the bike. I’ve always pulled forks off to do any maintenance. Doesn’t make sense to me to put new components in used oil.
@@camt2626 From what I’ve read the only reason to change the fluid is if it becomes discolored or in the process of changing the seals on the forks. I popped the fork caps pulled out the old springs slapped in the new ones and replaced the small amount of fluid that was lost while changing the springs. Thanks for watching my friend!
What I cant stand is how big the bike is but is still catered to shorter riders. I put the JNS lowering brackets and the bike is still cramped. Im 6'3". I know its probably unrealistic but with the new KLR-S, they should redesign the regular KLR and name it the KLR-X(short for XL) and make it more taller rider friendly while the S is more shorter rider friendly.
I’m 6 feet and 275 so I’m a big dude. I raised the bars and set my pre-load to 5 and mine rides super tall. Anyone under 6 feet struggles to get on the saddle. I’d love to see a twin cylinder KLR one day! Thanks for watching 🤙
@@klrshthead2906twin cylinders would be sick! As a guy who went KLR, DL1000, back to KLR I miss the smoothness of the DL.
@@kurtismeinhardt68 I really think that bike would rule the middle weight ADV class. if they put the twin from the ninja 650 into a KLR.... 🤯
@@klrshthead2906 Yeah then it will be $11k or more lmao
That exhaust is way to loud and annoying for me. I like the stock pipe
To each their own :) thanks for watching!
The best mod you can do to a KLR is trade the overweight thing in for a DR650.
Thanks for watching!
The DR650 still heavier than the 650l so why did you even hate on the KLR your bike is heavy baha
Oh yeah, good one...... the reason the KLR is a better adventure bike is because it is heavier. Dosent get blown as round as much by the wind on exposed roads and you also benefit from more wind protection , a more comfortable seat..... so yeah. I have a KLR, (my first road bike.) I also want to get a WR450 so I still have a bike I can Race that's still road legal😮
Love the weight of it of course I am a man so I don't notice it as much
The first thing you should do is get a better place to ride.
Where should I go? Thanks for watching!
I like your videos, but find the 'sh*thead' moniker unnecessary..
I was considering KLRapscallion, but thought Sh!tHead better described me as a person. Thanks for watching my friend!
Rapscallion certainly has more flair, but to my way of thinking, sh*thead is simply unnecessarily coarse, and also very likely inaccurate..
Seems you can do good work, so chin up, friend!
Thank you for the kind words :) I really appreciate you watching and commenting 🤘
Jack up the gascap,
Slid a xr650l under! Oink!
You can’t hide money! Wish I could afford a Honda. Thanks for watching !
@klrshthead2906
They shure very $,
depending on the deal found! Always thought the Zook should have been the big yeller pig!
BYP!
Ive had every generation of klr. Every modification ive seen other than footpegs is a total waiste of time....just a bullshit scam
Thanks for watching :)
Wow, someone with a brain amazing lmao....I will do the 16T front sprocket, crash bars, and already have a slip on on it most of the MUST DO OR IT WILL EXPLODE cult crap is nonsense
No 1 mod … get some bearings for the cams , Kawasaki has the cam journals directly in the head with no bearings .. lazy inept engineering.
I’m going to take your word for it. Thanks for watching my friend!
No worries mate , I wasn’t bagging it but I worked on them a long time and blokes would never check the oil capacity and steel cams on soft alloy heads chews them out pretty quick , so often it was a new cam , new rockers & machining of the cylinder head is big $$
Just keep them topped up & replace the oil every 2000 Klms. and you won’t have a problem.
Cheers mate
Thanks! This is good info mine likes to burn oil so I top it off regularly lol