Got My 06 FJR Today - Sat on a KLR

[Ari Rankum]

Man. I've been thinking about a KLR650 since I sold my XL500R to my brother 10 years ago. I made the mistake of sitting on one at the dealer today. It's not looking good. I don't think I'm going to be able to hold off buying one for too long.

 

[rickysnickers]

I have one as well, and can't say enough good about it. It's the bike I learned to ride on. I sold the first one, and now 10 years later, I bought another one. It's a great trail bike, but not a hardcore offroader.

Rick

 

[FlyingLow]

Not to mention the old Honda XL600R. I had an '83 that I bought new. Excellent complement to the street bikes I had at the time.

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

I don't think about these things. Other bikes. Nope, not me.

I mean, what reason is there to think of these things. Who needs anything other than the FJR?

I mean, the FJR has so much, who would need more or less?

Why think any further than just thinking about a ride of a bike?

I wouldn't give another bike a second thought

 

[KSFJR]

I have an 02 KLR and I use it mostly for around town here in Kansas City. I probably ride it around 200 days a year. For commuting it is great. With the upright riding position you have good visiblity in traffic. It is light and maneuverable and parking takes just a small space. Plus, at 45 mpg it is easier on the wallet. I rode it around the 4 corners of Kansas last year, an almost 1,500 mile trip in 3 days and it is well suited for touring if you want to also travel some of the roads less traveled, i.e. gravel, etc.

I like my FJR but for around town commuting it is not nearly as versatile as the KLR and I don't want my FJR sitting in the sun all day and having to worry about people screwing with it.

 

[Ari Rankum]

I rode it around the 4 corners of Kansas last year, an almost 1,500 mile trip in 3 days and it is well suited for touring if you want to also travel some of the roads less traveled, i.e. gravel, etc.

That's a big part of the attraction.

Over the last year, or so, I've been reading various ride reports from folks touring down to Tierra del Fuego. Since seeing the pictures, I've been transfixed. Moreso than any other bike, folks riding down there are choosing the KLR. I figure there must be something to that. Likewise, given the vast numbers of KLRs circulating through there, I'd guess the support available to a rider with a broken down bike might be best for a KLR.

I don't want to do a commercial tour, but here are some representative pictures from a commercial tour website of the sorts of things I'd like to see first hand.

https://www.motodiscovery.com/tours/sameric...ego_photos.html

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

I rode it around the 4 corners of Kansas last year, an almost 1,500 mile trip in 3 days and it is well suited for touring if you want to also travel some of the roads less traveled, i.e. gravel, etc.

That's a big part of the attraction.

Over the last year, or so, I've been reading various ride reports from folks touring down to Tierra del Fuego. Since seeing the pictures, I've been transfixed. Moreso than any other bike, folks riding down there are choosing the KLR. I figure there must be something to that. Likewise, given the vast numbers of KLRs circulating through there, I'd guess the support available to a rider with a broken down bike might be best for a KLR.

I don't want to do a commercial tour, but here are some representative pictures from a commercial tour website of the sorts of things I'd like to see first hand.

https://www.motodiscovery.com/tours/sameric...ego_photos.html

Why KLR?

Larger stock tank.

Proven bulletproof air cooled engine (less parts to break)

more aftermarket accessories available to customize it to your needs.

Those are what I gather. I also gather that it is a great in between bike. As well as the FJR fits between sport and touring, the KLR fists between dirt and street. It is neither a great dirt, or street bike, but does both better than most.

And...frankly it's cheap. I did a search on cycletrader.com of 2004 and newer KLR's. The most expensive was a 2005 in California for $5,149. It's really an incredible deal when you consider a Yamaha WR450F (not street legal yet) goes for over $7k msrp

Heck, I just found a brand new one, 2006, $5,199 out the door. Yeah, I know the Yamaha and KLR are very different bikes, but if it's an inbetween bike you want, the KLR is probably the best value on the road.

 

[huchieglide]

I sold my klr after I bought the vstrom1000. Didn't feel I rode it enough. Missed the back woods riding so I bought a nice used xr250l. Fun in the woods but week on the street. Now back looking at klr's and the drz400s. The klr is a great around town machine, good fuel economy, soft ride, park it anywhere. Fun on logging/fire road. Can be a bit cumbersome when the trail narrows to singe track. The drz 400 may be the best compromise.

 

[Ari Rankum]

Heck, I just found a brand new one, 2006, $5,199 out the door. Yeah, I know the Yamaha and KLR are very different bikes, but if it's an inbetween bike you want, the KLR is probably the best value on the road.

Yeah, the local dealer will take 5 flat for a brand new KLR. I seriously don't understand used KLRs on eBay for $4200.

 

[wpbfjr]

one thing to consider:

d&h is a kawasaki dealer, too... jerrald told me he sells most bikes rock bottom prices, like he does the fjr...

he told me the above as a reason that he could not give me a good trade-in price on my current scoot...

dana

 

[Fabone]

I've been wanting to take a KLR and go run the railroad beds up North. Meaning, doing it on my own, not in a group tour setting thing. Looks like fun. Check it out and see what you think? :dribble:

Traveling on the KLR

 

[FJRay]

i have a 02 klr and wouldn't be without it. for an urban assault vehicle it is great and with a russell seat you can ride it all day.

it is liquid cooled not air cooled as posted earlier but it is as about as bullet proof as any thing out there.

 

[evil_henchman]

I had an 02 KLR. The stock seat is a torture device and it's also the most under powered 650cc bike I've ever been on but I loved it anyway. It looked way cool with all the guards and armor I had it decked out with.

As long as you remember one thing you'll do fine: No matter how much it looks like a dirt bike, it's not. It's a relatively light weight street bike with good ground clearance and no amount of money can make it a better dirt bike. A fork brace and better fork springs does wonders for handling in the twisties, which is the one thing it really did well.

There's a great internet forum here: https://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_klr650/

All the essential info here: https://www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html

 

[racer]

I rode it around the 4 corners of Kansas last year, an almost 1,500 mile trip in 3 days and it is well suited for touring if you want to also travel some of the roads less traveled, i.e. gravel, etc.

That's a big part of the attraction.

Over the last year, or so, I've been reading various ride reports from folks touring down to Tierra del Fuego. Since seeing the pictures, I've been transfixed. Moreso than any other bike, folks riding down there are choosing the KLR. I figure there must be something to that. Likewise, given the vast numbers of KLRs circulating through there, I'd guess the support available to a rider with a broken down bike might be best for a KLR.

I don't want to do a commercial tour, but here are some representative pictures from a commercial tour website of the sorts of things I'd like to see first hand.

https://www.motodiscovery.com/tours/sameric...ego_photos.html

Why KLR?

Larger stock tank.

Proven bulletproof air cooled engine (less parts to break)

more aftermarket accessories available to customize it to your needs.

Those are what I gather. I also gather that it is a great in between bike. As well as the FJR fits between sport and touring, the KLR fists between dirt and street. It is neither a great dirt, or street bike, but does both better than most.

And...frankly it's cheap. I did a search on cycletrader.com of 2004 and newer KLR's. The most expensive was a 2005 in California for $5,149. It's really an incredible deal when you consider a Yamaha WR450F (not street legal yet) goes for over $7k msrp

Heck, I just found a brand new one, 2006, $5,199 out the door. Yeah, I know the Yamaha and KLR are very different bikes, but if it's an inbetween bike you want, the KLR is probably the best value on the road.

Sorry, but the KLR is not air cooled, its bullet proof thought

 

[GA CYCLE RIDER]

bought a new 06 from jerrol at D & H for 4699.00. no addl fees of any type. paid the 6% ga sales tax upon registering. Total cost excluding some stuff from dual-star was 4980.94. thats a whole lot of fun for back of 5 gees. In the ga mountains there are about as many miles of unpaved roads as paved ones and the KLR will go down any of them. If you want one and are close to the alabama area get it from D&H, a great place to do business. If you have one and need stuff, check out www.dual-star.com