The new KLR650

Post by **yjleesvrr** » Mon May 14, 2007 4:50 pm

My plan is to buy a K1200GT in 2009, but one bike just got revamped that may tempt me into adding a 4th bike to my stable in 2008 instead. The new Kawasaki KLR650 looks to be a great beater bike for all around use. There are several fire roads in Southwest VA I've been wanting to explore, not to mention having a general commuter for Northern VA traffic. With an upright position and suspension that can take the beating of bumpy city roads, the new KLR might be a great urban assault vehicle for when I have to go into DC. Plus with a revised fairing that evidently does a great job in minimizing buffeting, it might wind up being a decent highway tourer as well.

I'll still add the KGT to my stable in '09, but I may have to add a single before adding a quadruple.

Post by **JCsman** » Wed May 16, 2007 8:09 am

The KLR 650 made my short list of bikes to consider before I bought my Roadster in 2004. Like the R1150R it's a "do a lot of things well" bike. And I have (quite <cough>nobly<cough>, I think) limited myself to only one bike.

The Kawi lost out because the dirt road spectrum where it beats the Roadster is the limited part of my travel and the highway side, where the Roadster excels, dominates. (Well, to be fair, my sense of value - OK, I'm cheap - helped keep the KLR in the mix.)

The upgraded KLR shades the choice.

In fact, if I were to pick out a two bike stable I'd give serious thought to an R1200RT and the new KLR 650.

Post by **yjleesvrr** » Wed May 16, 2007 10:03 am

One of the things that really appeals to me about this bike is the price. $5400?!? Thumpers have character too, and I doubt riding one for days on end would become boring.

I've been wanting a dirt-capable bike for a while. The R1150R actually does pretty well, but it's a bit heavy when the going gets technical. While I have no illusions that the KLR is a real off-road bike, it's better than the Roadster from what I've read in places like advrider.