If your inseam is tall enough to ride it, keep it. There are few bikes that can match it for its reliability. A KLR is good at almost everything but great at nothing. That's the charm.
I had a KLR for about 50,000km. I bought it specifically because I kept getting speeding tickets while riding real bikes. Never got a ticket while on the KLR, so it worked! I found that anything over 140 on it and the front end would start to experience a lot of buffeting and feel unstable. The only way I can describe it's highway capability was utterly gutless. I did a short 2 up ride with my wife and had trouble passing a Pinto, so it got punted.
From 0 - 80 it was fun in an agile tractor kind of way. I loved that it ate up speed bumps like they were nothing. I recall getting over 500km/tank which was impressive. I could park it while at work with the key in the ignition and no one would ever steal it.
I dropped that bike many times and it owed me nothing.
I hope you bought a 1st gen, because the 2nd gen version of those bikes took a beating with the ugly stick. The newer ones look much better though!
Approaching 90,000km on my '08 I've owned since 4000km in '09 it's taken me around 1/2 the country and I'm a little sad to be selling soon but I have no room in the garage for 4 bikes. Being able to pretty much crack the throttle and row to 5th and running over springtime potholes is the best part of that machine. I didn't mind the hwy at 120 at all, but it was gutless after that but never complained over any of it. Only big issue I had was the oil burning issue that plagued early 2008 models, fixed that with a 685 bore kit @ about 6,000km. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the bike to anybody, unless your too short anyway.
Approaching 90,000km on my '08 I've owned since 4000km in '09 it's taken me around 1/2 the country and I'm a little sad to be selling soon but I have no room in the garage for 4 bikes. Being able to pretty much crack the throttle and row to 5th and running over springtime potholes is the best part of that machine. I didn't mind the hwy at 120 at all, but it was gutless after that but never complained over any of it. Only big issue I had was the oil burning issue that plagued early 2008 models, fixed that with a 685 bore kit @ about 6,000km. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the bike to anybody, unless your too short anyway.
Approaching 90,000km on my '08 I've owned since 4000km in '09 it's taken me around 1/2 the country and I'm a little sad to be selling soon but I have no room in the garage for 4 bikes. Being able to pretty much crack the throttle and row to 5th and running over springtime potholes is the best part of that machine. I didn't mind the hwy at 120 at all, but it was gutless after that but never complained over any of it. Only big issue I had was the oil burning issue that plagued early 2008 models, fixed that with a 685 bore kit @ about 6,000km. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the bike to anybody, unless your too short anyway.
I had a KLR for about 50,000km. I bought it specifically because I kept getting speeding tickets while riding real bikes. Never got a ticket while on the KLR, so it worked! I found that anything over 140 on it and the front end would start to experience a lot of buffeting and feel unstable. The only way I can describe it's highway capability was utterly gutless. I did a short 2 up ride with my wife and had trouble passing a Pinto, so it got punted.
From 0 - 80 it was fun in an agile tractor kind of way. I loved that it ate up speed bumps like they were nothing. I recall getting over 500km/tank which was impressive. I could park it while at work with the key in the ignition and no one would ever steal it.
I dropped that bike many times and it owed me nothing.
I hope you bought a 1st gen, because the 2nd gen version of those bikes took a beating with the ugly stick. The newer ones look much better though!
Ewan and Charley were carrying a LOT of camera and video equipment. Doubtful the KLR would have had the grunt to move it. Claudio's R1200GSAs frame cracked as a result of all that weight.
Would the 990 Adventure have fared better in that department?
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
