My KLR650...13 years and going?

[pdedse]

If you watch Fort Nine's videos, the KLR is the bike that will refuse to die, unless it's completely submurged, which is just a minor inconvenience for the machine. Personally, I'd keep it and see how much you can wring out of it.

I've always fancied getting a KLR and keeping it at Mom's house for adventures in the San Diego area.

[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvGZS5fqxrk]Fort Nine's videos!!!

Ha-ha!!! I had never seen that until now. I'm quite impressed with their video editing skills, creativity and imagination. Very funny. I think you should do that--buy one to store at SD. My daughter is moving there in two weeks to begin a 6 year grad school program, so I'll be visiting lots I imagine. In fact, I'll ride my KLR down there and you can show me the highlights you discover!

Congrats pdedse on 13 years of ADV'ing on the beloved KLR650 workhorse.

Also, I also like railroad tracks and motorcycles in photos. There is some sort of peace or sumthin' that comes from the image.

Thanks! A workhorse...very apt description.

Congrats pdedse on 13 years of ADV'ing on the beloved KLR650 workhorse.

Also, I also like railroad tracks and motorcycles in photos. There is some sort of peace or sumthin' that comes from the image.

Perhaps it's the illusion of escape...there's gotta be something just around the bend...one more curve...and then???

Pdedse, you always take nice pics, backed by interesting write up.

Thanks...the KLR can get me places I refuse to go on the CB1100...I mean the CB probably could, but I don't want to muck it up too much.

On this ride I rode out onto the very rocky bank of a river, and at the water's edge, the fairly hard packed rock turned to a very soft mix of sand and pebbles and I failed to notice in time...DOWN it went quicker than I could blink twice. I was nearly stopped so no harm, just more scratches on the handguards. I would have shed a tear had it been the CB1100. All chuckles with this bike.

You're not wrong Pdesde, that KLX300 is so much much more in the "spirit" of the original KLR650 than the current generation of KLR650 is. KLRs were ADV bikes before ADV was a term that people used. Now KLR650s are trying desperately to ape the ADV aesthetic they helped father. It's tragic, but the smaller KLX300 really is going a long way toward recovering a lot of that gravel-road-cred that the newer KLR650s have given up.

The only drawback of course is carrying capacity, range, and highway safety.

True about capacity and range. The KLX has a 2 gallon tank, the KLR has about six! And loaded down with travelling gear, the KLX, which has a top speed of 80mph, will likely become limited on hiways. Passing...plan very carefully. With the KLR, I don't have that problem too much. But when I have to pick-up the KLR after its periodic naps, I feel that 420+ pounds.

My long term goal for the KLX300 is to take with me to Costa Rica where wife and I want to retire part-time (she's from CR). It would be perfect there with slower speeds, plenty of non-paved surfaces and shorter distances.

Dealer says he'll give me $2,000 on trade-in for the KLR...which isn't bad for a bike with 50k miles. But part of me really wants to find out just how long I can make it go. Some friends have 70-80k miles on theirs and are still going strong.

you've barely scratched the surface. a KLR can easily reach 100k. for most riders, that bike isn't going to stop running before the rider does.

That's what I needed to hear! Now you've gone and thrown down the challenge. Can I outlive my KLR650?!?

In truth, I'm not always nostalgic about things, but this bike does have a decal of my CB1100 user-name on it, and part of my childrens' names in decals as well on the back. You might be able to find them in some of the photos. That right there is hard to put a price on.