My KLR650...13 years and going?

[pdedse]

I bought my '07 Kawasaki KLR650 13 years ago this month--it had 2500 miles on it when I bought it, and now it's 200 shy of 50,000. It has been an awesome bike that has taken me from Oregon to Baja, from Texas to Guatemala to Oregon, it has been my comuter to work on sunny and lots of rainy days, I've done two 700 mile day rides with this bike, it has taken me all over Oregon...and only once have I had a road-side issue which was just a blown fuse.

Today was a celebration of 13 happy years together. On a whim, I headed towards the coast this morning. Started at 9:30am, taking I-84 towards Portland, then 26 west. Veer south by southwest on hiway 6 towards Tillamook. Nearly all of that was on pavement. The idea was to simply do lots of forest riding to explore any interesting gravel forest roads along the way.





I've been using my [url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=17160]First Gear Rush Jacket (see here for review), and I really do like this jacket alot. The only thing is that when I left home, it was nice and warm, and so I left the re-movable rain liner at home. When I got up in the mountains, there was a cold air flow coming in from the coast. Well, the mesh Rush jacket works great! It lets copious air flow pass through--and I was getting chilly with just a T-shirt and light long sleeve shirt underneath.

After lunch, I headed straight to a local department store and bought another long sleeve shirt. I don't mind riding in the cold--I have the gear for that...normally. But I hate riding when I'm cold.

Along hiway 1 near Twin Rocks


Quick stop at the beach...


At Wheeler where I turned inland on hiway 53


Time to explore more service roads


Yellow sign says "No wood cutting this area"


53 meets back up with 26 completing the circle. It was difficult to find open forest service roads as the state of Oregon has closed access to many roads due to extremely dry conditions.


About 230 miles. A very agreeable ride.

The KLR650 does 70-80mph just fine, 90 if you really must. It has low enough grunt to tractor up anything I've tried--albeit I'm not very accomplished off road. I've never had to have it serviced because it is easy to work on...yet, I'm wondering if it's time to "downgrade". Who knows how many miles it has left. It's in perfect running condition, no oil leaks, it pulls strong in all gears, doesn't burn much oil except after long trips at hiway speeds. It has fairly new tires, chain and sprockets--in short, it just works and never gives me hassles.

And yet...there is another Kawasaki that's caught my eye...the KLX300.


or



It's nearly 120 lbs lighter, six gears, FI instead of carb...hmmm...

Terrible thing to think about while celebrating 13 years together.

[GoldOxide_imp]

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.

[peterbaron]

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

[misterprofessionality]

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.

[pdedse]

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.

[Gone in 60]

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.

[misterprofessionality]

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.

[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.

[Rox_imp]

I love the KLR. It'll do anything. Nothing particularly great but it'll do anything. Inexpensive, super durable.

And you know they're good when Kawi decided to use the same bike since 1987 with subtle changes to keep with the times.