KLR 650

  I bought a KLR 650 dualsport new in 2009. Something like this cost then around $7000 then.

The reason I bought it was I wanted a Dualsport in case I wanted to ride it around the world or something like that sort of like Ewan MacGregor and his friend did in the documentary "Long way Round". However, I soon realized I wasn't 25 or even 45 anymore and found I liked riding it along the beach or putting it in my truck or trailering it to places like Mt. Shasta and riding many of the paved and dirt roads in that area too like I did with my 1974 Honda 250 XL which likely was my favorite Motorcycle I ever owned because it was so light and maneuverable.

For example, you really don't want to be doing 8 feet in the air jumps like I used to on my Honda 250 XL in the 1970s.

However, a dualsport this size you will be comfortable riding along at 50 to 80 mph or riding along a trail (as long as the trail isn't too extreme). Whereas my old Honda 250 XL which would not have been called a dualsport then because I don't remember that term being used at that time. We used to say things like "It's an enduro type of off road bike that you can license to ride on roads and freeways".

However, a Honda 250 XL really didn't have enough power at high speeds on freeways to get out of the way quickly of bad traffic.

But, I feel relatively safe with my KLR 650 on any kind of road dirt or pavement or freeways.

However, I didn't buy this bike for paved roads necessarily as I wanted a motorcycle that is like a 4 whee drive jeep. However, this is a pretty heavy bike so make sure you can pick it up if you drop it accidentally if you want one like this. Imagine dropping the bike in the bush if you cannot pick it up.

So, this is something to think about. Also, remember this has Knobby tires front and back and also the front wheel is bigger than the back like most dirt bikes as well for better off road handling as well. It rides very high so it can clear rocks or things you might ride over like fallen trees and has a thick metal plate underneath to protect your engine when going over tall rocks, branches or logs in the bush.

So, you are going to feel a little vibration out on a Freeway like you would in a jeep with knobby tires or other 4 wheel drive with off road tires on it.

Also, remember if you aren't used to riding on dirt roads to ONLY use your back brake (and then only sparingly) unless you want to drop your bike at whatever speed you are traveling at. Riding off road on dirt or gravel or mud or snow is a completely different experience than riding on pavement, even if the pavement is wet. So, stay alive and learn to ride in these conditions because it is as different as night and day in the style you have to ride to stay alive in both. Corners have to be taken slower for example so the bike doesn't slide out from under you. Slowing you can use the engine by down shifting or the brake really sparingly except in an emergency. And emergency stops are often done by laying the bike down sideways in the direction of travel. So, you want to be wearing boots high enough to protect your feet up to your knees when doing this.

I remember doing this after a rainstorm once in my 20s on my Honda 250 XL because I didn't realize a rainstorm had washed out a road I was on. So I wouldn't die I suddenly laid down my bike to not die at about 35 to 40 miles per hour. Luckily my left foot peg dug into the ground which prevented me from falling into a 6 foot deep chasm caused by a wash out of the dirt road I was on. So, I stopped with my two wheels hanging over a dirt precipice.



My KLR 650 made by Kawasaki still looks brand new because I keep it in a garage where it is protected from sea winds and rain.

The one modification I made to this bike so far is I put heavier springs on it because I'm 6 foot 5 inches tall and very strong built. So, this makes the bike ride much higher and I don't ever bottom out my springs ever now which is better.

A bike like this is designed mostly for someone about 170 pounds. So, because of this I don't go over jumps with it usually. However, I like to ride it off road a lot.

If I was going to buy another bike to replace this with or add to it with another bike I likely would buy something like a Husqvarna or BMW which are made more for taller men. But, sitting on this bike you will know whether it is for you by whether you are comfortable riding at this height.

So, when you first start out because of the height it might take a moment to get your balance because of the height. However, by the time you are going 4 or 5 miles per hour it stabilizes immediately for off road riding. However, I cannot throw this bike with my hips like I could a lighter bike like my Honda 250XL for riding wild in the bush and missing bushes and rocks in the 1970s in the deserts.

 So, be sure to buy what is perfect for your needs by thinking about all this some.

For example, if you are under 200 pounds and just going to ride it in the bush a 250 or 350 might be what you want if you aren't going to have to fight cars for your life on the freeways who might not see you at all because you are not a car.

So, what I'm saying is if you are going to put this in your truck and never ride it on a paved road then that is a different kind of bike than a dualsport is.